IPhone 15 Pro Max Review - Apple's Latest Marvel
Explore the groundbreaking features and advancements of the latest iPhone 15 Pro Max through this in-depth iPhone 15 Pro Max review. From its supercharged camera capabilities to its lightweight design, discover why this Apple superphone is making waves in the tech world.
Author:Anderson PattersonReviewer:Elisa MuellerOct 11, 20232.9K Shares172.9K Views
In the ever-evolving realm of smartphones, Apple has once again taken the lead with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Touted as a superphone with a lighter build and enhanced camera capabilities, this device has garnered significant attention. This iPhone 15 Pro Max reviewaims to dissect the features that make the iPhone 15 Pro Max a potential game-changer.
As iPhones improve over time, modest steps eventually lead to tipping points, when technology begins to enable things that we couldn't envision years before. These advancements enable not just steps forward, but leaps: the iPhone X's all-screen form factor and Face ID; the iPhone 7's Portrait mode; and last year's Dynamic Island and 48-megapixel main camera.
On September 12, Apple launched the iPhone 15 Pro Max with the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, and iPhone 15 Pro during its 'Wonderlust' event. So, have a look at this detailed iPhone 15 Pro Max review.
Specifications
| Screen: | 6.7in Super Retina XDR (OLED) (460ppi) |
| Processor: | Apple A17 Pro |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Storage: | 256, 512GB or 1TB |
| Operating system: | iOS 17 |
| Camera: | 48MP main, 12MP UW and 12MP 5x zoom, 12MP front-facing camera |
| Connectivity: | 5G, wifi 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, Thread, USB-C, Satellite, UWB and GNSS |
| Water resistance: | IP68 (6 metres for 30 mins) |
| Dimensions: | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25mm |
| Weight: | 221g |
Pros And Cons Of IPhone 15 Pro Max
Pros
- A beautiful, albeit modest, redesign.
- Excellent photos.
- Fantastic performance and games
Cons
- Pricier baseline (but greater storage).
- If you need a lot of zoom, go elsewhere.
- Charging time should be reduced.
Overview
Apple's most costly superphone is a significant advancement for the iPhone. Despite the new camera's power and USB-C connector, the biggest feature is simply its reduced weight.
That's because Apple's 6.7in iPhones have long been pricey and heavy. While the new iPhone 15 Pro Max is still prohibitively costly, with prices starting at £1,199 (€1,449/$1,199/A$2,199), it is at least 19g lighter, making a significant difference in your hand and pockets.
The new Max features titanium sides rather than stainless steel sides, which saves 19g but also changes the phone's balance to the center, making it feel lighter than it is. The design otherwise resembles that of the iPhone 12 Pro Max from 2020, with just a little softening around the edges and thinner bezels around the screen.
The screen is one of the best on the market and can become extremely bright in direct sunlight, making it easier to read outside. The action button, which replaces the mute lever on every iPhone, is new this year.
It can still mute and unmute the phone by pressing and holding, but if you leave your phone permanently silent or are content to toggle mute in control centre, you can remap it to do other things like turn on "do not disturb", launch the camera, light the torch, record a voice memo, and so on.
USB-C Charging Port
The move from the Lightning connector to USB-C for charging and accessories is the second major new feature for the iPhone in 2023. The amount of difference depends on the quantity of Lightning accessories you have. Most will be satisfied with a simple cable swap for charging, one of which is included in the box.
You may use your existing power adapter and avoid purchasing expensive Apple cables because every USB-C cable, including those used by every Android phone, PCs and Macs, iPads, and other tablets, should work. If you're desperate, you can even charge other gadgets up to 4.5W from your iPhone, such as AirPods, an Apple Watch, or other phones.
Even more intriguing, you can connect almost any USB-C accessory to the phone. I successfully connected numerous USB-C docks, game controllers, ethernet adaptors, flash drives, audio adapters, display cables, and SD card readers, the latter being especially useful for a photographer.
It also enables the connection of game controllers and other devices, such as the Backbone One's USB-C version. The 15 Pro and Pro Max enable greater USB3 (10Gbps) transfer speeds, although the included cable is only USB2 (480Mbps).
