6 Top Tips For Better Mobile Gaming On Apple Devices iPhones are not only great communication tools, they can be used to boost productivity, and they offer access to a host of mobile games from puzzles and casual games to strategy and first-person shooters.

Videogame | PS4 Control

But, there are some steps you can take to help improve the performance of your Apple devices to help further improve your mobile gaming experience.

Mobile gaming is convenient and functional, and it offers access to a host of different games in every conceivable genre. The iPhone is more than capable of running casual games like Stardew Valley, AAA titles like CSGO, and casino games found on Lucky Block. It will even play live dealer games, as well as live poker, and some of the most recent additions to the online casino.

But before you start playing, close any apps that are open and you’re not running. These background apps are processor hogs. They can slow offline gameplay down, and they try to connect to download updates or even to check for updates, they can slow online play to a crawl, causing lag and dropped connections. Similarly, you can close background processes like Bluetooth and even WiFi, if you’re not using it.

A mobile phone on top displays a video game featuring a character in a mountainous, green landscape. Below the phone is a black PlayStation controller with highlighted buttons, and an Apple logo is visible in the bottom right corner, showcasing next-gen gaming on your iPhone.
iPhone 16 Pro Gaming Control | iPhone Game

Check your device’s storage and clear out anything you don’t need. Mobile games need to download and install a lot of files, and if there isn’t room, it will interrupt your play. And, with a lot of files and documents in your storage, it can cause conflicts when you try and run games. Manually remove old photos and apps you no longer use and consider using a third-party app that will get rid of duplicate files and other unused items in your phone’s storage.

If you are suffering lag or poor performance while gaming, try rebooting your phone. Turn it off, leave it off for 30 seconds, and then turn it back on again. This resets various processes that could be causing poor graphical and system performance, and it can fix a host of different problems and woes.

When you’re using your phone for everyday purposes, using a lower screen brightness can help save battery. However, when you’re gaming, you don’t want to have to be squinting at the screen. At the very least, your screen brightness should be about halfway, but if you’re playing in difficult lighting conditions or are playing especially gloomy games, you may need to turn this up even higher for the best experience.

You can connect some controllers, especially old retro controllers to your phone. This negates the need to use on-screen joysticks and means you don’t have to tap the screen for controls. It can be a literal game changer, especially with platform titles that need accurate timing and visibility across the whole screen.

Close-up of hands holding an iPad Mini 7 in landscape mode, displaying a racing game with cars speeding along a track. The on-screen interface shows game stats like speed, position, and drift meters, with vibrant visuals and dynamic motions.
Apple iPad Mini

Using a controller can be difficult if you have to stand your phone more than a foot or two away from you. One way around this, which also makes gameplay much more fun, is to use AirPlay to cast content from your phone screen to your TV. Combine this with a retro controller and you’ve basically got a small game console in your pocket.

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