The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the epitome of Apple innovation, where a series of thoughtful upgrades combine to create an exceptional device. For those who’ve waited several years for a new phone, this model delivers significant improvements—from its lighter body and slimmer bezels to the powerful Apple Silicon, full-featured camera system, customizable Action button, and enhanced Dynamic Island. With faster connectivity and a USB-C port, this is a major leap forward for the iPhone series.

What truly sets the iPhone 15 Pro Max apart is its cutting-edge telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, making it a standout in photography. As a reviewer, I typically don’t have the luxury of waiting long enough to fully appreciate these incremental improvements. After using the iPhone 13 Pro and switching to the Pixel 7 Pro last year, my time away from iPhone made me appreciate just how well the iPhone 15 Pro Max addresses my previous concerns while offering some delightful surprises, showcasing Apple’s commitment to quality.

While the iPhone 15 Pro Max does have a few shortcomings, such as the 5x optical zoom falling short of my Pixel-centric expectations, it remains a smartphone I’d happily use for years. Its overall performance and thoughtful design make it a standout, and depending on how my Pixel 8 Pro review goes, I may end up sticking with the iPhone 15 Pro Max for the long haul. Despite a few minor issues, its strengths make it a reliable and enjoyable device to use.

Design

At first glance, the iPhone 15 Pro Max may not seem drastically different from the iPhone X, which debuted in 2017, or even the iPhone 11 Pro Max from 2019, with its familiar three-lens camera system. However, once you handle the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the difference becomes immediately apparent.

The most obvious change is the weight—this device is significantly lighter than its predecessors, thanks to Apple’s switch from stainless steel to titanium, which makes a notable improvement in feel and handling. While the brushed titanium band adds a touch of refinement, the back of my iPhone 15 Pro Max in “Natural Titanium” has a matte gray finish, far from the warm beige shown in Apple’s promotional images. Though this was a bit of a letdown, I always use a protective case, so it’s not something I’ll see much anyway.

Before diving into the other updates, I couldn’t help but notice a key improvement in the iPhone 15 Pro Max compared to its two immediate predecessors. Those earlier iPhone Pro models retained the sharp-edged design first introduced with the iPhone 4, which, while visually striking, often made them uncomfortable to hold. Thankfully, Apple has addressed this issue. The iPhone 15 Pro Max now features gently contoured, smooth edges, offering a far more comfortable feel in hand while still preserving that signature, iconic aesthetic. It’s a much-needed fix, and though it may have taken a while, it’s certainly a welcome one.

There’s more to the story. Since 2017, Apple has been promoting its “all-screen design” for flagship iPhones, but the reality never fully matched up—each model came with noticeable, wide screen bezels that undermined the claim. With the iPhone 15 Pro Max, however, Apple has finally addressed this issue. While it still features some bezels, they are now significantly smaller, making the phone’s display more in line with the bezels seen on top-tier models from Pixel and Samsung Galaxy. Apple has finally delivered on the promise of an “all-screen” design, something it had been striving for over the years.

Aside from a few notable changes, the design of the iPhone 15 Pro Max remains largely in line with previous iPhone Pro models, for better or worse. The USB-C port now replaces the Lightning port, and a new Action button has been added, expanding the number of side buttons.

While the antenna gaps along the edges still serve a functional purpose, they continue to feel more like design accents. Additionally, the large three-lens camera system on the top rear still protrudes noticeably, causing the iPhone 15 Pro Max to wobble when placed on a flat surface like a table.

In short, it’s still unmistakably an iPhone. If you were a fan of the design in previous models, you’ll find that this new iteration enhances the experience even further. It keeps the signature iPhone feel while improving key aspects.

Display

Apple loves to tout its premium features, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s display, featuring a Super Retina XDR panel with ProMotion, certainly lives up to the hype. But strip away the branding, and you’re left with a breathtaking 6.7-inch OLED screen boasting a resolution of 1290 x 2796 (460 PPI). It has rounded corners, a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, and supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision, delivering vibrant, lifelike visuals. 

