How to check if your phone will work with Minecraft Earth

Minecraft: Earth (Image credit: Microsoft)

In Minecraft Earth, you'll be able to experience augmented reality adventures using your smartphone's camera on a compatible Android and iOS device. For Android, your phone needs to be powerful enough to run ARCore, complete with Android version 7 or above, for iPhones, you'll need iOS version 10 or higher. In this guide, we'll show you how to check that your phone is compatible with Minecraft Earth.

How to check your version of iOS on iPhone or iPad

iOS devices like iPhones and iPads differ slightly in their settings menus, but the general execution is the same. Ensure your iPad or iPhone is rocking all the latest updates, and you can then easily find whether or not it's compatible using this quick guide.

Update your iPhone to the latest available OS version.
Open the Settings app.
Select General.
Select About.
Check your Version is 10 or higher.

How to check your version of Android

The menus vary wildly across Android devices since it allows developers a large degree of freedom for customizing the software. Generally though, the Android version is almost always found in the "About" section. Here's how to find it.

Update your Android phone to the latest available OS version.
Open the Settings app.
Select About phone.
Check your Android version is 7 or higher.
Make sure your ARCore is up to date, by checking this link in the Google Play Store.

If your devices have the latest updates and don't meet requirements, it will be unable to play Minecraft Earth.

Best phones for Minecraft Earth

If you need a phone upgrade to join in on the block-tacular fun, here's our current phone recommendations.

Best Value iPhone

iPhone XR

The best iOS Minecraft Earth companion.

While similar to the more expensive XS, the XR carries all the same augmented reality goodness in what is essentially a very similar product. The screen is a little worse than its XS cousin, but you'll save a lot of money with the purchase.

Best Value Android

OnePlus 7 Pro

Experience Minecraft Earth for hundreds less.

What is arguably the best Android phone on the market right now, the new OnePlus 7 Pro packs premium flagship features into an impressively affordable device. With one of the fastest screens, some of the best specs, and a novel selfie camera solution, the OnePlus 7 Pro isn't just great for Minecraft Earth, it's just great.

Most affordable Minecraft Earth-ready phone

Google Pixel 3a

Most affordable Minecraft Earth-ready phone

If you fancy saving a couple hundred dollars versus the OnePlus 7 Pro then look no further than the Pixel 3a. The Pixel 3a is quite easily the best "budget" Android handset on the market, with everything you need for a solid Minecraft Earth experience.