With improvements in smartphone hardware and cellphone networks, mobile gaming has become massively popular – and it’s not hard to see why. 84% of the world’s population now own a smartphone – that’s 6.64 billion devices.

Few people buy a smartphone specifically for gaming, but many of us are drawn in eventually. Mobile games are particularly popular for killing time when we have a few minutes to spare.

There are hundreds of thousands of mobile games available, from platformers to puzzles, music to augmented reality, racing simulators to gambling. Asa result, the mobile gaming industry is expected to be worth more than $100 billion by the end of 2023.

So given that you will almost inevitably end up playing games occasionally, how can you maximize enjoyment and safety?

  1. Charge your battery

Games that use a lot of detailed graphics tend to use a lot of processing power. As a result, they can quickly drain your battery.

It may be worth investing in an external power pack or battery case. This will help to keep your phone battery charged for longer. And carry a charging cable in your pocket or bag, just in case you get the opportunity to recharge at some point during the day.

  1. Upgrade your cellular data plan

Some mobile games can also be extremely bandwidth hungry, eating into your cellular data allowance. If you plan to play a lot of games, or you find you keep running out of data, you will need to upgrade your cellular data plan.

For the best performance (and battery life) you should also use WiFi networks when they are available. WiFi is faster, more stable and often completely free so you won’t be wasting your monthly cellular data allowance unnecessarily.

Download Panda Mobile Security

  1. Be careful about downloading apps

Fake apps are a constant threat, particularly for Android devices. When downloading new games, make sure that you only ever download from the official app store.

Official apps are far less likely to be infected with malware, protecting you against hackers. You should never download form a third party website.

  1. Install mobile antimalware

Sometimes despite your best efforts to download safely, even “official” games can be hacked or infected. You can protect yourself against these rogue apps by ensuring you have mobile antimalware installed on your smartphone.

Mobile antimalware like Panda Antivirus for Android can scan your smartphone to detect suspicious apps and files automatically. You can then delete infected games to limit the damage caused.

Enjoy yourself

Mobile gaming should be fun – and safe. These tips should help you get more out of games on your smartphone – and keep you safe when you’re out and about.

So protect yourself today –download Panda’s Free Antivirus for Android now.