Reported tests show the iPhone 18 Pro Max running two games at higher average frame rates and with stronger 1% lows than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. But the available results do not support the headline’s claim of “up to 69% less performance loss”: the report provides no such figure or calculation. The size of the measured advantage varied by game, settings and frame-rate cap.
What the gaming tests found
Notebookcheck reported results from a comparison by YouTube channel Dame Tech. The phones were tested long enough for heat and thermal throttling to affect sustained performance. These are published results, not an independent reproduction of the tests by Notebookcheck.
| Game and settings | iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max | What the result indicates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Evil 4; 2346 × 1080, 60 FPS target, same graphics settings | 58 FPS average; 49.6 FPS 1% low | 38.6 FPS average; 27.9 FPS 1% low | The newer phone averaged about 50% more frames per second, with nearly 78% higher 1% lows. |
| Assassin’s Creed Mirage; High graphics, 1320p | 30 FPS average; 29.8 FPS 1% low | 25.3 FPS average; 21.9 FPS 1% low | The newer phone averaged about 19% more FPS and had about 36% higher 1% lows. The game is capped at 30 FPS, which the newer phone reached. |
Notebookcheck attributes both game comparisons to Dame Tech’s tests. The results are reported in [Notebookcheck’s October 3, 2026 report].
Why the results do not prove “69% less performance loss”
Average FPS and 1% lows describe frame rates; they are not, by themselves, a measurement of how much performance each phone lost from an earlier point in a session. The Notebookcheck report does not state a 69% reduction in performance loss or provide the starting and ending measurements needed to calculate one. That headline figure is therefore not established by the available results.
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- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
The 1% low is a useful indicator of the slower frames a player may encounter, but comparing the two phones’ 1% lows is not the same as measuring each phone’s decline over time. The reported figures support a conclusion that the iPhone 18 Pro Max performed better in these particular tests, not a universal percentage for reduced throttling.
How to interpret Apple’s sustained-performance claim
Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro’s next-generation vapor chamber has three times the surface area to dissipate heat. Apple says that, together with more thermally conductive materials and the A20 Pro chip design, it delivers “up to 40 percent better sustained performance than iPhone 17 Pro” and enables high-intensity gaming for longer. This is Apple’s manufacturer claim, not an independently verified 40% result from the two game tests; Apple’s comparison names iPhone 17 Pro, not Pro Max. See Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max page.
Rank #2
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
What a separate graphics benchmark adds
Tom’s Guide reported 67.9 FPS (17,850 score) for the iPhone 18 Pro Max and 46.6 FPS (12,260 score) for the iPhone 17 Pro Max in 3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited, describing the difference as a 45% leap. Solar Bay Unlimited is a synthetic graphics benchmark, not a game session, so its result should not be treated as a general in-game uplift. The figures appear in Tom’s Guide’s iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max comparison.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Rank #4
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Rank #3
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
What this means if you play on iPhone
- Resident Evil 4: The reported gap was substantial under the stated resolution and 60 FPS target, in both average FPS and 1% lows.
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage: The newer phone reached the game’s 30 FPS cap, limiting how far its average could exceed the older phone’s; the 1% lows still differed.
- Long-session performance: The report says testing lasted long enough for heat and throttling to affect performance, but it does not establish a general reduction in performance loss across games.
- Overall comparison: Treat the findings as evidence of better results in these specific tests, not a promise that every game will run a fixed percentage faster.
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