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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteReported tests show the iPhone 18 Pro Max ahead of the iPhone 17 Pro Max in two games, but they do not establish that it suffers “up to 69% less performance loss.” That figure is not supported by the available test report. The measured gap varied by game, settings and frame-rate cap.
What the reported game 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. The figures below are reported results, not independently reproduced measurements.
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| Game and settings | iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max | What the result means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 model averaged about 50% more frames per second, with nearly 78% higher 1% lows, as characterized by Notebookcheck. |
| Assassin’s Creed Mirage; High graphics, 1320p | 30 FPS average; 29.8 FPS 1% low | 25.3 FPS average; 21.9 FPS 1% low | Notebookcheck describes the differences as about 19% in average FPS and 36% in 1% lows. The game is capped at 30 FPS, which the newer phone reached. |
1% lows indicate performance during the slowest moments of a run, rather than the overall average. They help show whether gameplay may feel uneven even when the average looks acceptable. These two games also tell different stories: Resident Evil 4 was tested against a 60 FPS target, while Mirage’s 30 FPS cap limits how far the newer model’s average could rise.
Does the iPhone 18 Pro Max lose less performance over time?
The reported results support a narrower conclusion: the 18 Pro Max delivered higher frame rates in these two sustained game tests. They do not quantify a 69% reduction in performance loss. A performance-loss percentage requires a defined baseline and a comparison of how much each phone’s performance fell under a specified condition; the available Notebookcheck report does not provide that calculation or a 69% result.
#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%.
Apple separately says the next-generation vapor chamber has three times the surface area to dissipate heat and, with more thermally conductive materials and the A20 Pro design, delivers “up to 40 percent better sustained performance than iPhone 17 Pro.” This is Apple’s manufacturer claim, and its stated comparison is with the iPhone 17 Pro, not specifically the Pro Max. It should not be treated as an independently measured gaming result.
How the synthetic benchmark compares
Tom’s Guide reports 3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited results of 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. The publication describes that as a 45% leap. Solar Bay Unlimited is a synthetic graphics benchmark, not a game test, so its result provides separate context rather than a prediction that every game will run 45% faster.
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%.
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 to take from the comparison
- For the tested games: the reported averages and 1% lows favor the iPhone 18 Pro Max, with the size of the difference varying between titles.
- For longer sessions: the comparison was conducted long enough for heat and throttling to affect performance, but it does not establish a general percentage reduction in performance loss.
- For Apple’s 40% figure: it is a manufacturer statement about sustained performance, not a verified result from these game tests.
- For the 45% benchmark figure: it belongs to 3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited and should not be generalized to in-game performance.
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