ProMotion isn’t just a buzzword—it enables not only high refresh rates up to 120 Hz but also variable refresh rates that adjust dynamically to optimize battery life. With a maximum brightness of 1000 nits, it shines even brighter with HDR content—reaching 1600 nits indoors and 2000 nits outdoors. In fact, the brightness can be almost too much in low-light conditions.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a stunning display with Apple’s acclaimed True Tone functionality, offering a 100 percent P3 color gamut and a 2 million-to-1 contrast ratio. Unlike many overly glossy HDR10 or Dolby Vision screens, Apple’s display strikes a perfect balance, minimizing unnatural color saturation, and providing an overall fantastic viewing experience.

Protected by Apple’s Ceramic Shield front, this display is touted as more durable than any other smartphone glass. It also includes a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, which helps reduce smudges, though all screens require occasional cleaning. I’ve dropped my iPhone 15 Pro Max several times, and while I’m using a silicon case, the device has held up without any issues, proving its durability.

Connected to the display is the Dynamic Island, which was introduced the previous year but was a new experience for me. I instantly grew fond of this feature and now wish it could be implemented on other devices. From a display perspective, it’s essentially a large, pill-shaped cutout that’s far less intrusive than the notch it replaced, yet still more noticeable than the tiny hole-punch front cameras common on most Android flagships.

It becomes especially apparent when viewing video content stretched to fill the display, though I rarely do that. Ultimately, the HDR and Dolby Vision capabilities more than compensate for any minor distraction the cutout might cause. (I’ll discuss Dynamic Island in more detail later.)

Hardware and specs

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a powerhouse, extending Apple’s performance and efficiency edge with its A17 Pro chipset. Featuring a 3-nm design, this first true Pro-class chip boasts a 64-bit CPU with two high-performance cores and four efficiency cores, offering a slight performance boost over the A16 Bionic.

What really sets the iPhone 15 Pro Max apart is its new six-core GPU, designed for hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, delivering a 20 percent performance increase over the previous five-core model. The A17 Pro also includes a 16-core Neural Engine, improving AI and machine learning tasks. Its support for hardware AV1 decoding and the upgrade to USB 3.2 Gen 2 for 10 Gbps data transfer further enhance its capabilities. With 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage (expandable to 512 GB or 1 TB), the iPhone 15 Pro Max ensures a smooth, efficient experience.

In terms of performance, the iPhone 15 Pro Max consistently exceeds expectations, offering excellent out-of-the-box speed and lasting all-day battery life—something its Android competitors struggle to match. I was especially curious about its gaming capabilities, which Apple emphasized during its launch event. The new GPU allows for hardware-accelerated ray tracing, dramatically enhancing gaming visuals and performance.

To test this, I played Resident Evil: Village, a modern 3D game, on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. With an Xbox Wireless Controller and an external display, the game ran smoothly—something I didn’t expect from a phone. This showcases the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s ability to handle demanding tasks effortlessly, delivering console-like gaming experiences on a mobile device

Resident Evil: Village isn’t a fast-paced action game, and its opening sequence, where you simply explore a house and put a baby to bed, is surprisingly peaceful. However, this calm start served as an ideal opportunity to assess the device’s graphical performance, as the game was mirrored on both the internal and external displays. It provided a chance to gather some initial impressions of how the device handles performance while showcasing its visual capabilities.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max does get warm during gaming sessions but never reaches an overly hot temperature. While there are occasional stutters, particularly at the beginning, it performs well, especially if you focus solely on the game.

The visuals are stunning, and the gameplay is immersive, although the battery drains quickly. For example, while I was taking screenshots for this review, the battery dropped from 74 percent to 60 percent in about 10 minutes. For extended gaming, a power source is recommended. The external display I used didn’t have speakers, so I enjoyed high-quality, immersive sound directly from the iPhone 15 Pro Max. While you could play on-screen with touch controls, I prefer to skip that—I’m no longer a fan of the smaller, on-device gameplay experience.

Although somewhat tangential to this review, it’s worth mentioning that the horror aspects of Resident Evil: Village—such as the tense heavy breathing, the chilling moment you venture into the snowy night to search for your wife, and the jump scares—translate remarkably well to mobile. If you’re a fan of this genre, Resident Evil: Village stands out as a standout experience on its own.

As I watched the Apple event, I couldn’t help but wonder if the iPhone 15 Pro Max might mark the start of a new era in mobile gaming, as Apple suggested. This device combines impressive performance, efficiency, and graphical power, along with a growing selection of games. While it’s still early, and a full shift may not be realized until we see a few more generations of iPhones, it certainly seems that Apple is on the right track. Over the years, I’ve completed several mobile games, but with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it feels entirely possible that I’ll soon finish a game originally made for high-end PCs and consoles.

