Quick Takeaway: Getting that rock-solid 120 FPS on the iPhone 17 Pro means dodging iOS glitches and heat buildup. It's doable on iPhone 13-16 Pro models too; the A18 Pro chip should outpace the A17 Pro's limits. Flip on screen recording tricks and stay under 35°C for buttery-smooth action. (38 words)
Diving into PUBG Mobile's Performance on iPhone 17 Pro
Why Chase 120 FPS in PUBG Mobile?
Ever wonder why that extra smoothness at 120 FPS feels like a game-changer? It shaves off 16.7ms of input lag per frame on high-refresh screens, making your aim snap into place way better than at 90 FPS. But here's the rub—iOS quirks often drag things down below 90 FPS on iPhone 13-16 Pro Max setups. The A18 Pro? It's poised to hold 120 FPS steady where the A17 Pro buckles at 90 under heat stress.
Key Point: 120 FPS rolled out officially for iPhone 13, 14 Pro/Pro Max, and 15 Pro/Pro Max; even the iPhone 16 Pro Max stumbles at 120 due to rendering hiccups.
Real-World Data: On iPhone 16 Pro Max, expect drops after just 10-15 minutes at 120 FPS—way rougher than sticking to 90.
Quick Start Steps:
Update PUBG Mobile to the newest version.
Head to Settings > Graphics > Frame Rate and pick 120 FPS.
Jump into a casual match to test the waters.
Getting the Lowdown on Thermal Throttling
Thermal throttling kicks in around 35-40°C, slamming your FPS from 120 down under 60 on the A17 Pro. iOS 17.4? It amped up the lag on older rigs like the iPhone SE 2020 even at 90 FPS. Pro models aren't immune—they throttle hard at 120 after prolonged sessions.
Key Point: Overheating kills your shot at holding 90 FPS, and it's the same story in BGMI on iPhone 16 Pro.
Real-World Data: After iOS 17.4, the iPhone SE 2020 starts lagging at 90 FPS; Pro models tank at 120.
Practical Fixes:
Watch for heat warnings and steer clear of playing above 40°C.
Dial graphics down to Medium.
Take a 5-minute breather every 20 minutes of play.
Breaking Down the iPhone 17 Pro's Gaming Hardware
What the A18 Pro Chip Brings to the Table
The A18 Pro steps up efficiency over the A17 Pro for sustaining 120 FPS, though iOS still throttles rendering when 3-4 apps are juggling in the background. That A17 Pro? It pumps out too much heat, choking out 90 FPS in demanding spots.
Key Point: The A17 Pro in iPhone 16 Pro battles heat during processor-intensive gameplay.
Real-World Data: iPhone 16 Pro Max on iOS 18.3.2 turns choppy at 120 FPS but flows nicely at 90.
Hands-On Steps:
Update iOS to snag chip-specific tweaks.
Swipe through the App Switcher to kill background apps.
Free up at least 10GB of storage space.
How Built-in Cooling Holds Up
Relying on passive cooling through those metal frames? It caps performance once temps climb past 35°C in high-FPS pushes. You'll see consistent FPS dips at 120 across iPhone 13-16 Pro lines—no surprises there.
Key Point: Without active cooling, Pro models throttle under load.
Real-World Data: iPhone 16 Pro Max mirrors the drops at 120 FPS seen on iPhone 13/14/15 Pro.
Smart Moves:
Play in rooms under 25°C ambient temp.
Ditch the case to let heat escape easier.
Power down if overheating alerts pop up, following Apple's own advice.
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Flipping the Switch for 120 FPS in PUBG Mobile
Your Step-by-Step In-Game Setup
iOS bugs are the real villains here, blocking stable 120 FPS and turning things choppier than a 90 FPS fallback.
Key Point: 120 FPS is officially greenlit for Pro models, but iOS caps make it perform poorly.
Real-World Data: iPhone 16 Pro Max dips below 90 FPS when trying 120 with 3-4 apps open.
Do This:
Dive into Settings > Graphics.
Set Frame Rate to 120 FPS and Graphics to Smooth.
Restart the app to lock it in.
Tweaks at the iOS Level
Those rendering glitches from 2022? They're still hanging around, so you need clever toggles to unlock true 120 FPS.
Key Point: It's an iOS issue, not the game's fault—workarounds force the rendering to behave.
Real-World Data: No fixes since iOS 17.4, which still messes with PUBG's smoothness.
Screen Recording Hack Steps:
Select 120 FPS, then fire up screen recording from Control Center.
Let it roll during your match for that fluid 120 FPS vibe.
Shut it off once you're done.
Or try this Accessibility Angle:
Set to 120 FPS; then in iOS Settings > Accessibility > Motion, turn on 'Limit Frame Rate'.
Jump in and out of the game.
Switch it off to seal the 120 FPS lock.
Stopping Thermal Throttling in Its Tracks
Tips for Your Setup and Play Style
Cranking high graphics on the A17 Pro pushes past 35°C fast, triggering throttling; and those sketchy third-party coolers? They might save FPS but could wreck your battery.
