The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is the bounteous iPhone you may get , with a screen that ’s even enceinte than the previous manakin . The hand - stretching sizing also mean the headphone hold a magnanimous battery , which will turn out to be one of its greatest strengths , but is it deserving the extra money over the very similarApple iPhone 16 Pro ? We ’ve used the earphone since its liberation to find out , and the dear news is it ’s a tremendous iPhone and a suitable upgrade if you are coming from an older simulation .
About our Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max review
We to begin with bring out our Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max review in October 2024 , when it was written by Christine Romero - Chan , and Andy Boxall updated it at the end of March 2024 after using the smartphone every day . Each section has been revise , based on our extended function and following the creation of Apple Intelligence features . Andy Boxall also added a new section detailing his ongoing positively charged experience with the speech sound over the past six months .
iPhone 16 Pro Max: specs
2868 x 1320 pixel resolution at 460 ppi
1 - 120Hz refresh charge per unit
1,000 nits ( typical ) / 1,600 nit ( HDR ) / 2,000 nit ( outdoor ) , 1 nit minimum
48MP ultrawide , f/2.2
12MP telephoto , f/2.8 , 5x optical zoom
25W MagSafe wireless
15W Qi2 wireless
4.5W reverse radio
Six months with the iPhone 16 Pro Max
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is the only phone I haveconsistently used over the last six months , and there ’s a good reason : It does absolutely everything I could want , utterly faithfully , and without any trouble . It returns two days of battery life on a single charge , the tv camera is in effect enough to even take photos I ’m happy to publish with my written work , and the the size — although big — make it a howling multimedia speech sound .
But it ’s more than that . It ’s the massive ecosystem around the iPhone that makes it a joyfulness . Whether that ’s Apple Pay ( I never make for my bank card or wallet at all any longer ) , Apple ’s Podcast and Music apps , the simplicity of relate myAirPods Pro 2 , how unlined Apple CarPlay is , or the fast and fuss - free method to put up a newfangled iPhone , it ’s all just easy . I spend a lot of time adjust up and using Android phones , only to sometimes be frustrated by the way they work , and adore that the authentic iPhone is always there . It ’s trusty and innocent of irritation .
This is why it ’s a recommendation from me . I desire a earpiece that does n’t postulate a band of attention once it has been rig up , and few are able to deport like the iPhone 16 Pro Max . From the battery life to the app support , it ’s a brilliant every Clarence Day partner .
iPhone 16 Pro Max: design
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a Ti frame with a brushed metal finishing , flavorless edges , a matte ice back , and the Action button on the left - bridge player side , above the loudness buttons . The triple - lens camera layout has an identical conception to the iPhone 15 Pro Max . The “ modish coevals ” Ceramic Shield covers the screen , making it resistant to affect and scratches . Unfortunately , if you put aniPhone 15 Pro Maxand an iPhone 16 Pro Max next to each other , you would n’t be capable to make out a difference at first , so anyone hop for a ocular update will be disappointed .
That is , until you look toward the bottom on the right edge of the frame . That ’s where Apple has put in the new Camera Control button , which sits flush with the anatomy , rather than sticking out a fleck like the other buttons . There ’s a few thing that you may do with the Camera Control , which I ’ll get to in a moment , but that ’s essentially the key discriminator between the iPhone 16 Pro Max ( and the residual of the iPhone 16 line of work ) and previous generation . The iPhone 16 Pro Max retains Apple ’s overall design from the last several years — whether you know it or hate it , Apple seems to be sticking with the “ if it ai n’t give , do n’t determine it ” motto .
It ’s a tried and true invention , for sure , but I have to admit that it ’s growing a bit stale . I would have liked to see some variety made to the Pro modeling this year like Apple did with the base role model iPhone 16 . The iPhone 16 Pro models also come in four rather unimaginative shades : Black Titanium , White Titanium , Natural Titanium , and Desert Titanium . reckon the fantastically saturated colors of the base good example iPhone 16 , the color Apple chose for the Pro models are pretty muffled .
It ’s obvious this is a big smartphone , but it ’s no turgid than other large devices like theSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultraor theGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XL . Yes , it ’s hard to comfortably use with one hand and not risk an expensive cliff , it takes up a lot of way in your pocket , and it rarely sensibly fits in cubby holes in the car , but you ’ll forgive it when you see videos , act games , or browse the vane . The silver screen is a delight , and its size of it get the iPhone 16 Pro Max the modeling to take if you want to love its multimedia ability .
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Camera Control
Now , let ’s blab out about the crowing new feature on the iPhone 16 hardware this yr , including the iPhone 16 Pro Max : Camera Control . The Camera Control sits below the halfway degree on the correct border of the frame , underneath the eternal sleep / wake button . It ’s not the best position as you’re able to press the Camera Control accidentally , and you may have to adjust the way you adjudge the phone when withdraw landscape photos . The default force per unit area sensitiveness for actually pressing the button is also set a bit too high-pitched , which can cause camera milkshake when capturing a photograph .
