iPhone 16 Pro Max Review: A Stellar Upgrade with a Few Stumbles

Updated October 18, 2024

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has made its grand entrance, establishing itself as the flagship model in Apple's 2024 lineup. Starting at $1,199 and climbing to $1,599 for the 1TB variant, it’s not just a phone—it’s a financial commitment. With a larger screen, more power under the hood, and new features like Camera Control, the iPhone 16 Pro Max builds on its predecessors' strengths. However, at such a high price, even the smallest missteps are magnified. While it excels in many areas, a few shortcomings keep it from total perfection.

Apple Event — The iPhone 16 Pro Max will cost £1,199 - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Pricing and Availability

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is available with 256GB of storage for $1,199, 512GB for $1,399, and the top-tier 1TB model at $1,599. It comes in four colors: Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. The smaller iPhone 16 Pro, starting at $999, offers the same camera system and performance but with a more compact form and slightly smaller battery.

Design and Display

If you’ve seen the iPhone 11 Pro Max, the iPhone 16 Pro Max might not seem all that new. The design has evolved subtly over the years, but Apple’s hallmark premium build is still here. The titanium frame feels robust, and the 6.9-inch OLED display is a showstopper. With a resolution of 1320x2868, this display offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and sharp clarity.

However, the wider body makes it a handful to use one-handed—especially for those with smaller hands. The 2000-nit peak brightness performs admirably in sunlight, and the 120Hz refresh rate ensures fluidity in navigation and gaming. The Dynamic Island has been slightly downsized, but it still intrudes on your screen while watching videos, leaving users to choose between awkward letterboxing or content cut off by the notch.

Camera Features: Meet Camera Control

One of the standout features of the iPhone 16 Pro Max is its new Camera Control button. Located conveniently for selfies but awkward for rear-camera use, this button supports light taps, full presses, and swipes for various functions. While it's a powerful addition, its complexity can sometimes feel overwhelming. A simple shutter button might have sufficed, but Apple has packed too many functions into this one control, making it easy to get lost without a manual in hand.

The button’s operation during picture-taking also poses challenges, as releasing the button can cause camera shake, despite Apple’s impressive optical and electronic stabilization.

Performance and Gaming

Powered by Apple’s A18 Pro chip, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a performance beast. Everyday tasks feel lightning-fast, and the chip handles intensive games with ease. In benchmark tests like Geekbench 6, the iPhone 16 Pro Max scores an impressive 3375 points in single-core performance and 8237 in multi-core, outpacing its Android competition.

However, when it comes to GPU performance, the iPhone 16 Pro Max shows some vulnerability. Devices like the OnePlus 12 and RedMagic 9S Pro outperform it in heavy graphical benchmarks, such as 3DMark’s Wildlife Extreme and Steel Nomad Light. Still, real-world gaming is fluid and consistent, even if this isn’t the graphics king it once was.

Battery Life

The battery life of the iPhone 16 Pro Max is impressive. Even with extensive use—gaming, photography, and streaming—it easily lasts a full day, sometimes stretching into two. The always-on display does drain battery quicker, but switching to a black background can mitigate this issue.

Cameras

The iPhone 16 Pro Max continues Apple’s tradition of stellar photography with its:

48MP Wide Camera (f/1.78, OIS)
48MP Ultrawide (f/2.2, 120-degree FOV)
12MP Telephoto (f/2.8, 5x zoom, OIS)
12MP Selfie Camera (f/1.9)

The main camera is a standout, capturing sharp and vibrant photos in a variety of conditions. However, the telephoto lens sometimes takes a backseat to digital zoom, which can compromise image quality. The ultrawide camera suffers from softness and noise, particularly at the edges of photos, even with its 48MP sensor.

Meanwhile, the selfie camera delivers decent results but struggles with sharpness compared to competitors like Google’s Pixel 9 Pro. Zooming in reveals softness that can be a dealbreaker for those wanting perfect social media shots.

Final Verdict

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is undoubtedly one of the most capable smartphones on the market. Its performance, display, and primary camera all shine, making it a solid upgrade for Apple enthusiasts. But some features—like the over-complicated Camera Control and underperforming ultrawide lens—leave room for improvement. With Android phones gaining ground in graphics performance and camera versatility, Apple’s latest device faces stiffer competition than ever before.

That said, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is still a powerhouse, and for those seeking a large, luxurious device with the best of what Apple has to offer, it won’t disappoint. The iPhone 16 Pro, with its smaller size and equal camera prowess, might offer a better balance for those looking to save a bit of cash.