Connectivity

As expected, Apple’s flagship iPhone delivers top-tier communication capabilities, supporting 5G (both sub-6 GHz and mmWave), 4×4 MIMO for both 5G and gigabit LTE, Wi-Fi 6E with 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.3, second-gen Ultra-wideband (UWB), and NFC. I’ve encountered no connectivity issues with the device, and it consistently provides fast Wi-Fi speeds, often outperforming the PCs I use.

However, more controversially, the iPhone 15 Pro Max only supports eSIMs, which can store two eSIM profiles at once, and lacks a traditional nanoSIM slot, even though there’s space for one (Apple offers nanoSIM support in some regions). This presents a challenge for me, as my Mexican carrier doesn’t yet support eSIMs, so I rely on a physical SIM for data when I exceed my T-Mobile monthly limit. To solve this, I used my nanoSIM in an older Pixel 7a as a backup. While Apple’s aggressive push for eSIM adoption may seem premature, it’s a limitation that will likely fade as more carriers adopt the technology.

For my current use, I’ve been operating with two eSIMs. Before my trip, I discovered Nomad, a service offering affordable pay-as-you-go eSIMs. I purchased an eSIM with 10 GB of 4G data for $32 ($29 on sale), which I activated once my T-Mobile data ran out. The Nomad eSIM worked seamlessly, allowing me to keep my primary number for calls and texts while using the eSIM exclusively for data. It’s been a smooth experience, and if you use my PAUL65GE referral code, I’ll receive a $3 credit, which would be appreciated.

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Audio-video

The iPhone 15 Pro Max features stereo speakers—one placed in the earpiece above the Dynamic Island and the other near the USB-C port—as well as three microphones for improved audio capture. While phone calls are consistently clear, I did encounter issues with speakerphone audio quality, which led me to stop using it altogether after receiving complaints.

However, when it comes to media, the iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers an exceptional experience. Supporting Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos spatial audio, the audio-visual quality, particularly for music and video, is stunning. Watching movies like Atomic Blonde on this device showcases the incredible combination of its display and sound system. 

For a richer experience, I signed up for a 30-day Apple Music trial to enjoy spatial audio music, and I was impressed by the crisp, clear sound, with remarkable stereo and spatial separation. Even with older songs, the audio felt fresh, offering a new perspective on familiar tracks.

Cameras

The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s three-lens pro camera system is a standout feature that often drives customers to choose the Pro models over the standard iPhone. For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple took advantage of this by introducing an exclusive 5X optical zoom telephoto lens, a major upgrade that sets the device apart. As someone who always opts for the phone with the best camera system, I couldn’t resist testing the iPhone 15 Pro Max after seeing the exciting new improvements to its camera. Let’s just say, it definitely caught my attention—pun intended!

The camera system on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is certainly impressive on paper, but it doesn’t represent a significant leap forward from previous models. Apple’s claim that it offers “the equivalent of seven camera lenses” still feels like a stretch. For comparison, the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera system appears even more impressive with its three high-resolution lenses, although I’ll reserve final judgment until I’m back from Mexico next week and can test that phone thoroughly in real-world conditions.

The main lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is essentially the same as its predecessor, despite what Apple’s marketing suggests. It features a 48 MP wide-angle lens with a 24 mm equivalent focal length, ƒ/1.78 aperture, dual-pixel Omni-Directional Phase Detection (PDAF, or as Apple calls it, “100 percent Focus Pixels”), and optical image stabilization (OIS).

The key difference this year is that the Camera app saves images in 24 MP by default, but if you want to save storage space, you can switch back to the 12 MP format or enable one of three advanced HEIF Max/ProRAW modes, ideal for those who need higher-quality images and have the storage to support it. More on that in a moment.

The 12 MP ultra-wide lens remains unchanged from its predecessor, featuring a 13mm equivalent focal length and an ƒ/2.2 aperture. It offers a generous 120-degree field of view, ensuring expansive shots. Additionally, it includes “100 percent Focus Pixels,” Apple’s term for dual-pixel PDAF OIS, enhancing focus accuracy and stability. 