One press of the Camera Control launches the Camera ( oranother app that supports it ) , and another public press captures a photo , while a press and hold starts a video recording . you may also do a double half - imperativeness to trade between various camera preferences , and slide your finger on Camera Control to make adjustments . Placement aside , the Camera Control feature is fun , and because the Camera Control now opens the Camera app , you may remap the Action button or lockscreen picture to something else . Switching to solely utilize the Camera Control has a outrageous scholarship curve , and after years of using the touchscreen controls to take picture and video , it ’s a very concentrated habit to relegate .
Is it worth the effort ? Yes , it can be . The Camera Controldoes more than just activate the camera . A swipe switches between camera Lens and the front camera , while a flabby jam activates the new Camera Styles and Tones , which can be adjusted in literal sentence . search further and the astuteness and exposure can be manually adjust too . That ’s quite a lot of functionality on a single push button , and getting used to it will take some time . The job is , it ’s often far light , quicker , and more natural to apply the touch screen . The button itself is typically well - direct with lovely tactile feedback , but not everyone will feel it ’s worth shinny with the eruditeness curve when using the touchscreen is faster .
iPhone 16 Pro Max: display
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a massive 6.9 - inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion and always - on technology . Its resolution is 2868 x 1320 pixels at 460 pixel per inch ( PPI ) tightness . Typical brightness is 1,000 nits , 1,600 nit for HDR content , and a upper limit of 2,000 nits outdoors . This class , the Pro models can also get all the way down to 1 nit lower limit brightness , which means less eye strain when using your phone in dismal surround . The Dynamic Island also pee a return .
The iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s filmdom look great . Apple retain the iPhone ’s showing looking fairly electroneutral , whereas , on some rival phones , the display is set to “ Vivid ” by default option , which makes thing to a fault bright . Colors still pop on the iPhone 16 Pro Max , and black are deep and deep . The adaptive refresh charge per unit is a crowing intellect to bribe the Pro fashion model over the stock iPhone 16 models , and once you ’ve seen the fluency of Apple ’s 120Hz screen liken to a 60Hz screen , you wo n’t need to go back . From app opening animations to scroll through Safari , the iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s ProMotion screen is a delight . Special mention should go to the all-embracing showing angles and immense brightness , so it ’s visible in almost all state of affairs and environment .
Not everyone will be a fan of the 6.9 - column inch screen ’s overall size of it , and for some it will be too enceinte . If you have small hand , you ’re probable to find it impossible to use one - handed , and even two handed use can cause fatigue duty after extended period . commemorate , this is not only Apple ’s biggest phone , but also its heaviest . This is the price you pay off for enjoying the large , smooth screenland . However , not everyone will find it pestiferous . Plus , the more you use the telephone the more you ’ll adapt to how it works best for you . The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a beautiful screenland , and if you ’re at all interested about the size of the machine , we strongly commend the smaller iPhone 16 Pro .
iPhone 16 Pro Max: software and performance
The iPhone 16 Pro Max shipped withiOS 18 , and over the month stick to release , Apple Intelligencefeatures were added in updates . Due to the A18 Pro CPU and 8 GB RAM , the iPhone 16 Pro Max is speedy in daily manipulation and performance . The big alteration that you ’ll notice from the get - go is the new home screen customization options . you may put your app picture and widgets anywhere on the projection screen , even with blank outer space . However , there are limitation like no 2×2 widgets in the eye , and sometimes the app image just like to do their own thing while you ’re rearranging , which can lead to want to tear your hair out .
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is speedy in everyday use and performance .
I do really like havingthe Dark theme for app icons and widgets , however , as I always keep my phone in dark mode . This has lead me to hold on using custom icons through Shortcuts , though the gloomy stem picture also depend on the developer supporting the feature . you’re able to now also change your Control Center layout and even lock screen shortcut . I did change up the Control Center a bit , but I ’ve been stick on muscle memory for years , so rearrange everything and total new controls has need some time to get used to . The same move for the lock blind shortcuts . I do n’t wish that it can be a routine of a tedious process , though , as moving control around even the slim flake can mix everything else .
content got some overnice upgrade too , with keep forRCS messagingwith Android users , as well as the ability to schedule iMessages to send later . I ’ve been make love the RCS keep as now photos and videos with Android users wo n’t be pixelated and unserviceable , but actually gamey solvent . And Photos has a big new redesign , though it ’s either “ love it ” or “ hate it ” with most the great unwashed . I call up I fall in the latter . As far as software package support goes , most of its devices are patronage for at least five years , and that probably applies to the iPhone 16 Pro Max as well .
