Apple’s “best game console” line was an ambitious prediction, not an independent verdict that the iPhone 15 Pro beats PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. In a September 2023 interview, Apple GPU software director Jeremy Sandmel said the iPhone was “going to be the best game console”; Apple executive Tim Millet immediately clarified that the company was focused on developers and games, “less on trying to compete with consoles.”
What Apple meant by “best game console”
Sandmel made the statement while discussing Apple’s push to bring major games to iPhone 15 Pro. The context matters: Apple was promoting a pocketable device capable of running selected native, console-style game ports. Millet’s qualification makes clear that Apple was not presenting the phone as a direct replacement for a PlayStation or Xbox.
That makes the phrase best understood as promotional positioning about the iPhone as a gaming platform. The interview does not establish a measured ranking against dedicated consoles, and the cited material contains no controlled head-to-head performance test.
What the iPhone 15 Pro brought to gaming
A17 Pro graphics hardware
Apple highlighted the A17 Pro chip’s six-core GPU, describing graphics performance as up to 20% faster than the previous generation. Apple also promoted hardware-accelerated ray tracing, saying it was four times faster than software-based ray tracing. Those figures are Apple’s claims, not a universal measure of performance across games or conditions. Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro announcement describes the chip and graphics features.
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- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. ProMotion technology. Always-On display. Titanium with textured matte glass back. Action button
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A17 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
- Pro camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide| Telephoto. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. Up to 10x optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 29 hours video playback. USB-C, Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers. Face ID
Native versions of major games
Apple pointed to native versions of games including Resident Evil 4, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Death Stranding. “Native” means the game runs on the device rather than being streamed from a remote gaming service, though a title’s presence in an announcement does not guarantee that it is available immediately. Apple also named Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 4, Death Stranding Director’s Cut, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage among titles that could benefit from hardware ray tracing. Apple’s launch announcement and launch coverage of the announced games describe the lineup.
Can the iPhone 15 Pro run PS5-quality games?
The announcement of console-style games on iPhone does not prove that the phone delivers the same performance, visuals, or overall experience as a PS5. A game may be adapted for different hardware, and the available claims do not provide a controlled comparison of image quality, frame rates, sustained performance, or loading times between the iPhone 15 Pro and a dedicated console.
Rank #2
- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. ProMotion technology. Always-On display. Titanium with textured matte glass back. Action button
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A17 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
- Pro camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide| Telephoto. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. Up to 10x optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 29 hours video playback. USB-C, Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers. Face ID
Apple’s Kaiann Drance said the company worked across its chip and software teams to sustain frame rates, graphics, and battery life. That describes Apple’s design goal; it is not independent evidence that every supported game maintains a particular level of performance during extended play. The practical comparison also depends on factors beyond graphics: game-library breadth and release timing, controls, display options, portability, connectivity, battery life, and the cost of the phone and any accessories.
Which announced games were native, and when were they available?
Apple’s announcement covered native game versions, but announced support was not the same as immediate availability. One example was Death Stranding Director’s Cut: 9to5Mac reported in December 2023 that its release for iPhone, iPad, and Mac had been delayed to a later window. 9to5Mac’s report on the delay documents that change.
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Rank #3
- 6.1" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1179x2556px, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM), 19.5:9 ratio, 3274mAh Battery
- 256GB 8GB RAM, Apple A17 Pro (3 nm), Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz), Apple GPU (6-core graphics), iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 17.6.1, planned upgrade to iOS 18
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 12MP, f/2.8 (telephoto) 3x optical zoom + 12MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide), Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9 (wide)
- 2G: 850/900/1800/1900, 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/46/48/53/66/71, 5G: 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/53/66/70/71/77/78/79/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Dual eSIM
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
For any specific title, check its current App Store listing and device requirements before assuming it can be downloaded and played on an iPhone 15 Pro. The 2023 announcement alone cannot establish a game’s current release status.
Do you need a Backbone controller?
No. Apple described both touchscreen controls and external controllers as options, with the appropriate choice depending on the game. Drance said some gameplay works well with onscreen controls, while other games benefit from an external controller; Apple specifically demonstrated a Backbone controller with iPhone 15 Pro. A controller is therefore an optional way to play, not a requirement for the phone to function as a gaming device. IGN’s interview with Apple’s executives covers the company’s comments on games and controls.
Rank #4
- 6.1" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1179x2556px, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM), 19.5:9 ratio, 3274mAh Battery
- 256GB 8GB RAM, Apple A17 Pro (3 nm), Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz), Apple GPU (6-core graphics), iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 17.6.1, planned upgrade to iOS 18
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 12MP, f/2.8 (telephoto) 3x optical zoom + 12MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide), Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9 (wide)
- 2G: 850/900/1800/1900, 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/46/48/53/66/71, 5G: 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/53/66/70/71/77/78/79/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Dual eSIM
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
Does Apple’s claim hold up?
It is fair to say the iPhone 15 Pro introduced hardware Apple positioned for more ambitious native gaming, and Apple backed that pitch with named game ports and A17 Pro graphics features. It is not supported to treat “best game console” as an objectively verified win over dedicated consoles: the statement was promotional, and the cited material supplies neither a head-to-head benchmark nor proof of equivalent game libraries, sustained performance, or availability.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
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