This technology significantly improves autofocus performance, making it faster and more precise. No complaints about the naming either—Apple’s branding certainly makes it sound more advanced. Despite no hardware changes, the ultra-wide lens continues to deliver sharp, high-quality images with excellent stabilization, making it a reliable choice for wide-angle photography.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max introduces a significant upgrade to its telephoto lens, distinguishing it from the standard iPhone 15 Pro. While the non-Max model retains the same 12 MP, 48mm equivalent telephoto lens as its predecessor—offering 2X optical zoom, an ƒ/1.78 aperture, and dual-pixel PDAF OIS/100 percent Focus Pixels—the iPhone 15 Pro Max takes things further. It features an entirely new 12 MP telephoto lens with a 120mm equivalent focal length and an innovative tetraprism design. 

Unlike traditional periscope-style cameras, this design maximizes internal space efficiency while delivering an impressive 5X optical zoom. The lens also includes an ƒ/2.8 aperture and advanced “3D sensor‑shift optical image stabilization and autofocus,” though the absence of “100 percent Focus Pixels” raises questions about its precise focusing capabilities. Nevertheless, this cutting-edge telephoto lens solidifies the iPhone 15 Pro Max as Apple’s most powerful camera phone to date.

Let’s begin with the main lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, as this is the one most users will rely on. It first appeared on last year’s iPhone 14 Pro models, which I didn’t test, but this year, Apple has made two software updates that significantly alter how you use the lens. The first change is that the “1x” button in the Camera app has been replaced with a toggle to switch between three focal lengths: “1x/24 mm,” “1.2x/28 mm,” and “1.5x/35 mm.” The second is that the Camera now defaults to a new 24 MP photo capture format, compared to the previous 12 MP format on prior iPhone Pros.

This focal length toggle is part of Apple’s claim that the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers “the equivalent of seven camera lenses.” However, I believe the more significant issue is the added complexity of this system, which may confuse most users who aren’t professional photographers, despite the device’s name. In previous iPhones, you’d simply open the Camera app and find three clear, easy-to-understand buttons, each linked to a different focal length: .5x, 1x, and 2x. While many likely considered these buttons as “zoom” or “lens” options, each one actually corresponded to a specific camera lens: ultra-wide, wide/main, and telephoto, respectively.

With the iPhone 15 Pro models, particularly the Max, there’s a wider variety of focal lengths available, but it’s worth noting that there are still only three physical lenses. The .5x focal length uses the ultra-wide lens, while the 1x, 1.2x, and 1.5x options all rely on the main lens. Meanwhile, the 2x and 5x focal lengths (exclusive to the Max) utilize the telephoto lens. Despite having these six focal length options, a seventh becomes available when you enter Macro mode, which activates automatically when you get very close to a subject. This mode also uses the ultra-wide lens. Therefore, although you have seven focal lengths in total, they all stem from just three lenses.

The good news is that the range of focal lengths provides more creative flexibility, but there’s a downside to the added complexity. Many users may unknowingly select a different focal length by accidentally tapping the 1.x button, switching between lenses without realizing it. However, there’s a way to manage this: Apple allows you to adjust this setting. In the Camera app’s settings, you can choose a different default focal length (although Apple confusingly refers to this as a “lens”) and can also disable the two additional focal length options altogether, giving you more control over how these focal lengths are used.

If you decide to keep the settings as they are, you might want to pay attention to the changes. Personally, I find the new focal lengths, particularly the 1.2x and 1.5x, quite useful. They offer great intermediate zoom options between the standard 1x and 2x modes, eliminating the need to manually adjust zoom using your fingers. Initially, I considered switching to 1.2x as my default focal length because it seemed like a practical choice. 

However, after spending some time experimenting with all the options, I ultimately decided to leave the settings unchanged. For me, speed and convenience are key. I tend to snap pictures quickly and move on, not spending too much time perfecting each shot. After all, I’m not a professional photographer; like most people, I’m simply taking casual snapshots to capture moments.

One of the more technical changes Apple has introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro is the ability to fully utilize the high-resolution sensor in the main lens for the first time. Previously, the Camera app would pixel-bin shots down to 12 MP, which was similar to the resolution of the other two lenses, but now it captures photos at a full 24 MP. This change is adjustable, of course, in the Settings.

Although I could delve deeply into this topic, I’ll keep it brief. The move to 24 MP photos naturally means that they will take up more storage space than the traditional 12 MP images. This applies equally to your device’s storage and your cloud storage. However, the increase in storage isn’t directly proportional: According to Apple’s explanation in the Camera app’s settings, a 12 MP photo typically occupies 2 MB of space, while a 24 MP photo uses around 3 MB.

