Be careful before buying iPhone 15
Iphone 15 Pro max Review
Thinking of buying iPhone 15 Pro Max. Check out my review. It will be good for you.
"Before retiring for the night, I decided it was time to charge my newly unboxed iPhone 15 Pro Max. Despite the device still boasting an impressive 80% battery life after a long day at Apple Park, I didn't want to risk it running out of power during my precious time with this review unit. Fatigued, I made my way to the hotel room's work desk, unplugged my iPhone 14 Pro, and attempted to connect the Lightning charger to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. To my groggy surprise, it didn't fit. In my sleep-deprived state, I tried multiple times to insert the cable into the port before realizing it was a USB-C connector.
A flicker of relief cut through my exhaustion, but I then realized I needed to either unplug my laptop or find a separate USB-C charger. Glancing at the clock and the iPhone 15 Pro Max's battery level, I shrugged and decided it would probably hold enough charge until I could attend to it in the morning.
In the end, while my dream of a one-charger-for-all scenario had partially come true for my devices, the practical reality wasn't quite as seamless. I had hoped to simplify my life by carrying just one charger for my various gadgets while traveling, but it seemed unlikely. If I still needed multiple cables, did it really matter if one of them was still a Lightning cable?
Ultimately, it did matter, but the convenience of interchangeable cables didn't make as significant a difference as I had anticipated, at least not yet. Perhaps it will become a more significant improvement as more people transition from older, Lightning-based iPhones to USB-C, and the standard becomes more universal. For now, the change felt relatively minor.
What might be more critical for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are the noteworthy additions, such as the new action button, camera enhancements, refined design, and upgraded processor. Remarkably, Apple has managed to maintain the same price points for the Pro ($999) and Pro Max ($1,199) models while doubling the base storage capacity for the latter. If you've been holding onto an iPhone that's at least a couple of years old, or even just one year old, this could be the ideal year to consider an upgrade."
Design and Look :
I find myself seriously contemplating a switch to the Pro Max for the first time. Historically, despite its performance advantages and superior features, Apple's largest handset has felt overly cumbersome to me. However, the new iPhone 15 Pro Max, with its titanium build, is slightly smaller by fractions of an inch and nearly 20 grams (about half an ounce) lighter compared to its predecessor. As I noted in my hands-on experience and will reiterate here, the iPhone 14 Pro Max felt like it could cause serious harm if it landed on my face, whereas the new model might only result in a bruise or a dent.
This is likely partly due to the fact that the new iPhone has slightly curved edges, making them feel less sharp and giving the device the appearance of being thinner, even though it's actually a hundredth of an inch thicker than last year. Speaking of minor measurements, the bezels on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are also slightly smaller than before. This is mainly why Apple was able to maintain the same screen sizes while reducing the length and width of each device.
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iPhone 15 Pro Max a tad easier to use with one hand. I appreciate the brushed metal finish on my Natural Titanium review unit, although I do wish Apple would introduce some brighter colors to the Pro line. This year's options are limited to the silver-ish shade I have, as well as white, black, and blue – somewhat uninspiring. While many people immediately slap a case on their new phones, some of us enjoy having the option of vibrant colors, like those available on the regular iPhone 15 models.
Despite being smaller and lighter than the previous generation, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is still one of the heaviest in its category. The Pixel 7 Pro is slightly lighter at 212 grams (7.5 ounces), while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the heaviest at 234 grams (8.25 ounces). Meanwhile, the smaller Pro model is actually lighter than the S23 Plus (195 grams) and the Pixel 7 (197 grams, 6.9 ounces).
I haven't had the opportunity to use the phones extensively or risk exposing these review units to my unpredictable purse without a case, so I can't comment on the durability or scratch-resistance of the titanium build yet. Fortunately, both devices are rated IP68 for dust and water resistance, providing peace of mind for even the clumsiest users.
There are two significant external hardware changes this year: the transition to USB-C and the introduction of the Action button. These differences may not be immediately noticeable if you're not actively looking for them. The port at the bottom is still a port, while the button now protrudes slightly more than before. Additionally, because the iPhone 15 Pros are slightly smaller than their predecessors, your old case will not fit.
