Is mobile gaming more prone to input lag than desktop gaming?
Are these lagging issues especially problematic in mobile casino games such as slots or poker?
4 Answers
But yes, I know they’re definitely slower on mobile than PCs. You’re right that phones and tablets don’t have as much processing power and the touch screen is slower than a mouse and keyboard. That wouldn’t hurt too much for something like slots, where your timings are less important, though it could still be frustrating. It would be more of an issue for live dealer poker where milliseconds can really make a difference. But if you’re really struggling with lag, try ensuring your phone meets the minimum requirements for the game, that all of your software is up to date, and that you’re connected to high-speed WiFi.
The response time may be slower on mobile devices, but that’s mainly because of less powerful hardware or because of touchscreen restrictions. It doesn’t matter much on most casino games, because in most cases, you’re not required to react quickly. You should always read reviews of mobile casinos’ responsiveness, but if you are experiencing slow response times, chances are your internet connection might be to blame. Make sure you have an adequate internet connection and upgrade older mobile devices. After all, no one wants to sit around waiting to play their favorite online casinos games!
The lag is partly due to lower-spec processors, combined with inherent touchscreen delays; this isn’t an issue for most games, including slots and poker. Slots are slow-turnaround games, and poker apps typically manage lag well - in fact, if your lag is bad, check your network connection first. But unless you’re a pro, you will find that most casino games on your phone or tablet are playable without an issue. Wherever you can, choose games that don’t rely on remote processing.
For me, there’s some input lag on mobile devices, but this varies widely by device and game. Most casino games, including slots, are fairly click oriented and don’t require very precise timing, so a little lag doesn’t matter much. Timing could become more important in poker as you race to fold or raise. Mobile also gets better all the time as phone processors improve and touch screens get faster and more accurate.