This creates a more nuanced decision, weighing the trade-off between storage space and photo quality. Of course, this assumes that the 24 MP images actually offer more quality, not just increased resolution.

Adding to the complexity, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s main camera doesn’t consistently capture 24 MP photos, even when set to that resolution. Features like Night mode, macro, flash, and Portrait Lighting shots still save at 12 MP, with no option to change this. As a result, you’ll end up with a mix of photo sizes and resolutions, unless you switch back to the 12 MP defaults from previous iPhone models.

Additionally, the fact that the iPhone 15 Pro Max only has one high-resolution main lens, while the other two lenses are lower resolution, seems a bit odd. But this is typical for Apple, and I suspect they’ll follow Google’s lead by adding more high-resolution lenses in the coming years.

Apple made a notable change with the iPhone 15 Pro Max by switching the default photo capture setting to 24 MP and increasing the base storage to 256 GB. This change is because the 24 MP setting delivers higher quality images compared to the previous 12 MP default. Apple’s intelligent bracketing process plays a key role, combining raw data from the 48 MP lens with multiple 24 MP shots to create the final image.

This technique represents a balance in computational photography, optimizing the sensor’s native resolution, shutter performance, and overall photo quality. As a result, 24 MP shots will provide better detail than pixel-binned 12 MP images and avoid the shutter lag that can come with 48 MP photos, making it the ideal setting for most users—a true Goldilocks solution.

That’s the general idea, at least. And that’s the approach I’ve decided to take: I have to admit, I didn’t spend much time doing direct 24 MP vs. 12 MP comparisons. Instead, I opted to simply use the camera system as it is after reviewing the settings. From my experience, however, it feels like not much has really changed.

For the most part, the iPhone 15 Pro Max camera system continues to deliver the same high-quality shots I’ve come to expect from iPhones—realistic images that aren’t overly enhanced with HDR effects. Many of the shots turn out excellent, and I’ve found that Portrait mode has improved so much that I’ve started using it frequently. It’s become a feature I genuinely enjoy using, producing some fantastic results.

On the other hand, I didn’t observe any significant improvements in image quality. Despite the new features and upgrades, there was no noticeable difference in the overall quality of my photos with the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

There are still some lingering camera issues that continue to affect the iPhone experience. One notable problem is shutter lag, particularly in dimly lit environments like restaurants—places where I often take photos. When there’s no movement in the shot, the results are usually impressive. However, consider this shot of a sushi chef’s hands: despite the fact that he wasn’t moving quickly, the photo ended up blurry. This is the type of situation where the iPhone’s camera still struggles, failing to capture the moment with the clarity I expect.

Let’s dive into the new telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. To give you some context, I’ve used several smartphones with 5X optical zoom, starting with the Huawei P30 Pro from 2019 and more recently the Pixel 7 Pro. (I’ll be checking out the Pixel 8 Pro next week, which continues to use the same telephoto hardware.) The 5X zoom is a clear step up from the typical 2X or lower optical zoom. While it offers a noticeable improvement, it also leaves you wishing for even more zoom, though the limitations of physics make it tough to push beyond 5X optical zoom with these small lenses.

I was really excited to see this feature come to the iPhone, but the results are somewhat underwhelming. The telephoto lens tends to produce washed-out colors, and when photographing distant subjects, there’s often a lack of fine detail. While it’s an improvement, it still leaves much to be desired in real-world use.

You can zoom in further on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, of course, activating its hybrid zoom, but the results are disappointing. I usually stick to 10x zoom or lower for better quality, but even then, the images often end up looking like washed-out mud. In comparison, my Pixel 7 Pro offers superior optical and hybrid zoom, likely due to Google’s more advanced computational photography.

Even my wife’s Samsung Galaxy S22 outperforms the iPhone 15 Pro Max in this area, providing crisper, cleaner optical and hybrid zoom. While people may criticize Samsung’s moon shot processing, the images from my wife’s phone resemble something taken through a telescope, whereas all the iPhone 15 Pro Max can manage is a blurry white circle in a noisy, pixelated sky.

