Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max review: Powerful mobile with meaningful upgrades

Besides the handy camera control and Apple Intelligence features, the battery life on the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max is amazingly long thanks to the power efficient A18 Pro chipset.

Apple rolled out the new iPhone 16 series in late September in India.

It comes in four variants-- iPhone 16, 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max with prices starting at Rs 79,900 in India.

I have already reviewed the standard iPhone 16 model without Apple Intelligence features. So, I waited for the iOS 18.1 update, which introduced the first batch of AI features such as a clean-up tool, audio transcribing and more. Here are my thoughts on Apple's most powerful iPhone yet.

Design, build quality and display

Unlike the iPhone 16, the 16 Pro series, design-wise, looks pretty identical to its predecessor. You won't instantly know the difference between the two.

However, there are a couple of additions in the latest model. It features a camera control, and a dedicated button to operate the camera. The touch-sensitive capacitive button is aptly placed at the lower side for the index finger to reach easily to capture photos quickly.

This comes in handy to take photos single-handedly and also to adjust the zoom to get a closer look at an object in the viewfinder. If long press, it switches to video mode. It takes a bit of time to get the hang of the button, but once the muscle memory kicks in, the user experience is quite seamless.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (left) and the iPhone 16 Pro Max (right).

The second is that the iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with a 6.9-inch screen (diagonally), 0.2-inch bigger compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max (6.7-inch).

Also, if you take a closer look, the bezel around the display edge is slimmer than the predecessor.

And, on the back, it features a massive triple camera module with an all-new 48MP Fusion camera, 48MP ultra-wide sensor and a 12MP telephoto sensor with LED flash.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (left) and the iPhone 16 Pro Max (right).

On the left side, you find the familiar volume rockers and an action button, which can be programmed to perform various functions. I use it to open the Shazam app, whenever I hear a catchy soundtrack, but can't recognise the song's name.

At the base, it houses powerful loudspeakers, a microphone and a type-C port for charging and data transfer. On the right side, it features a wake button and a camera control. On the top, there are no buttons, but there is a lone antenna band. In total, there are seven such bands on all sides.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (left) and the iPhone 16 Pro Max (right).

As far as build quality is concerned, Apple has used grade-5 titanium for the iPhone 16 Pro series. It is lighter but sturdier than stainless steel used in iPhone 14 Pro and older versions.

Also, the device comes with an IP68 rating, meaning it can survive a dip in the swimming for close to six metres for up to 30 minutes.

And, the display and the back panel are protected by a new generation Ceramic shield. It comes with an advanced formulation that is 50 per cent tougher than the first generation and 2x tougher than the glass cover on any other smartphone in the market.

Our review unit is black titanium. It looks amazing in the sunlight. The company also offers the device in three other colours white titanium, desert titanium and natural titanium. They all look good, but have to admit, they pale when compared to vibrant colourful standard iPhone 16 models, which are available in five colours-- black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (top) and the iPhone 16 Pro Max (bottom).

The matte finish on the back does an amazing job of repelling the sweaty fingerprint smudges. However, the dust accumulates on the protruding camera module at the top. I spent quite an amount of time cleaning those dusts off the camera islands, to get the cover photos of the iPhone 16 Pro Max for this review article.

Though the device is well built, I just recommend prospective buyers to get either an Apple Care+ subscription or purchase a good-quality cover case. They will save you a fortune if the device ever gets accidentally dropped on a rough surface from a tall height.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max with Apple's official see-through silicone case.

The 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max models feature Super Retina XDR LTPO OLED screen with a pixel density of 460 ppi (pixels per inch) and supports 120Hz refresh rate and up to 2,000nits peak brightness. It is one of the best displays on a phone in the industry.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (left) and the iPhone 16 Pro Max (right).

Be it outdoors or indoors with low light conditions, I never faced any issues reading messages or watching vlogs on YouTube. The objects in the motion picture appear vibrant and make up for a delightful viewing experience.

And, FaceID continues to be the gold standard for face-based biometric security systems. It instantly recognises the owner's face be it with specs or with a face mask.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

And, the dynamic island design offers a superb visual interface. Whenever I used the cab service or food delivery app, the lively animation around the dynamic island offered quick information at a glance about the status of the booking.

