Apple recently released a new video showcasing the gaming power of the iPhone 15 Pro. In the ad, a gamer is so engrossed into a game on the iPhone 15 Pro that he is oblivious to the fact that he is crashing through floors, roofs, and somehow ends up in a subway train but can’t take his eyes off. “Serious gaming power” is Apple’s message. But is that the case?
After a month of “serious” gaming — not like the one in the ad — , we’re ready to declare it one of the best gaming phones on the market. The secret sauce? It’s got to be the A17 Pro chip and the ray-tracing support. Apple didn’t hold back, boasting about the most extensive GPU overhaul for the iPhone 15 Pro. It claims the GPU is up to 20 per cent faster, featuring a new 6-core design that’s all about performance and energy efficiency. Plus, there’s hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which Apple says is four times faster than software-based ray tracing. Now, talk is cheap, right? We had to see if it lived up to all those “three times or four times” claims. Read on as we explore the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s gaming chops.
The gaming experience
Apple gave us access to one of the biggest titles on the block for the iPhone 15 Pro Max—Resident Evil Village. This survival horror masterpiece is renowned for its eye-popping visuals and gripping gameplay. And guess what? On the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it’s a whole new ballgame.
This game is a heavyweight, weighing in at 14.2 GB, so get ready for a bit of a wait. But once you’re in, you’ll be floored by the smooth and fluid gameplay. The controls are responsive, and the frame rate is as steady as a caffeine addict’s hand. Capcom did a bang-up job making the mobile experience almost indistinguishable from the PC version. The visuals are a sight for sore eyes, with sharp textures and intricate models.
The iPhone 15 Pro comes with a whole graphics options menu. You can peek at how much graphics memory you’re using and even tweak the frame rate and screen resolution.
One of the things that makes Resident Evil Village so captivating on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is its ample display. The game’s sprawling, detailed environments truly come to life. The sound design is top-notch, with atmospheric music and lifelike sound effects. Thanks to ray tracing, the lighting effects get a boost, making shadows softer and more realistic.
We didn’t stop at Resident Evil Village. We dived into Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, a game that teleports you into J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world. Wands, owls, and magic galore, all look as realistic as a Dobby’s sock on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Shadow Fight 4 Arena was another playground for us. Smooth graphics, vibrant colours, and an all-around delightful experience.
From AAA titles to laid-back games, the iPhone 15 Pro Max takes it all in stride. The impact on the battery life will depend on what title you are playing. With Resident Evil Village, a 30-minute session did take some toll on the battery. Our iPhone 15 Pro Max was at 73% battery when we started and after the sesh was over, it was down to 67%.
Ray Tracing: The magic ingredient
Ray tracing is the buzzword here, a tech that makes lighting and reflections in games look delightful. It’s demanding, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s A17 Bionic chip doesn’t break too much of a sweat. The benefits of ray tracing include realistic lighting, improved global illumination, velvety soft shadows, and the magic of volumetric effects like fog and smoke.
Resident Evil Village is one of the early adopters, supporting ray tracing on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. When enabled, ray tracing makes the visuals even more realistic. Apple did announce other titles including Resident Evil 4, DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage will arrive on the iPhone 15 Pro soon. It will be interesting to see how these mega-gaming titles fare on mobiles. Apple doesn’t just rely on hardware; it introduced a new software API known as “Metal Ray Tracing.” This simplifies the process for game developers, making ray tracing possible on iPhones.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max takes on a console-level game like Resident Evil with finesse, but for the full experience, a controller is the way to go. Touchscreen controls can occasionally let you down. Let’s face it, controllers are just more comfortable than touchscreen twister.
It’s a bit like comparing apples and oranges (pun intended) when you stack the iPhone 15 Pro Max against the latest consoles. Consoles are a different beast, but in the world of mobile phones, this iPhone takes the crown.
How does it compare to a console? Well, it’s like comparing a lightsaber to a blaster — both are great in their own right, but different. The iPhone 15 Pro Max might not match the sheer size and dedicated gaming controllers of the latest consoles, but it certainly stands tall in the mobile gaming universe.
What we think
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the first big step in making the iPhone a powerful gaming device. It delivers seamless gameplay, realistic visuals, and ray tracing support, making graphic-intensive games a reality on mobiles. Just be prepared for a little heat after a gaming marathon.
Gaming on iPhone has never been better and Apple has really put a strong foot forward with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. You experience visuals and gameplay like never before. Ray tracing takes gaming titles like Resident Evil Village to a different level on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It’s like playing chess with Death Star-level graphics.