It’s not all bad with the iPhone 15 Pro Max: 5x zoom is certainly an improvement over 2x, and for most everyday shots, you won’t need anything higher. However, I take a lot of skyline shots from our Mexico City balcony, and I couldn’t help but wish I had my Pixel with me on this trip. The camera system on the Pixel is simply far better for zoom shots, consistently delivering sharper, more detailed images that the iPhone 15 Pro Max struggles to match, especially at higher zoom levels.

The iPhone has a strong reputation for its video capabilities, but I have to admit, I don’t often record videos myself. This month, I focused mainly on taking still shots while enjoying my time in Mexico City, so I didn’t get around to testing its video features much.

Security

Apple markets iOS as the most secure mobile operating system in the world, and I have no issues with that claim. The iPhone 15 Pro Max continues this trend, benefiting from iOS’s robust privacy and security features. Recent updates, like the per-app anti-tracking prompts, along with iOS 17’s refinements to lockdown mode and better permission controls, have strengthened an already solid system.

Despite these improvements, the fundamentals remain the same: iPhones, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max, offer a comprehensive suite of security features, including the secure enclave, T2 security chip, encrypted storage, and Face ID, which remains one of the best in the industry.

Battery

When I switched from the Pixel 7 Pro to the iPhone 15 Pro Max last month, the battery life difference was immediately noticeable. While claiming it’s double the battery life may be an exaggeration, the iPhone 15 Pro Max does last significantly longer. My Pixel often required a midday charge, but with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, I can make it until bedtime without worrying about charging. On busier days, particularly when traveling and taking lots of photos around the city, I occasionally considered charging midday. Interestingly, I didn’t once need to bring my portable charger during my time in Mexico City, a necessity when using the Pixel.

At the time of writing this, it’s 12:42 pm. I unplugged the iPhone 15 Pro Max at 6:30 am, and after about 3 hours of active screen time and 3 hours of idle time, the battery is still at 92 percent. In terms of configuration, the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with all the expected charging optimization features designed to protect battery health, plus a low-power mode if your battery runs low. The only adjustment I made was enabling the battery percentage display in the status bar for easier monitoring.

Software

The iPhone 15 Pro Max launched with iOS 17, the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system. There isn’t much to dissect here—iOS remains refined and sophisticated, delivering a seamless user experience. Transitioning between iOS and Android is generally smooth, with each platform having its own strengths and weaknesses. However, some long-standing annoyances persist. One glaring issue is the inability to freely place app icons anywhere on the home screen, a restriction that continues to frustrate users. This debate has been rehashed countless times, yet Apple remains firm in its design philosophy.

That said, two specific aspects of iOS perfectly illustrate both its strengths and its weaknesses. Fortunately, I’ve explored these topics in depth before, so I can keep my observations concise. On the positive side, Apple’s gesture-based navigation system stands out as a masterclass in intuitive design. The fluidity and consistency of gestures across the system are nothing short of remarkable, making interactions effortless. Google could learn a thing or two from Apple’s approach, as the clarity and predictability of iOS gestures set a gold standard for mobile navigation.

On the other hand, Apple’s notification management remains embarrassingly outdated. Despite years of refinement, notifications in iOS continue to feel cluttered and unintuitive. The lone exception is the Dynamic Island, a feature introduced last year but new to me. This brilliant software innovation goes beyond simply masking the former notch—it redefines multitasking and notifications on a compact smartphone display. Dynamic Island is so well-executed that I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple expands its functionality to Mac and iPad in the near future.

Unique hardware features

Since its debut in 2007, the iPhone has featured an unusual Ring/Silent switch that many users likely toggled unintentionally more often than they did on purpose. However, with the arrival of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple has officially retired this long-standing quirk. Instead, it introduces the new Action button, a versatile upgrade that not only retains the ability to switch between Ring and Silent modes but also offers customizable functionality. Users can now assign it to perform a variety of tasks, adding a level of personalization and efficiency never seen before in an iPhone’s physical controls.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max introduces the Action button, which is a good idea, but its initial implementation falls short. First, its placement above the volume buttons on the left side is awkward and often leads to accidental presses, especially for right-handers like me. Apple should relocate it to the right side of the device above the Side button for easier access. Additionally, the button’s functionality is too limited. While it’s customizable, requiring a long press to activate is inconvenient, and there’s no reason why it couldn’t support multiple actions, such as double-clicking for another function. 

