I sleep together the iPhone 16 series . I should clarify : I lovemostof the iPhone 16 serial . TheiPhone 16is in all probability the good pocket-sized earphone ever made — although theGoogle Pixel 9 Promakes it a close fight — while theiPhone 16 Prois my personal iPhone of choice this year . Even theiPhone 16 Plusfeels particular . That will theiPhone 16 Pro Maxas the one that ’s let down me the most .
Apple ’s biggest - ever iPhone is also symbolic of a problem facing the society : Where does the iPhone 16 Pro Max go from here ? Aside from the CRT screen being 0.2 inches larger , there ’s little tangible difference from the iPhone 15 Pro Max .
Instead of feel exciting and fresh like each of its sibling , the iPhone 16 Pro Max feel dusty and , honestly , a lilliputian boring . It ’s an excellent phone , but it ’s left me feeling matted . Here ’s why .
The iPhone 16 Pro Max lacks a certain pizzazz
How do you amend an already keen phone ? That was the challenge facing Apple , and its resolution was to make it a bit bigger . That would have work at one point , but the 6.7 - inch display on theiPhone 15 Pro Maxalready push the limits , and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is too prominent to use well with one hand .
It would be easy to forgive this and accept the via media if there was a compelling reason to . Yet , having used all four models , I ’ve sputter to find a reason to use the iPhone 16 Pro Max over the others . Yes , the battery life is incredible , but I ’m never far from a battery charger , so it ’s not a real game - changer .
Last year , the 5x visual rapid climb in the camera was a big grounds to upgrade , and I did , choose for the iPhone 15 Pro Max over the iPhone 15 professional . This twelvemonth , the iPhone 16 Pro has the same genus Lens , and the smaller sizing plus bigger screenland makes it much more practical for everyday use .
Then there ’s iOS ; Apple still has n’t figured out a true use typesetter’s case for a big screen . Even with all thenew iOS 18 features , there ’s still no cause to have a handsome cover other than if you have sorry eyesight . Even then , I ’d argue that using something like aClicks keyboardwith the smaller Pro is a far better combination .
Most Android phone makers now propose some form of multitasking — specially in bad and foldable devices — and Apple propose this on the iPad , but not on the iPhone . The 6.9 - column inch display would be ideal for this ; Apple has the dominance to propose rich multitasking , and developers would work up new experiences in days . or else , it ’s just a prominent phone , albeit a very salutary one at that .
To me , the iPhone 16 Pro Max lacks a little pizzazz , which is a shame as the rest of the lineup is very good . Each of the iPhone 16 mannikin feels special in a specific fashion , except for one . Do n’t think me ? Try this : Can you tell me which iPhone 16 model is in the photograph above ?
The iPhone 16 Pro is too good
Last year , the conflict between theiPhone 15 Proand iPhone 15 Pro Max was stark : the latter had a big battery , good photographic camera , and orotund display . This yr , the camera is the same , and Apple has reelect to its premature mannequin of parity in the experience between the two equipment . It ’s a very welcome move , but also a surprising one . Samsung has proven that having a premium - tier smartphone is good business sector , and it ’s a mannequin that Apple could have emulated .
Instead , the iPhone 16 Pro Max is just a bigger phone . Some multitude will love it , and at 6.9 in , Apple is drive the boundaries of smartphone sizes as a whole , not just the iPhone . Over the past five calendar week , I ’ve gone back to the iPhone 16 Pro Max several time , and each time , I ’ve empty the same matter : this is too big .
Then I go back to the iPhone 16 Pro and recognize that I ’m much happier . The shelling does n’t last as long , and it is much smaller , but this is also its charm . You get the same camera and experience in a much smaller body that does n’t always feel like it ’s about to fall from your hands . It ’s wonderful .
The regular iPhone 16 is equally impressive
This is a sheer statement , but the iPhone 16 is the most gratifying iPhone I ’ve used in many eld . In a world where most smartphone screen are 6.6 inches or bigger , the 6.1 - in screen on the iPhone 16 is fabulous . I can learn someone whisper something out 60Hz right now , butperhaps you ’re wrong .
It ’s not the concealment sizing that take a leak the iPhone 16 special , but everything else that has been improved and creates a compelling overall experience . There ’s an upgrade television camera which , while not having the full potentiality of the Pro camera , is the best on a non - Pro iPhone . There ’s also a range of beautiful colorsthat truly stand out , in way that iPhone colors have n’t for a few years .
Then there ’s the A18 chipset . This is the biggest twelvemonth - over - yr improvement . The footfall up from the A16 Bionic in the unconstipated iPhone 15 to the A18 this yr is substantial , and it gain the oaerall experience much snappier . All these change mean there are few craft - offs when choosing the non - Pro lineup over the Pro , which make believe the iPhone 16 ideal if you want a even - sized iPhone .
What’s the point of the Pro Max?
The iPhone 16 Plus is also less interesting than its smaller sib ( perhaps I have a matter against big headphone ) , but it ’s still more compelling than the iPhone 16 Pro Max . It derive in all the same great colors as the iPhone 16 and is powered by the same A18 chipset .
However , much like the iPhone 13 miniskirt , the iPhone 16 Plus is bruit to be the last of the Plus card , with Apple launching theiPhone 17 Airin its place . I think Apple call for to change its approaching to the Pro Max at the same time and expect back a few years to Samsung .
To me , the iPhone 16 Pro Max lacks a little pizzazz .
The Galaxy S20 Ultra was a big moment for the smartphone manufacture . Samsung ’s merchandising art helped develop the Ultra branding , and every troupe , from smartphones to laptops , is now using the Ultra stigmatise on its equipment . They Ultra identification is meant to signal the best that a company has to bid , and it can cost a pregnant premium .
In the long run , however , it does n’t weigh . Apple will persist in build big phones , and million of people will purchase them . I just wish Apple would try something a piffling different and wish it had done so with the iPhone 16 Pro Max . Give us a phone with a large camera , a big display , and perhaps even support for the Apple Pencil Pro . Give the Pro Max a reason to apologise its large size of it and damage .
Oh hold off , that ’s theSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra .
