iPhone 16 Pro Max Review: The Ultimate iPhone Experience?
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is undoubtedly the most capable iPhone to date, not only boosting the power with the A18 Pro but bringing small, yet meaningful, upgrades including impossibly thin bezels, an upgraded camera setup, and most importantly, impressive battery life that’ll see the majority of users through the day and then some.
Apple Intelligence is still in its infancy with only a handful of features available at the time of writing, and only for those in the US. It has the potential to improve massively with the release of bigger, handier features in the coming months, but it shouldn’t be the reason you get this iPhone.
That said, there might not be enough here for iPhone 15 Pro Max users to upgrade, but if you’re coming from an older iPhone, you’ll enjoy the refreshed experience on offer here.
Pros
- Exceptional battery life
- Larger screen with impossibly thin bezels
- Top-end processing power
- Impressive video quality
Cons
- Apple Intelligence isn’t that smart or widely available
- Camera Control is awkward to use
- Very expensive
Key Features
Apple Intelligence Support
While the features are basic right now, Apple Intelligence is set to get a whole lot smarter in the coming months, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is one of relatively few iPhones that can run the functionality.
Top-End Processing Power
The A18 Pro chipset within the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the most powerful on the market right now, ensuring top-tier performance across all applications.
All-Day Battery Life and Fast Charging
The iPhone 16 Pro Max can easily last all day, and with good charging speeds alongside 25W MagSafe and 7.5W Qi wireless charging, you’ll regain charge quickly too.
Design
The iPhone 16 Pro Max takes many of its design cues from the iPhone 15 Pro Max, though that’s hardly a surprise at this stage. Apple has long done away with design refreshes every year, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s look consistent with the iPhone 12 Pro Max released in 2020.
That’s not a bad thing; like the old adage, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Apple’s latest iPhone sports a rather boxy, industrial look with a completely flat profile, a look that has become ubiquitous even on Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24.
Camera Control Button
One of the new features is the Camera Control button, which allows users to access the camera and adjust settings with taps and swipes. However, the reality is that it can be fiddly to use, often requiring specific amounts of pressure to switch between modes and adjust settings.
Screen
The iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch OLED screen, the largest ever on an iPhone, with some of the slimmest bezels around, measuring just 1.44mm thick. The Dynamic Island returns, though it’s starting to feel a bit out of place next to the ultra-slim bezels.
The screen offers 2000 nits of brightness and supports 120Hz ProMotion, making it perfect for smooth scrolling, gaming, and HDR content.
Cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro Max sports the same main and telephoto lenses as last year but upgrades the ultrawide lens to a 48MP sensor. The camera experience is enhanced by a range of software upgrades, making it one of the best camera phones on the market, especially when it comes to video capture.
The 5x periscope lens remains a highlight, though it feels a bit out of place next to the two 48MP cameras.
Performance
Powered by the A18 Pro, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is currently the fastest smartphone on the market. Whether it's gaming, video editing, or multitasking, this phone can handle it all without breaking a sweat. It also supports Wi-Fi 7, 5G, and Bluetooth 5.3 for cutting-edge connectivity.
Software & AI
The iPhone 16 Pro Max runs on iOS 18, which introduces Apple Intelligence. However, at the time of writing, these AI features are only available in the US and remain relatively basic compared to Android’s AI capabilities. More advanced features are expected in future updates.
Battery Life
Battery life is one of the standout features of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It can last up to two days with moderate use, making it the longest-lasting iPhone to date. The phone also supports 45W fast charging, allowing you to regain 50% charge in just 30 minutes.
Should You Buy It?
You Want the Most Capable iPhone Yet
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has solid cameras, a great screen, plenty of power, and the longest battery life of any iPhone to date.
You Want the Best AI Experience
If you’re looking for advanced AI features, you may want to wait. Apple Intelligence is still in its infancy, and many of its best features are yet to be released.
Final Thoughts
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the most capable iPhone yet, even if it doesn’t seem like a huge year-on-year jump just by looking at the phone. While it might not look all that different, there are plenty of small changes – like the ultra-slim bezels, top-end A18 Pro power, and new Camera Controls – that combine to deliver a genuinely handy refresh, just maybe not if you’ve already got an iPhone 15 Pro Max.
If you’re unsure about the phone’s prowess, there are plenty of alternatives in our roundup of the best smartphones.