A17 Pro Processor
The 15 Pro and Pro Max are the first iPhones to launch with the A17 Pro CPU, which is 10% quicker and 20% more capable in terms of graphics, and supports advanced ray tracing visuals, allowing for more realistic, console-quality gaming.
Users complained that the phone became extremely hot to the touch, which Apple remedied with the iOS 17.0.3 update. However, even before the upgrade, the Max did not grow any hotter than earlier models or competitors in my tests, even when pushed through benchmarks and games.
The phone lasts around 44 hours between charges, including about six hours of active use of the screen. This was done largely on wifi, with a couple of hours of 5G browsing thrown in for good measure. With moderate use, that means charging it every two days. Even on the busiest days out and about on 5G, utilizing the camera and maps, the 15 Pro Max would last a good 36 hours between charges.
Sustainability
The battery should endure more than 500 full-charge cycles with at least 80% of its original capacity, according to Apple, and can be replaced for £95. Screen repairs outside of warranty cost £389.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the same internal repair-friendly design as the iPhone 14, however it only received four out of ten repairability points from iFixit due to Apple's usage of software to restrict third-party repair.
Recycled aluminum, cobalt, copper, gold, plastic, rare earth elements, tin, and tungsten are used in the phone. In its research, the business lays down the phone's environmental impact. Apple provides trade-in and free recycling programs for non-Apple items.
IPhone 15 Pro Max Camera Zoom Capabilities
The triple-camera array on the iPhone 15 Pro Max appears unaltered from the iPhone 14 Pro Max's, but appearances may be misleading - there are enhancements both inside and out that help to give one of the best photography experiences available on any phone.
While Apple appears to have used the same 48MP primary camera sensor as in last year's Pro Max, the picture processing pipeline has been completely overhauled.
Apple's most powerful camera to yet is found in the 15 Pro Max. It has the same overall setup as the 14 Pro from last year, featuring a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 48MP main camera, and a 12MP telephoto sensor, but with a few major variations.
The field of vision of the iPhone 15 Pro Max camera remains so wide that if you don't keep an eye on yourself, your body may find up in your frame by accident. This is a sturdy, crisp lens that is always enjoyable to use because it requires practically no framing.
Apple claims that an upgraded imaging processing has resulted in significant enhancements to this camera. While it was not specifically stated during the event, the iPhone camera now combines a 48 megapixel high-resolution frame with a 12 megapixel frame by default to create a highly detailed, high-resolution-but-manageable 24 MP photo.
This is a significant improvement for most people who had previously shot 12 MP photographs (even on the iPhone 14 Pro, which always produced 12 MP images until set to ProRAW 48), and it makes perfect sense.
In terms of Night mode, the camera app will output lower resolution photographs where necessary in specific modes. Night mode, for example, combines pixels for increased light sensitivity on-sensor but only yields 12 MP regardless of capture type.
Even if you don't mind shooting HEICs, third-party apps will be unable to capture native 24MP images. Some apps now capture 48MP photographs and downscale them to 24MP, resulting in the slowest possible experience with no processing gains. We're only hoping that Apple will include true 24MP support in a future release.
The iPhone Pro gained a 'optical' 50mm (2) lens last year, and this year gains 28mm and 35mm counterparts. You can turn any of these off or on, even making the 35mm (1.5) 'lens' your single main camera, comfortably sitting between the extremes of 12 (0.5) and 120mm (5).
Last year's virtual lens was essentially a crop of the higher resolution sensor. According to Apple, these new modes use a custom capture process to extract additional detail from the sensor.
The Pro Max's telephoto camera features a 5x optical zoom, up from 3x on the basic 15 Pro and earlier generations, which considerably closes the distance to objects and provides the iPhone meaningful magnification for the first time.
The camera can then digitally zoom up to 25x with good performance up to roughly 10-15x. The primary camera now takes 24-megapixel photographs by default (up from 12MP) and can shoot at three different focal lengths (24, 28, or 35mm), which will appeal to photographers. It also retains last year's helpful 2x optical zoom.
Portrait photographs are now automatically captured when the camera detects a person or pet without the need to switch to the specialized mode. After that, you can edit the photo and refocus it into a portrait, which is a lot superior system. It also means that portraits can be shot in night mode for much better images in low light.
The camera also shoots with a slew of complex video technologies, the majority of which will only be utilized professional videographers or film-makers, but for the amateur, it means you can capture pretty good-looking films with minimal effort.
