The explosion of gaming activities, with over 18.9 million gamers in Thailand, is driving the debut of new gaming smartphones.
Razer, the US-based gaming accessories maker, is joining with Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS) to introduce the Razer 2 game smartphone in Thailand, its first overseas market outside the US, aiming to capitalise on the high-growth opportunity.
"Gaming, in particular e-sports, is growing around the globe and in Thailand," said Pratthana Leelapanang, chief consumer business officer of Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS).
There are an estimated 18.9 million gamers in Thailand, accounting for 28% of the population, while there are 30 million people projected to be in the e-sports community here.
There are 42 million mobile social media users in Thailand, 47.9 million mobile internet users and 45 million traditional internet users.
Games require low-latency networks for quality play. As of the third quarter of 2018, the use of mobile internet was up 71% year-on-year.
In the third quarter, average use per month was at 10.1 gigabytes, compared with 7.3GB and 3.8GB in the same period of 2017 and 2016.
To capitalise on the growing market, AIS and Razer introduced the Razer 2 smartphone for gaming as a Thailand exclusive.
"Thailand has 25 million millennial users, aged 18-35, and they are the target group of AIS," Mr Pratthana said.
Irene Ng, vice-president for Asia-Pacific mobile at Razer, said Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to introduce the Razer 2 smartphone after its launch in the US.
Equipped with a 5.7-inch display, the Razer 2 features long battery life, a 120Hz screen and a vapour chamber cooling system, and is priced at 27,990 baht. AIS's promotion package includes three months of unlimited 4G.
Sura Khanittaweekul, chief executive of retail operator Com7 Plc, said gaming smartphones are still a niche and a marketing gimmick. "We have to wait and see whether phone makers will launch special smartphones," he said. "If you call it a phone designed for gamers, lifestyle users might not purchase it."
Tossaporn Nisthanon, deputy country director of Huawei Consumer Business Group Thailand, said Huawei also develops smartphones with specifications to support gamers.
The Huawei Mate 20 X was designed to support game players, he said, and the entry-level Y9 phone is for young gamers.
Juthamas Tangtatpongsathorn, an analyst at IDC Thailand, said the best phones for gaming tend to fall in the premium or flagship range and come with top-tier specifications, sharper displays and longer battery life -- all to ensure gaming enthusiasts an optimal experience.
Most mid-range phones (US$200-$400, or 6,590-13,180 baht) can run mobile games well enough and are reasonably priced for the general population, Ms Juthamas said.
For the average user that plays games casually, a regular mid-range phone is sufficient to run mobile games.
The most distinct difference for a gaming phone is typically the exterior design, which looks "cooler" and more futuristic to appeal to the niche segment.
Some end-users, especially those in a more professional or business setting, may not find the design suitable, opting instead for a traditional flagship model.
Various gaming phones also come with customised accessories that can be attached to the phone for an optimised gaming experience.
"So we believe that gaming phones are meant to target a niche segment -- specifically, gaming enthusiasts," Ms Juthamas said.