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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe iPhone 18 Pro Max leads the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the graphics benchmark and game tests cited here, including the reported long-session results. But the size of that lead depends on the game, settings, frame-rate cap and test duration. Apple’s “up to 40 percent” figure is a claim about sustained performance—not a promise that every game will run 40 percent faster.
What the gaming tests show
The evidence favors the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but the results come from different workloads and should not be collapsed into a single percentage. A synthetic benchmark compares a controlled graphics workload; a game test measures one title under particular settings; and an extended run reveals how performance changes as a phone heats up.
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Synthetic graphics benchmark
In Tom’s Guide’s 2026 3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited test, the iPhone 18 Pro Max scored 17,850 and averaged 67.9 fps. The iPhone 17 Pro Max scored 12,260 and averaged 46.6 fps. That is a clear win for the newer phone in this synthetic graphics test, but it does not predict the frame rate in any specific game. Game engines, presets, resolution, frame caps and heat can all change the observed gap. Tom’s Guide’s benchmark comparison
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Game tests: Resident Evil 4 and Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Notebookcheck’s summary of a Dame Tech comparison reports Resident Evil 4 tested at 2346 × 1080, targeting 60 fps with the same stated graphics settings on both phones. The iPhone 18 Pro Max averaged 58 fps, with a 49.6 fps 1% low; the iPhone 17 Pro Max averaged 38.6 fps, with a 27.9 fps 1% low. Average fps describes overall performance, while the 1% low helps show how far frame rates dipped during the test. These figures apply to the reported test conditions, not every version or configuration of the game. Notebookcheck’s summary of the game comparison
#1 Best Overall
- 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 same report summarizes Assassin’s Creed Mirage at High settings and 1320p: 30 fps average and 29.8 fps 1% low on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, versus 25.3 fps average and 21.9 fps 1% low on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The game was capped at 30 fps in this test. That cap limits what the average can reveal about the newer phone’s maximum potential: a result near 30 fps cannot show how far above 30 fps the phone could have run without the limit. Notebookcheck’s summary of the game comparison
What longer sessions add
Notebookcheck also summarizes MrMacRight extended tests, which provide a view of performance as the phones heat up. In Resident Evil 4 Remake at 1320p, Balanced preset and MetalFX Quality, its summary says the iPhone 17 Pro Max reached the reported “Fair” thermal state at 2:39 and “Serious” before 8:13. The iPhone 18 Pro Max reached “Fair” at 8:13 and “Serious” at 14:13. At roughly 34 minutes, the reported frame rates were about 26 fps for the 17 Pro Max and 35 fps for the 18 Pro Max.
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%.
In Death Stranding at 900p and High settings, the summary reports the 18 Pro Max starting around 40 fps, compared with about 32–33 fps for the 17 Pro Max. Near 34:40, the reported figures were roughly 37 fps and 24.5 fps, respectively. These are secondary summaries of creator tests, not a guarantee of the same results in another session. They show that the newer phone can still lose performance during long play, while taking longer to reach the reported thermal states and sustaining higher frame rates late in these particular runs. Notebookcheck’s summary of the extended tests
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What Apple’s “up to 40 percent” claim means
Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro generation’s redesigned vapor chamber has three times the surface area of the previous generation on iPhone 17 Pro and enables “up to a 40 percent gain over the previous generation” in sustained performance. That is Apple’s manufacturer claim, not an independent finding that every game, setting or play session will improve by that amount. “Up to” describes a ceiling, and the result will depend on the workload and conditions. Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro announcement
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%.
Does the 18 Pro Max’s 120 Hz display mean 120 fps gaming?
No. Apple lists a 6.9-inch display with ProMotion adaptive refresh rates up to 120 Hz for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The display’s refresh-rate capability is not the same as a game’s rendered frame rate: the game, its settings and any frame-rate cap determine how many frames it produces. A 120 Hz screen therefore does not mean every game runs at 120 fps. Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro specifications
How to judge a gaming comparison fairly
When comparing phones, make sure the measurements describe the same workload. A short synthetic score, an average from one game and a late-session frame rate answer different questions.
Rank #4
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- Match the game and version. Updates can change performance.
- Match the graphics preset and resolution. A higher resolution or quality setting changes the load.
- Check the frame-rate cap. A capped result cannot reveal performance above the cap.
- Compare like-for-like durations and thermal conditions. A brief run does not show what happens after extended play.
- Read average fps and 1% lows together when both are available. The average reflects overall pace; the 1% low helps indicate dips.
- Keep benchmark and game results separate. A synthetic graphics lead is evidence for that benchmark, not a universal game-performance multiplier.
Which phone makes more sense for gaming?
On the evidence available here, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the stronger gaming performer: it leads in the cited synthetic benchmark, posts higher results in the reported game tests, and holds higher frame rates later in the cited extended runs. The exact benefit depends on the title and conditions, and the capped Mirage result cannot establish the newer phone’s uncapped ceiling. For someone choosing between these two models primarily for gaming, the tests favor the 18 Pro Max; they do not establish a universal uplift for every game.
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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%.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
