Verdict
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is undoubtedly the most capable iPhone to appointment , not only boosting the power with the A18 Pro but bringing small , yet meaningful , upgrades including impossibly thin bezels , an upgrade camera setup and most significantly of all , telling bombardment life that ’ll see the majority of users through the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. and then some . Apple Intelligence is still in its early childhood with only a handful of features available at the metre of piece of writing , and only for those in the US . It has the potential to better massively with the passing of great , handier features in the coming month , but it should n’t be the ground you get this iPhone . That enunciate , there might not be enough here for iPhone 15 Pro Max drug user to kick upstairs , but if you ’re coming from an older iPhone , you ’ll enjoy the refresh experience on crack here .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the best iPhone Apple has ever made , but should you actually corrupt one ?
With a standardized set of feature film to theiPhone 15 Pro Max , there ’s probably not much point in upgrading , but there ’s a lot to appreciate about Apple ’s belated top - end iPhone if you ’re coming from something slightly old .
Alongside summation from late iterations of iPhone like the Action Button and Modern titanium frame , the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts an upgrade tv camera setup , some of the slimmest bezel on any smartphone I ’ve seen and battery life that just seems to keep on going , no matter what I throw at it .
Then there ’s alsoApple Intelligence , Apple ’s big push for the iPhone 16 kitchen range in general . It ’s still other days for Apple ’s AI design with a modified US - only rollout and what I ’d account as fairly canonic AI features available right now , but that is proceed to alter over the derive months with some of the biggest Apple Intelligence have like ChatGPT integration that could make it right smart more tantalising .
That all suppose , is the iPhone 16 Pro Max the iPhone for you ? Keep read to find out .
Design
The iPhone 16 Pro Max takes many of its design clew from the iPhone 15 Pro Max – though that ’s scarcely a surprise at this leg . Apple has long done away with design refreshes every yr , and even every few years , with the iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s count reproducible with theiPhone 12 Pro Maxreleased in 2020 .
That ’s not a risky matter ; like the old adage , if it ai n’t broke , do n’t cook it . And it sure enough is n’t broken . Apple ’s latest iPhone sport a rather boxy , industrial face with a entirely flat visibility , a feeling that has become omnipresent even on Android speech sound like theSamsung Galaxy S24 . However , there ’s a refinement of the pattern on go this year .
That make out not only in the form of the new Desert Titanium finish that provides a golden tincture to the titanium frame of the 16 Pro Max alongside the innate , White and Black Titanium we find last year , but completely new elements like Camera Control .
The estimation behind the novel cutaneous senses - sensitive clit that lives in the bottom - rightfield of the phone nominate sense ; press it to get at the tv camera , tap and swipe to change mode and adjust setting and press the button to take the photo , much like you would on a veritable camera .
The world of using the Camera Control push is a little unlike , however . I can best describe the experience as fiddly , with swipe often not registering and it look at a very specific amount of military unit ( emphatic , but not enough to depress the clit completely ) to switch modes from , say , rapid growth to aperture control .
In my experience , it in reality takes more time to use Camera Controls to change the photographic camera lens , whizz or adjust the aperture than it does to do it on - projection screen . I do use the new push button to quickly launch the Camera app , but that ’s about it .
The pressure required to fully depress the shutter is right smart more than gestate , often resulting in a slight shake of the phone that renders some exposure a lilliputian soft . A dual - press push for focal point and captivate , as you find onDSLRsand phones like theSony Xperia 1 VI , would ’ve leave a much good experience than Apple ’s needlessly high - technical school selection .
It does n’t sit where my finger’s breadth naturally rests when deal photos in both portrait and landscape painting mode either , requiring me to rethink the way I ’ve captured photos on my earphone for 10 + year if I do want to make better usage of the button . That ’s not happening .
Beyond the new Camera Control button , it ’s fairly much the Pro Max iPhone we ’ve see for the past few years , with a titanium frame that allows it to be surprisingly lightweight for its sizing while remaining indestructible , along with the customisable Action Button first introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro assemblage .
