Does Nokia G310 5G Run Games Good? A Full Gaming Performance Review

When it comes to budget smartphones, gaming performance is often the dealbreaker. We all want a phone that can handle our favorite games smoothly without burning a hole in our wallet. That’s where the Nokia G310 5G comes in — a budget-friendly smartphone promising 5G connectivity and decent specs. But the big question remains: does the Nokia G310 5G run games good? Let’s break down what this phone offers for gamers and how it performs in real-world gaming scenarios.

Nokia G310 5G: Specs That Affect Gaming

Before jumping into gaming performance, it’s important to understand the hardware powering this phone.

• Processor & GPU: The Nokia G310 5G runs on the MediaTek Helio G310 chipset, which is designed for budget phones with moderate gaming in mind. It comes paired with a PowerVR GE8320 GPU.
• RAM & Storage: You get options for 4GB or 6GB of RAM, which helps with multitasking and smoother gameplay, along with 64GB or 128GB of storage.
• Display: It has a 6.52-inch IPS LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate, a nice bonus in this price range, offering smoother animations and scrolling.
• Battery: A 5050mAh battery promises long hours of gaming without constant recharging. But does the phone handle heat well during intense gaming? We’ll find out.

Popular Games Tested on Nokia G310 5G

To get a true feel of gaming performance, I tested a range of games:

• Casual games: Candy Crush, Among Us
• Mid-range games: Subway Surfers, Clash Royale
• Heavy games: PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact

Casual Game Performance

Casual games like Candy Crush and Among Us ran effortlessly on the Nokia G310 5G. These games don’t demand much from the hardware, so you can expect smooth gameplay without any hiccups. The 90Hz display added a subtle smoothness to animations, making the gaming experience feel polished.

Battery consumption during casual gaming was minimal, so you can enjoy hours without worrying about draining your phone quickly.

Mid-Range Game Performance

Moving to games like Subway Surfers and Clash Royale, the Nokia G310 5G held up well. Graphics looked decent on medium settings, and frame rates were stable with very rare drops. The touch controls were responsive, and input lag was barely noticeable, which is a good sign for casual competitive gaming.

If you’re playing mid-range games, the phone strikes a good balance between performance and battery life.

Heavy Game Performance

This is where things get interesting. Heavy games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile are more demanding and push the phone’s hardware to its limits.

• Graphics & Frame Drops: On default or low graphics settings, games ran decently with frame rates mostly hovering around 30 FPS. However, if you push the graphics higher, you’ll notice frame drops and occasional stutters.
• Heating & Throttling: After 20-30 minutes of continuous gameplay, the phone did heat up noticeably. The MediaTek Helio G310 chipset tends to throttle performance to avoid overheating, which impacts smoothness.
• Online Multiplayer: The 5G connectivity helped with stable online gaming, reducing lag spikes common in budget phones.

Genshin Impact, being a very graphically intense game, is playable only at the lowest settings and still showed some lag.

Nokia G310 5G Gaming Benchmarks

Looking at benchmarks gives us objective data:

• AnTuTu: Around 170,000 points — decent for budget phones.
• 3DMark Wild Life: Modest graphics performance, confirming mid-level gaming capabilities.
• Geekbench: Shows good CPU multi-core performance but nothing groundbreaking.

Real-world FPS tests in PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile confirmed the benchmark scores — smooth 30 FPS on low-medium settings.

Software Optimization and Game Mode

Nokia’s clean Android experience means minimal bloatware, which helps free up system resources. However, there’s no dedicated “Game Mode” or gaming booster that some competitors offer. This means you won’t get extra features like notification blocking or performance tuning during games.

Still, the near-stock Android ensures stable performance without unnecessary background apps slowing things down.

Battery Life During Gaming Sessions

Thanks to the 5050mAh battery, the Nokia G310 5G can handle about 5-6 hours of casual gaming or around 3-4 hours of continuous heavy gaming on a single charge. Charging speed is modest — around 10W — so expect longer charging breaks between gaming sessions.

Display and Audio Experience While Gaming

The 90Hz refresh rate display is a standout feature at this price, offering smoother visuals than the typical 60Hz panels. Colors are bright but not AMOLED-level vibrant. The IPS panel is decent enough for outdoor gaming, though visibility under bright sunlight can be tricky.

Audio-wise, the single bottom-firing speaker delivers clear sound but lacks depth. For immersive gaming, headphones are a must.

Comparison with Other Budget 5G Gaming Phones

When stacked against Redmi 10 5G or Realme Narzo 50A, Nokia G310 5G holds its own but isn’t a clear winner. Those competitors often offer slightly better GPUs or dedicated gaming features, but Nokia’s clean software and build quality remain a big plus.

Pros and Cons of Nokia G310 5G for Gaming

Pros:

• Smooth casual and mid-range game performance
• 90Hz refresh rate display
• Large battery for extended gaming sessions
• Clean Android experience with less bloat

Cons:

• Struggles with heavy games on high settings
• Heating issues and performance throttling after prolonged play
• No dedicated game mode or performance booster
• Average audio experience for gaming

Tips to Improve Gaming Performance on Nokia G310 5G

• Stick to medium or low graphics settings for heavy games
• Close background apps before gaming
• Use a cooling pad or fan if you game for hours
• Enable developer options and limit background processes for better performance

Who Should Buy Nokia G310 5G for Gaming?

If you’re a casual gamer who enjoys popular titles without maxing out graphics, Nokia G310 5G is a solid choice. It’s great for light to moderate gaming but not ideal for hardcore gamers wanting to run the latest titles at high settings.

Conclusion

So, does the Nokia G310 5G run games good? The honest answer is: it depends on what you play. For casual and mid-range games, it’s smooth, reliable, and enjoyable. For heavy, graphically demanding games, expect compromises in graphics quality and occasional heating. Still, its solid battery life and 90Hz display make it a worthy contender in the budget 5G gaming phone category.

FAQs

1. Can Nokia G310 5G run PUBG Mobile smoothly?
Yes, on low to medium settings, PUBG Mobile runs around 30 FPS, but expect some frame drops in intense scenes.

2. Does the Nokia G310 5G get hot while gaming?
Yes, after about 20-30 minutes of heavy gaming, the phone heats up and may throttle performance.

3. Is the 90Hz display noticeable during gaming?
Definitely, it makes animations and gameplay feel smoother compared to standard 60Hz screens.

4. How long can I game on the Nokia G310 5G before the battery runs out?
You can get 3-4 hours of continuous heavy gaming or 5-6 hours of casual gaming on one charge.

5. Does the Nokia G310 5G have a dedicated game mode?
No, it doesn’t come with a specific gaming mode or performance booster.

6. Can I play Genshin Impact on Nokia G310 5G?
Yes, but only at the lowest graphics settings, and expect some lag.

7. How does Nokia G310 5G compare with other budget gaming phones?
It’s competitive but generally a step behind Redmi or Realme in raw gaming power.

8. Does the phone support external gaming accessories?
Yes, you can connect Bluetooth controllers and headphones for a better gaming experience.

9. Is the audio good enough for gaming without headphones?
The single speaker is clear but lacks bass and depth; headphones are recommended.

10. What’s the best way to optimize gaming on Nokia G310 5G?
Use medium or low graphics settings, close background apps, and take breaks to prevent overheating.