What aboutApple Intelligence ? It ’s a lot like other mobile AI systems , such asGalaxy AI , in that some features will be useful some of the time , and to some hoi polloi . Few will apply Apple Intelligence ’s features every day , as often the only way of life you ’ll notice it ’s there are the notification sum-up on the whorl screen . Siri has been upgraded , the Image Playground app lease you mess up around with generative AI image , and there ’s Apple ’s clean-living Up tool in the Photos app . It ’s all worth explore , and for the most part operates really well , but it ’s far from compelling enough to be considered a intellect to buy the phone . This is n’t really an Apple Intelligence problem , but a roving AI job in oecumenical .
iPhone 16 Pro Max: cameras
If you ’re looking to get a Modern iPhone for the camera , you ca n’t go wrong with the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max . Both telephone set have the same triple - lens camera setup this year , so even if you get the smaller Pro , you are n’t miss out on camera features . The iPhone 16 Pro Max ( and unconstipated iPhone 16 Pro ) have a 48MP Fusion camera ( Apple ’s new selling term for the chief television camera ) , a 48MP ultrawide lens , and a 12MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom . Unfortunately though , the selfie tv camera is still the same at only 12MP .
So far , I ’ve been very impressed with the lineament of photograph I ’ve catch with the iPhone 16 Pro Max . As someone who only had theiPhone 15 Prolast year , I ’ve really enjoyed having the 5x ocular zoom with both Pro theoretical account this clock time around . photograph I ’ve taken expect straight to life with color that pop , detailed textures , and overall edge . Macro exposure are also improved with the unexampled 48MP ultrawide crystalline lens .
The entire iPhone 16 family also has thenew Photographic Styles , which lets you all right - tune the quality and colour of your photos , rather than just applying a generic aesthetic on the entire image like before . And the panache can be change after the fact too , which is a enceinte betterment .
away from the telephoto camera , the Pro models have other features that also differentiate themselves from the base model iPhone 16 . These feature include Apple ProRAW shot , night mode portraits , 4 K Dolby Vision transcription at 120fps , ProRes video transcription , Log video recording , and there is also a “ studio - quality ” four - mic setup .
These are for sure swell characteristic if you ’re a YouTuber or plan to create your own plastic film . But for the average someone , it may be more than necessary . Still , if you really require the telephoto and unexampled ultrawide camera , then the Pro models are the elbow room to go . How does it equate to some other smartphone tv camera ? The iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s television camera wasbeaten by the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra , but the iPhone 16 Probeat the Google Pixel 9 professional . The iPhone 16 Pro also performed wellagainst the Samsung Galaxy S25 + .
iPhone 16 Pro Max: battery life and charging
Since the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the orotund battery in the lineup , it should be no surprise that stamp battery life has been excellent . The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 4,685mAh bombardment inside , and it lasts at least two full days , plus has much better than the battery life history we got from the regulariPhone 16 Pro . Over the months following release , the phone ’s battery ensconce down to return at least five hours screen time each day without gaming , and eight - to-10 time of day of usage is entirely potential .
Apple did n’t make any improvement to charge amphetamine when plugged in , unfortunately . You still have about 27W-30W electrify rouse speeding , which means about 50 % thrill in 30 transactions . MagSafe wireless charging is faster , however , now at 25W instead of 15W. Wireless file with a Qi2 charger is now 15W , and reverse tuner is 4.5W.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: price and availability
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is useable to bribe now directly from Apple , retailers like Best Buy and Amazon , or carrier stores starting at $ 1,199 for the 256 GB model , $ 1,399 for 512 GB , and $ 1,599 for 1 TB . If that ’s a bit high , you may look for trade wind - in good deal to knock off some dollars from the retail toll .
What else should you consider ? The most obvious is the Apple iPhone 16 Pro , which is technically the same as the Pro Max but with a modest sieve and stamp battery , just for a slightly lower price . If you are also interested in an Android speech sound , then the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra , Google Pixel 9 Pro XL , and depending on where you live , theXiaomi 15 Ultratoo . Each matches the iPhone 16 Pro Max for public presentation and straight-out ability , and have brilliant tv camera system too .
iPhone 16 Pro Max: verdict
Get past the fact the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a self-aggrandizing phone , and you ’ve got the adept phone Apple presently makes . It lend together everything we wish about the iPhone 16 Pro , and then packs in a stamp battery which survive for two Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , with a screen that ’s as immersive , colorful , and brilliant as you could want .
The two big new feature — the Camera Control and Apple Intelligence — are n’t reasons to buy the earphone , but are fun additions in the proper situations , and to the veracious the great unwashed . What this means is , if you own an iPhone 15 Pro Max or even an iPhone 14 Pro Max , you may not see much difference in the possession experience if you elevate . But for owner of iPhone models more than two year one-time , specially if it does n’t have a 120Hz ProMotion CRT screen , you ’re operate to enjoy it .
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has been a superb , reliable , various , and feature - packed cooperator since its exit , and we have no hesitation in recommending it .
