Topic: Android devices for xCloud

I recently bought a new Phone and opted for a Samsung Galaxy S10+. The screen is certainly awesome, a decent size and has the headphone socket too - something that the Note 10 or newer Samsung phones don't - if that is an issue - although you can still use Wireless or USB type C headphones. The S10 phones do come with AKG Headphones (in-ear type), the Note series do not give you any headphones. The Screen Size is actually bigger at 6.4" than the Note10 (albeit just) at 6.3" but a bit smaller than the Note 10+ at 6.8". All the Samsung S10/Note 10 models have Super AMOLED panels and all are HDR 10+ compliant. The S10 models and the Note 10+ all offer Quad HD+ resolutions, but the smaller Note 10 only features a Full HD+ screen.

One thing to be aware of though is the front cameras on these. The S10 has a 'dual' camera and its on the top right compared to a single camera on the Note series which is in the middle. Its worth mentioning as these are 'punched' out of the screen so if you are watching something, the Cameras are in the screen so will obstruct the view. I don't know if this will affect games as the screen is wider than 16:9 ratio but if it does, it maybe better to go with the note as the corners tend to be where HuD elements or notifications are placed.

If you want extra Storage, don't go for the Note 10 as it does not offer a microSD slot, the rest do however. On my S10+, I have a dual Sim, but one Sim slot also holds the MicroSD - so you either have two sims or 1sim and one microSD. Another advantage of the Note 10+ is that it comes with 12GB RAM as standard, whilst the Note 10 and all but the 1TB S10+ (which also has 12GB RAM) come with 8GB. The Note 10+ does have a 90hz refresh rate though compared to S10's and regular Note 10's 60hz.

I haven't tried xCloud gaming on my S10+ and don't have Game Pass yet. I don't know if Game Pass will be streaming at more than 60fps either but as far as I am aware, the game performance is the same as the Xbox One S so capped at up to 60fps. However, that could of course change in the coming years. I don't know that I will get much use, if any, from xCloud - I don't game on the go right now or have Game Pass - but I am happy with my S10+ and if, in a few years time, I find myself using xCloud and its offering more than 60fps game play, I will reassess whether to upgrade my phone or buy a suitable tablet.

Anyway, I thought I would just mention the differences/similarities between the 'S/Note 10' models. In general usage, the choice between an S10 or Note 10 really comes down to whether you want the pen or a headphone socket. What I will say though is that screens are really good!! The S10+ is quite large in the hand and I have big hands too and I don't know I would want a 'larger' screen for a single hand use Phone. The Note 10+ is more like a mini-tablet that also makes calls. 5G isn't yet available where I am so I didn't get a 5G enabled phone - but again, that's something I may consider at a later date.

As far as I am concerned, I am happy with my S10+. I know that 'if' I choose to join Game Pass and use it for xCloud gaming, its more than adequate right now for any games available to play anywhere - although I would consider changing my package to give me adequate Data at a reasonable cost if I game anywhere other than home over my WiFi. I think at the moment, 60hz refresh is adequate for Game Pass too. I am not likely to upgrade anytime soon - not with Series X and PS5 on the horizon and I do want to upgrade my TV too to give me HDMI2.1...

So I decide to see if xCloud will work on my current phone a Moto Z and it did. Granted I couldn't do anything cause I don't have a controller but it's cool to know I can.

You could play Minecraft Dungeons or Hellblade as a test run. Both have touch controls.

@Tasuki you don't have a controller to use? Xcloud works with pretty much alk of them, you don't have any other consoles?

@redd214 I have Other controllers, PS4, Xbox One, Switch Pro, Wiimotes etc. etc. I just didn't feel like unpairing them to their systems and the pairing it my phone.

Xcloud is in a very unique position and advantage, they have a huge Azure cloud datacentre experience combining with the decades old history in gaming industry which’s why devs only need to make a single Xbox console version to make it work on the cloud at a push of a button. Also not to forget the unified DirectX 12 Ultimate API and the upcoming Gamecore platform for next-gen Scarlett development. If somehow Phil manages to make every single xbox console games licensed for cloud DAY 1 then it will be a battle lost before even it has started for Amazon, Google. Also factor in the fact that xcloud comes as an additional perk with gamepass it’s a win-win. It’s a massive game changer from business standpoint for Microsoft.

So just a quick question not sure if anyone has an answer for this, but I am going to be picking up a tablet this weekend and I was wondering, say some one is using the Xbox One either playing a game or watching Netflix on it can I still long onto my account on the tablet and play a game?

@Tasuki On the same account? If they're watching Netflix, you're fine. I don't believe you can play two games at once on the same account though.

@Tasuki What tablet are you going with?

@FraserG No, different accounts. Sorry forgot to clarify that.

@Tasuki No worries!

If you're using xCloud to play Game Pass games on your tablet, you'll be absolutely fine. If you want to use Remote Play (as in, you connect to your console directly), that obviously won't work while someone else is using your Xbox One.

@redd214 I am actually looking at the Samsung Galaxy S7. I decided to go with that rather then a new phone and I can use that for gaming, watching stuff web browsing etc. and my phone for calls and texts. It's also about $300 to $400 dollars cheaper then the phone I was looking at.

@FraserG I wasn't even aware of remote play, but that makes sense. I was mainly wondering for when either my son is using the Xbox to either play his games or watch say Netflix and If I wanted to play say Forza Horizon 4 or some other Game Pass game. Thanks for the info!!!

@Tasuki excellent choice! I upgraded to the Tab S7 a couple weeks ago. Perfect device for xcloud, big beautiful AMOLED screen and can hook it up to a TV if needed. Hope you enjoy!