iPhone 16 Pro Max Review

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max offers a stunning display, powerful performance, improved battery, and advanced camera features.

Riya Singh March 15, 2025

0 132 7 minutes read

iPhone 16 Pro Max might look similar to the 15 Pro Max, but after using it for a week, I can say there are clear differences.

First, it’s bigger. The titanium body is slightly larger and 6 grams heavier than the 15 Pro Max. The screen is almost 7 inches, with thinner bezels, giving you a large 6.9-inch display that looks bright and clear.

A new button on the side, called the Camera Control button, is another change. It gives a slight haptic response when pressed and will soon allow quick access to Apple’s Visual Intelligence feature.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max also has a faster A18 Pro chip. It’s not a huge upgrade, but it makes the phone feel more powerful.

Apple Intelligence, a new AI feature, isn’t fully ready yet, but some features like smarter Siri, email summaries, and photo updates will be available soon.

The camera has a new, faster sensor with 48MP for the main camera and ultrawide, and a 5x optical zoom. There are also new tools for better 4K video and audio mixing.

When comparing the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Pro Max wins with a bigger screen (6.9 inches vs. 6.3 inches) and a longer-lasting battery. The only difference between the Pro and Pro Max is the size and battery.

Overall, I love the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It’s big, powerful, and takes great photos. The new features are interesting, but some still need work. If you get the Pro Max, you’ll enjoy the improvements.

iPhone 16 Pro Max Specification

Feature	Details
📅 Launch	Announced: Sept 9, 2024 Released: Sept 20, 2024
📏 Body	Size: 163 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm Weight: 227g Build: Titanium frame, glass front & back SIM: Nano-SIM + eSIM (International), eSIM-only (USA), Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) Water Resistance: IP68 (up to 6m for 30 min)
📱 Display	Type: LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10 Size: 6.9 inches Resolution: 1320 x 2868 pixels (~460 ppi) Protection: Ceramic Shield glass Features: Always-On display
⚡ Performance	OS: iOS 18 (upgradable) Chipset: Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) CPU: Hexa-core GPU: Apple 6-core graphics
💾 Storage & RAM	❌ No SD card slot 📂 256GB / 512GB / 1TB storage 🔹 8GB RAM
📷 Main Camera	📸 48 MP (wide) + 12 MP (5x zoom) + 48 MP (ultrawide) + LiDAR 🌟 Features: Dual-LED flash, HDR 🎥 Video: 4K@120fps, 1080p@240fps, Dolby Vision HDR, 3D (spatial) video
🤳 Selfie Camera	📸 12 MP (wide) + 3D sensor 🎥 Video: 4K@60fps, 1080p@120fps
🔊 Sound	🔉 Stereo speakers 🎧 No headphone jack
📡 Connectivity	📶 Wi-Fi 7 🔵 Bluetooth 5.3 📍 GPS, NFC 🔌 USB-C 3.2 (fast data transfer)
🔋 Battery	⚡ 4685mAh ⚡ Fast charging: 50% in 30 min (wired) 🔋 Wireless charging: 25W MagSafe, 15W Qi2 🔄 Reverse wired charging: 4.5W
🔐 Other Features	👁️ Face ID 📡 UWB Gen2 🆘 Emergency SOS via satellite
🎨 Colors	⚫ Black ⚪ White 🟤 Natural 🏜️ Desert Titanium
💰 Price	💲 $1,019.95 / £1,069.50 / €1,253.99

iPhone 16 Pro Max Price & Release Details Review

iPhone 16 Pro Max is priced at:

256GB: $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149
512GB: $1,399 / £1,399 / AU$2,499
1TB: $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,849

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is priced at $1,199 (US), £1,199 (UK), and AU$2,149 (Australia) for the 256GB model. Pre-orders began on September 13, and shipping started on September 20, 2024.

This model is larger with more power, AI features, and a new Camera Control button. Despite the upgrades, the price remains the same as the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the US and UK, and is slightly cheaper in Australia. Apple is offering trade-in deals to make the phone more affordable.

The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 (US), £999 (UK), and AU$1,799 (Australia), with half the storage of the Pro Max. If you want a bigger screen and more storage, the Pro Max is a better choice.

Available in four colors: Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium, and Desert Titanium.

iPhone 16 Pro Max Design Review

Apple sticks with a familiar look for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, keeping the design similar to the iPhone 12. It features smooth edges, a new Action button, and some size adjustments from the previous iPhone 15 Pro Max.

It’s slightly bigger, measuring 163mm x 77.6mm x 8.25mm and weighing 227 grams. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is just a little taller and wider, but if you were comfortable with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you’ll likely feel the same with this one.

The phone has a USB-C port for faster Thunderbolt 4 data transfer and speakers on both the top and bottom for clear, room-filling sound.

