iPhone 16 Pro Max review: Redefining Power and Precision

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is larger and more powerful than ever. It boasts a stunning screen, a great camera array, and new camera controls that may alter how you view iPhone photography. This is the big-screen smartphone of your dreams, with more power and battery longevity. Apple Intelligence provides several helpful and exciting features, but it is not yet the driving force behind upgrades. Still, if you’ve been holding onto an iPhone 12 or 13 Pro Max, now is undoubtedly the time to upgrade to a bigger screen.

Come September, iPhone fever appears to grip everyone, with palpable enthusiasm among friends and fellow tech enthusiasts. It simply goes to demonstrate how iconic and aspirational these gadgets remain, despite the fact that there are several Android options available. This year, the Apple iPhone 16 series continues on the same route as its predecessors. The newer models don’t deviate much from the previous design language, but they do increase the power, shooting skill, and AI goodies. The iPhone has long been the chosen tool for producers, and the iPhone 16 series adds even more to the mix, with the Pro models standing out notably. The following is a summary of my experience with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, however most of it should apply to its smaller sister, the iPhone 16 Pro.

IPHONE 16 PRO MAX KEY FEATURE

The top iPhone returns this year with an even larger screen, more powerful technology, a larger battery, and faster charging. Meet the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple’s best iPhone yet, and the iPhone to acquire if you want a feature-packed device.

The iPhone 16 Pros are experiencing their first screen expansion since the iPhone 12 series, which has worked out really well for them. The compact Pro now makes even more sense, while the big Pro Max, with its 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen, is a multimedia powerhouse. The best part is that the screen growth was primarily due to bezel cutting; the 16 Pro Max is only 1mm wider than the 15 Pro Max.

There is, of course, a new Apple processor, which the company trumpets as the next big thing. The A18 Pro includes a faster six-core processor and a more powerful Apple GPU, as well as increased and better hardware support for capabilities such as raytracing. Memory bandwidth has been enhanced to enable speedier AI activities for Apple Intelligence.

The cameras on iPhones have always been a strong selling point, and the 16 Pro Max’s triple-camera arrangement is even better. While the 48MP primary and 12MP 5x telephoto lenses remain mostly same (with the exception of the Fusion camera and next-generation sensor shift stabilization), there is a new 48MP ultrawide-angle camera for even more amazing panoramic shots. The Pro model now offers video capture at up to 4K120fps, spatial clips, studio-quality microphones, audio mixing options for videos, and more.

Let’s not forget about the new Camera handle key, which can do a variety of things and is Apple’s attempt to reimagine how iPhone users handle their cameras. The iPhone 16 Pro Max features second-generation MagSafe charging, which supports up to 25W wireless charging (or 15W with Qi2 chargers). The iPhone 16 Pro Max offers the most extensive connection suite, including USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 with DPort, Ultra WideBand, Wi-Fi 7, Satellite connectivity, and more.

Finally, Apple Intelligence will be introduced in iOS 18 soon, ushering in the company’s AI age – at least in nations other than the EU and China for the time being.

IPHONE 16 PRO MAX UNBOXING

As promised, the iPhone 16 Pro Max arrives in a tiny iPhone box that contains simply the phone and a braided USB-C connection.

The SIM ejection tool is here to stay for another year. There is no Apple sticker, in case someone cared about that.

CAMERA

While Apple hasn’t significantly altered the iPhone’s camera array, there are enough improvements in hardware, software, and image processing, as well as the aforementioned Camera Control button, to make the photography system feel fresh and new. On paper, there is only one significant megapixel upgrade: the 48MP ultrawide camera, which not only improves wide-angle images but also has a quantifiable influence on macro quality (though if you know how to mess with settings on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the image quality leap is more of a hop).

Even though Apple didn’t increase the pixel count of the main camera, it did update the sensor and promises substantially faster shutter rates. The autofocus is now improved with twin autofocus sensors. These are the kinds of modest modifications that should improve both the user experience and the quality of the main camera sensor, but they’re also difficult to assess. More on that in a moment.

The 12MP 5x optical zoom remains largely unchanged from last year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max. The major news here is found not on this phone, but on its smaller brother, the iPhone 16 Pro, which also receives the tetraprism lens. Last year’s Pro model was limited to a 3x optical zoom camera.