Action button:
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I'm among the minority of users who frequently utilized the mute slider on older iPhones. It appears that most people simply set their devices to mute and leave it at that. Personally, I often left my phone on the couch while attending to chores, occasionally switching it to ring mode to ensure I wouldn't miss important calls from delivery personnel.
That being said, Apple's decision to replace the mute slider with the Action button doesn't bother me at all. I still have access to a physical key for quickly muting my phone. However, for individuals who don't frequently use this function, there's a plethora of other options available. You can customize the Action button to open the camera, activate the flashlight, initiate voice recording, switch Focus modes, or trigger a shortcut. Furthermore, within each of these options, you can fine-tune settings to specify how the system behaves, such as launching the camera in selfie or portrait mode.
Once you've configured the Action button to execute your chosen shortcut, you can continue pressing the button to control the primary action in each scenario. For instance, in the camera app, it serves as the shutter button, while during voice recordings, it functions as the start or stop control.
During my testing of the iPhone 15 Pro Max over the past few days, I set the Action button to open the camera, given my focus on evaluating the new hardware. It's been both a blessing and a challenge. On one hand, it's significantly quicker to use the Action button to access the camera compared to the traditional long press or swipe on the on-screen shortcut. On the other hand, reaching for the Action button wasn't always the most convenient, and despite its recognizable size, I accidentally pressed the volume keys a few times.
I have a feeling that this gesture will become second nature to me with time, especially since it proved invaluable when I was hastily capturing photos of some wildlife at Caumsett State Historic Park, including deer and rabbits.
It's also worth noting that, despite my initial concerns about accidentally triggering the Action button, I haven't unintentionally launched the camera. I've placed the iPhone 15 Pro Max in a satchel alongside other phones, a backpack filled with jackets and snacks, and even in a tightly packed overnight duffel bag. Surprisingly, none of these confined spaces caused the shortcut to activate inadvertently.
Camera and zoom:
This year, the iPhone 15 Pro Max introduces a new telephoto lens with an impressive 5x optical zoom, achieved through a tetraprism design that reflects light four times within the iPhone's body, creating the necessary space for a 120mm focal length. In contrast, the smaller iPhone 15 Pro maintains a 3x optical zoom with a 77mm focal length.
In practical use, the iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers close-up shots that are slightly cleaner than what its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, could produce. To test this, I took photos of an ad for the iPhone 15 Pro Max on the side of a building and only noticed a subtle difference when I zoomed in on the pictures on my laptop. The newer phone rendered a window frame with less noise compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
When I set both cameras to their maximum zoom range of 15x, the iPhone 15 Pro Max clearly outperformed its predecessor. It produced significantly clearer images, allowing me to read text on the back of a distant bus, whereas the iPhone 14 Pro Max's image appeared as a blur.
In terms of zoom photography, the iPhone 15 Pro Max's primary competitor is Google's Pixel 7 Pro, which also offers 5x optical zoom. Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra offers 3x and 10x optical zoom options, with a total of 100x zoom achievable through digital processing. Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy device tends to deliver the clearest images at 3x, 5x, and beyond, with legible text on distant objects and sharper details.
Compared to the Pixel 7 Pro, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers similar clarity and detail, along with brighter images. However, Google's offering usually excels in contrast and shadow handling.
In a challenging situation where I attempted to capture a gray heron bathing in Oyster Bay, Long Island, the iPhone performed better at retaining the ripples on the water's surface, while the Pixel mostly overexposed the sea. At 10x zoom, the Galaxy S23 Ultra's images of the bird displayed an extreme halo effect around the subject, making it look like I had photographed the Predator.
Both the iPhone and Pixel allow you to utilize these telephoto options while recording video, which proved beneficial when filming distant subjects like a finicky baby deer. In contrast, the Galaxy is limited to one zoom level. If you frequently use your phone to capture distant subjects, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers excellent performance and is competitive with the best in the field.
However, what may matter more in your everyday photography scenarios is the updated portrait mode pipeline, which Apple claims benefits from the "Photonic Engine." While improvements have been made, the iPhone still lags behind its Pixel and Galaxy competitors in terms of creating bokeh and editing background blur for photos of people, animals, and food.