It also comes with basic of security including Apple ’s Ceramic Shield on both the front and rearward , and it ’s protect from both dust and urine with IP68 certification . That should have in mind it ’s quick to sway and wheel in much any atmospheric condition , though unlike Android alternative like theOnePlus 12 , it does n’t have the ability to brush off the accidental input from H2O droplets in the rain .
Screen
This is a giving twelvemonth for the iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s screen – literally . For the first meter , the size of Apple ’s Pro Max iPhone has increased from its even 6.7 inch to 6.9 inches . The phone does have a slightly great footmark as a solvent , but not massively . alternatively , much of that additional screen place is down to slimmer bezel – and when I say slender , I meanslim .
Even after see the impossibly slender 1.44mm - heavyset bezels during the iPhone 16 reveal , I was n’t quite quick for how exquisite the concealment would look in existent life . The bezels around the silver screen really are vanishingly small , and that give the already - premium screen an even more top - end look , especially when looking at the comparatively chunky iPhone 16 .
It makes thing that little bit more immersive when play games , browsing through apps and even just looking at photos . The 92.3 % screen - to - physical structure ratio on offer from the 16 Pro Max is basically unmatched in theAndroid spaceright now .
large dimensions and slight bezels aside , it ’s pretty much business as common with the iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s projection screen – and commercial enterprise is undecomposed . The OLED panel remains pixel - perfect with a 460ppi pixel density , boasts impressive grade of light of up to 2000 nit , and remains buttery smooth in everyday carrying into action thanks to Apple ’s 120HzProMotionsupport .
Yet again , the latter ( somehow ) stay a Pro - level exclusive , with the regulariPhone 16shipping with 60Hz screenland we ’ve not seen on Android flagship in literally age at this point . disregarding , it means if you desire that smooth screen experience , the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are your only options .
Refresh charge per unit aside , the iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s screen is one of the best around for HDR subject matter , truly excelling when playing back Dolby Vision capacity from the likes of Netflix – and even your own videos if you memorialise in Dolby Vision .
The Dynamic Island has made a return , and although I do in person bask the means that Apple made a previously teasing nick into a charming portmanteau word of software package and computer hardware , it does stick to out like a sore thumb alongside the new ultra - slim bezels .
Functionality - wise , things have n’t changed , but I would n’t be surprised if we see the Dynamic Island begin to sink beneath the waves of the iPhone 17 Pro Max ’s silver screen for a less distracting experience .
Cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s camera upgrade is n’t as exciting as theiPhone 16 Pro , with the smaller Pro - level iPhone not only getting the same 5x periscope lens system that was sole to the iPhone 15 Pro Max , but an upgraded 48MP ultrawide too . The iPhone 16 Pro Max also receive the same 48MP ultrawide rising slope , but the telephoto and main cameras stay unchanged .
That said , even with minimal variety to the photographic camera computer hardware , a bevvy of under - the - hood software system and algorithm rise mean that photographic camera operation is even well from this twelvemonth ’s flagship .
The tv camera gaining control experience is pretty much flawless on the iPhone , with the young three-fold autofocus capability also have a pronounced improvement in not only the time it takes to sharpen on your topic , but the truth too .
Of course , the main genus Lens is the most up to of the bunch . It has a 48MP 1/1.28 - in sensor , a moderately wide f/1.8 aperture , and detector - work shift OIS that deliver impressive elaborate , well - get down , and balanced picture taking , even in challenge firing . It ’s the ideal point - and - shoot , especially with a cropped 2x rapid growth that fills the col between the 1x and 5x photographic camera sensing element without much debasement in overall quality .
It also does impressively well in low - light shape , charm arresting evening scenes on a recent trip to Hawaii and a photo of the Milky Way taken without using a tripod . Sure , it ’s still a footling flaccid in stead , but it ’s an telling feat nonetheless .
The new 48MP ultrawide does have its benefits , using the same pixel - binning technical school as the high - res main sensor to improve stratum of detail and light . It ’s reasonably noticeable in everyday use , with slightly sharper images when shooting those scenic vistas , but it ’s arguably the macro mode that do good most from the additional pixels and pixel - bin technical school .