Apple has also made significant improvements in the video and audio domains. No, the iPhone 16 Pro Max does not finally shoot in 8K (and I’m not sure if we really need it), but the inclusion of 4K 120fps and Audio Mix capabilities is reason to celebrate.

At the iPhone 16 launch, Apple touted “cinematic slow motion” as a new mode that combines the iPhone’s Cinematic video option in the camera app with a new slow-mo mode. That’s not precisely what Apple intended. The iPhone 16 series still has cinematic film, but 4K 120fps video is new, allowing for cinema-quality slow-motion effects.

I shot video in 4K at 120fps and utilized the new Speed Control, which is under Edit and displays as a new clock icon in the upper-right corner of the screen, to cycle between four dramatic speed settings. There are four options: 20% (24fps), 25% (30fps), 50% (60fps), and the default of 100% (120fps).

Because I shot at a high speed, slowing down the frame rate resulted in seamless, high-resolution slow motion that made even the most boring shots look like they were from a blockbuster movie. Audio Mix is another interesting upgrade that, under the appropriate circumstances, can elevate open-air audio to film or studio quality.

I used it to capture my voice in a meeting booth with a noisy overhead fan and discovered that it could produce audio similar to that of a podcast. There is possibly a smidgeon of over-processing, but I could see myself utilizing it when I forget to pack my microphone.

The In-frame audio mix, which concentrates on whatever is in the video frame and attempts to eliminate background and side noises, does an adequate job. I tested it by filming a video of folks conversing on my iPad while I chattered away out of frame but only six inches away from the iPhone. When I turned on the In-frame mix, my voice became a background whisper.

I recorded video in a local park and used both the In-Frame and Studio mix settings to reduce ambient noise, but I believe they would be more useful in a real studio environment where engineers are struggling to eliminate airplane and siren noises that leak into the recording space.

I tried out the enhanced speed of the iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras by taking photographs of a fan. I also used the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro. What I discovered was that all were effective at freezing the rotating fan blades. If I increased the camera’s capture quality to 48MP raw, some motion was introduced. I had greater luck with a series of pigeon images from a New York City art piece. I found that the primary and telephoto cameras did an excellent job of freezing the birds in mid-flight, allowing me to see well defined wings rather than blurs.

On the macro photography front, there are some changes between the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max, but when I increased the capture resolution to 48MP HIEF raw on both phones, the differences were small. The iPhone 16 Pro Max shoots fantastic macros, but I don’t believe it outperforms the previous version phone.

Apple’s baseline photography on all of these cameras is superb. Most rivals will be impressed by the sharpness and color fidelity. Low-light performance is exceptional. I took photos in deep shade and at night, capturing some of the best astrophotography I’ve seen from an iPhone to date. Apple is likewise stepping up its visual style. There are now Skin Undertones and Moods available for use during or after capture.

Undertones, which are intended to change the appearance of skin while keeping the rest of the image unaltered, are named Standard, Amber, Gold, Rose Gold, Neutral, and Cool Rose. You could use these as one-offs or apply the same effect to all of your photos. It should also be emphasized that, in my experience, undertones change the appearance of the rest of the image, albeit in a much more subtle way.

This provides a lot of control over the appearance and feel of your photographs, but I’m not sure why we need it. Perhaps fashion photographers and influencers will enjoy it. My goal is always to capture individuals just as they are. Sure, I want to make them look better, but I don’t want to change the color of their skin. As for the moods, I enjoy a melancholy black-and-white shot just as much as the next person, and I’ve played with this effect on prior iPhones and other handsets.

DESIGN AND SCREEN

As I previously stated, the design language has largely remained unchanged this time, to the point where the iPhone 16 Pro Max appears to be the same as its predecessor, which, by the way, looked the same. You get the drift. However, there is something to be said for the iconic design, which excels in both style and build — the flat, blocky shape with rounded corners, the titanium frame, the Ceramic Shield glass, and the new microblasted texture all combine to create a smartphone that looks good and is built to last. This time around, there’s a new Desert Titanium shade that looks rather beautiful, and the bezels have been lowered even more, allowing Apple to accommodate a 6.9-inch display on the 16 Pro Max without increasing the overall size of the device, making it the largest display ever on an iPhone. Previous Pro Max versions had 6.7-inch screens, therefore bezel width and display size are important considerations.

