One of the innovations in iOS 18 is Game Mode. This is a special device profile feature (not to be confused with focus profiles) that is designed to provide a better gaming experience on the mobile platform.
Last year, Game Mode debuted in macOS Sonoma, where it showed good results and increased performance in games. This year the feature was transferred to iOS and iPadOS.
We have collected everything that is known about the new mode and tell you how it works.
Game mode will be available on any iPhone and iPad
Game Mode supports for all devices that can be upgraded to iOS 18 And iPadOS 18. These are the gadgets:
▶ iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd development, iPhone xs/xr and newer models;
▶ Ipad mini 5th generation and newer;
▶ iPad 7th generation and newer;
▶ iPad Air 3rd generation and newer;
▶ iPad Pro 12.9″ 3rd generation and newer;
▶ iPad Pro 11″ 1st generation and newer.
How to enable Game Mode in iOS 18
New mode turns on automatically when starting the game and turns off when they are rotated. You will be prompted to enable the mode at the top of the screen.
The system itself determines that the game is running and activates the mode. There are no game mode settings in the parameters. It is necessary to ensure that it is enabled for some application.
You can enable game mode if you manage to click on the banner while starting the game or using a special menu in Command centre.
In the first beta version of iOS 18, Game Mode is not enabled in all games.
What changes in iOS 18 when you enable Game Mode
Game mode affects the performance of the gadget and changes interaction with some accessories.
🎮 Productivity increases. On the one hand, it is clear that the gadget will require additional power for gaming mode. But on the other hand, iOS redistributes power and gives priority to the CPU and GPU, which should have given a slight increase even on the iPhone and iPad.
Additionally, iOS pauses everything in the background except the game you’re playing. This frees up processing power, allowing games to run more smoothly and at higher frame rates.
🎮 Gamepad latency is reduced. If game mode is enabled, the device polls Bluetooth for connected controllers. This makes controls more responsive, and button presses translate into in-game actions with virtually no lag, creating a smoother gaming experience.
🎮 Sound improves. Game Mode also minimizes audio latency, thereby minimizing the delay between sound effects and your actions. At the moment the option only works with AirPods Pro (2nd generation).
Perhaps the next test versions of the OS will support other headsets. For AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro And AirPods Max Provides spatial audio mode for games.
What is not yet known about game mode in iOS 18
At the moment, three main issues remain in the new regime.
Does operating mode affect battery drain? In theory, the mode should discharge the battery faster, but on the other hand, it only redirects power from one process to another.
To answer this question, it is necessary to test the system for a long time with different games.
Will game mode options be introduced? I would like to see a few options that can be turned on or off during game mode.
Perhaps the base needs a master toggle switch that completely disables this mode for those who do not need it.
Will Game Mode be available in all games? We don’t know how the underlying system will select games for the new modes available. Perhaps in the future it will be included in all games from the App Store.
I hope everything will become clear in the next test versions of Apple’s OS.
Source: Iphones RU
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