Apex Legends performs well on iOS and Android, and even better than the Switch
After Fortnite and PUBG, the next battle royale shooter has found its way to iOS and Android.
A few days before the Steam Deck arrived, I looked at some Switch games for reference that, on paper, were too demanding for Nintendo’s handheld but were released for it anyway.
Among them was Apex Legends; my undisputed favorite battle royale shooter. At least on the Xbox, the Switch version can be described as “murky pixel mud” at best. I am all the more surprised by the mobile implementation, which is turning exactly the right screws.
High framerate and a sharp picture
measurements, which the YouTube channel ElAnalistaDeBits did, attest the mobile port to have a refresh rate that fluctuates between 35 and 45 fps. A standard Samsung Galaxy S21 was used, and “ExtremeHD” – the highest setting without frame rate limitation – was used as the graphics preset.
Even in combat, the frame rate stayed above 30 fps for the most part. However, based on the ElAnalistaDeBits video, it is not possible to say how the rendered frames are distributed.
However, since I tend to prefer a steady frame rate of 30 fps, the Mobile port doesn’t really stand out from the Switch version at first. Then why am I so enthusiastic?
The big difference is in the sharpness of the image: On the Nintendo console, handheld mode uses an average dynamic resolution of 512p, making Apex Legends extremely blurry. ElAnalistaDeBits states that the full screen resolution of 2000 x 900 pixels was used on the Samsung Galaxy S21, but the recorded material suggests a downward scaling to 75% of the output value, which corresponds to a native resolution of 1520 x 684 pixels.
However, my interpretation should be taken with a pinch of salt as Youtube videos lend themselves extremely poorly to native resolution analysis. However, the gain in sharpness can still be explained by the fact that the number of pixels is still double that of the Nintendo Switch.
Even better on the tablet
Also the Tech youtuber ETA Prime has joined Apex Legends Mobile looked at, he picked up a Samsung Galaxy Tab 8 Ultra. He was then able to observe even higher values in a range of 55 to 60 frames per second, mind you with the highest graphics preset.
The video clearly shows how clear the image output is on the 14.6-inch display. With a resolution of 2960 x 1848, the high-end tablet is only just below 4K, but I was again able to count downscaling in the video material, this time to 65% of the output value. The tablet would at least offer more than Full HD.
The ETA Prime video shows very well how chic Apex Legends Mobile can look on the tablet.
The low resolution of the Switch version, on the other hand, is the decisive factor that has kept me from further matches. Opponents were difficult to spot, and in hectic battles I completely lost track. Based on the video material, I cannot identify a similar problem with the Android devices.
Just the right tweaks
However, the mobile version also pays a price: Even with high settings, Apex Legends Mobile has to give up feathers compared to the switch version. These include:
- A much lower level of detail of the environment
- Less detailed textures
- Inaccurate shadows
- Hardly any interior lighting
- No anti-aliasing
- Lower complexity of buildings
Some areas are pretty empty in the mobile version. (Image source: ElAnalistaDeBits)
In the decisive points, the mobile version cuts off clearly better. We obtain:
- A higher vision
- More complex character models
- A fainter, but more harmonious lighting that provides more contrast
In the mobile version, the background also remains very clear, and the higher-contrast color palette helps with enemy detection. (Image source: ElAnalistaDeBits)
The optimizations are excellently chosen, since opponents can be spotted even at a great distance. With the Switch version, on the other hand, I had the impression that an attempt was made to preserve as many graphic features as possible, even if the game ended up looking as if every single frame had been dragged through murky brackish water.
The responsible team of developers could not have used scissors any better. In addition, the download size of over 20 GB of the Switch version shrinks to just once 3.5 gigabytes, which is ideal for mobile devices with little memory.
Also works with controllers
Basically, Apex Legends Mobile is optimized for touch inputs, but it is still possible to use a controller via Bluetooth. ETA Prime only notes here that the touchscreen is necessary in some menus.
ETA Prime was able to play Apex Legends Mobile with an Xbox pad as usual.
The best mobile version
The quality of Apex Legends running on mobile is really impressive. Since the processors in smartphones and tablets shouldn’t generate a lot of waste heat, they have to have a lot of skills to play such a large multiplayer title smoothly at high resolution. The tested models obviously passed the acid test with flying colors and the user feedback is consistently positive.
The comparison to the Switch version is a little mean, after all, Nintendo’s hybrid handheld is already five years old, but this prior knowledge doesn’t exactly increase my gaming fun. Instead, I’d say the signs are pretty good for a fun evening of multiplayer on your smartphone or tablet. The barrier to entry is at least low since Apex Legends Mobile was released for free in the Apple and Google stores.
Do you play battle royale shooters like Fortnite, PUBG or Apex Legends on your smartphone or tablet?
Reference-www.gamepro.de