Apple's Impact on Mobile Gaming: Are iPhones the New Gaming Consoles?

When looking at the gaming industry, it's clear that mobile gaming isn't the rare unicorn it used to be once upon a time. Now, the mobile gaming market is dominating the industry, with 70% of all internet users using their smartphones to play games.

However, studies show that about 86% of iPhone users use their smartphones to play games, while only about 76% of Android users do the same. That's why it's good to examine Apple's impact on mobile gaming.

Mobile Gaming Then and Now

When mobile gaming first started, only simple games like Tetris, Snake, Space Invaders and Asphalt GT were possible. However, with the development of smartphones, new games became possible. This trend especially kicked off in 2007, when Apple invented the first touchscreen iPhone.

One of the gaming types that quickly adapted was casino games. With the new technological developments, online casino sites started to become a big hit around this time. In fact, mobiles are now one of the most popular devices for playing casino games. However, casino games aren't the only ones that evolved. Games like Angry Birds, Candy Crush Saga and Clash of Clans also became popular.

Still, these games remained quite simplistic when compared to more complex video games you could find on consoles and PCs. For years Mac aimed to compete with PCs on this front, but they've yet to overtake Windows, though it comes close in markets like online trading. For years, video games were only really available for play on consoles or PCs.

However, that has recently changed. Well-known games like Genshin Impact, League of Legends: Wild Rift and Fortnite now appear on mobile. Now, it's become common for RPG, open-world and MMO games to be available on mobile.

The New Trend Towards Video Games on Mobile

While mobile was always exclusively used for puzzle and strategy games like Candy Crush Saga, this has now changed. Instead, RPG has become the leading genre for mobile games, as per 2023 statistics. Still, research shows that strategy and match games are still extremely popular, with casino games coming in hot at fourth place.

iGaming on Mobile

Another form of gaming that's become increasingly popular on mobile is iGaming. Although it only has about $8.3 billion in mobile revenue, compared to RPGs, which have around $24.5 billion in revenue, it's becoming more popular by the day.

The new trend is for online casinos to add gamification elements, such as VIP levels and missions, that make them more intuitive to use. The platforms are also designed to optimize perfectly for mobile devices, which allows you to play your favorite casino games anywhere, anytime.

Apple's Mobile Gaming Evolution

When mobile games first became popular, Apple quickly saw the potential in them. In 2008, they developed a game/app distribution center, the App Store, making history as it immediately took off. While other companies tried to do the same, only Google's Google Play Store and Microsoft's Windows Phone Store had any real success at the time.

Further, Apple soon developed hardware that made their smartphones better for gaming, such as retina displays, A-Series chips and support for 3D graphics. All of this ensured that the iPhone was chosen over the Android for gaming.

In 2017, Apple made history by releasing a platform called ARKit. Developers can use ARKit to create augmented reality experiences for iPhones. As such, games like Pokemon GO became very popular. The mobile gaming section maintains its grip on the market thanks to its ease of access and the latest technology.

Apple Features That Support Your Gaming

With the gaming-focused features, mobile devices are now taking over the gaming market, with 49% of adults in the US preferring their smartphones for gaming.

Universal Purchase

One of the best features Apple has implemented is Universal Purchase. If you purchase a game on your iPhone, you can also play that game on other Apple devices, like Mac, iPad and Apple Vision Pro. That way, you don't have to purchase multiple versions of a game if you want to play it on different devices.

It Supports Consoles

While the newer generation has grown up with touchscreen iPhones and can utilize them excellently when playing games, the older generation still prefers their controllers. Luckily, Apple understands this, and so its iPhone is compatible with phone controllers like Backbone. However, you can also pair it with controllers from Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, giving you the ability to game in your preferred way.

Apple Arcade and AAA-Games

While AAA games have become quite prevalent on mobiles, Apple also launched its own gaming library, called the Apple Arcade. Players use a monthly subscription to access these games, with more Indie games available. This way, users have access to multiple games, from Vampire Survivor+ and Resident Evil 4 to Death Stranding, Assassin's Creed and more.

Best Apple Mobile Devices for Gaming

When looking at the different iPhones you can use for gaming, there are three versions that stand out above the rest.

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

The best iPhone for gaming is, hands down, the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, exceptional performance, a minimum of 256 GB and a maximum of 1 TB storage. Plus, it has a 4,441 mAh battery, which makes it the perfect gaming device.

• iPhone 16

The new iPhone 16 is better than ever, though it doesn't entirely win out above the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It's AI-ready and perfectly suited for AAA games. However, it has 60Hz refresh rates, which makes it less suitable than the above version. Still, this version is more affordable than the 16 Pro Max model without losing too much in hardware and software.

• iPhone 14 Pro Max

This iPhone is less expensive than the above two, but it's still a pricey option. However, it boasts a 4,323 mAh battery and a fantastic 6.7-inch, 120Hz OLED display. While the 6 GB RAM is a bit low, it's still one of the best value-for-money options when you want a mobile for gaming.

Enter a New Gaming Era

While it's not that iPhones are the new gaming consoles, they're certainly the most popular gaming device. If Apple's Backbone controller was more affordable, then it might become the next big console gaming device.

However, as it stands, most people use mobile phones without them or pair them with supported controllers. Still, despite all of this, the market is seeing a drastic shift towards mobile gaming in the future, especially as people often don't have time to sit down and play games anymore.