The iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with the same old set of upgrades that we anticipate from Apple: it’s quicker in day by day use, has higher cameras, and the battery life is best than its predecessor. But there are different adjustments this yr, notably across the display screen. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a bigger 6.9-inch panel, however it is not that a lot larger than its predecessor.
The elevated display screen measurement means you get a further line of textual content, and the bezels are even thinner this technology. There’s additionally a brand new Camera Control button that unlocks extra controls and makes it simple to shoot images and movies. While I used to be initially excited concerning the {hardware} button, it was unwieldy to make use of within the two weeks I examined the iPhone 16 Pro Max — it ought to have been built-in into the ability button, much like what ASUS did on the Zenfone 10 final yr.
While there’s loads of new stuff on the telephone, there is a obvious omission: Apple Intelligence. Apple’s much-touted AI options will not be out there till early 2025, and that places the iPhone 16 Pro Max in an ungainly place; the {hardware} itself is an iterative improve over final yr, and you may want to attend at the least three months to unlock what’s arguably its greatest characteristic.
So do you have to wait till subsequent yr to purchase the iPhone 16 Pro Max? Let’s have a look.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Pricing and availability
The iPhone 16 Pro Max made its official debut on September 9, and the telephone went on sale globally on September 20. Similar to final yr, the bottom mannequin has 256GB of storage, and it’s out there in 512GB and 1TB variants as effectively — I’m utilizing the 512GB mannequin.
In a optimistic transfer, Apple is providing the iPhone 16 Pro Max on the similar worth as final yr’s fashions, and that is true not simply within the U.S., but additionally key world markets just like the U.Ok. and Germany. This is what the iPhone 16 Pro Max prices in varied areas:
- iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB): $1,199 / £1,199 / €1,449 / ₹1,44,900
- iPhone 16 Pro Max (512GB): $1,399 / £1,399 / €1,699 / ₹1,64,900
- iPhone 16 Pro Max (1TB): $1,599 / £1,599 / €1,949 / ₹1,84,900
Interestingly, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is extra reasonably priced than its predecessor in India, and that is an awesome transfer by Apple. The model is seeing sizeable momentum within the nation, and every variant of the iPhone 16 Pro Max prices roughly $178 much less this yr.
| Category | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| OS | iOS 18.0.1 pre-installed, 5 OS updates |
| Display | 6.9-inch LTPO OLED, 120Hz ProMovement, 2868 x 1320, Dolby Vision, 2000 nits max (HBM) |
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro, 6-core GPU, second-gen 3nm node |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Rear digicam 1 | 48MP f/1.8 24mm, 1/1.28-inch sensor, 1.22um, sensor-shift OIS |
| Rear digicam 2 | 48MP f/2.2 13mm wide-angle lens, 0.7um pixels |
| Rear digicam 3 | 12MP f/2.8 120mm telephoto, 1/3.06-inch sensor, 1.12um pixels, 5x optical zoom, OIS |
| Video | ProRes, Dolby Vision (60fps), 4K at 120fps, Audio Mix |
| Front digicam | 12MP f/1.9 23mm, OIS, auto-focus |
| Ingress safety | IP68 mud and water resistance |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Emergency SOS by way of Satellite, UWB, dual-band Global Positioning System |
| Security | Face ID |
| Audio | USB-C, stereo sound |
| Battery | 4685mAh battery, 30W charging, 25W MagSafe, 15W Qi2 |
| Dimensions | 163 x 77.6 x 8.3mm, 227g |
| Colors | Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, Black Titanium, White Titanium |
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Design
Apple did not change the design of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and the telephone seems to be similar to its predecessor. The solely option to inform each telephones aside is that the most recent system is taller and wider than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, however aside from that, they share the identical design.
That means you get a titanium mid-frame with a glass back and front, and the glass safety is touted to be even higher this yr. While I have a tendency to check the effectiveness of those claims with Android telephones (inadvertently, more often than not), I wasn’t prepared to threat that with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and I put it in a case shortly after setting it up.
The telephone has the identical flat sides with rounded edges, and the beveled sides make it simpler to make use of than earlier years. The construct high quality is predictably nice, and whereas this is not a brand-new design, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is instantly recognizable. The telephone retains IP68 mud and water resistance, and like final yr, it may be submerged in as much as 6 meters of water — most Android telephones are solely rated at as much as 1.5 meters.
While the design itself hasn’t modified, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is available in an attention-grabbing Desert Titanium shade possibility, and that is the variant I’m utilizing. Apple switched out the Blue Titanium mannequin of the iPhone 15 Pro Max with the brand new shade possibility, and it seems to be terrific. The refined gold hue seems to be nice on the frosted glass again, and the color-matched digicam rings and mid-frame give the telephone a definite character.
