iPhone 15 Pro Max

Still the biggest iPhone around in more ways than one

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is what you get when you want the latest design and features on the largest display. Apple’s biggest Pro smartphone sports a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR screen that feels noticeably larger than the smaller 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 15 Pro. Big, bright and bold, this iPhone is built to take whatever comes its way.

That’s also because it is more durable this time. The Ceramic Shield glass protecting the phone’s two sides now get titanium wrapping around the edges for a tougher combination across the device. The titanium edges replace the stainless steel Apple used for years on the Pro models, ushering in a new era for ruggedness in Apple’s flagship smartphones. Another advantage with titanium is that it’s lighter by comparison, so it helps reduce the overall weight of the phone itself. While the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts enhanced durability, a case can offer additional protection against drops and scratches, ensuring your device remains pristine. For those who appreciate the phone's design, a clear case allows you to protect your device without hiding its sleek titanium edges.

Apple also made a number of other design changes that play significant roles when using the iPhone 15 Pro Max. One of the biggest is switching from the previous Lightning charging port to USB-C, the industry standard that is widely available on many other portable devices, including MacBooks. This can open up many new ways to connect and interact with the phone, like tethering the phone to a Mac in a photo shoot. The images you snap immediately transfer to the computer through compatible software for a larger view of the compositions you come up with.

There is a new Action Button on the edge above the volume controls that replaces the previous mute toggling switch. Depending on what you assign to it, it can perform any number of actions, like mute/unmute, launching the camera, a favourite app or something you set up using Shortcuts.

Maximum space in a smaller package

Apple was able to reduce the bezels around the 6.7-inch display to make the iPhone 15 Pro Max a little smaller than previous versions. That makes one of Apple’s biggest phones easier to wield and gives the screen even more prominence than before. Face ID with the TrueDepth camera still works just as quickly, and Dynamic Island continues to grow in its own dynamism. The widget grows out of the Face ID camera cutout to show contextual information when you need it, like incoming calls, turn-by-turn directions, audio playback controls and Apple Pay confirmation, among many other features.

With 2000 nits brightness onscreen, it will be easier to see things clearly when outside on a sunny day. You will hear plenty from the onboard speakers, and expect a bump in battery life with a slightly larger battery equipped inside.

There is no physical SIM card slot, so you can use an eSIM to access your carrier’s network, including adding others during your travels for local access when you don’t want to pay roaming fees. In an emergency situation in select countries, Emergency SOS returns can put you in touch with first responders via satellite if you’re ever in need of help in an area without reception. In case you’ve misplaced your iPhone 15 Pro Max, an upgraded Ultra Wideband 2 chip extends the radius by which a compatible device, like an Apple Watch or AirPods, can communicate with each other to locate it.

 

Powering through every day

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is powered by Apple’s latest A17 Pro chipset, the smallest on any phone, yet more robust and efficient than previous chips. That means the phone will run all processes with smoother precision, including with navigation features like ProMotion that ensure iOS always feels intuitive and responsive.

It also makes a big difference when playing graphics-intensive games that demand higher frame rates and smoother gameplay. It’s the kind of performance that effectively turns the iPhone 15 Pro Max into a bona fide mobile gaming platform, especially when you pair it with a controller and turn it into a handheld gaming device.

Creative apps also benefit from the faster chip, where you should notice improvements when editing photos or video, or when creating your own content, whatever it may be. The App Store is filled with apps catering to all creative whims and pursuits, and the power underneath this svelte device can handle what they throw at it.

A slate of cameras that get closer, further and wider

You can expect better photos when you shoot with the cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The numbers may appear the same, for the most part, but changes under the surface help deliver improved results. The 48-megapixel main lens in the rear camera array now has a larger image sensor capable of gathering more light for better low-light and night shooting. A larger sensor also makes things more adaptable, letting you switch between 24mm, 28mm or 35mm focal lengths to capture scenes however you see fit.

Apple added one feature exclusive to the Pro Max in the 12-megapixel telephoto lens that uses a new tetraprism design. This periscope-style lens offers a 5x optical zoom compared to the 3x zoom in the iPhone 15 Pro. It can also reach as high as 10x in hybrid zoom compared to the 6x zoom in its smaller sibling.

The 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens squeezes so much more in every frame, especially architecture and large groups, but you can also get really close and use it as a macro camera. Shoot in ProRAW for the ultimate in control when editing using certain apps, as well as shooting in ProRes for high-quality video you can then edit in a program like Final Cut Pro.