The interface for configuring the button’s function is unnecessarily complicated and unlike other settings in the app. On a positive note, the iPhone 15 Pro Max finally transitions to USB-C, bringing 10 Gbps data transfer speeds, a major leap from the previous Lightning connector. This upgrade allows for external display support and the ability to connect a USB-C SSD for ProRes video recording directly, marking the beginning of a new era for the iPhone. One can only wonder why it took Apple this long to make this change.

It’s perplexing that Apple still bundles a slow USB-C 2 cable with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, especially considering that the device itself supports much faster technology. For a Pro model, this is disappointing and inexcusable. With the potential for 10 Gbps data transfer speeds, the inclusion of a slower cable feels like a missed opportunity to fully unlock the device’s capabilities. Apple should have included a faster, more appropriate cable to match the advanced features of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Pricing and availability

The iPhone 15 Pro Max debuts at a starting price of $1,199, reflecting a $100 increase compared to its predecessor. However, the good news is that this price now includes 256 GB of storage, offering users more space without needing an immediate upgrade.

For those seeking even greater storage capacity, Apple provides two additional options. You can opt for the 512 GB variant at $1,399 or go for the highest-tier model with 1 TB of storage, which comes with a price tag of $1,599, ensuring ample space for all your files.

This year, Apple introduces the iPhone 15 Pro Max in four distinct Titanium finishes: Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. These elegant color choices enhance the premium look of the device while maintaining its sophisticated, durable design.

Availability is widespread, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max being sold directly by Apple and through major mobile carriers, as well as leading electronics retailers worldwide. Whether you prefer shopping online or in-store, securing one should be easy.

Recommendations and conclusions

The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes packed with numerous small but meaningful enhancements, making it an obvious choice for anyone wanting a top-tier flagship smartphone. Users upgrading from older iPhones will appreciate the refined design, Dynamic Island, Action button, and the long-awaited switch to USB-C. Meanwhile, Android users have fewer reasons to hesitate, as Apple continues addressing common concerns and improving its ecosystem. My experience upgrading from an iPhone 13 Pro was fantastic, proving that this is far from just a minor improvement. For those using even older devices, the iPhone 15 Pro Max becomes an even more compelling option.

However, while Apple continues to dominate in smartphone technology, camera improvements remain somewhat incremental. The iPhone 15 Pro Max still offers excellent photography, but I’d love to see higher-resolution ultra-wide and telephoto lenses, along with superior optical and hybrid zoom. And although the transition to USB-C was long overdue, including a USB 2.0-speed cable in the box feels like an unnecessary compromise that doesn’t match the phone’s premium nature.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Apple maintains its reputation for delivering the best smartphone experience on the market. Whether you’re a loyal iPhone user or considering switching from another brand, the iPhone 15 Pro Max won’t disappoint.

At-a-glance

Pros

Iconic Design – The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a stunning yet durable build, maintaining Apple’s signature premium look while refining its form factor.

Powerful Performance – With top-tier hardware, the iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers blazing-fast speeds for multitasking, gaming, and productivity.

Impressive Battery Life – The device offers extended battery performance, ensuring users can go through their day without worrying about frequent recharges.

Brilliant Display – Featuring a flat, high-resolution screen with slimmer bezels, the iPhone 15 Pro Max provides an immersive viewing experience.

Advanced Camera System – Equipped with a three-lens rear camera and an impressive 5x optical zoom, it captures stunning photos and videos.

Dynamic Island Innovation – More functional than a notch, Dynamic Island enhances multitasking with live notifications and interactive features.

Customizable Action Button – The new Action button allows users to tailor shortcuts, making everyday tasks quicker and more intuitive.

USB-C Connectivity – A long-awaited upgrade, USB-C enables faster data transfer and universal compatibility with a wide range of accessories.

Classic iPhone Benefits – The iPhone 15 Pro Max continues Apple’s tradition of reliability, security, and seamless ecosystem integration.

Cons

Notification System Issues: The notification system feels frustrating, often lacking flexibility and delivering alerts in an inconvenient manner. Users may find it difficult to manage or customize notifications effectively.

Slow USB-C Cable: The bundled USB-C cable supports only the outdated USB 2.0 standard, resulting in significantly slower data transfer speeds. This limitation affects efficiency, especially when transferring large files.Poor Action Button Placement: The action button is placed in an inconvenient position, making it less intuitive to use. Additionally, it is restricted to performing only a single task, limiting its functionality and reducing its overall practicality.