The best iPhone 5s games: Putting the A7 benchmarks to the test

The iPhone 5s is a gaming powerhouse. We look at the best iOS games ever for the new iPhone

The new iPhone 5s is an absolute powerhouse. Packing a new 64-bit A7 processor with a 1.3GHz CPU and PowerVR Series6 GPU it's more powerful than any other mobile phone, any handheld games console and most laptops.

All that power deserves an amazing showcase, so we're going to take a quick look at just how good the benchmark tests are, and suggest some graphically intense games to go with your iPhone 5s.

First though a quick look at the iPhone 5s benchmarks. For this the iPhone 5s was put through its paces using Geekbench 3 (iTunes Link).

iPhone 5s benchmark speedtest

Apple claims that the new A7 chip is up to twice as fast as - already powerful - A6 in both processing and graphics. According to Macworld's recent benchmark testing the iPhone 5s is exhilaratingly fast. It's over twice as fast as the iPhone 5 and Samsung S4, and almost seven times faster than the iPhone 4.

iPhone 5s Geekbench 3 (Single-Core Score)

iPhone 5S

1393.0

iPhone 5C

671.0

iPhone 5

723.0

iPhone 4S

217.0

iPhone 4

213.0

HTC One

591.0

Samsung Galaxy S4

667.0

Geekbench 3 (Multi-Core Score)

iPhone 5S

2485.0

iPhone 5C

1180.0

iPhone 5

1302.0

iPhone 4S

412.0

iPhone 4

210.0

HTC One

1507.0

Samsung Galaxy S4

1862.0

The best five games for the iPhone 5s

Which games have the best graphics for the iPhone is a question we often hear, and it's a valid question for anybody looking to show off their latest phone. Despite other new iPhone 5S features, including a new M7 motion co-processor and fingerprint scanner: it is the raw power of the iPhone 5s that is going to be the marquee feature for gamers. So any test of the best iPhone 5s games is really a graphics and processor test. Here we look at some of the most demanding games for the iPhone 5s.

Infinity Blade III

The Infinity Blade series has long been the graphical litmus test for any new iPhone. And the latest edition doesn't disappoint. Infinity Blade III has already been optimized for the iPhone 5s 64bit processor with full screen anti-aliasing, bloom, full screen vignettes, distortion, high resolution shadows, and environmental reflections. In the words of the developers, "it looks crazy awesome!"

iTunes Link

Asphalt 8 Airborne

Racing is one area where the iPhone with its motion controls utterly excels. Gameloft's Asphalt series has always led the pack, and it's new Asphalt 8 Airborne game certainly doesn't disappoint. The graphics are spectacular, with frenetic on-screen action. This is one game that you really shouldn't miss if you want to show off your iPhone and have some fun.

iTunes Link

Lili

It's nice to see that not every graphically intense game has to be a mash of cars, bullets and explosions. Lili is a wonderful role playing adventure game set in visually stunning environment. Lili has to explore the island of Geos, interact with locals and solve puzzles. This is a particularly good game to show off the iPhone because it's not quite as frenetic as other games, so it's good to casually show off its graphical power. Read our Lili review

iTunes Link

Deus Ex: The Fall

The Deus Ex series is regarded as one of the greatest gaming experiences of all time, so it's a mark of how highly regarded the iPhone is as a gaming platform that the next generation of Deus Ex is being moved to the mobile platform. As with the PC edition you are allowed a lot of freedom in how to progress through this futuristic role playing game. It's huge, and highly detailed, environments are amazing to view on the small iPhone display. Read our Deus Ex: The Fall review

iTunes Link

Call of Duty: Strike Team

The motion and touch controls of the iPhone don't lend themselves to the twitchy action of shooters as much as other games. But Call Of Duty: Strike Team blends classing shooting action with top-down strategy to create a unique experience. It's graphically special too, with stunning visual explosions and firefights.

iTunes Link

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Mark Hattersley

Macworld U.K.
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