Apple sent the official iOS 18 update to iPhone users. Apple users with an iPhone XR, XS, XS Max, or newer can upgrade to this version. At the same time, on some devices, Apple allows users to choose between updating to iOS 17.7 or iOS 18. This choice has confused many iFans, as they are unsure whether iOS 18 vs iOS 17 offers better optimization.
With the launch of iOS 18, Apple continues to elevate the user experience by introducing a series of significant improvements.
One of the most important aspects is performance and battery life, an important factor that directly affects user satisfaction. In this iOS 18 vs iOS 17 comparison, we explore the key upgrades Apple introduced and how they impact iPhone performance and battery life.
iOS 18 vs iOS 17 Performance
After comparing the benchmark scores between iOS 17.7 and iOS 18 on the iPhone 15 Pro, it is clear that iOS 18 has significantly improved performance. The iOS 18 version shows a noticeable boost in performance. On iOS 17.7, the total score is 1,441,264 points with the following details: CPU 378,279 points, GPU 491,718 points, MEM 226,089 points, and UX 345,178 points. Meanwhile, when upgrading to iOS 18, the total score increased to 1,479,577 points.
Specifically, the CPU score increased to 400,791 points, an increase of more than 22,000 points, showing better optimization in handling system tasks. The GPU is equally impressive with an increase from 491,718 to 504,890 points, equivalent to more than 13,000 points. This shows that iOS 18 has improved graphics processing capabilities, making the gaming and video viewing experience on the iPhone 15 Pro smoother (approx. $775 on Amazon).
In addition, the MEM and UX scores also increased slightly, from 226,089 to 227,619 and from 345,178 to 346,277 points, respectively. It proves that Apple has optimized the memory management system and user experience in the new iOS version. Although the increase is not too large, it is enough to show that iOS 18 is operating more stably and efficiently than iOS 17.7.
Geekbench Test Results
The Geekbench test results show that when upgrading from iOS 17.7 to iOS 18 on the iPhone 15 Pro, there was a slight decrease in CPU performance. Specifically, the Single-Core score dropped from 2830 to 2804, indicating a slight decrease in single-core processing capabilities. This may be because iOS 18 is in the early optimization process, so some single-core tasks have not been fully optimized for peak performance.
In addition, the Multi-Core score also dropped from 7113 to 6854, indicating that multi-core processing performance is no longer as strong as on iOS 17.7. The reason may be related to how iOS 18 manages multi-threaded tasks. This could be to prioritize improving battery life or maintaining a more stable device temperature.
Upgrading to iOS 18 has slightly reduced CPU performance, likely due to software adjustments aimed at improving battery life and system stability. This suggests that Apple may be focusing on balancing performance and stability in this new version of iOS.
Battery life Comparison
To quickly compare battery life before and after the upgrade, I conducted a small test with three applications: PUBG Mobile, YouTube, and League of Legends. I tested each app for 30 minutes to measure the battery capacity lost. The test conditions are in a room at about 28°C. WiFi and 4G are used, Bluetooth is connected to two devices, location is on, and screen brightness is set to 60%.
After 30 minutes of playing PUBG Mobile, both iOS 17.7 and iOS 18 reduced the battery by 12%. This indicates identical battery consumption between the two versions. This indicates that iOS 18 has not significantly improved the battery performance of this game compared to the previous version. While iOS 18 may introduce other changes, it shows no noticeable difference in battery consumption for demanding apps like PUBG Mobile.
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After finishing the game, I switched to YouTube. Between 11:03 and 11:35 on iOS 17.7, the battery dropped by 5%. Similarly, on iOS 18, the battery lost 5% after 30 minutes of watching YouTube.
Should I update to iOS 18?
In conclusion, iOS 18 has brought significant performance improvements, especially in benchmark scores. There are increases in CPU and GPU, indicating optimized graphics processing and system tasks. However, despite the performance upgrade, battery life during gaming or video streaming is not significantly different from iOS 17.7. This includes games like PUBG Mobile and League of Legends, as well as watching YouTube.
This indicates that Apple is prioritizing a balance between performance and system stability in iOS 18. The focus is not solely on battery life. Upgrading to iOS 18 will enhance the overall experience and performance of the device. It also maintains stable battery life similar to the previous version.