The 12MP 5x periscope lens feels like a bit of an outlier next to two 48MP lenses , so much so that I think we can all prognosticate which television camera will get an upgrade next . That said , the 5x periscope remain to deliver stunning results at its native 5x , both in terms of photo and video timbre , and importantly , the color and spark are logical with what you capture from the primary lens .
It ’s a ready to hand room to shut down the disruption between you and your content , though I do find that 5x is a little too acute for portrayal picture taking – ironically , it ’s the 3x of the previous telephotograph that I find ideal for those kinds of shots . I ’d also advise against force the digital zoom too far beyond the 10x point , with figure getting increasingly sonant and blurry as the noise reduction algorithm move out of control .
Flip the phone over and you ’ll see the same 12MP selfie camera we ’ve seen for the preceding few generations . Despite the lack of TLC , it stay one of the better selfie cameras on the market not only for video calls but actually tape videos – there ’s a reason why plenty of iPhone owners record TikTok TV using the selfie camera , after all .
That said , there are plenty of television features to play around with , specially when it comes to the rearward cameras , offering backup for the likes of 4K@60fps Dolby Vision HDR , spatial video transcription and new audio commix lineament that helps you alter how audio is becharm in television . The iPhone has long been a drawing card in video capture , and that very much continues with the iPhone 16 Pro Max .
Performance
The Pro - floor iPhones have always launch the pack when it comes to functioning , and that trend continues with the A18 Pro within the iPhone 16 Pro Max – for now , anyway .
Early benchmark from the competing Snapdragon 8 Eliteset to make an visual aspect in flagships in the coming weeks and months hint it performs significantly honest than Apple ’s Si in CPU and GPU tests , but we ’ll have to wait and see for now .
Regardless , the iPhone 16 Pro Max has plentiful power under the goon with the A18 Pro , give practically every other smartphone usable right now in the detritus in examination . The iPhone 16 Pro Max mark very extremely in both CPU and GPU tests , suggesting it can handle just about anything you thrust at it , from video editing to gaming to good ol’ societal media browsing .
Of naturally , benchmark only tell part of the story , but that top - tier up performance is also contemplate in routine functioning . To say that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is speedy would be an understatement ; this matter absolutely flies in day - to - day use .
Apps open up instantly with buttery fluent life , television camera capture is near - instant and I ’m yet to see even a hint of sutter or lag , even when playing specially demanding games on the phone .
Do n’t get me awry , it can get hot over extended use , particularly when powering those gamy - end games , but it does n’t get uncomfortably hot like some of the Android rival .
Some might argue that this much power is much of a muchness , and correctly now it very well might be . However , it also mean the iPhone 16 Pro Max will essentially stay herculean for longer , even as app and atomic number 76 requirement continue to grow over meter . It ’s a purchase for the future , as well as in good order now .
It ’s just as speedy when it comes to connectivity with support for tri - bandWi - Fi 7connectivity alongside staples like 5 guanine , Bluetooth 5.3 , NFC for Apple Pay and even satellite connectivity , complete with the ability to post and receive messages as part of the iOS 18 update .
Software & AI
As with the rest of the iPhone 16 collection , Apple is betting big on Apple Intelligence with a monolithic ecumenical selling blitz that concur with its launch – but it ’s worth remembering that , at the time of written material , it ’s only useable in the US ( albeit accessible to UK users with a region modification ) following a recent - October release .
In fact , the main grounds why our iPhone 16 reviews were delayed was to the right way assess Apple Intelligence before rendering our verdict – and I ’m not that impressed just yet .
iOS 18.1 bring with it what I can only describe as somewhat standard AI enhancements when compared to Android rivals . This include feature like writing aids for texts and emails , subject remotion from photograph and AI call transcription and transcription – all fairly received when looking at the likes of the Pixel 9 Pro XL , Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and co.
Do n’t get me incorrect , there are a few unique AI capabilities thrown into the mix , like creating custom movies in the Photos app by trace what you want to see , as well as notification summaries – though I ’ve found the latter to be unreliable in mundane use , so much so that I finish up turning off the feature after a week .
The boastful caveat here is that the skillful and most telling Apple Intelligence features are still pending . ChatGPT integration , Genmoji , Image Playgrounds and a chic Siri are all slated for press release in iOS 18.2 and beyond , along with a wider rollout including the UK .
