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| John Marston in a town scene from Red Dead Redemption |
A few weeks ago, the gaming world was buzzing with rumors of a Red Dead Redemption remaster for modern consoles, only to get an official—and surprising—announcement of the game’s arrival on iPhones, iPads, Android, and Netflix. While the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions offer subtle upgrades, it’s the mobile port that’s stealing the spotlight. But how does Rockstar’s iconic Western actually run on Apple’s latest silicon? A new deep-dive performance review sheds light on what to expect, depending on which device is in your holster.
Popular tech YouTuber MrMacRight, known for his rigorous testing of AAA games on Apple hardware, recently put the new Red Dead Redemption port through its paces across multiple generations of iPhones and iPads. The results reveal a promising, if somewhat uneven, frontier for mobile gaming, with clear winners and a few devices that might want to sit this ride out.
The Performance Frontier: iPad Pro Leads the Posse
Starting with the most powerful hardware, the M4 iPad Pro emerges as the undisputed champion. The port offers two graphics modes here: a Fidelity mode locked at 30 FPS for the best image quality, and a Performance mode targeting 60 FPS.
According to MrMacRight’s testing, the M4 iPad Pro handles the Performance mode with ease, maintaining a solid 60 FPS even at maximum resolution. While the internal rendering resolution is reportedly lower than the output resolution, the frame pacing is smooth, with no noticeable micro-stutters. Currently, only the M4 and M5 iPad Pro models support the 60 FPS output, making them the best way to experience the game on a mobile Apple device.
The Fidelity mode does improve visual clarity but remains at a capped 30 FPS. Interestingly, the YouTuber points out that the M4's GPU frame times could theoretically support a 40 FPS option—a sweet spot for many gamers—though this mode isn't available in the current build.
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| Red Dead Redemption running on an iPad Pro with the Metal performance HUD showing 60 fps output |
iPhones: A Steady 40 FPS Gallop
Switching to the iPhone lineup, the performance target shifts. On the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro models, Performance mode aims for 40 FPS, not 60. This cap appears intentional, likely to manage thermal load and GPU limitations when rendering at the full screen resolution. The Fidelity mode holds a stable 30 FPS on these devices.
A notable quirk was found with the iPad mini, which, despite sharing the A17 Pro chip on paper with the iPhone 15 Pro, is locked to 30 FPS. The reason? The iPad mini has one fewer GPU core (5 vs. 6), showing how sensitive this port is to hardware configuration.
Older Hardware: A Mixed Bag on the Trail
For owners of slightly older devices, the experience varies:
- M1 iPad Pro & M3 iPad Air: Both run at a locked 30 FPS with no option to toggle between Fidelity or Performance modes. The M1 chip occasionally hits frame times that suggest it could handle 40 or even 60 FPS if unlocked in a future update. The M3 iPad Air, however, struggles more consistently due to pushing its higher-resolution display.
- iPhone 12 Pro: Maintains a consistent 30 FPS, albeit at a lower internal resolution (estimated at around 864p). While still playable, aliasing and reduced foliage density become more apparent. The YouTuber notes this version shares a similar visual foundation with the original Nintendo Switch release, with both relying on FXAA for anti-aliasing.
Unfortunately, some devices are facing serious technical issues. Models like the iPhone XR and the A12Z iPad Pro are reportedly plagued by severe rendering bugs that currently make the game unplayable.
Missing Features and Mac Workarounds
The port is also missing several modern amenities, including HDR support, controller rumble, and keyboard/mouse support on iPad. MrMacRight also highlighted the absence of a native Mac version.
For now, Mac users have two unofficial paths: running the game through the CrossOver compatibility layer or via cloud streaming services. The YouTuber also pointed to Apple TV as a potential future platform, as the latest A15-based models meet the necessary technical requirements.
Want to see the direct visual and performance comparison for yourself? MrMacRight’s full video analysis, which includes side-by-side footage with the PS5 version, is essential viewing.
The Bottom Line
Overall, the mobile port of Red Dead Redemption shows significant promise, particularly on recent high-end iPhone and iPad models. It’s a clear technical achievement, even with some performance compromises and missing features. For gamers eager to revisit the wild west on the go, your experience will heavily depend on your device, but the trail is now officially open.