Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
The currently free-to-play title from EA has a new season on the way, so we’re talking about the best graphics settings for Apex Legends so you can have the best graphics for your hardware ahead of season 20 Breakout’s official launch. We’ll be referring to the Apex Legends system requirements so you can match your graphics settings to the PC components you’re currently working with.
For all things Apex Legends, we’ve got you covered: check out best GPU for Apex Legends, best CPU for Apex Legends and best gaming PC for Apex Legends, if you don’t want the hassle of building a PC yourself. Now let’s get into the graphics.
Mid to low-end graphics settings for Apex Legends
For an action-packed shooter like Apex Legends, framerate is arguably more important than resolution. Important to consider, if you are running on a mid-range GPU like the budget-friendly RTX 3050 6GB, is that low or mid-range GPUs are great at running 1080p at 60fps smoothly, but may struggle to maintain 60fps at a higher resolution.
ASUS Dual RTX 3050 6GB
GDDR6 VRAM
6GB
Memory bandwidth
168.0GB/s
Memory clock speed
14GB/s
To maintain decent graphics with a fast, sleek frame rate, EA recommends you keep your resolution and aspect ratio set to your monitor’s default settings. If you frequently experience screen tearing, EA suggests using V-Sync, and if you struggle with frequent drops of frame rate then using Adaptive Resolution FPS Target to help. If you’re running on an Nvidia GPU you can also use Nvidia Reflex, which can be enabled from the advanced graphics settings menu.
To keep your frame rate as high as possible, you’re going to want to adjust your advanced graphics settings. It’s recommended that the following are all put down to low: Effects Detail, Spot Shadow Detail, Sun Shadow Detail, Sun Shadow Coverage, Impact Marks and Texture Streaming Budget (this is recommended to be low or medium). This will reduce the quality of the finer details in your gameplay, but will help keep you at a minimum frame rate of 60fps and above.
High-end graphics settings for Apex Legends
If you are running with high-end hardware capable of withstanding high quality graphics without sacrificing frame rate, we recommended the RTX 4080 for a GPU that will smoothly run at 1440p at 60fps and boasts 4K capabilities, or our high-end recommendation the RTX 4090 which is a robust and powerful graphics card that can handle maxed out settings and 4K resolutions.
Worth noting is that the higher-class GPUs come with a higher price tag, so if you’re on a budget the RTX 4090 won’t be your best friend. If you do have the cash to blow on a powerhouse of a GPU, here’s an RTX 4090 we recommend.
ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090
Base Clock
2235 MHz
Boost Clock
2610 MHz
VRAM
24 GB GDDR6X
Recommended PSU
850W
Dimensions
358 x 149 x 70 mm
You’re still going to want to use the native ratio and resolution settings for your monitor. For high-end settings you’ll want to have V-Sync off and Adaptive Resolution FPS Target set to 0. With powerful hardware, you can set the following to high: Impact Marks, Effects Detail, Spot Shadow Detail, Sun Shadow Detail, Sun Shadow Coverage.
In regards to Model Detail, Ambient Occlusion Quality and Texture Streaming Budget you’ll probably be okay sticking to medium settings. You can also have Volumetric Lighting and Dynamic Spot Shadows enabled for impressive graphics even in the smaller details, for an all-round higher quality gaming experience.
If you notice frequent drops in frame rate with these settings at their highest settings, it may be worth knocking them down to medium instead of high, which should still mean a relatively high resolution but with a frame rate better matched to a shooter like Apex Legends.Â
What is the best resolution for Apex Legends?
To ensure you have a frame rate of 60 fps (recommended) most gamers should aim for 1080p with a mid-range GPU. If you have a higher class graphics card you may find you are able to reach 1440p or even 4K.
How do I make my Apex Legends feel smoother?
Reducing the advanced graphics settings, like shadow details, will help to keep your frame rate up, as well as capping your resolution to your monitor’s native default.
