Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Review: The Ultimate Big-Screen iPhone

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, released on September 20, 2024, is Apple's flagship smartphone, boasting a massive 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display, the powerful A18 Pro chip, and an advanced triple-camera system. Priced starting at €1,151.99 / $851.85 / £932.99, it’s designed for users who demand top-tier performance, exceptional battery life, and cutting-edge camera capabilities. In this review, we dive into its features, performance, and whether it justifies its premium price tag.

Design and Build

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is Apple’s largest iPhone to date, measuring 163 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm and weighing 227g. Its grade 5 titanium frame, paired with a glass front and back, exudes durability and luxury. The Ceramic Shield glass (2024 gen) enhances scratch resistance, and the IP68 rating ensures dust and water resistance up to 6 meters for 30 minutes. The phone’s thinnest bezels ever result in a 91.4% screen-to-body ratio, making the display feel immersive.

Available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium, the Desert Titanium color stands out as a unique bronze tone. However, its size can be cumbersome for some, causing hand strain during prolonged use and making it less pocket-friendly.

The new Camera Control button is a standout addition, offering quick access to the camera and intuitive touch controls for zoom, exposure, and Photographic Styles. While innovative, its sensitivity and portrait-mode placement have received mixed feedback.

Display

The 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display is the largest ever on an iPhone, with a 1320 x 2868 resolution (~460 ppi) and 120Hz ProMotion for smooth scrolling. It supports HDR10, Dolby Vision, and reaches 2000 nits peak brightness, delivering vibrant colors and deep blacks. Measured at 1796 nits, it’s ideal for outdoor use. However, the lack of an anti-glare coating, unlike some competitors, is a minor drawback.

Performance

Powered by the Apple A18 Pro chip (3nm) with a hexa-core CPU (2x4.05 GHz + 4x2.42 GHz), 6-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine (35 TOPS), the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a performance beast. It scored 1,838,828 on AnTuTu, 8606 on GeekBench, and 4731 on 3DMark Wild Life Extreme, handling gaming, multitasking, and AI tasks with ease. The 8GB RAM and storage options (256GB, 512GB, 1TB) ensure future-proofing, though the absence of a microSD slot is standard for Apple.

Running iOS 18 (upgradable to iOS 18.5), it’s optimized for Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and notification summaries, though some features, like advanced Siri and ChatGPT integration, are still rolling out.

Camera

The iPhone 16 Pro Max’s triple-camera system is a highlight:

48MP wide (f/1.8, sensor-shift OIS): Delivers sharp, detailed photos with improved HDR and dynamic range.
48MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120° FOV): Upgraded from 12MP, it captures more light and detail, though low-light noise is noticeable compared to rivals.
12MP 5x telephoto (f/2.8, 120mm): Offers excellent zoom quality, inherited from last year’s Pro Max.

The TOF 3D LiDAR scanner enhances depth sensing for portraits and AR. Video recording supports 4K at up to 120fps, Dolby Vision HDR, and 3D spatial audio, making it a content creator’s dream. The 12MP front camera (f/1.9, OIS) records 4K at 60fps with HDR, ensuring high-quality selfies and video calls.

While the cameras excel in consistency and color accuracy, competitors like the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra outperform in low-light detail and noise reduction. The Camera Control button enhances usability but lacks depth-of-field adaptation seen in rivals like Google’s Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Battery and Charging

The 4685mAh battery is Apple’s largest ever, delivering an active use score of 17:18 hours—the best iPhone battery life to date. It supports 40W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes), 25W MagSafe wireless, 15W Qi2 wireless, and 4.5W reverse wired charging. However, charging speeds lag behind Android flagships offering 100W+.

Connectivity and Features

The iPhone 16 Pro Max supports 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, and Ultra Wideband (UWB) gen2 for precise tracking. It includes GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC, and NFC for Apple Pay. The USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port offers faster data transfer and DisplayPort support. Emergency SOS and Messages via satellite enhance safety.

Sensors include Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, and barometer. The stereo speakers deliver crisp sound at -24.4 LUFS, though there’s no 3.5mm jack or radio.

Pricing and Colors

Starting at €1,151.99 / $851.85 / £932.99 for 256GB, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is Apple’s priciest iPhone. Storage upgrades to 512GB and 1TB cost $200 each, reaching $1,599 for 1TB. Its premium price is justified by its feature set, but storage upgrades are expensive.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Largest 6.9-inch LTPO OLED display with 120Hz ProMotion.
Best-in-class A18 Pro chip for unmatched performance.
Exceptional 17:18h battery life, the longest on any iPhone.
Versatile 48MP triple-camera system with 4K120fps video.
Innovative Camera Control button for intuitive photography.

Cons

Large size may be unwieldy for some users.
No anti-glare coating on display.
Camera Control button is overly sensitive in some scenarios.
Charging speeds lag behind Android competitors.
Apple Intelligence features incomplete at launch.

Verdict

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is the ultimate iPhone for 2024, excelling in display quality, battery life, and camera performance. Its A18 Pro chip and iOS 18 ensure a future-proof experience, while the Camera Control button adds a creative edge. However, its size, premium price, and incomplete Apple Intelligence features may deter some buyers. If you’re upgrading from an iPhone 13 or older, or crave the best big-screen iPhone, the 16 Pro Max is a compelling choice. For those prioritizing portability or budget, the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16e may suffice.

Price and availability may vary by region. Check with local retailers for the latest deals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

1. When was the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max released?
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max was announced on September 9, 2024, and released on September 20, 2024.

2. What are the key specifications of the iPhone 16 Pro Max?
It features a 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with 120Hz, Apple A18 Pro chipset, 8GB RAM, 256GB/512GB/1TB storage, a 48MP triple-camera system, a 12MP front camera, a 4685mAh battery, and runs iOS 18 (upgradable to 18.5).

3. Does the iPhone 16 Pro Max support expandable storage?
No, the iPhone 16 Pro Max does not have a microSD card slot. It is available with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB internal storage.

4. What is the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max?
The iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at approximately €1,151.99 / $851.85 / £932.99, with variations based on storage and region.

5. Is the iPhone 16 Pro Max water-resistant?
Yes, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has an IP68 rating, making it dust-tight and water-resistant up to 6 meters for 30 minutes.

6. What are the camera features of the iPhone 16 Pro Max?
It has a 48MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, and 12MP 5x telephoto camera with HDR, panorama, and 4K video at up to 120fps with Dolby Vision HDR. The 12MP front camera supports 4K at 60fps, HDR, and 3D spatial audio, both with gyro-EIS.

7. How is the battery life of the iPhone 16 Pro Max?
The 4685mAh battery delivers an active use score of 17:18 hours, with 40W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes), 25W MagSafe, and 15W Qi2 wireless charging.

8. What colors are available for the iPhone 16 Pro Max?
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium.

9. Does the iPhone 16 Pro Max have a headphone jack?
No, the iPhone 16 Pro Max does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack.

10. What connectivity options does the iPhone 16 Pro Max offer?
It supports 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC (for Apple Pay), GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, and Ultra Wideband (UWB) gen2. It does not support radio.