Key Point: PUBG's intensity alone dooms 90 FPS stability.
Real-World Data: Back in 2022 reports, extended sessions raised battery red flags; coolers curb drops but invite damage risks.
Stay Cool With:
Hover between 0-35°C, straight from Apple's playbook.
Vet any cooler against the manufacturer's specs.
Cap sessions at 30 minutes max.
Software Smarts to Keep Things Smooth
iOS 17.4 actually made lag worse—test it across apps to pinpoint if it's PUBG-specific.
Key Point: It hits 3-4 apps hard; flag it to the devs.
Real-World Data: Post-2024 update, iPhone SE 2020 lags at 90 FPS; Pro models throttle at 120.
Optimization Steps:
Run tests in other graphics-heavy apps; tweak if it's just PUBG acting up.
Update iOS and PUBG, then restart your device.
Hit up in-game support to report it.
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Keeping Tabs on Your Performance
Tools to Track FPS
In-game stats and recordings are your best bet for spotting those 120 FPS dips tied to heat.
Key Point: iPhones fail at holding 90 FPS when things get too hot.
Real-World Data: iPhone 16 Pro Max gets choppy at 120 but smooth at 90.
Track It Like This:
Turn on the FPS counter: Settings > Gameplay.
Screen record to analyze frame consistency.
Flag any slides below 90 FPS.
Apps for Watching Temps
Too much heat spells lag city—lean on Apple's built-in resources.
Key Point: A17 Pro's heat in PUBG echoes what happens in BGMI.
Real-World Data: Stick to Apple's 'running slow' troubleshooting for temp thresholds.
Monitor Steps:
Pull up Apple's heat management page.
Restart or clear storage if things feel sluggish.
Keep all apps updated.
Sorting Out Common Hiccups
Nailing Down FPS Drops
Unoptimized code drags everything down across iOS—report it to PUBG or Apple.
Key Point: These issues linger from 2022 builds.
Real-World Data: Echoes those old, closed forum threads.
Fix Steps:
Test in other apps; if it's iOS-wide, tell Apple.
Fall back to 90 FPS during heat waves.
Update, restart, and manage storage as Apple suggests.
Battling Battery Drain
120 FPS taxes the battery hard—skip unapproved coolers to avoid bigger problems.
Key Point: Long sessions hit battery health.
Real-World Data: 2022 tips highlighted high-FPS drain risks.
Battery-Saving Moves:
Tone down graphics settings.
Check usage: Settings > Battery.
Flip on Low Power Mode when you're not gaming.
Looking Ahead: Updates and Ongoing Tweaks
How iOS and PUBG Patches Shake Things Up
iOS 18 should patch those rendering woes; meanwhile, iOS 17.4 tanked performance.
Key Point: No full fix for 120 FPS stability yet.
Real-World Data: Bugs persist, forcing toggles on Pro models.
Stay Updated With:
Scan PUBG's patch notes regularly.
Update iOS and test right after.
Hop into community forums for fresh optimization tips.
Your Go-To Maintenance Routine
Gear up for the A18 Pro by learning from iPhone 16 habits.
Key Point: Pro models outperform SE but demand upkeep.
Real-World Data: They shine brighter with consistent tweaks.
Routine Checklist:
Weekly: Clear storage, update everything.
Before playing: Close apps, scan for heat.
After: Review your FPS logs for insights.
FAQ
How do I turn on 120 FPS in PUBG Mobile on iPhone 17 Pro?
Update the app first; then Settings > Graphics: pick 120 FPS. For the workaround, enable screen recording in Control Center while playing—it bypasses iOS caps on iPhone 16 Pro Max, locking in stable rendering on the A18 Pro.
What triggers thermal throttling in PUBG Mobile sessions?
The A17 Pro's load spikes past 35°C on high graphics, crashing FPS under 90; iOS 17.4 made it worse on iPhone SE 2020. PUBG's demands line up with BGMI on iPhone 16 Pro, kicking off CPU slowdowns.
Best settings for locked FPS on iPhone 17 Pro in PUBG?
Go Graphics: Smooth; Frame Rate: 90 FPS as your safe base, then bump to 120 via toggle—hit 'Limit Frame Rate' in Accessibility > Motion, dip in and out of the game, then disable. Dodges the chop on iPhone 13-16 Pro.
Can I run PUBG Mobile at 120 FPS on iPhone without overheating?
Absolutely; screen recording forces the rendering, and staying under 35°C per Apple keeps it cool. iPhone 16 Pro Max drops at 120 without toggles; A18 Pro's cooling might stretch sessions longer than iPhone 16.
How to fix FPS drops in PUBG Mobile on iPhone 17 Pro?
Update iOS and PUBG. 2. Test other apps. 3. Screen record at 120 FPS. 4. Report stubborn issues to devs over unoptimized iOS code.
Which iOS updates boost PUBG Mobile FPS?
iOS 18 is tipped to squash 120 FPS bugs based on community buzz; iOS 17.4 ramped up lag on iPhone SE 2020. Keep an eye on patches for Pro stability—earlier ones relied on toggles.