New iPhone 16 Can Play Big Games Without Pro Version

Apple Products iPhones
61

Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

The only AAA game I need is SlAAAy The Spire.

62

Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

Reminds me of this Norm MacDonald joke.

Don’t blame me for YouTube’s algorithm choosing a video filmed through a potato with a flashlight aimed at the screen.

63

Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

I believe in the near future, iOS devices will definitely be portable entertainment devices. Right now, an average user can use their iOS device as a professional camera, communication device, and gaming console. It’s a matter of time before we can have a straightforward all-in-one device. Making a fair market with more players will depend on innovation from the companies, new developments in emerging markets, and competition to push innovation, products, and options for customers. All we can do is wait for the next move from big and emerging tech competitors. For now, as an iOS user, I feel really excited about what’s coming next and hope this market dominance won’t lower the quality of their products or bring limitations to us as customers.

64

Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

That’s fine. The issue is there aren’t many AAA games available on the platform.

65

Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

Looks like the iPhone 15 (non-Pro) was the worst iPhone ever. One year old and already outdated because it won’t get the AI update, unlike the 15 Pro, 16, and 16 Pro. Plus, it also doesn’t play AAA games well.

66

Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

What AAA games? Did they announce Steam for iPhone?

67

Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

This … is a bummer. It makes the iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ look bad.

68

Zen said:

Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

This … is a bummer. It makes the iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ look bad.

How, aside from cooling?

69

Wylie said:

Zen said:
Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

This … is a bummer. It makes the iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ look bad.

How, aside from cooling?

Based on the keynote, Apple claimed that even the new base models have some heat sinks to assist with cooling. We’ll see how well that actually works. I hope someone tests Apple’s claims.

70

Wylie said:

Zen said:
Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

This … is a bummer. It makes the iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ look bad.

How, aside from cooling?

You can get the basic model and still play AAA games. The only reason the Pro model was ‘better’ was because of its ‘Pro’ features. Now, I can get the 16, and it’s good enough.

Note: I’m focused on gaming performance, not the actual features.

71

Zen said:

Wylie said:
Zen said:
Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

This … is a bummer. It makes the iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ look bad.

How, aside from cooling?

You can get the basic model and still play AAA games. The only reason the Pro model was ‘better’ was because of its ‘Pro’ features. Now, I can get the 16, and it’s good enough.

Note: I’m focused on gaming performance, not the actual features.

There are several reasons the Pro is better. The next year regular phones often get features from last year’s Pro models, so a17 Pro should still outperform a18. Considering Apple’s claims of the A18’s improvements over A16, if you compare that with past assessments of A17 Pro’s advancements over A16 (which were lesser for both CPU and GPU),

72

Wylie said:

Zen said:
Wylie said:
Zen said:
Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

This … is a bummer. It makes the iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ look bad.

How, aside from cooling?

You can get the basic model and still play AAA games. The only reason the Pro model was ‘better’ was because of its ‘Pro’ features. Now, I can get the 16, and it’s good enough.

Note: I’m focused on gaming performance, not the actual features.

There are several reasons the Pro is better. The next year regular phones often get features from last year’s Pro models, so a17 Pro should still outperform a18. Considering Apple’s claims of the A18’s improvements over A16, if you compare that with past assessments of A17 Pro’s advancements over A16 (which were lesser for both CPU and GPU),

That’s incorrect, A17 Pro isn’t better than A18. A18 is expected to be significantly faster in CPU and GPU performances, despite being a binned 5 core variant.

73

Wylie said:

Zen said:
Wylie said:
Zen said:
Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

This … is a bummer. It makes the iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ look bad.

How, aside from cooling?

You can get the basic model and still play AAA games. The only reason the Pro model was ‘better’ was because of its ‘Pro’ features. Now, I can get the 16, and it’s good enough.

Note: I’m focused on gaming performance, not the actual features.

There are several reasons the Pro is better. The next year regular phones often get features from last year’s Pro models, so a17 Pro should still outperform a18. Considering Apple’s claims of the A18’s improvements over A16, if you compare that with past assessments of A17 Pro’s advancements over A16 (which were lesser for both CPU and GPU),

Again, we’re discussing gaming, not the phone overall.

74

Zen said:

Wylie said:
Zen said:
Wylie said:
Zen said:
Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

This … is a bummer. It makes the iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ look bad.

How, aside from cooling?

You can get the basic model and still play AAA games. The only reason the Pro model was ‘better’ was because of its ‘Pro’ features. Now, I can get the 16, and it’s good enough.