Eco-friendly iPhone

The company has set an ambitious target of turning the company into carbon neutral by 2030.

With each new iteration, Apple is trying its best to reduce the negative impact on nature while sourcing raw materials.

The latest iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models come with recycled materials. Apple uses 100 per cent repurposed aluminium,

In multiple printed circuit boards, Appel uses 100 per cent gold in the camera, control buttons and printed circuit board. Even the rare earth materials used for magnets are also fully recycled.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Copper and Tungsten used in the taptic engine is 100 per cent recycled. The 80 per cent of the steel used in the iPhone 16 series is also recycled.

Also, the cobalt and Lithium in the battery cathode are 100 per cent recycled, a first for any iPhone to date. The plastic used in 14 components of the iPhone 16 series is 50 per cent repurposed.

Apple has also ensured that the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models are free of harmful substances such as brominated flame retardants, PVC, phthalates, arsenic in glass, and mercury.

And, the entire retail package is made of fibre-based materials and there are no Apple stickers as well. The box also comes with a high-quality braided Type-C-to-Type-C USB cable, which can serve for several years for data transfer between devices and to charge the iPhone.

Made-in-India iPhone 16 Pro series

This year, all the four variants-- iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro models are being assembled in India. And, it should be noted that the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are first-ever iPhone Pro models to produced in the sub-continent.

With each passing year, Apple is increasing the local device productions in India, not just for local consumption, but also for exports worldwide.

Soon, Apple will be opening four more retail stores including in Bengaluru, Hyderabad. Already, it operates two stores-- one in Mumbai and another in Delhi.

Performance

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are powered by Apple A18 Pro chipset. It has 6-core CPU, which is said to be 15 per cent faster and has a bigger cache size compared to the predecessor. And, it has 20 per cent less power than the previous iteration.

The 6-core GPU is 20 per cent faster and better than A17 Pro. And, the new A18 Pro houses a 16-core neural engine, which comes with 17 per cent larger memory bandwidth, and promises faster AI-enabled operations. It can perform 35 trillion operations per second.

They are said to be more power efficient and faster than their predecessors. Though there is no noticeable change in performance over the 15 Pro Max, the new mobile is a top-class performer.

And, thanks to the redesigned thermal substructure, the device is super cool while playing games.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's CPU performance on Geekbench app.

At home, while playing games, the iPhone 16 Pro Max barely got warmed up. If you happen to do the same outdoors in a tropical climate like India, you will feel the heat near the camera module in the rear panel. But, if you put any cover case, fingers won't feel any heat while holding the device.

With iOS 18, Apple has introduced a dedicated Game Mode to deliver more consistent frame rates and ensure the device maintains stable connectivity with AirPods, game controllers, and other wireless accessories, and there is less lag-ness.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's GPU performance on Geekbench app.

Apple Intelligence

During the product launch, Apple spent a significant amount of time describing how the new iPhone 16 models are made from scratch to deliver the best user experience with Apple Intelligence features.

With the iOS 18.1, it introduced the first batch of Apple intelligence. In India, it doesn't support Indian English. So, there is no Writing tools and the Apple Intelligence-powered Siri just yet. They are expected to be rolled out in early 2025.

However, it supports audio transcription. It works amazingly well. it managed to accurately transcribe my audio of The Four Trees short story with the TV playing in the background. However, in the audio transcription of the phone call recording, there were mistakes in recognising the Indian English accent and local languages.

The clean-up tool in the Photos app is kind of a hit-and-miss similar to Google Object Eraser on Pixel Phones. In some instances, like the sample below, it manages to clear the people around the tractor without leaving any traces. But, in other instances, the space where objects get erased looks smudged and becomes pretty obvious the photo is badly altered.

Apple Intelligence-based Clean-up tool.

However, it should be noted that the Apple Intelligence-enabled Siri and Writing Tools for Indian English, will rolled out in early 2025.

Also, Apple will offer the option to integrate Siri and other Apple Intelligence-supported apps to integrate with OpenAI's ChatGPT-4o, to offer an enhanced user experience.

Writing Tool will work systemwide seamlessly, including native apps such as Notes, Keynotes, iMessage, Mail, and even third-party apps installed across all Apple devices.