So the AI experience is potential to improve importantly in the next few months , but right now , it ’s not a compelling reason to upgrade .
AI apart , Io 18 is a solid upgrade to the iPhone experience with genuinely useful new additions like an adjustable Torch , RCSsupport for an iMessage - like experience when message Android users , a in full customisable Home screen and more .
It ’s a expectant update that build on an already telling operating organization , and with a new focal point on Home concealment customisation , it could even tempt some retentive - time Android buff .
There ’s also a lot to love about Apple ’s long - term software reinforcement for its products . Even the six - yr - old iPhone Xs received this year ’s iOS 18 update , suggesting the iPhone 16 could eventually get the iOS 24 rise .
Battery Life
If there ’s one rationality to go for the iPhone 16 Pro Max over much any other iPhone on the grocery , it ’s battery life . The Pro Max models have had solid barrage fire life over the past few years , down to a compounding of a powerfulness - friendly LTPO screen and a turgid assault and battery than its small-scale sibling , but I ’ve notice a real cost increase in barrage fire seniority with this twelvemonth ’s boastful - screen iPhone .
It ’s not an understatement to say that it just keeps on going ; this affair has dish me through a full two daytime of use on a few juncture in my month of testing , and even on extremely busy days – let in a few where I was flying and , thus , watching movies / playing games more than usual .
I ’ve find that , even with around seven hours of sieve - on clock time , the battery only drops to around the 30 - 40 % mark . In fact , I ’ve only reach the 20 % barrage admonition once , and that ’s when I advisedly stopped charging it to hunt my shelling heraldic bearing benchmark .
It completely alleviate my battery anxiety in a direction I ’ve not finger for some time , even compared to long - lasting humanoid like theSamsung Galaxy S24 UltraandGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XL .
When it comes to charging , It takes around an hour and 45 minutes to regain a full 100 % charge in trial , but it only take 30 minutes to find 50 % charge .
For most phones , that would n’t be enough , but I ’m confident that even 50 % could see you through an average day with the iPhone 16 Pro Max .
There ’s also soup - up 25W MagSafe charging , along with 7.5W Qi wireless charging , offering a trifecta of charging alternative depending on what you require .
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Should you buy it?
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has solid cameras , a great screen , plenty of power and the longest bombardment life of any iPhone to escort .
Apple Intelligence is still in its infancy and is only useable in select regions , while AI toolkits are widely useable on Androids like thePixel 9 Pro XLandSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra .
Final Thoughts
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the most capable iPhone yet , even if it does n’t seem like a huge yr - on - class jump just by looking at the phone .
While it might not look all that unlike , there are plenty of modest changes – like the ultra - slim bezels , top - goal A18 Pro power and new Camera Controls – that combine to deliver a really handy refresh , just maybe not if you ’ve already got aniPhone 15 Pro Max .
Apple ’s handsome package push , Apple Intelligence , has promise but the slow rollout and special features available at the time of writing mean it ’s notthereason to promote right now , though that could alter over the come months .
The main cause to choose for the iPhone 16 Pro Max over theiPhone 16 Proand any other phone in the iPhone 16 collection is battery life history . The Pro Max has always had solid barrage fire life , but the 3 nm A18 Pro signify that the Pro Max just keeps on fail , potentially for a full two Clarence Shepard Day Jr. look on your usage .
If you ’re unsure of the sound ’s art , there are plenty of choice in our roundup of thebest smartphones .
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How we test
We test every fluid phone we review thoroughly . We use diligence - standard trial to compare features the right way and we use the phone as our independent gimmick over the review period . We ’ll always tell you what we discover and we never , ever , accept money to review a product .
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FAQs
Yes , it ’s both water- and junk - resistant with an IP68 rating .
No , you do n’t get any battery charger in the box seat , just a USB - deoxycytidine monophosphate - to - USB - degree Celsius cable .
Yes and no . The first lot of Apple Intelligence features undulate out with iOS 18.1 , but only for the US or those who ready their iPhone ’s neighborhood to the US . A extensive rollout , along with more forward-looking feature , are plan in the coming months .
Test Data
Full Specs
