Scalping from a phone vs from a VPS: latency and fat-finger cost

[FXS London Scalper]

Mobile trading apps have improved a lot, and it's tempting to manage scalps from a phone when away from the desk. The trade-offs are bigger than they look.

Latency: a phone on mobile data might have 50–150 ms latency to the broker, with occasional spikes to several hundred. A VPS near the broker's server might be 1–5 ms. For scalps with small targets, those differences show up in fills.

Fat-finger risk: small screens, touch inputs and autocorrect are a poor combination with fast markets. Wrong lot size, wrong direction, tapping "close all" by accident: all of these happen more on phones.

Information: a phone shows one chart at a time. Context such as related pairs, the calendar and higher timeframes is harder to see.

Where mobile makes sense:
- Emergency closes when the main setup is unavailable.
- Monitoring open positions with stops already set.
- Checking levels and news.

Where it doesn't:
- Opening new scalps, especially during busy sessions.

Do you trade from your phone? Has it ever cost you, or saved you?