Overall, the camera on the 15 Pro Max is one of the best in the business, and a compelling incentive to choose the larger iPhone over the smaller 15 Pro, matching Google's Pixeland only being out-zoomed by Samsung's S23 Ultrawith its 10x optical zoom.
Price
The iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,199, which is a price increase over its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but the base model comes with twice the storage: 256GB.
This also brings the iPhone 15 Pro Max's beginning pricing in line with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (both now start at 256GB). There are already several amazing trade-in bargains available from various carriers (as well as some nice payment plans, including those offered by Apple).
It's not exactly correct to say Apple increased the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max (from the base pricing of the iPhone 14 Pro Max), because what it actually did was remove a tier and settle on 256GB storage and $1,119 as the new base model. As a result, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a little less cheap.
There's no getting past the fact that this is Apple's most costly iPhone, but there are several payment alternatives, including those from Apple, which may start as low as $33 per month in the United States. In terms of whether the iPhone 15 Pro Max is worth the money, its design, build quality, and extraordinary capabilities persuade me that it is.
IPhone 15 Pro Max Review FAQs
What Are The Key Features Of The IPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a lighter build, extended zoom capabilities, and enhanced camera performance, making it a notable upgrade.
How Does The Design Of The IPhone 15 Pro Max Differ From Its Predecessors?
According to reviews, the iPhone 15 Pro Max features a sleeker and lighter design, showcasing Apple's commitment to aesthetics and user comfort.
What Is The RAM Of IPhone 15 Pro Max?
The RAM of iPhone 15 Pro Max is 8GB.
How Big Is IPhone 15 Pro Max?
The screen is 6.69 inches diagonally (real visible area is less) when measured as a typical rectangular shape.
Is IPhone 15 Pro Max Waterproof?
Yes, iPhone 15 Pro Max is water-resistant.
Is IPhone 15 Pro Max 5G?
Yes, The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have superfast 5G connectivity.
Conclusion
The iPhone 15 Pro Max review offers readers a thorough exploration of the device's design, camera capabilities, performance, and overall user experience. Whether you're a dedicated Apple enthusiast or a discerning tech consumer, this review serves as a guide through the intricacies of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. As the boundaries of smartphone technology continue to be pushed, Apple's latest offering stands poised to redefine the user experience.
The 15 Pro Max is Apple's best big phone yet, with a better camera, larger screen, and longer battery life than previous generations. However, it is the improved titanium sides and weight reduction that make the most difference in day-to-day use.
The camera is truly fantastic, with a new 5x optical zoom that significantly reduces the distance between objects and an automatic portrait mode that makes fancy photos a breeze. The screen is fantastic. The action button is useful. The USB-C connector is highly useful, as are the extended battery life, quick CPU, and 256GB of storage as standard.
However, it is still a superphone. Massive, exorbitantly priced, and up against even higher zooms and more features. If you have the hands and budget for it, the 15 Pro Max is unquestionably the pinnacle for iPhone consumers.
Anderson Patterson
Author
Anderson Patterson, a tech enthusiast with a degree in Computer Science from Stanford University, has over 5 years of experience in this industry.
Anderson's articles are known for their informative style, providing insights into the latest tech trends, scientific discoveries, and entertainment news.
Anderson Patterson's hobbies include exploring Crypto, photography, hiking, and reading.
Anderson Patterson's hobbies include exploring Crypto, photography, hiking, and reading.
In the Crypto niche, Anderson actively researches and analyzes cryptocurrency trends, writes informative articles about blockchain technology, and engages with different communities to stay updated on the latest developments and opportunities.
Elisa Mueller
Reviewer
Elisa Mueller, a Kansas City native, grew up surrounded by the wonders of books and movies, inspired by her parents' passion for education and film.
She earned bachelor's degrees in English and Journalism from the University of Kansas before moving to New York City, where she spent a decade at Entertainment Weekly, visiting film sets worldwide.
With over 8 years in the entertainment industry, Elisa is a seasoned journalist and media analyst, holding a degree in Journalism from NYU. Her insightful critiques have been featured in prestigious publications, cementing her reputation for accuracy and depth.
Outside of work, she enjoys attending film festivals, painting, writing fiction, and studying numerology.
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