Apple recently released the stable version of iOS 18, coinciding with the launch of the new iPhone 16 models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. This latest iOS version is compatible with all iPhones starting from the iPhone Xs. While iOS 18 introduces several new features, initial assessments indicate that it may lead to a decrease in performance across various iPhone models.
Performance Impact on Older Models
It's important to mention that the performance issues are exclusive to iPhones that could previously run iOS 17. The new iPhone 16 series, which cannot revert to earlier versions before iOS 18.0, is not affected. Geekerwan reported a 3.5% decline in both single-threaded and multi-threaded performance when comparing the iPhone 14 Pro Max on iOS 17 to iOS 18, using Geekbench 6 for testing. Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro Max (currently priced at $989 - renewed on Amazon) showed a 3.8% drop in single-threaded performance and a 3.9% reduction in multi-threaded performance.
Analysis of Benchmark Results
Although there are some differences in the results within Geekbench's public database, Geekerwan’s findings have been consistently replicated. While Geekbench does not provide an explanation for the performance changes, Geekerwan's analysis indicates that Apple has adjusted the CPU boost clock settings in iOS 18 compared to iOS 17. Consequently, the A17 Pro processor takes about 33% longer to reach its peak clock speeds in iOS 18 than in its predecessor.
Battery Life Considerations
As a result, users of the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max may experience slower performance in synthetic benchmarks that are executed over short durations. However, this change may have the intended effect of lowering power consumption. Theoretically, this could lead to improved battery longevity, although the actual increase in battery performance during everyday use is yet to be determined.
Geekerwan via Wccftech & @LeakerApple, Swello (Unsplash) - Image credits
