Red Dead Redemption mobile performance tested: This is the best Apple mobile device to play it on
Reports of a Red Dead Redemption remaster for the PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S surfaced a few weeks ago, followed by the game’s launch announcement on iPhones, iPads, Android devices, and even Netflix. While the improvements in the game’s PS5 and Xbox Series versions are relatively minor, the mobile port reportedly stands out.
Recently, YouTuber MrMacRight, who has previously analysed AAA gaming performance on the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the latest M5 iPad Pro, tested the new Red Dead Redemption port across multiple generations of iPhones and iPads, and the results are quite noteworthy.
On the M4 iPad Pro, Red Dead Redemption offers two graphics modes: a Fidelity mode locked at 30 FPS and a Performance mode targeting 60 FPS. According to the testing, the M4 model is able to sustain a stable 60 FPS in Performance mode, even at the maximum resolution scale, thanks to consistently low GPU frame times. The internal render resolution appears to be lower than the reported output resolution, but frame pacing remains smooth with no visible micro-stutters. Only the M4 and M5 iPad Pro models currently support 60 FPS output, making them the best Apple devices for playing the Red Dead Redemption mobile port.
Fidelity mode improves image quality but remains capped at 30 FPS. The YouTuber notes that the M4’s GPU frame times would technically allow a 40 FPS mode, though this option does not exist in the current build.
On the iPhone side, the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro models target 40 FPS in Performance mode instead of 60 FPS. The cap appears to be intentional to reduce thermal load and accommodate GPU frame-time limitations at full resolution. Fidelity mode runs at a stable 30 FPS on these devices. Interestingly, although the iPad mini with A17 Pro uses the same chip as the iPhone 15 Pro, it is limited to 30 FPS due to having fewer GPU cores.
Older hardware delivers mixed results. The M1 iPad Pro and the newer M3 iPad Air both run at 30 FPS without access to Fidelity or Performance toggles. The M1 occasionally achieves sub-16 ms GPU frame times, suggesting that 40 or even 60 FPS modes could be possible if enabled in a future update. The M3 iPad Air, meanwhile, struggles more due to its higher display resolution.
The iPhone 12 Pro maintains a consistent 30 FPS, though at a visibly lower internal resolution (around 864p according to the Metal HUD). Visual quality remains acceptable, but aliasing and reduced foliage density are more noticeable. In comparison, the original Nintendo Switch version renders at 1080p and 30 FPS but shares similar visual foundations, with both platforms relying on FXAA for anti-aliasing, the YouTuber notes.
Some devices currently exhibit major graphical issues. Models such as the iPhone XR and iPad Pro with A12Z reportedly suffer from severe rendering bugs that make the game unplayable.
Additional missing features include HDR, controller rumble, and optional keyboard-and-mouse support on iPad. The YouTuber also highlighted the absence of a Mac version. At the time of writing, you can play Red Dead Redemption on MacBooks in two ways: first, via a third-party translation layer called CrossOver, and second, through cloud streaming. They also mentioned Apple TV support as a potential opportunity, given that the latest A15-based models meet the technical requirements.
Overall, the performance of the Red Dead Redemption mobile port remains promising, particularly on recent iPhone and iPad hardware. MrMacRight also compares gameplay and image quality between the PS5 and iPad versions of the game, so be sure to check out the full video linked below.
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