Apple has introduced the iPhone 16, claiming that AAA games can now be played on all devices in the lineup, not just on the more expensive Pro models as was the case last year.
Apple began promoting the iPhone’s AAA gaming capabilities with the 2023 iPhone 15 range, announcing that games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Resident Evil 4 Remake would be exclusively playable on the ray tracing-enabled iPhone 15 Pro.
Fast forward 12 months and the iPhone 16 is here, boasting a 30 percent CPU and 40 percent GPU boost over last year’s model, thanks to the new A18 chipset designed to handle Apple’s demanding on-device AI features expected later this year. This increased power, including hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the iPhone 16, means AAA gaming is now accessible on the base iPhone models.
Apple states that the base iPhone 16 can handle popular games such as Death Stranding: Director’s Cut, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Resident Evil 4, and Resident Evil: Village. Digital Foundry previously tested these games on the iPhone 15 Pro with varying results, so it will be interesting to see how they perform on this year’s models, especially considering the reported low AAA sales on iOS.
The iPhone 16, which includes a new physical Camera Control button and the previously Pro-exclusive Action Button, starts at £799 for 128GB of storage and a 6.1-inch display. The larger 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus is priced at £899 for the same storage capacity. Pricing for the Pro models starts at £999 for the 6.3-inch/128GB model and goes up to £1199 for the 6.9-inch Pro Max. All models will be available for pre-order on 13th September and launch on 20th September.
Additionally, Apple has confirmed that iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will be released on Monday, 16th September. These updates include a new Game mode to minimize background activity for improved frame rates, as well as improved responsiveness for wireless game controllers and AirPods.
