Guardian of Light 120FPS Test to find Best Phone for Mobile Gaming 2025? | Android & iOS Mobile Gaming
If someone told you a few years ago that you’d be playing full-blown PC games like Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light on your smartphone, you’d probably laugh. But here we are — thanks to the wizards at Interactive Studios — Lara’s classic action-adventure title is officially ported to mobile. And the best part? We put it through its paces on two of the most powerful devices on the market: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
This isn’t just a gameplay preview — it’s a real-world gaming performance test. Frame rates, thermals, battery draw, screen recording impact — you name it. If you’re a mobile gamer, this is the kind of info you need before you dive in.
🚀 Introduction: Welcome to Next-Level Mobile Gaming
What you’re about to see isn’t some lazy port or watered-down mobile remake — Lara Croft: Guardian of Light hits mobile with full console-quality visuals, powered by advanced SoCs like Snapdragon 8 Elite and Apple’s A18 Pro chip.
We tested the game under real conditions:
🌡️ Ambient temp: 25°C
đź“ą Screen recording ON (for added stress)
🎮 Graphics: Maxed out, 120 FPS target
📱 Devices: Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max
Let’s break down what happened…
🎨 Graphics Settings & Visuals
Both devices were set to their maximum graphics presets, with the frame rate cap pushed to 120 FPS. While the resolution on the iPhone was slightly higher, the visuals looked nearly identical across both displays.
âś… High-detail textures
âś… Smooth lighting & shadows
âś… Crisp animations and voice-over sync
âś… Vibrant particle effects and environmental details
You can really feel the console-level polish, from explosive traps to the atmospheric dungeons. This is not just another mobile time-waster.
🎮 Gameplay: Lara Is Back — And Mobile Ready
Right from the start, the responsiveness on both devices was insane. Whether navigating puzzles, evading traps, or battling bosses, both phones kept up beautifully.
Key gameplay impressions:
- Minimal input lag, even with screen recording enabled.
- Audio sync and cutscenes are fully intact.
- Game feels designed for touch, yet still respects its original roots.
That moment when Lara receives a god-forged artifact? Pure cinematic magic — even on a phone!
đź“Š FPS & Performance Benchmark
Let’s get into the real numbers, because that’s what separates a gaming device from just another phone.
⚙️ Galaxy S25 Ultra:
- Average FPS: 118
- Max temp: 44°C
- Battery drop (10 mins): Noticeable
- Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite
⚙️ iPhone 16 Pro Max:
- Average FPS: 119
- Max temp: 36°C
- Battery drop (10 mins): Mild
- Chip: Apple A18 Pro
➡️ The iPhone 16 Pro Max clearly takes the lead when it comes to thermal efficiency and power draw. Apple’s chip keeps cool under pressure, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra starts warming up a little after the 7-minute mark.
Still, both phones crushed 120 FPS gaming, and that is a huge deal for mobile gaming in 2025.
🔥 Thermal Stress & Heat Management
At the 10-minute mark, we did a thermal check:
- S25 Ultra peaked at 44°C — warm, but manageable.
- iPhone 16 Pro Max stayed cool at 36°C, thanks to that A18 chip efficiency and optimized iOS architecture.
You’ll feel some warmth on the S25 near the camera module, but nothing alarming.
⚡ Power Efficiency & Screen Recording Impact
Yes, screen recording adds stress — and that’s what we wanted.
Interestingly:
- Both devices maintained nearly identical FPS averages with or without screen recording.
- Thermals were lower without recording, obviously, but not drastically.
This shows how stable both SoCs are during real-world gaming — whether you’re a YouTuber or just flexing on your friends with smooth gameplay, you’re covered.
🎯 Final Verdict: Which Is Better?
If you’re serious about mobile gaming, both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max are beasts.
🔵 Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Excellent 120Hz OLED display
- Powerful performance
- Slightly larger screen
– Warmer during extended play
🟣 iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Cooler thermals
- Slight edge in FPS
- Superior power efficiency
- Seamless recording and performance
🏆 Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max, but only by a margin — Android gamers will still have a blast on the S25 Ultra.
🎮 Should You Play Lara Croft: Guardian of Light on Mobile?
YES. This is one of the best PC-to-mobile ports we’ve seen. It plays like a full AAA title and delivers immersive action, all from your pocket. Lara’s return is mobile gaming history in the making — and it looks stunning on both Android and iOS.
So grab your favorite phone, crank the settings, and jump into the ruins — your next great mobile adventure awaits!