Note: I’m focused on gaming performance, not the actual features.

There are several reasons the Pro is better. The next year regular phones often get features from last year’s Pro models, so a17 Pro should still outperform a18. Considering Apple’s claims of the A18’s improvements over A16, if you compare that with past assessments of A17 Pro’s advancements over A16 (which were lesser for both CPU and GPU),

Again, we’re discussing gaming, not the phone overall.

You are stating it ‘shits all over’ the iPhone and the ‘whole’ reason the Pro was better, but I’m explaining that there are multiple features making the Pro better, beyond just gaming benefits like a17 Pro having a superior GPU.

75

Wylie said:

Zen said:
Wylie said:
Zen said:
Wylie said:
Zen said:
Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

This … is a bummer. It makes the iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ look bad.

How, aside from cooling?

You can get the basic model and still play AAA games. The only reason the Pro model was ‘better’ was because of its ‘Pro’ features. Now, I can get the 16, and it’s good enough.

Note: I’m focused on gaming performance, not the actual features.

There are several reasons the Pro is better. The next year regular phones often get features from last year’s Pro models, so a17 Pro should still outperform a18. Considering Apple’s claims of the A18’s improvements over A16, if you compare that with past assessments of A17 Pro’s advancements over A16 (which were lesser for both CPU and GPU),

Again, we’re discussing gaming, not the phone overall.

You are stating it ‘shits all over’ the iPhone and the ‘whole’ reason the Pro was better, but I’m explaining that there are multiple features making the Pro better, beyond just gaming benefits like a17 Pro having a superior GPU.

… this is the iOS gaming forum. If I wanted a specs debate, I’d be in r/apple. The A18 chip can run AAA titles on the non-Pro phone, and that’s my focus. I’m NOT discussing the phone’s other features.

A higher refresh rate display doesn’t matter when the framerate of the games is poor. If the A18 keeps cooler longer and doesn’t throttle straight away, it’ll provide a better and smoother gaming experience.

76

Zen said:

Wylie said:
Zen said:
Wylie said:
Zen said:
Wylie said:
Zen said:
Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

This … is a bummer. It makes the iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ look bad.

How, aside from cooling?

You can get the basic model and still play AAA games. The only reason the Pro model was ‘better’ was because of its ‘Pro’ features. Now, I can get the 16, and it’s good enough.

Note: I’m focused on gaming performance, not the actual features.

There are several reasons the Pro is better. The next year regular phones often get features from last year’s Pro models, so a17 Pro should still outperform a18. Considering Apple’s claims of the A18’s improvements over A16, if you compare that with past assessments of A17 Pro’s advancements over A16 (which were lesser for both CPU and GPU),

Again, we’re discussing gaming, not the phone overall.

You are stating it ‘shits all over’ the iPhone and the ‘whole’ reason the Pro was better, but I’m explaining that there are multiple features making the Pro better, beyond just gaming benefits like a17 Pro having a superior GPU.

… this is the iOS gaming forum. If I wanted a specs debate, I’d be in r/apple. The A18 chip can run AAA titles on the non-Pro phone, and that’s my focus. I’m NOT discussing the phone’s other features.

A higher refresh rate display doesn’t matter when the framerate of the games is poor. If the A18 keeps cooler longer and doesn’t throttle straight away, it’ll provide a better and smoother gaming experience.

I understand your point; you were just stating things too rigidly, and I’m indicating the many benefits the Pro offers below pure gaming.

77

Wylie said:

Zen said:
Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

This … is a bummer. It makes the iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ look bad.

How, aside from cooling?

Will there be a mini version?

78

Cale said:

Wylie said:
Zen said:
Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

This … is a bummer. It makes the iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ look bad.

How, aside from cooling?

Will there be a mini version?

Yes…

79

Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

Or just use GFN.

80

Haru said:
From the article:

>”12 months on and the iPhone 16 is here, offering what Apple claims to be a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, courtesy of the new A18 chipset - built to handle the company’s demanding on-device AI features, due later this year. And that extra power (which includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16) means big games are no longer exclusive to the iPhone Pro.”

I wasn’t planning on upgrading from my 14 Pro Max, but this is encouraging for the future of iOS gaming.

I think it would be cool to connect an external monitor alongside a controller. The controller is already part of the package, and the iPad can output to a second screen. It doesn’t seem too far-fetched that it could function as a console. More like portable gaming than mobile gaming, I guess.