You do not need a flagship phone for Pokémon GO in 2026. A current 64-bit Android phone with Android 9 or newer, GPS, at least 2GB RAM and a healthy battery meets Niantic’s official requirements. For a phone you actually want to use for several years, though, I would target at least 4GB RAM, 5G and a battery around 5,000mAh.
Our three current picks are the Moto G Play 2026 for the lowest new-phone price, Moto G Power 2026 for the best battery/value balance, and Samsung Galaxy A37 5G for the best all-round experience.
| Phone | Best for | Why it suits Pokémon GO |
|---|---|---|
| Moto G Play 2026 | Cheapest new pick | Android 16, 4GB RAM, 5,200mAh battery, 120Hz display, gyroscope |
| Moto G Power 2026 | Best battery/value | 8GB RAM, 5,200mAh battery, FHD+ 120Hz screen, gyroscope, 5G |
| Samsung Galaxy A37 5G | Best overall | 6GB+ RAM, 5,000mAh battery, bright 120Hz AMOLED, GPS and gyroscope, long support window |
Pokémon GO phone requirements in 2026
Niantic’s current supported-device guidance lists:
Android
- Android 9 or newer
- 2GB RAM or more
- GPS and Location Services
- a strong internet connection, with Wi-Fi or 5G recommended
- preferred resolution of at least 720 × 1280
- rooted devices are not supported
iPhone
- iPhone 6s or newer
- iOS 15 or newer
- 2GB RAM or more
- GPS and Location Services
- a strong internet connection
- jailbroken devices are not supported
Niantic has also ended support for 32-bit Android devices, so an old phone can meet the Android-version number and still be a poor choice. For a new purchase, stick to a modern 64-bit device.
1. Moto G Play 2026: cheapest new phone for Pokémon GO
The Moto G Play 2026 is the budget-floor pick. Motorola gives it Android 16, a 64-bit MediaTek Dimensity 6300, 4GB RAM, a gyroscope and a 5,200mAh battery.
Its 6.7-inch display runs at 120Hz, although the 1604 × 720 resolution is noticeably less sharp than the two more expensive picks below. For Pokémon GO, that is a compromise I can accept at the low end because the game benefits more from stable GPS, battery life and adequate performance than from a high-resolution display.
Motorola also includes microSD expansion, which is handy if the phone will be used for more than one game.
See Motorola’s Moto G Play 2026 specifications.
2. Moto G Power 2026: best battery/value pick
If your Pokémon GO sessions involve long walks, Community Days or events, I would spend the extra money on the Moto G Power 2026.
It keeps the 5,200mAh battery but increases memory to 8GB RAM and upgrades the screen to a 6.8-inch 2388 × 1080 display at 120Hz. It uses the same Dimensity 6300 platform, includes a gyroscope and runs Android 16.
The combination is much closer to what I want from a dedicated Pokémon GO phone: a large battery, enough RAM to keep the game comfortable, a bright-enough large display and modern 5G connectivity without paying flagship prices.
See Motorola’s Moto G Power 2026 specifications.
3. Samsung Galaxy A37 5G: best overall
The Galaxy A37 5G is the more polished choice if this will be your main everyday phone as well as your Pokémon GO device.
Samsung’s current model has a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display running at up to 120Hz, a 5,000mAh battery, GPS/Galileo/GLONASS positioning and a hardware gyroscope. The Australian 128GB model is listed with 6GB RAM, while other regional/storage variants may differ.
The AMOLED screen is the biggest day-to-day advantage for Pokémon GO. Outdoor readability and contrast matter when you are playing while walking, and Samsung also lists software/security support through March 2032 for the current A37.
See Samsung’s Galaxy A37 5G specifications.
What matters most for a Pokémon GO phone?
Battery life
This is still number one. Pokémon GO combines an active screen, GPS, mobile data and frequent CPU/GPU work. A 5,000mAh-class battery gives you much more breathing room than an ageing small battery in an old flagship.
Battery condition matters just as much as capacity on a used phone. A six-year-old 4,000mAh phone may have substantially less usable capacity than it did when new.
GPS quality
Pokémon GO cannot work properly without reliable location services. All three picks above have the sensors and satellite-location support expected of current smartphones.
RAM
Niantic’s official minimum is 2GB, but that is a minimum compatibility figure, not what I would target for a 2026 purchase. Four gigabytes is a sensible floor; 6–8GB gives the operating system more breathing room when switching between Pokémon GO, maps, messaging and a browser.
64-bit Android
This has become important because Pokémon GO ended 32-bit Android support. All of the current phones recommended here use modern 64-bit chipsets.
Screen brightness and refresh rate
A 120Hz screen makes menus and map movement feel smoother, but brightness is arguably more important outdoors. Do not buy a phone for Pokémon GO purely because it has the highest refresh-rate number.
Gyroscope and AR features
A gyroscope is useful for augmented-reality features. All three recommendations include one. You can still play the core game without making AR the centre of the experience, so this should not outweigh battery and GPS reliability.
Should you buy an old flagship instead?
Sometimes, but the equation has changed since our original 2021 guide. That version recommended phones such as the Galaxy S8+, Pixel 3 and Pixel 4a. Those were sensible value plays at the time; they are now too old to be default recommendations.
The problem is not raw processor speed. It is ageing batteries, shortened or ended security support, older modems and the risk that future Pokémon GO or Android requirements move beyond them.
A recent used or refurbished phone can still be excellent value, but I would favour models with several years of software support remaining rather than chasing the cheapest former flagship.
Android or iPhone for Pokémon GO?
Either is fine. The old version of this article strongly preferred Android based largely on battery size, but that is too simplistic now.
Current iPhones and Android phones both run Pokémon GO well when they meet Niantic’s requirements. Android generally gives you more choice at the budget end and often larger batteries for the money. iPhone can be attractive if you already use Apple’s ecosystem and find a recent supported model at a good price.
I would not buy an iPhone 6s merely because it is still listed as the minimum supported iPhone. Minimum support is not the same thing as a good 2026 purchase.
Do you need 5G?
No. Pokémon GO does not require 5G, but most worthwhile new phones now include it anyway. What matters is a stable connection with good coverage where you actually play.
At crowded events, network congestion can matter more than the theoretical maximum speed of the modem.
Do you need a power bank?
For normal play, a 5,000–5,200mAh phone may be enough. For GO Fest, Community Day or a full day away from power, a USB-C power bank is still one of the most useful accessories you can carry.
Battery Saver inside Pokémon GO can also reduce drain during long sessions.
Bottom line
For the cheapest new Pokémon GO phone, start with the Moto G Play 2026. For a better screen and much more RAM without going flagship, the Moto G Power 2026 is the sweet spot. If you want the best all-round phone of the three, choose the Galaxy A37 5G.
Whichever model you buy, prioritise a healthy battery, modern 64-bit software support, reliable GPS and at least 4GB RAM. Pokémon GO itself does not demand flagship performance; long outdoor sessions demand a phone that stays connected and stays alive.
