iPhone 15 Pro Max Review: Lighter, Improved Zoom

Titanium borders, USB-C, 5x camera, and an inventive action button represent the most significant iPhone enhancement in years.

Apple’s latest and most expensive flagship phone marks a substantial advancement for the iPhone. Notably, it boasts a potent new camera and a USB-C port. However, its standout feature is its reduced weight. Historically, Apple’s 6.7-inch iPhones were hefty in both cost and weight. While this new iPhone 15 Pro Max remains relatively expensive, starting at £1,199 (€1,449/$1,199/A$2,199), it is at least 19g lighter, significantly enhancing the user experience in hand and pocket.

The newest Max model features titanium edges instead of stainless steel, shedding 19g while also redistributing the phone’s balance towards its center, creating a perception of even greater lightness. In terms of design, it closely adheres to the one introduced with the 2020 iPhone 12 Pro Max, with slight refinements in the edges and narrower screen bezels.

The display stands out as one of the top performers in the market, providing excellent brightness even under direct sunlight, thereby enhancing outdoor readability. This year introduces a notable addition – the action button, which replaces the traditional mute switch found on every iPhone.

While it retains its primary function of muting and unmuting the phone with a press and hold, users now have the flexibility to reassign it for various functions. This is particularly useful for those who prefer to keep their phone in silent mode permanently or manage mute settings through the control center. This customization allows the action button to perform actions such as activating “do not disturb,” launching the camera, turning on the flashlight, recording voice memos, and more.

Specifications

• Display: Featuring a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED) display with an impressive pixel density of 460ppi.
• Processor: Powered by the advanced Apple A17 Pro processor.
• RAM: Equipped with 8GB of RAM for seamless performance.
• Storage options: Available in storage capacities of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB.
• Operating system: Runs on the latest iOS 17 for a smooth and intuitive user experience.
• Camera setup: Boasts a sophisticated camera setup, including a 48MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP 5x zoom camera, and a 12MP front-facing camera.
• Connectivity: Comprehensive connectivity options, including 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, Thread, USB-C, Satellite, UWB, and GNSS.
• Water resistance: Rated IP68, allowing submersion up to 6 meters for a duration of 30 minutes.
• Dimensions: Compact dimensions measuring 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25mm.
• Weight: Weighs in at 221g, ensuring a lightweight yet substantial feel in hand.

Farewell to Lightning, Embracing USB-C

In 2023, a notable change for the iPhone is the switch from the Lightning port to USB-C for both charging and connecting accessories. The impact of this shift largely depends on your current collection of Lightning accessories. For most users, it’s a straightforward transition that involves simply swapping out the cable, and the necessary cable is provided with the phone.

The advantage here is that you can continue using your existing power adapter, eliminating the need to invest in expensive Apple cables. Any USB-C cable will work, including those compatible with Android phones, PCs, Macs, iPads, and other tablets. Moreover, your iPhone can be used to charge other devices like AirPods, an Apple Watch, or other phones in a pinch.

What adds to the excitement is the expanded compatibility with a variety of USB-C accessories. I seamlessly connected various USB-C docks, game controllers, Ethernet adapters, flash drives, audio adapters, display cables, and SD card readers—especially advantageous for photographers. This shift also unlocks the potential to use game controllers and other peripherals, like the USB-C version of the Backbone One. It’s important to mention that the 15 Pro and Pro Max models support faster USB3 (10Gbps) transfer speeds, even though the cable provided in the box is the slower USB2 (480Mbps) variant.

A17 Pro processor

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max introduce the A17 Pro chip, featuring a 10% speed increase, 20% more powerful graphics, and the ability to handle advanced ray tracing graphics, paving the way for more lifelike, console-level games.

Initially, users reported significant heat generation, which Apple addressed with the iOS 17.0.3 update. However, even before the patch, my testing indicated that the Max did not heat up more than previous models or competing devices, even under demanding benchmarks and gaming scenarios.

In terms of battery life, the phone can last approximately 44 hours between charges, with nearly six hours of active screen usage. This assessment was primarily conducted under Wi-Fi conditions, with a few hours of 5G browsing. In practical terms, this implies needing to charge it approximately every two days with moderate usage. Even during demanding days of 5G use, involving camera and map usage while on the move, the 15 Pro Max still managed an impressive 36 hours between charges.

Sustainability

Apple indicates that the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s battery is projected to withstand over 500 full-charge cycles while maintaining at least 80% of its original capacity. If necessary, the battery can be replaced for £95. Screen repairs beyond the warranty coverage are priced at £389. The iPhone 15 Pro Max adheres to the same internally repair-friendly design introduced with the iPhone 14. However, it received a repairability score of only four out of 10 from iFixit experts, primarily due to Apple’s software restrictions on third-party repairs.

The phone incorporates recycled materials, including aluminum, cobalt, copper, gold, plastic, rare earth elements, tin, and tungsten. Apple thoroughly outlines the phone’s environmental impact in its report. Additionally, Apple offers trade-in and free recycling programs, extending to non-Apple products as well.

Camera

The iPhone 15 Pro Max showcases Apple’s most powerful camera system to date. It shares a similar setup with last year’s 14 Pro, featuring a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 48MP primary camera, and a 12MP telephoto camera, with a couple of noteworthy enhancements.

The Pro Max’s telephoto camera now boasts a 5x optical zoom, a significant improvement from the 3x on the standard 15 Pro and previous models. This advancement brings subjects closer, providing the iPhone with substantial magnification. The camera can further extend to a digital zoom of up to 25x, delivering satisfactory results up to approximately 10-15x. The primary camera defaults to capturing 24-megapixel photos, a substantial increase from the previous 12MP resolution. It also offers the flexibility to shoot at three different focal lengths (24, 28, or 35mm), catering to the preferences of photography enthusiasts. Additionally, it retains the practical 2x optical zoom introduced last year.

Portrait photos are now automatically captured when the camera detects a person or pet, eliminating the need to switch to a dedicated mode. Subsequently, you can edit and refocus the photo after capturing it, significantly improving the system. This feature also enables you to take portraits with night mode, resulting in much better photos in low-light conditions.

Moreover, the camera is equipped with a range of advanced video technologies, primarily beneficial for videographers or filmmakers. However, for amateur users, this translates to effortlessly producing high-quality videos.

In summary, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s camera stands among the best in the industry, offering a compelling reason to choose the larger iPhone over the smaller 15 Pro, placing it on par with Google’s Pixel and only surpassed in zoom capability by Samsung’s S23 Ultra with its 10x optical zoom.

Price

The initial cost for the iPhone 15 Pro Max begins at £1,199 ($1,199/A$2,199) for the 256GB storage variant.

For comparison, here are the prices of a few other smartphones:

• iPhone 15: £799
• iPhone 15 Pro: £999
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: £1,249
• Galaxy Z Flip 5: £1,049
• Google Pixel 7 Pro: £849
• Fairphone 5: £649