Before that, Apple will be bringing Image Playground, which can churn out photorealistic synthetic photos on iPhones with just text prompts. It will be coming with iOS 18.2 update in December.

Audio Transcribe feature in Notes app.

As far as the battery life is concerned, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a marathon runner. Under normal usage, it can easily last one and a half days. And, with extreme usage even with Maps on with Cellular data, the device managed to last a full day.

With a full charge, the iPhone Pro Max will deliver the longest battery life of 33 hours of video playback, the longest for any previous iPhone iteration ever.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max excels in battery department.

It supports 25W charging and can reach zero to 50 per cent in 30 minutes. It also supports 15W wireless charging.

To ensure longevity of the battery's power-carrying capacity for up to two to three years and reduce the chemical degradation of cells, iPhone owners are recommended to charge the device for up to 85 per cent. And, charge it only when the capacity goes below 20 per cent.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample.

Photography

The new iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max feature triple-camera module— a new 48MP Fusion (f/1.78) camera, a 48MP 120-degree Ultra Wide (f/2.2) secondary camera, and a 12MP Telephoto (ƒ/2.8, up to 10x optical zoom range with dual-tone LED flash.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample.

It takes brilliant photos in all light conditions. In natural sunlight, the subjects, particularly the flowers look rich with vibrant colours.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample.

Even indoors with limited light, the new iPhone Pro model takes amazing sharp photos with all the details.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample.

At night too, it manages to capture really good photos.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample captured at night.

It supports multiple 'Photography styles such as-- Neutral, Cool Rose, Rose Gold, Gold, Amber, Standard, Vibrant, Natural, Luminous, Dramatic, Quiet, Cosy, Etherel, Muted B&W, and Stark B&W. They can help users add more dramatic effects to the photo. Or, tone it down a notch, to make it look black/white like the old days of yore. Users can opt for a natural style and make it appear as seen through the eyes.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample.

With wide-angle mode, it can capture vast areas around a big statue or a landscape without any software-based tricks.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample captured at night.

It also supports macro mode and again excels in capturing minute details in close range.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample captures in closed range.

With the arrival of the clean-up tool, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has become more versatile. It will come in handy with removing photo bombers and unwanted objects from the frame with ease. As noted earlier, it has room for improvement.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample.

It also supports up to 5X optical zoom with less loss of photo quality. It can digitally zoom up to 25X.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample with 25X zoom.

On the front, it houses a 12MP TrueDepth (ƒ/1.9) camera. It takes brilliant selfies in all light conditions.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample.

The 12MP FaceTime camera supports several portrait light effects--Natural light, Studio light, Contour light, Stage light, Stage light mono and High-key light mono.

The primary triple camera captures amazing portrait features. And, even after taking the photos, users can adjust focus on the subject and depth of the background.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample.

It supports Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps and Spatial video recording at 1080p at 30 fps.

The video quality continues to set a new benchmark for premium phones in the market. Very few can match the dramatic slow-motion videos of the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera sample captured at night.

Final thoughts

Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max is an incremental upgrade over its predecessor. If you have the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you can continue for another year or two, as it supports Apple Intelligence features. You won't be missing much.

Having said that, the camera control is a very handy feature. It significantly improves the photography experience.

Also, the battery life on the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max is amazingly long thanks to the efficient power distribution by the A18 Pro chipset. Even if you are dependent on cellular data all day, it can still be able to last until you retire to bed at night.

And, with more Apple Intelligence features coming in December and early next year, the user experience on the iPhone 16 Pro Max will only get better with time.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Who should buy the iPhone 16 Pro series?

If you own iPhone 14 or older models, the iPhone 16 Pro will good upgrade.

And, if you are an Android mobile user and long have been thinking of switching sides, the iPhone 16 series can be your gateway to enter the high-walled Apple ecosystem.

The new iPhone 16 Pro comes in four storages— 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB— for Rs 1,19,900, Rs 1,29,999, Rs 1,49,999 and Rs 1,69,900, respectively.

The new iPhone 16 Pro Max comes in three storages— 256GB, 512GB and 1TB— for Rs 1,44,900, Rs 1,64, 999, and Rs 1,84,900, respectively. Both the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will be available in five colours— black titanium, white titanium, natural titanium, and a new desert titanium.

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