The release of Tomb Raider for iPhone and iPad is scheduled for February 12, 2026, continuing the trend of major AAA games arriving on Apple devices. According to early tests, the mobile version of the game offers several graphical presets and optimization options, with performance and visual quality depending on the device generation.

The Rise of Mobile Gaming on Apple Devices

In recent months, mobile gaming on Apple devices has seen significant growth: large-scale projects previously available only on PC and consoles are now launching on iOS and iPadOS. Notable recent releases include Red Dead Redemption from Rockstar and the open-world game Where Winds Meet, which have appeared on iPhone, iPad, and select high-end Android devices.

Now, the iconic Tomb Raider series is joining mobile platforms, further confirming the expanding presence of AAA games on mobile devices.

Features of the Mobile Tomb Raider Port

Popular YouTuber MrMacRight, known for testing AAA games on iPhone and iPad, shared a preliminary performance review of Tomb Raider on these devices. According to him, the iOS and iPadOS versions include several graphical presets and post-processing options.

• Battery Saver Mode limits performance to 30 FPS.
• Graphics Preset is also set for 30 FPS, but on some iPad Pro models with A12X, A12Z, M1, and M2 chips, the frame rate can reach 40 FPS, and on M4 and M5 — up to 60 FPS.
• Performance Mode allows for 60 FPS on iPhone 11 and newer, while iPad Pro models with M4 and M5 chips support up to 120 FPS.
• The game includes a built-in benchmark, but dynamic resolution scaling is not used due to processor limitations.

Performance Across Different Devices

• iPhone 17 Pro Max: In Performance mode, the game runs at a resolution of 2151 × 990 with a stable 60 FPS, even during extended gaming sessions, without noticeable throttling.
• iPhone 15 Pro: Runs at 1482 × 683 resolution targeting 60 FPS, but after the device heats up, frame rate drops may occur in demanding scenes.
• iPhone 12 Pro: Can reach 60 FPS in simple scenes, but quickly heats up and loses performance, almost immediately entering a "serious" thermal state.
• iPhone XS: On older models, only Graphics and Battery Saver modes are available, with no Performance mode. In Graphics mode, the game runs at 1632 × 753 and generally maintains 30 FPS, occasionally dropping frames in certain scenes.

iPad Pro and Other Tablets

• 11-inch M4 iPad Pro: In Performance mode, the game runs at an internal resolution of 1621 × 1117 and supports up to 120 FPS. The device consistently maintains 120 FPS even during long gaming sessions without noticeable throttling.
• Older iPad Pro models with M-series chips (including M1): Typically target 60 FPS in Performance mode. The optional Performance Plus preset further lowers resolution to increase frame rates.
• M4 and M5 iPad Pro: In Graphics mode, these run at native resolution with a target of 60 FPS, while older models aim for 40 FPS. Performance remains stable even in demanding scenes.

Comparison with Other Platforms

MrMacRight also compared Tomb Raider’s performance on iOS with Mac, PS3, PS4, and Switch 2, and tested the game on the M3 iPad Air.

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In summary, the arrival of Tomb Raider on Apple devices highlights the growing interest in mobile gaming and demonstrates that modern mobile hardware can deliver high-quality graphics and performance comparable to consoles and PCs, especially on the latest iPhone and iPad models.