Mandelbrot Metal is a high-performance fractal explorer for iPhone and iPad, powered by Apple’s Metal® graphics and compute framework. It renders the Mandelbrot set — and related fractals — in real time, supporting smooth, ultra-deep exploration up to 10¹⁶× magnification.
Built with a precision GPU compute pipeline and an elegant SwiftUI interface, the app blends science and art: reviewers can glide through vivid fractal worlds, fine-tune detail and iteration depth, and instantly switch among 140+ curated color palettes, including 40+ Ultra-Wide 768-step palettes for unmatched tonal smoothness.
Bookmarks preserve exact coordinates and settings for perfect recall, while high-resolution export produces print-ready artwork at up to 8K resolution.
Mandelbrot Metal feels part interactive art studio, part scientific visualizer, and part real-time simulation — designed to showcase the full graphics and display power of modern Apple devices.
Most fractal explorers share a similar surface experience — they draw the Mandelbrot set and let you zoom a little. But reviewers will quickly see that Mandelbrot Metal behaves differently at every level of depth, precision, and usability. The app is built as a modern rendering engine, not a retro fractal toy, and its design choices become especially noticeable during deep exploration.
Many fractal apps still compute primarily on the CPU or use lightweight fragment shaders that struggle at high iteration counts. Mandelbrot Metal is fully GPU-native and built on dedicated Metal compute kernels.
This architecture enables:
Every interaction — pinch, pan, tilt, palette change — is computed directly on the GPU with minimal overhead.
When GPU precision reaches its mathematical limit, typical fractal apps either stall, “fake” deeper zooms, or degrade visually. Mandelbrot Metal transitions into a multi-core CPU Deep Mode that uses double–double precision and progressive tiling.
Deep Mode preserves:
For reviewers evaluating performance, precision, or extreme magnifications, this is a clear differentiator.
Color is where fractal art either shines or falls apart. Mandelbrot Metal’s palette system is built like a modern imaging stack rather than a simple gradient tool.
It includes:
Colors stay clean, consistent, and artifact-free — even at extreme zoom levels where lesser apps produce banding or posterization.
A bookmark in Mandelbrot Metal is not just a coordinate. It’s a fully deterministic scene description.
This ensures:
Reviewers can return to deep locations precisely, compare palette modes reliably, and test performance repeatably.
The export engine supports:
For press kits, blogs, and long-form reviews, exported imagery is publication-ready.
The interface emphasizes clarity and exploration:
The result is a UI that feels instantly familiar while letting reviewers focus on what matters: the fractal itself.
Mandelbrot Metal uses:
This makes it both a performance showcase and a forward-looking example of modern iOS GPU design.
Driven entirely by Metal compute kernels for fluid zooming and panning — even at extreme depths.
Adaptive iteration and precision logic maintain smooth interaction under all conditions.
Simulates surface relief with height-mapped shading.
Adjustable lighting direction, specular intensity, and shininess add subtle metallic highlights and dimensional realism.
Over 140+ hand-curated palettes, organized by aesthetic themes (Fire & Heat, Gem & Jewel, Metallic & Glossy, and more).
Includes over 40 Ultra-Wide 768-step palettes for seamless gradients and ultra-fine color transitions.
Supports custom palette creation from user photos via gradient extraction.
Save any fractal location with full coordinate precision and rendering parameters.
One-tap restore returns instantly to deep-zoom scenes.
Ideal for reviewers capturing comparisons or revisiting key locations.
Export/import bookmarks and palettes for use across devices or with other users.
Access via swipe gestures or top-level Import/Export controls.
A forthcoming Community Sharing Portal will extend this with discovery and uploads.
Export stills at full device resolution or up to 8K+.
Supports Display-P3, HDR, and Exact LUT fidelity.
HUD overlays show zoom, iteration count, and performance metrics.
Go to Rect provides direct coordinate targeting.
Auto-Iteration adjusts detail based on zoom depth.
Exact LUT / Smooth palette modes, dithering, SSAA anti-aliasing, and HDR color.
Perturbation rendering supports extreme precision.
Adjustable 3D Look, contrast, brightness, and color depth.
Includes gesture and control walkthrough.
In-app Help Sheet offers quick reference.
Welcome guide available anytime via Settings.
Continuous GPU compute delivers real-time feedback similar to high-end 3D or AR apps.
Energy impact is intentionally high during interaction.
Rendering suspends automatically when idle or backgrounded.
Adaptive quality management prevents runaway load.
Full compliance with iOS thermal and Low Power Mode APIs.
Low Power Mode available manually.
Mandelbrot Metal shows what’s possible when Apple’s Metal compute power meets mathematical beauty: real-time fractal rendering, adaptive precision, vivid color, and immersive exploration — all with the responsiveness and fidelity expected from a modern iOS app.
It serves as both a high-performance benchmark and an elegant creative tool, ideal for reviewers evaluating GPU performance, display capabilities, mathematical accuracy, or modern interface design.
© 2025 Mandelbrot Metal - All Rights Reserved.
Mandelbrot Metal is a registered DBA (Doing Business As) of Michael Stebel Consulting, LLC, a Florida limited liability company.
Trademarks: Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPad, Mac, macOS, iOS, Xcode, Swift, and Metal are trademarks of Apple Inc.,
registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners.