Every year, Apple delivers a newer, faster iPhone—and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is no exception. But this year feels different, and not entirely in a good way. For the first time in recent memory, Apple is shipping what feels like an incomplete iPhone experience. The iPhone 16 Pro Max’s headline feature, Apple Intelligence, isn’t available out of the box and won’t be until a software update rolls out—still a month away at the time of writing.
Without Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16 Pro Max feels like an incremental upgrade from the already excellent iPhone 15 Pro Max. The A18 Pro chip is faster, but much of its potential is tied to the forthcoming AI-driven features. The cameras have seen slight improvements, including the addition of a dedicated camera control button for quick access, and there’s a new Desert Titanium finish that stands out. The display has grown slightly to 6.9 inches, making it the largest iPhone to date—but with a starting price of $2,149, it’s also the most expensive.
Without its flagship feature, the iPhone 16 Pro Max struggles to justify its premium price. Until Apple Intelligence arrives, this is one of the hardest upgrades to recommend.
Design and Build: Familiar Yet Premium
Apple has played it safe with the design of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, retaining much of the aesthetic from last year’s 15 Pro Max. The flat-edged titanium frame makes a return, giving the phone its premium yet featherlight feel—a welcome feature for such a large device. Apple’s shift to titanium last year was a win, and the same holds true this time around. Despite the slight increase in size, thanks to its massive 6.9-inch display, the 16 Pro Max remains impressively comfortable to hold. That said, one-handed use is still a workout in dexterity, and unless you’re blessed with larger hands, you’ll likely be doing some finger gymnastics.
The rear panel is still glass, and while Apple promises it’s more durable than ever, it’s best not to test that claim. A phone this pricey hitting the floor is enough to make anyone’s heart skip a beat, so investing in a solid case is a no-brainer. This year, Apple’s new Desert Titanium color joins the lineup. It’s an understated bronze-gold tone—elegant, sure, but not as daring or eye-catching as some past color choices. The Natural Titanium, White, and Black options return for those who prefer a more classic look.
However, there is one notable design change: the new Camera Control button. Positioned on the side, this addition is meant to provide easier access and enhanced functionality for the camera. While it’s a novel idea, in practice, it feels more finicky than genuinely transformative. It’s handy for launching the camera quickly, but using it for more nuanced control—like swipes and presses—can feel a bit fiddly. It’s one of those features you might appreciate on occasion but won’t miss if you never used it.
From a design perspective, the iPhone 16 Pro Max largely sticks to its tried-and-true formula. It’s sleek, premium, and unmistakably “Pro Max,” but for the first time, I found myself eyeing the smaller iPhone 16 Pro. Blame it on the excellent Google Pixel 9, which I recently reviewed, or the fact that this year’s Pro and Pro Max share identical features. For those who value portability, the smaller model offers the same experience without the added heft—an enticing proposition in a lineup that often makes size the main differentiator.
Display: Brighter, Bigger, Better
The star of the iPhone 16 Pro Max is undoubtedly its 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR display—Apple’s biggest and best yet. With slimmer bezels that push the boundaries of “all-screen,” the front design feels more immersive than ever. Granted, the bezel reduction is subtle and only noticeable when compared directly to last year’s model, but it’s a welcome refinement.
At 2000 nits peak brightness, this display performs admirably in direct sunlight, though it’s been edged out by the Google Pixel 9 Pro’s even brighter panel. Still, whether you’re scrolling social media on a sunny day or watching Dolby Vision HDR content, the display consistently impresses. On the flip side, it can dim to a whisper of 1 nit for late-night browsing, making those endless TikTok sessions much easier on your eyes—and less annoying for your spouse trying to sleep next to you.
ProMotion returns with its adaptive 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring every swipe, scroll, and animation feels buttery smooth. Combined with iOS’s inherent fluidity, the user experience is near flawless, whether you’re gaming, texting, or simply navigating between apps.
The slight increase in screen size makes the phone taller, which may pose a challenge for users with smaller hands or tight pockets. But for media enthusiasts, the extra real estate is a dream. Streaming HDR content on Netflix or Disney+ is a cinematic experience, with rich colors, sharp detail, and impeccable contrast. Even mundane activities like reading articles or editing photos feel elevated on a display this good.
Performance: The Most Powerful iPhone Yet—Obviously
At the heart of the iPhone 16 Pro Max lies Apple’s new A18 Pro chip, built on an advanced 3nm process. Featuring a 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU, and a whopping 16-core Neural Engine, this silicon juggernaut delivers jaw-dropping performance. As expected, it comfortably outpaces anything Android has on offer, setting a new benchmark for smartphone speed and efficiency.