Another new design feature is the Camera Control, which is a button-like control that rests flush with the frame on the right side of the device, about where your index finger would go if you held the phone up to take a picture. More on that later, but you should be aware that phone cases expressly made for the iPhone 16 series all feature cutouts or a provision for accessing the camera control, and while a 15 Pro Max case should fit on the 16 Pro Max, the latter will not allow you to access the Camera Control.

Aside from that, the design and port placement remain unchanged, with a Type-C port on the bottom next to the speaker, a multifunction key on the right, discrete volume up/down keys on the left, and an action button that mutes the ringer with a long press by default (unless you change its function in settings). I wish Apple had included additional functionality in the action button this time, such as the ability to customize extra actions, such as double pressing, and assign them to specific programs or tasks.

The phone’s new Desert Titanium color looks lovely in my opinion, and the fit and finish are superb overall. The IP68 rating provides piece of mind, and a case is advised if you want to protect your new iPhone from drops and other signs of wear and tear caused by daily use. I checked out the new Beats cover for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and I must admit that it looks rather amazing. I have the Summit Stone color, but other options include Midnight Black, Riptide Blue, and Sunset Purple.

The 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display provides excellent images, vividness, and clarity, with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The screen, like before, supports HDR, True Tone, and Always On, and it has the characteristic Dynamic Island up top (the pill-shaped notch that hides the front shooter and Face ID hardware while displaying overlays and controls for apps that use them).

The Beats case, priced at Rs 4,900, is not cheap, but it does have MagSafe support and a sapphire crystal connected to a conductive layer that allows for seamless use of the Camera Control. The interior is lined with microfibre, and the exterior has a glossy finish that looks upscale. I was concerned about scratches, but I am pleased to report that the case emerged unharmed and scratch-free despite daily use (including an overseas vacation).

HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?

The entire iPhone 16 family receives fresh Apple silicon within. The iPhone 16 Pro Max and 16 Pro employ the A18 Pro processor, whilst the less costly iPhone 16 and 16 Plus use the A18. As one might imagine, the A18 Pro outperforms the A18, but not by much.

The A18 Pro has two performance cores, four efficiency cores, six GPU cores, and 16 neural engine cores (NPUs). The iPhone 16 Pro Max is available in three storage capacities: 256GB ($1,199), 512GB ($1,399), and 1TB ($1,599). The four iPhones share 8GB of RAM. Some Android phones feature up to 12 or 16GB of RAM.

In terms of everyday performance, we couldn’t wish for a faster or smoother mobile processor. It effortlessly completes every work. I used demanding programs like GarageBand, iMovie, and Lightroom, and the phone didn’t break a sweat. I tested numerous AAA games, including Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, and the phone performed well.

To quantify the A18 Pro’s speed, we did some benchmark tests to compare it to other phones. On Geekbench 6, which evaluates the CPU, the 16 Pro Max scored 3,312 and 8,086, respectively, for single- and multi-core. In comparison, the iPhone 16 Plus (Apple A18) scored 3,091 and 7,129, the Galaxy S24 Ultra (Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy) scored 2,273 and 7,056, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL (Google Tensor G4) scored 1,961 and 4,718 on the same benchmark.

To challenge the GPU, we ran the GFXBench Aztec Ruins test, which resulted in the 16 Pro Max hitting 57.9 frames per second. In comparison, the 16 Plus scored 57.5fps, the S24 Ultra 66fps, and the Pixel 9 Pro 43fps. The 3DMark Wild Life Extreme test also provides insight about GPU performance. On 3DMark, the 16 Pro Max scored 4,559, far more than the iPhone 16 Plus, which scored 3,881.

However, it is vital to note that the iPhone 16 Pro Max warmed up during each test. It cooled rapidly but felt warm to the touch while performing benchmarks. It did not become hot when gaming or completing daily duties.

Furthermore, Apple Intelligence does not currently support the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It won’t be available until Apple releases iOS 18.1 later this year. As a result, we are unable to evaluate how effectively the phone performs machine learning and artificial intelligence activities with real-world applications. We’ll revisit the phone’s AI performance after Apple releases those features.

Buy it if...

• The design is both durable and elegant.
• Superb display, bigger and practically bezel-free.
• Excellent battery life.
• Excellent speakers.
• Flagship-level performance.
• Day and night, this camera performs at a flagship level.

Don't buy it if…

• There will be no AI intelligence at launch; for the EU, it may never happen.
• Few and minor improvements over the previous version.
• Low-light performance of the ultrawide camera falls short.

FULL SPECIFICATION