If you do not like the colour, you may decide up the system in White Titanium, Black Titanium, and Natural Titanium choices as an alternative. The digicam housing has the identical distinctive design as earlier years, and is barely raised; fortunately, there are not any points with usability.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is 4.1mm taller and 0.9mm wider than its predecessor, and the elevated dimensions make it a bit unwieldy to make use of one-handed. It is taller than the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL, and solely the Nubia Z60 Ultra dwarfs the iPhone 16 Pro Max on this regard.
A significant spotlight this yr is the introduction of Camera Control, a button that sits to the fitting. It is an intriguing addition in that not many manufacturers present {hardware} controls for the digicam, and it’s versatile: you should utilize it to take images with a brief press, and an extended press switches to video. The greatest characteristic is the power to regulate zoom stage by sliding your finger throughout the capacitive button, and a double faucet means that you can unlock extra controls.
While the concept is undoubtedly novel, the button is in a non-optimal location. It’s awkward to entry, and whereas adjusting the zoom stage is not that a lot of a problem, it was all the time a trouble to change to different controls. Then there’s the truth that video recording is simply enabled so long as you press down on the button. After every week of use, I spotted it was simpler to only use the settings on the viewfinder to vary controls than depend on the button. I additionally inadvertently pressed the button each time choosing up the telephone off a desk, and that was irksome.
The left aspect of the body comprises the same old choices: quantity up and down, and the Action Button that debuted final yr. The SIM card tray sits to the left as effectively, and also you get the power to fit in a bodily SIM alongside an eSIM — for those who’re exterior the U.S. USB-C charging is unbroken, and it makes utilizing the iPhone 16 Pro Max that a lot simpler. I wrote about how the change to USB-C final yr allowed me to make use of the iPhone 15 Pro Max quite a bit longer than I normally would, and that is true this yr as effectively.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Display
After 4 years of utilizing 6.7-inch panels, Apple is growing the display screen measurement within the Pro Max sequence to six.9 inches. The measurement distinction is instantly evident when utilizing the iPhone 16 Pro Max subsequent to its predecessor, and what I like probably the most about is that the telephone itself is not noticeably larger; Apple achieved this by trimming the bezels, and the general impact is sort of placing.
In real-world use, meaning you get a further line of textual content when shopping. The OLED panel itself is among the greatest on any telephone at this time; it has ProMovement tech — dynamic 120Hz refresh — together with HDR10 and Dolby Vision. The decision is barely larger at 2868 x 1320, however the pixel density is identical as final yr, and the Ceramic Shield safety delivers 50% elevated resilience in opposition to tumbles.
Overall, this is among the greatest screens out there at this time, and that is evident when streaming HDR content material or enjoying video games. You get vibrant colours with glorious distinction, and whereas there is not as a lot customizability in terms of shade tonality, True Tone mechanically tweaks shade steadiness primarily based on ambient gentle, and it does a great job on this regard.
I did not see any points with brightness ranges both, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is among the many greatest on this space as effectively. That mentioned, the Pixel 9 Pro XL obtained noticeably brighter in outside use, and Google one way or the other managed to outdo each different model this yr.
Dynamic Island is unchanged from final yr, and whereas the pill-sized cutout is larger than what you get with Android units, it is not as ugly because the earlier notch. The means to make use of this space for actionable issues like music management and navigation alerts continues to be nice, and whereas Android manufacturers have tried to emulate it, nobody got here shut.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Performance
Apple is in a singular place in that it controls each the {hardware} and software program stacks, and that offers it larger freedom in terms of delivering the absolute best efficiency. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is powered by the A18 Pro, and it brings appreciable upgrades — it has 20% larger effectivity underneath related workloads because the A17 Pro, elevated reminiscence bandwidth, a 16-core neural engine that is extra environment friendly than final yr, and 2x beneficial properties in ray tracing.
As you’d think about, there are not any points in day by day use; the iPhone 16 Pro Max is among the quickest telephones round, and that’s noticeable when enjoying demanding titles. I did not see any slowdowns or lag in any way, and overheating wasn’t an issue throughout marathon gaming periods.
| Category | Vivo X100 Ultra | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | Google Pixel 9 Pro XL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single-core) | 2174 | 3344 | 1895 |
| Geekbench 6 (multi-core) | 6375 | 8131 | 4111 |
| Geekbench AI (Quantized Score) | 4098 | 6066 | 2620 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme (rating) | 4677 | 3688 | 2483 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme (FPS) | 28.01 | 22.1 | 14.865 |
| 3DMark Solar Bay (rating) | 8278 | 6593 | ❌ (No Vulkan) |
| 3DMark Solar Bay (FPS) | 31.4 | 25.1 | ❌ (No Vulkan) |
While there are beneficial properties round ray tracing, rasterization is according to final yr, with the telephone delivering related scores in 3DMark’s Wild Life Extreme as its predecessor — this has allowed Qualcomm to take the lead on this space. That mentioned, the telephone has the perfect single- and multi-core outcomes of any system, and that is unlikely to vary.