Apple promises a 20% GPU performance boost alongside enhanced ray tracing, and the results are spectacular. Graphically demanding games like Resident Evil Village and Death Stranding run flawlessly, offering console-level visuals and smooth gameplay. Titles like Zenless Zone and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile max out at 60fps with ultra settings, and with a few tweaks, you can push even higher frame rates. Pair it with a controller like the SCUF Nomad, and you’ve got yourself a mobile console that rivals handhelds like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally. Apple’s ongoing investment in gaming is starting to pay off. The App Store and Apple Arcade now boast a growing library of AAA titles optimized for iOS, further solidifying the iPhone’s position as a viable gaming platform.
With 8GB of RAM (finally!), multitasking is a breeze. I had over a dozen apps running in the background—jumping between Threads, TikTok, editing a 4K ProRes video in CapCut, running searches in Google app while opening several tabs in Safari—all without a hiccup, stutter or reload in sight. It’s impressive, showcasing how the A18 Pro not only shines in raw power but also in how well it manages resources.
For creators, the A18 Pro is a godsend. Whether you’re rendering high-resolution images in Adobe Lightroom or editing 4K ProRes videos, the iPhone 16 Pro Max handles it effortlessly, cutting down workflow times. With the Neural Engine powering AI-driven tasks like image upscaling and real-time effects, you’re not just getting speed—you’re getting smarter processing. And of course, the excellent integration with social media apps guarantees consistent high quality uploads.
Simply put, the iPhone 16 Pro Max doesn’t just feel fast—it’s a leap into the future of mobile performance. Whether you’re a gamer, content creator, or just someone who hates waiting on a phone, this device delivers on every front.
Cameras: Even More Pro Than Before
Apple’s continued focus on the iPhone 16 Pro Max as a tool for professional photography and filmmaking brings incremental but impactful updates, including the Camera Control button, Photographic Styles, and the ability to shoot 4K 120fps ProRes Log video. In skilled hands, the 16 Pro Max camera system is almost overpowered, making it possibly overkill for casual users but a dream for serious creators.
The new Camera Control button is the most polarizing feature here. Positioned for landscape use, it feels out of place for typical portrait-oriented shots, where holding the phone to reach it feels clumsy and awkward. Activating the control is another hurdle: a hard press takes a shot, a soft press brings up a sub-menu, and swipes navigate within it. Though it offers potential for quick access, the gestures are finicky and slower than simply tapping the screen. With customization, this could become more useful, but currently, it’s an over-engineered tool that feels less intuitive than traditional controls.
Once past Camera Control, the real magic of the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s camera system shines. Photographic Styles bring real-time presets like Rich Contrast, Vibrant, Warm, and Cool, which enhance your images without compromising skin tones and detail. It’s easy to set a default style and adjust as you shoot, but for non-photographers, sticking to the standard profile may be simplest.
Low-light performance has also received a boost, with Night Mode now available across all lenses—including the front-facing camera. Cityscapes and low-light selfies look sharper and brighter, giving you more freedom to shoot in any lighting. For professionals, ProRAW allows extensive control over color and exposure, while ProRes unlocks cinematic video quality, making the iPhone 16 Pro Max a powerful production tool.
For video creators, Apple has refined an already industry-leading experience. 4K Dolby Vision HDR video makes colors pop with vivid contrast, while Cinematic Mode introduces depth-of-field effects and smooth focus transitions, adding polish to everyday videos. Action Mode provides added stabilization for high-movement shots, giving a steady, jitter-free experience. And with the upcoming Apple Vision Pro, spatial video and audio recording enhance the device’s versatility, perfect for immersive playback with Apple’s headset.
The Pro Max’s four studio-quality microphones allow high-quality audio capture even in challenging environments. The new Audio Mix feature offers control over sound profiles, making it easy to tailor recordings to specific audio moods—a great asset for creators.
One of the highlights is 10-bit Dolby Vision ProRes Log recording, which you can output directly to an external USB drive. With ample storage and high-quality footage, the ProRes Log is a game-changer for anyone working with color grading and post-production, though file sizes are hefty—think 1GB per minute. This feature may feel too advanced for everyday users but slots neatly into the workflow for content creators who regularly use pro-level camera gear.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max camera system is easily the most complete Apple has offered, even though photo capabilities from competitors like the Pixel 9 Pro are comparable or superior. However, when it comes to video, Apple remains unmatched. For content creators, this is the only smartphone that consistently delivers both exceptional photos and video, easily blending into a professional workflow. While the Galaxy S24 might come close, its lack of a ProRes Log format keeps it one step behind.
Battery Life: Marathon Runner
This year, Apple has managed to squeeze a bit more life out of the iPhone 16 Pro Max with a slightly larger battery, paired with the power efficiency of the new A18 Pro chip. Battery life, however, has been…well, pretty much on par with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. While that’s hardly a complaint, it’s not a leap forward either. My testing time was primarily with beta software, so any small differences might change with final software updates. Even so, I’ve been able to easily get through a full day of moderate use with around 40-50% left, which is enough to last two light-use days if needed—especially during a workweek, where my screen-on time averages 3-4 hours.
