Catch them all on Vodafone
The mobile gaming phenomenon Pokémon GO has arrived, meaning millions of gamers across the world can now catch Pokémon in the real world.
Discover the ideal technical requirements and phone features you need to play Pokémon GO on your Vodafone mobile. And if you need to buy or upgrade to a new phone in order to get the best experience, we’ve picked out the best phones for playing Pokémon GO.
Ideal phone requirements for Pokémon GO
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Minimum requirements:
2GB of RAM
720 x 1280 pixels resolution
Recommended requirements
GLONASS location system – working with your GPS it can improve speed and accuracy
AMOLED screen – increased contrast and more vibrant colours than LCD
A large capacity battery
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iOS
iPhone 5+
iOS 8+
Strong internet connection (Wi-Fi, 3G, or 4G)
GPS and Location Services
Jailbroken devices are not supported
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Android
Android 4.4 to Android 6.0.1
720x1280 pixels (Not optimized for tablet)
Strong internet connection (Wi-Fi, 3G, or 4G)
GPS and Location Services
Intel CPUs are not supported
Top 5 Phones for playing Pokémon GO
We’ve looked at which phones gives you the best Pokémon GO experience and scored them based on the technical requirements they meet and the extra features they offer. Our chosen phones are available on Pay as you go or Pay monthly, so whether you’re a new or existing customer, you can catch the phone that lets you play your way.
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Smart platinum 7 Pay monthly
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iPhone 7 plus Pay monthly
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Galaxy S7 edge Pay monthly
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Smart Ultra 7 Pay as you go
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Sony Xperia XA Pay as you go

Vodafone Smart platinum 7

Why it's great for Pokémon GO
- The large, fast-charging battery maximises the time you get to play. It’s tough enough to survive any location, while the 16-megapixel camera is perfect for taking on-location photos.
Key features
- 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED screen
- Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor
- 3GB RAM
- 16-megapixel rear camera, 8-megapixel front camera
- Non-removable Li-ion 3,000mAh battery

iPhone 7 plus

Why it's great for Pokémon GO
- GLONASS as standard for navigation, a long-lasting battery and powerful cameras are now backed up by splash, water and dust resistance – perfect for going off the beaten track or hunting whatever the weather.
Key features
- 5.5-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD screen
- iOS 10.0.1, upgradable to iOS 10.1
- Apple A10 Fusion processor
- 3GB RAM
- 12-megapixel rear camera, 7-megapixel front camera
- Non-removable Li-Ion 2900 mAh battery

Galaxy S7 edge

Why it's great for Pokémon GO
- The large, dual-curved Super AMOLED screen is the perfect way to view the game. The S7 edge is also equipped with GLONASS to help catch Pokémon, and the latest version of Android.
Key features
- 5.5-inch Super AMOLED screen
- Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
- 4GB RAM
- 12-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front camera
- Non-removable Li-ion 3,600mAh battery

Vodafone Smart Ultra 7

Why it's great for Pokémon GO
- The powerful octa-core processor means playing the game will never be a struggle. It also boasts a longer-lasting battery that charges in half the time thanks to Pump Express Plus technology.
Key features
- 5.5-inch IPS LCD capacitive screen
- Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
- Mediatek MT6755M processor
- 2GB RAM
- 13-megapixel rear camera, 8-megapixel front camera
- Non-removable Li-ion 2,960mAh battery

Sony Xperia XA

Why it's great for Pokémon GO
- Thanks to its fast-launch button, you can snap photos of Pokémon in an instant. And you can hunt for longer — the Xperia XA boasts Qnovo technology, giving you two days of battery life on a single full charge.
Key features
- 5-inch full-width touchscreen
- Android Marshmallow 6.0 Operating System
- MediaTek Octa Core processor
- 2GB RAM
- 13-megapixel rear camera, auto-focus, LED flash
- Non-removable Li-ion 2,200mAh battery
Pokémon GO phone tips
How to save data when playing Pokémon GO
There are a few ways to avoid using lots of data when playing Pokémon GO.
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Play on Wi-Fi
If you’re in range of a secure Wi-Fi network, connecting to it might use a bit more battery, but it’ll save you a lot of data use. We recommend you always ensure you have a secure connection when connecting to public networks and hotspots.
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Close any background apps
Save power and avoid doubling-up on data usage by closing any other apps that run automatically in the background.
If you want to see how much data the Pokémon GO app has used so far, and work out how much of your data it’s using, follow these instructions:
Android
- Go to Settings
- Open Data Usage
- Set your date range
- Scroll down to locate the Pokémon GO information
iOS
- Open Settings menu
- Select Mobile Data
- Scroll down to Pokémon GO information