The base mannequin of the iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with 256GB of storage, and you may decide up the telephone in 512GB and 1TB variants as effectively, with all three fashions that includes 8GB of RAM as normal — similar to final yr.
There is not something lacking on the connectivity entrance both, with the telephone providing Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, dual-band Global Positioning System, satellite tv for pc connectivity (in choose areas), and a second-gen UWM module. The USB-C charging port makes use of the USB 3.2 Gen 2 normal and has the total 10Gbps bandwidth, and the perfect half is that it contains DisplayPort, supplying you with the power to attach the telephone to XR glasses just like the RayNeo Air 2S and exterior screens.
Similar to earlier years, the vibration motor continues to be among the best of any system, providing granular suggestions when utilizing the keyboard, navigating the interface, and different system occasions.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Battery life
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has an even bigger 4685mAh battery, and also you get noticeable beneficial properties in day by day use. I obtained an hour and a half of extra screen-time versus the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and that is a sizeable achievement in and of itself. The telephone lasts a day even with heavy use, and more often than not, I averaged a day and a half between prices.
The charging state of affairs is the place issues are not any higher. The iPhone 16 Pro Max takes an agonizing period of time to cost, and whereas it will get to 45% in half-hour, it takes a further 80 minutes to cost the battery totally. While the Pixel 9 Pro XL and Galaxy S24 Ultra do not have quick charging both, these units do not take wherever as lengthy to cost, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max continues to lag behind its rivals.
Chinese manufacturers are in a league of their very own on this space, with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Vivo X100 Ultra taking underneath 45 minutes to cost their batteries. That mentioned, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a bonus with wi-fi charging, with MagSafe now going as much as 25W. The telephone additionally works with the Qi2 normal — one thing Android telephones have not gotten round to but — and you will get 15W charging by way of a Qi2 stand.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro Max would not have drastically totally different digicam {hardware}, with the telephone utilizing the same 48MP primary digicam with sensor-shift OIS as final yr. The 12MP telephoto lens is unchanged as effectively, and it delivers 5x optical zoom and OIS. There’s now a 48MP wide-angle lens, and up entrance is a 12MP lens with OIS.
Camera Control is a key {hardware} addition this time, and whereas it’s good to rapidly pull up the digicam and take a photograph, the button is not in the perfect location, and it is not intuitive to make use of. After making an attempt out the button for every week, I went again to adjusting viewfinder controls the same old manner.
What you will like higher is the overhauled Photographic Styles, which now means that you can drastically change the feel and appear of a photograph. There are 15 preset tones you should utilize out of the field, however the place the characteristic actually comes into its personal is the power to tweak these presets to your liking by altering the undertones and distinction choice. The result’s that you simply get wildly totally different images by switching up the tones, and there may be intensive customizability on this regard.
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I’ve all the time loved capturing macros with iPhones, and the 16 Pro Max helps you to take high-res macro photographs. Video is an space the place the telephone continues to dominate, and this yr, you may shoot 4K in 120fps with HDR, and that is simply unbelievable. The new ISP encoder in a position to deal with the elevated bandwidth, and what I like probably the most about this characteristic is that you would be able to decelerate footage to 60fps or 30fps after the actual fact by way of the built-in editor.
You also can document spatial audio, and it’s enabled by default. What’s cool about this characteristic is that you would be able to then scale back background noise, or create a cinematic impact with ambient noises pushed to the background. You can do that by choosing Audio Mix within the editor, and it really works extremely effectively.
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The iPhone 16 Pro Max would not deviate an excessive amount of from its predecessor in terms of shade rendition, with resultant daylight photographs having good white steadiness and shade accuracy. You do not get saturated images like Samsung’s telephones or the contrast-rich pictures which are a attribute of Pixels. The telephone does simply nearly as good a job in low-light circumstances, however it’s a bit aggressive with smoothening particulars. That mentioned, the brand new Styles provide you with unbelievable customizability with tonal steadiness, and you may simply change the look of your images.
The wide-angle lens is equally nice, and it doubles as a macro shooter, supplying you with the power to take close-up photographs. There is a few noise in low-light photographs taken with the wide-angle lens, and whereas it has good shade rendition, it would not measure as much as the Vivo X100 Pro on this regard.
The zoom lens is comparatively unchanged, and it manages to ship clear photographs at as much as 5x. You get usable images at 10x as effectively, however there’s seen noise — extra so than the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Portraits are equally nice, and also you get good background segmentation. That mentioned, they’re nowhere as detailed because the Vivo X100 Ultra or the Find X7 Ultra; these two units nonetheless have a definite edge in terms of portrait photographs.