On busier weekends with extra scrolling and gaming, the 16 Pro Max still makes it through, though it ends closer to 20% by the day’s end. Shooting 4K 60fps video takes a bit more of a toll, but with regular use, battery anxiety isn’t really an issue here. On the rare days where I pushed it to nearly 9 hours of screen-on time, the Pro Max held up better than expected, but that’s far from typical for most users.
When it’s time to recharge, MagSafe is still reliable and convenient, while the new 35W wired fast charging gives a nice bump in speed, taking the battery from 0 to 50% in just over 20 minutes. Apple remains conservative on charging speeds compared to some Android competitors, yet this upgrade is noticeable and appreciated. For most users, battery life on the 16 Pro Max should hold steady, though power users will still need to recharge daily.
iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence: A Work in Progress
The iPhone 16 Pro Max arrives with iOS 18, which—let’s be honest—feels unfinished out of the gate. Many of its headline features, particularly those tied to Apple Intelligence, are missing unless you jump onto the Public or Developer Beta. It’s an unusual move for Apple, which typically delivers a more polished experience. If you expected Siri to dazzle with her rainbow-powered upgrades or the much-hyped Genmoji to make its debut right away, you’re in for some disappointment—at least until Apple’s rollout is complete.
Ever the brave nerd, I ventured into the buggy waters of Apple’s beta program to test these AI-powered features ahead of their general release. Apple’s take on AI leans heavily on assistive tools to enhance your everyday experience, and while the execution isn’t quite there yet, the potential is hard to ignore.
For starters, the new Writing Tools in apps like Notes, Mail, and iMessage offer prompts to rewrite, proofread, or summarize your text. It’s like having a built-in editor—useful but limited to Apple’s ecosystem. Meanwhile, Genmoji allows you to create highly personalized emojis for a fun messaging touch, while Image Playground lets you generate playful images directly within Messages and Notes. All of this is powered by the iPhone’s Neural Engine, making the tools fast and seamless. But here’s the catch: most of these features feel more like novelties than game-changers for now, and I found myself using them only occasionally.
Where Apple Intelligence shines is in its ability to summarize. iOS 18.2 Beta introduces AI-driven tools to condense notifications, chat threads, Safari pages, and emails into digestible overviews. It’s a fantastic way to cut through the noise, even if third-party app support is still a bit clunky.
Then there’s Siri, who finally gets a meaningful upgrade. Powered by a privacy-focused version of ChatGPT, Siri now tackles complex queries more naturally and handles tasks faster. For privacy-conscious users, all AI requests are processed locally unless you explicitly allow Siri to connect to ChatGPT’s servers for more advanced answers. It’s a solid step forward, but Siri still feels a few strides behind her competition.
Beyond AI, iOS 18 refines the core experience with features like the new Journal app, smarter widgets, and improved multitasking on the Pro Max’s larger display. Live Activities are more versatile, letting you track sports, deliveries, and fitness stats at a glance, while the Health app now includes mood tracking for a holistic wellness approach.
The groundwork is promising, but the wait for iOS 18’s full potential means the software story here is one of patience. Apple Intelligence might be a game-changer down the road, but for now, it feels like a beta—both literally and figuratively.
Verdict: Is It Worth It?
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is everything you’d expect from Apple’s flagship big phone—and then some. It delivers the best display, stellar cameras, unmatched performance, and a premium design. For content creators, this device is a powerhouse, capable of producing photos and videos that rival professional setups. Apple’s commitment to showcasing its capabilities is clear—shooting their own keynotes entirely on iPhones is a bold flex, and creators worldwide are leveraging the iPhone 16 Pro Max to craft content that genuinely impresses. I’ve made videos with it that could easily pass for footage shot on a high-end mirrorless camera.
However, this is a phone that caters to big needs. For most people, the iPhone 16 is the better option, offering great performance and many similar features for several hundreds less. As a content creator, I see the appeal of the 16 Pro Max, but even I’d consider the smaller iPhone 16 Pro, now that it boasts a larger display and the same feature set. That said, it’s hard to ignore that the Pro Max’s $2,149 starting price can buy a professional mirrorless camera that would outperform it in pure image and video quality.
This year, recommending the iPhone 16 Pro Max feels tougher than usual. Apple seems to be playing it safe, while competitors like Google are making bold moves. Apple Intelligence, despite its promise, doesn’t feel like a compelling reason to shell out two grand—especially when features like Genmoji or Image Playground won’t appeal to the average user. If you’re using an iPhone 14 Pro Max or 15 Pro Max, the incremental improvements here don’t justify an upgrade. However, for those coming from an older model like the 12 Pro Max or 13 Pro Max, this is a massive leap forward in every way.
Ultimately, unless your work demands the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s professional-grade features, the high price makes it hard to recommend. It’s a fantastic phone, no doubt, and you’d be hard pressed to fault its performance in those use cases. But for most people, it’s simply more than they need.
Apple Australia kindly loaned the iPhone 16 Pro Max to PowerUp Gaming for the purpose of writing this review
