FIRST TEST APPLE iPHONE 15 PRO MAX
Max to prove it
Apple refines its flagship with a better snapper, a slightly dinkier form factor and, finally, USB-C. But can it really be more ‘pro’ than the Pro?
Words Craig Grannell
from £1199/ go.stuff.tv/15ProMax
Here’s a question for you: What does ‘Pro’ mean in the context of a smartphone? And how do you ‘Max’ that out? Apple’s been adding the P-word to its most high-specced and high-priced products for years now, but does the iPhone 15 Pro Max really deserve its suffixes? Well, the Max parts of the spec sheet are certainly fairly easy to spot.
Its 6.7in 120Hz display is 0.6in bigger than the standard iPhone 15 Pro, although it’s 19g lighter than last year’s model and very marginally smaller, which basically means the bezels are almost imperceptibly slimmer and your old case won’t quite fit. It also makes the phone feel more balanced, but you still wouldn’t call it lightweight. The Max model’s larger chassis also has space for a bigger battery, plus you get an extra 5x zoom option when you fire up the rear camera.
Like the smaller Pro it’s also now made of titanium. The four new colour options – natural, blue, white and black – are best described as ‘safe’ but look smart, and the matt frame no longer resembles an explosion in a fingerprint factory five minutes after unboxing. It’s also nicer to hold, thanks to subtly chamfered edges.
There’s meaningful separation on paper, then – but to what degree does it edge away from the non-Max model in practice?
1 Shake thumb action
Apple has replaced the mute switch with an ‘action’ button. It’s not instant (fume!) but is configurable (yay!), yet with only one action (fume!), though that’s something you can override (yay!). We mixed it up with volume several times in testing.
2 Chip building
There’s little you can currently do on an iPhone 15 Pro Max that’s going to tax its new A17 Pro chip. We worked on video edits, ran complex music projects and played games. Early units could get a little too warm, but Apple fixed that with a software update.
3 I show dim so well
The camera defaults to 24MP photos that combine multiple 12MP images with the detail from a 48MP shot. There’s less noise than before, with enhanced colour in high-contrast scenes. Low-light snaps remain fabulous, even in challenging scenes.
4 Zoom’s on fire
The 5x optical zoom allows for wildlife and urban shots that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. Photos have low noise and good levels of sharpness and detail. It’ll be great for sport and even gives you a chance of shooting quite good pics at 10x digital zoom.
5 Master laster
Apple claims the Pro Max model’s battery life is unchanged and we agree. It’ll get through a day, but be wary of chewing through data, playing loads of games or ramping up screen brightness if you don’t want to be arranging a precautionary top-up before tea.
Techspecs
Display 6.7in 2796x1290 120Hz OLED
CPU Apple A17 Pro
RAM 8GB
OS iOS 17
Storage 256/512GB/1TB
Cameras 48+12+12MP rear, 12MP front
Battery 4441mAh (USB-C, MagSafe, Qi)
Dimensions 160x77x8.3mm, 221g
USB-C: long story port
Like the rest of the iPhone 15 range, the Pro Max has dumped Lightning. But what does USB-C let you do?
■ Share
It’s a normal USB-C port, so you can easily share cables and accessories.
But the Pro Max also gets USB 3 speeds for slick workflows – if you use the right cable (not the one in the box).
■ Pair
There’s no proper desktop mode – and wireless keyboards were supported already. But USB-C lets you go old-school wired via a hub. (Mouse use lacks an iPad-style cursor and requires Assistive Touch.)
■ Stare
Plug in a USB-to-HDMI adapter and you can connect your iPhone to a TV. It outputs a 4K signal, but with the phone’s 19.5:9 aspect ratio… though some apps will output 16:9 video.
■ Go anywhere
USB-C mobile controllers like the Backbone One should work out of the box. Or pair a wireless control pad and use HDMI to play games on your TV. It’s a laughably inelegant setup, but it works.
This is the best iPhone Apple has ever made. The camera revisions are great, USB-C was long overdue but is fantastic now it’s here, and the action button is genuinely useful. It’s probably only worth upgrading from last year’s equivalent if you’re desperate for the USB-C port, but there’s no denying this Max lives up to its name. @CraigGrannell
STUFF SAYS
★★★★★
A solidly sensible advance, but you’d have to be joyless not to love the new camera smarts