Overall, the iPhone 16 Pro Max does a greater job than its predecessor, and it holds up extremely effectively in opposition to the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL. Vivo’s X100 Pro and X100 Ultra and the Find X7 Ultra are significantly better in low-light conditions and portrait photographs, however as an all-round package deal, the iPhone 16 Pro Max does greater than sufficient to face out in opposition to its rivals.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Software
Apple launched a ton of recent options in iOS 18, however not all can be found out of the field — all of the AI-focused options will debut at a later time. There’s an elevated concentrate on customization this time, and much-needed updates to loads of the inventory apps. A giant replace contains RCS integration in Messages, one thing that took a very long time to reach. You get to make use of emoji or stickers with Tapback, the power to schedule messages, and a lot extra, and whereas I do not use iMessage, it clearly has quite a bit going for it.
Control Center has significantly better customizability, and you may simply add and alter toggles as wanted. It has scrollable pages, and for those who want extra widgets that do not match into the default pane, you may arrange extra ones in keeping with your preferences. I did not get a lot utility out of this characteristic as I prefer to restrict the variety of toggles I exploit, and most of my interactions are centered on the media participant.
You can now change icon measurement and select between varied styling choices. There’s the default gentle and darkish, and automated modes, and the tinted possibility particularly is attention-grabbing, because it provides you granular management in tweaking the colours of the icon. Unlike Google’s Themed icons (which continues to be in beta), the iOS 18 implementation is constant throughout all apps, and it really works extremely effectively. You can change lock display screen controls as effectively, switching out the flashlight and digicam toggles with ease.
On that notice, you get the power to depart clean areas between app icons on the house display screen — one thing that was lengthy overdue. The default Photos app has been overhauled and now makes use of collections-based sorting to arrange your images and movies, and also you get higher management in arranging your media library. iOS 18 additionally provides you the choice to cover and lock apps behind Face ID, which is good with monetary utilities or messaging purchasers.
Of course, Apple Intelligence is a key addition to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and also you get a set of AI-enabled options round writing, picture technology, and a lot extra. However, Apple Intelligence is not out there in the intervening time, and the preliminary set of AI options will go stay beginning October 28 within the U.S. with the iOS 18.1 replace.
Customers in different nations have a lengthier wait, and never all options showcased on the launch occasion will probably be accessible instantly; there’s going to be a staggered availability as an alternative, and you may want to attend till finish of Q1 to get a lot of the AI options.
This is a singular state of affairs; Apple normally has all of its options out there on launch day, however due to the size of the endeavor, the model is taking its time — and that is one thing I can get behind. Most manufacturers have been too hasty to introduce AI options, and so they’re half-baked at greatest. Having mentioned that, you will want to attend a number of months to unlock the total potential of the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: The competitors
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is the apparent various to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It looks like Google went out of its option to make the 9 Pro XL appear like an iPhone, and it does a great job in that regard. You nonetheless get a particular digicam housing on the again, however the flat sides and chunkier design makes it really feel like an iPhone in on a regular basis use. The 9 Pro XL would not have the identical caliber of {hardware}, however it has an OLED panel that will get brighter, excellent cameras, and the perfect AI options of any telephone out there at this time.
If you want a telephone with loads of energy, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is an effective selection to think about as effectively. The software program is not nearly as good as what you get on the Pixel — or the iPhone 16 Pro Max — however you get seven years of updates, and Samsung bundles an honest set of AI instruments with Galaxy AI.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Should you purchase it?
You should purchase this if:
- You want an iPhone with a sizeable OLED panel
- You need the perfect {hardware} on a telephone
- You want standout cameras
- You need higher battery life
You should not purchase this if:
- You need the most recent AI options
- You want the perfect charging tech
- You have an iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is a superb telephone that guarantees to get even higher when Apple Intelligence turns into out there. You needn’t wait till the AI options roll out for those who’re seeking to improve from an older iPhone; there are sufficient new options to differentiate it from its predecessors. The most noticeable distinction is the larger OLED panel, and whereas it makes the telephone even taller, it’s a welcome improve.
But what you will truly find yourself liking is the battery longevity; the iPhone 16 Pro Max lasts considerably longer than its predecessor, and that in itself is sufficient of an improve to entice older iPhone customers to make the change. Other battery-related tweaks ought to curb battery degradation — one thing that was a serious subject on the iPhone 14 sequence — and whereas the charging state of affairs is in want of an overhaul, 25W MagSafe is an honest workaround within the meantime.
There’s little incentive to maneuver for those who’re already utilizing the iPhone 15 Pro Max, however for those who’re on an older system and are mulling an improve, it is best to get the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a bigger OLED panel, higher battery life, and takes higher images and movies. It is probably not a generational improve, however there’s sufficient right here to justify making the change for those who’re on an older system.
