The iPhone 18 Pro Max posted higher reported frame rates in several game tests, but not all: after 34 minutes in Death Stranding, it reached 37 FPS versus 24 FPS for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. A comparison published October 5, 2026, reported results for the iPhone 18 Pro Max with A20 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max with A19 Pro.
For a broader flagship comparison, see NeoTeo’s earlier coverage of the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Google Pixel 11 Pro XL.
Death Stranding: the reported 34-minute comparison
The reported Death Stranding results put the iPhone 18 Pro Max ahead at 37 FPS, compared with 24 FPS on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The session lasted 34 minutes, with both phones running at 900p and High graphics settings.
That is a substantial gap in this particular result, but the other reported tests vary by game and setting. The comparison covers six named games plus Spaceship AAA, a Unity HDRP benchmark.
How the reported FPS results compare by game
The table lists the reported frame rates for each model, with the stated settings, resolution or session length alongside them. Apple lists the iPhone 18 Pro Max with A20 Pro and a 7-core GPU, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max with A19 Pro and a 6-core GPU.
| Game or benchmark | Reported setting, resolution or session | iPhone 18 Pro Max / A20 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max / A19 Pro |
| Death Stranding | 900p, High; after 34 minutes | 37 FPS | 24 FPS |
| Resident Evil 4 Remake | Shorter comparison | ≈40 FPS | ≈35 FPS |
| Resident Evil 4 Remake | After 34 minutes | 35 FPS | 26 FPS |
| Grid Legends | Stable frame rate reported | 60 FPS | 60 FPS |
| Tomb Raider | High; average | 75.7 FPS | 65.7 FPS |
| Tomb Raider | Performance mode | 120 FPS | 104.7 FPS |
| Assassin’s Creed Mirage | 660p internal resolution | 30 FPS | 30 FPS |
| Spaceship AAA benchmark | Ultra; 1534 × 660 pixels | 48.1 FPS | 36.6 FPS |
In Grid Legends, both phones were reported to sustain 60 FPS. Their listed GPU frame times were 13 ms for the iPhone 18 Pro Max and 15 ms for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. GPU frame time is how long the graphics processor takes to render a frame; a lower figure means less time per frame.
For Tomb Raider, the reported average at High settings was 75.7 FPS versus 65.7 FPS. In Performance mode, the comparison reported 120 FPS for the newer model and 104.7 FPS for the previous one. The settings and session length for that Performance-mode result were not specified in the published comparison.
Control and the Spaceship benchmark
In Control Ultimate Edition, the reported comparison put A20 Pro performance 22% higher, with GPU frame time 18% lower. At High ray tracing, neither phone reportedly maintained a stable 30 FPS.
The Spaceship AAA benchmark, which is distinct from the six named games, ran at Ultra graphics and 1534 × 660 pixels in the reported test: 48.1 FPS on the iPhone 18 Pro Max and 36.6 FPS on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. At Low graphics, both were reported near 120 FPS, with a 13% difference between them.
What the results say about gaming
The iPhone 18 Pro Max did not reach 60 FPS in every reported test. Grid Legends reached a stable 60 FPS on both phones, while Death Stranding after 34 minutes was reported at 37 FPS on the newer model. In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, both phones reached 30 FPS at 660p internal resolution.
So the results vary rather than point to one frame-rate difference that applies across every title: the reported FPS matched in Grid Legends and Assassin’s Creed Mirage, while the newer model recorded higher figures in several other listed tests.