Battery Life:
Evaluating the performance of a new phone in just a week can be challenging, as fresh out of the box, handsets tend to run smoothly without any noticeable lag. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, powered by the A17 Pro chip, meets the expectations for speed and responsiveness. During my testing, it handled multiple camera and video modes, downloads of games, picture retrieval, and hotspotting to another nearby iPhone seamlessly. However, I did encounter some minor hiccups when launching the camera with the Action button, which may be more related to software glitches than actual performance issues.
One of the significant upgrades with the A17 Pro processor is the inclusion of a six-core graphics processor, enabling hardware-accelerated ray-tracing for realistic lighting effects in games. This capability has attracted serious developers and studios like Capcom and Ubisoft to bring console-level versions of their titles to the iPhone. I had the opportunity to preview Resident Evil Village on the iPhone 15 Pro, and it ran smoothly without any dropped frames. While the graphics and lighting effects were impressive overall, there were some minor jagged edges in the character's hair. While it may not reach the level of high-end console quality, it still delivers impressive animations.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a 6.7-inch display that is a joy to behold. Thanks to the ProMotion's 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling through long lists and viewing content is incredibly smooth. The device's speakers also provide clear and loud audio, making it a great choice for multimedia experiences.
I've previously discussed the impact of USB-C and its advantages. What I didn't mention is that with the transition to this new port, Apple has added support for USB Power Delivery (USB PD). This feature allows the iPhone to charge other devices. You can use a USB-C to Lightning cable to charge accessories like an AirPods case or even another iPhone, making it a versatile and handy addition.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max impresses with its battery life. It typically lasts about two days on a single charge, which is slightly longer than other smartphones of this size. However, it's essential to note that over time, battery life may deteriorate, eventually averaging around one and a half days, based on past experiences.
When it's time to recharge your iPhone, you can expect similar charging speeds to older models. With compatible power units, fast charging is supported, capped at 27 watts, allowing you to reach up to 50 percent charge in about 30 minutes, consistent with previous models.
The new iPhones introduced this year represent significant upgrades compared to their predecessors. With the addition of the Action button, the transition to USB-C, and various camera improvements, the changes made to Apple's Pro handsets feel substantial. Moreover, the incorporation of a titanium build gives these devices a refreshed look and feel, while the under-the-hood enhancements like the A17 Pro processor and a second-generation ultra-wideband chip promise smooth day-to-day usage. While each individual feature may appear small on its own, the cumulative effect of this year's updates creates a more significant overall improvement.
Additionally, there are the non-Pro models of the iPhone 15 to consider. These models, featuring new 48MP sensors and attractive color options, offer a compelling and more affordable alternative. They also charge via USB-C and include the same new portrait image effects, which may be more than sufficient for many users. If you're torn between the standard iPhone 15 and the Pro models, stay tuned for our upcoming review of the standard iPhone 15 for a more in-depth comparison.
For those who have always been Pro users and are already accustomed to a USB-C ecosystem, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are likely to meet and even exceed your expectations. These devices represent a solid choice for users who value premium features and capabilities in their smartphones.
By the way
The new iPhones introduced this year represent significant upgrades compared to their predecessors. With the addition of the Action button, the transition to USB-C, and various camera improvements, the changes made to Apple's Pro handsets feel substantial. Moreover, the incorporation of a titanium build gives these devices a refreshed look and feel, while the under-the-hood enhancements like the A17 Pro processor and a second-generation ultra-wideband chip promise smooth day-to-day usage. While each individual feature may appear small on its own, the cumulative effect of this year's updates creates a more significant overall improvement.
Additionally, there are the non-Pro models of the iPhone 15 to consider. These models, featuring new 48MP sensors and attractive color options, offer a compelling and more affordable alternative. They also charge via USB-C and include the same new portrait image effects, which may be more than sufficient for many users. If you're torn between the standard iPhone 15 and the Pro models, stay tuned for our upcoming review of the standard iPhone 15 for a more in-depth comparison.
For those who have always been Pro users and are already accustomed to a USB-C ecosystem, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are likely to meet and even exceed your expectations. These devices represent a solid choice for users who value premium features and capabilities in their smartphones.
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