The button layout is similar to last year, with the volume and Action buttons on one side and the power button on the other. A new Camera Control button (Apple calls it not a button) replaces the antenna cutout from the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This button recognizes physical presses and light touches for quick access to camera settings.

Made with grade 5 titanium, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is durable, with an upgraded ceramic shield for better protection against scratches and cracks. It’s also IP68 water-resistant, so it handled being under a sprinkler without issue.

iPhone 16 Pro Max Display Review

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has Apple’s biggest screen yet at 6.9 inches, with a thinner bezel for a more immersive view. It keeps the Super Retina XDR display, offering sharp details and vibrant colors.

With a resolution of 2868 x 1320 and 460 pixels per inch, it’s not the highest on the market, but it still looks stunning. The Dynamic Island remains at the top, housing Face ID and the front camera, which takes great selfies.

The display supports HDR, True Tone, always-on mode, and ProMotion, which adjusts the refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz for smooth scrolling and gaming. It also reaches 2,000 nits of brightness outdoors, making it easy to see in sunlight. Whether gaming or streaming, everything looks crisp and vibrant.

iPhone 16 Pro Max Software & Apple Intelligence Review

The iPhone 16 Pro Max runs on iOS 18, bringing new features and a more customizable interface. You can now leave gaps between app icons and enjoy a redesigned Photos app, though it may take time to get used to. A new Passwords app makes managing logins easier, and Math Notes lets you write equations by hand and get instant answers.

Apple Intelligence introduces upgrades, but many features are still rolling out. Siri now takes over the entire screen when activated and is better at understanding natural speech. It can follow conversations more smoothly and offers a discreet “Text to Siri” option for quiet requests.

Writing Tools help improve text in Notes, emails, and messages, while the new Clean Up tool in Photos removes unwanted objects with ease. However, Apple Intelligence still lags behind Google Gemini and Galaxy AI, lacking features like AI-generated images and wider language support. It’s a promising start, but not a game-changer yet.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Camera Review

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a great camera setup with a 48MP ultrawide lens that improves wide-angle and close-up shots. The main camera is faster, with better autofocus, but there aren’t any huge megapixel jumps.

The FaceTime camera and 12MP zoom are the same as last year. However, 4K 120fps allows smoother slow-motion videos, and the Audio Mix feature improves sound clarity in noisy places.

A new Camera Control button makes adjusting settings easy without touching the screen. It’s handy for quick access to features, especially in landscape mode.

You can also tweak skin tones and moods for personalized photos and try out different virtual lenses for creative shots. While it captures good low-light and astrophotography, the spatial photo and video feature is best for users with a VR headset.

In short, the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers useful improvements for both casual and serious photographers.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Performance Review

iPhone 16 Pro Max is powered by the A18 Pro chip, which is faster than the A17 Pro and even Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Everything runs well on it including 4K video editing, console-quality gaming and everyday chores. Although it may not have as much memory as some Android competitors, Apple’s optimization guarantees optimal performance with 8GB of RAM.

Gaming and video editing are effortless, but the phone can get warm during heavy use. However, this doesn’t affect speed or battery life.

Call quality is solid, and it supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, and the latest Ultrawideband technology, making it easier to track devices with the Find My app.

In the US, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is eSIM-only, which makes switching carriers easy. Apple also improved satellite services, allowing users to send texts and share locations even outside cellular coverage. The feature is free for the first two years.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Battery Review

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has excellent battery life, lasting between 14 and 17 hours depending on usage. In lab tests, it averaged 16 hours, making it one of best iPhones for battery performance.

Apple now supports Qi-2 wireless charging. With a Qi-2 MagSafe charger and a 30W adapter, it charges to 44% in 30 minutes. A full charge takes about two hours. However, the phone only comes with a USB-C cable—no adapter included.

You can also use the iPhone 16 Pro Max to charge your AirPods or Apple Watch with a USB-C cable.

Apple has made battery replacements easier, using an ionic liquid adhesive instead of traditional adhesives. This could make repairs simpler, but we’ll have to see how it works in practice.

iPhone 16 Pro Max: Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
✅ Sturdy and premium build	❌ Apple Intelligence is not available in all regions
✅ Vivid, nearly edge-to-edge display	❌ Minor improvements over the last model
✅ Impressive battery performance	❌ Ultrawide camera underperforms in low light
✅ High-quality speakers	❌
✅ Powerful performance for all tasks	❌
✅ Outstanding camera quality in various lighting conditions	❌

Conclusion

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is bigger, more powerful, and better than ever. It has a stunning screen, improved cameras and new controls for better photography. Performance and battery life are also upgraded, making it a great choice for big-screen phone lovers. Apple Intelligence adds useful features, but it’s not a must-have yet. If you’re using an iPhone 12 or 13 Pro Max, now is a good time to upgrade.