About the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the crown jewel of the iPhone 15 series, which also features the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, and iPhone 15 Pro. This state-of-the-art smartphone comes with 5G connectivity and is available in a variety of striking colors: Black Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium, and White Titanium.
Apple’s Evolution with the iPhone 15 Pro Max
Unlike their latest smartwatch, which looks and feels almost identical to its predecessor, Apple has successfully retained the strengths and addressed the weaknesses of last year’s iPhone 14 Pro. This year, the iPhone 15 Pro Max features a refreshed design, an enhanced telephoto camera, a top-tier processor, a new gaming experience, and the addition of a USB-C port. Notably, the iconic ringer/silent switch has been replaced by the innovative Action Button. Dynamic Island remains a feature, but it’s no longer exclusive to the Pro models, as the standard iPhone 15 models now also include it.
New Size Differentiations and Camera Upgrades
Apple has introduced significant changes in size and functionality. For the first time, the camera performance differs between the Pro and Pro Max models. The regular-sized iPhone 15 Pro, with its smaller display and battery, now lacks the periscopic telephoto camera and the 5x zoom capability found in the Pro Max model, although it retains the usual 3x telephoto zoom. This means that to experience the full capabilities of the new iPhone series, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best option. However, this “action-packed” iPhone has a few drawbacks that need mentioning.
iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro Max showcases a sleek yet sturdy titanium design that is both durable and lightweight. With an impressive IP68 rating, it is resistant to dust and water, ensuring durability in various conditions. The phone’s dimensions are 159.90 mm in height, 76.70 mm in width, and 8.25 mm in thickness, weighing in at around 221 grams. This makes it not only robust but also easy to handle.
The standout feature is its expansive 6.7-inch display, offering a remarkable screen resolution of 2796×1290 pixels and a pixel density of 460 pixels per inch (ppi). This high-resolution display ensures an immersive and crystal-clear viewing experience, perfect for watching movies, streaming videos, and playing games with exceptional detail and clarity.
iPhone 15 Pro Max Camera Specifications
The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a sophisticated triple-camera system on the back, enabling you to take stunning photos and record high-quality videos. This advanced setup includes a 48 MP primary camera with an f/1.78 aperture, ensuring sharp and detailed images. Complementing this is a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle camera with an f/2.2 aperture for capturing expansive landscapes and a 12 MP telephoto camera with an f/1.78 aperture for excellent zoom capabilities. For selfies and video calls, the front houses a 12 MP camera with an f/1.9 aperture, delivering clear and vibrant shots.
iPhone 15 Pro Max Processor and Storage
Under the hood, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is powered by the hexa-core Apple A17 Bionic processor, guaranteeing seamless performance whether you’re multitasking, gaming, or browsing the web. The device comes in multiple storage variants, including 256GB, 512GB, and a massive 1TB, ensuring you have plenty of space for your photos, videos, apps, and more.
iPhone 15 Pro Max Battery and Operating System
This cutting-edge smartphone supports wireless charging and features USB Type-C connectivity. The battery is designed for rapid charging and offers extended usage time, keeping you powered throughout the day. Running on iOS 17, the iPhone 15 Pro Max provides a streamlined and user-friendly interface, enhancing your overall experience.
iPhone 15 Pro Max Connectivity Options and Sensors
The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers a comprehensive range of connectivity options, including 5G with active 4G on both SIM cards, 4G, 3G, 802.11 b/g/n/ac/ax Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, GPS, Bluetooth v5.30, and NFC. It is also equipped with a variety of sensors such as Face ID for secure unlocking, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, a compass, and a gyroscope, ensuring a feature-rich and responsive user experience.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Key Takeaways
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Design | Eye-catching design |
| Performance | Impressive performance |
| Cameras | Versatile cameras |
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Specifications
General
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | September 2023 (Official) |
| Brand | Apple |
| Model | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
| Operating System | iOS v17 |
| SIM Slots | Dual SIM, GSM+GSM |
| SIM Size | SIM1: Nano, SIM2: eSIM |
| Network | 5G Supported in India, 4G Supported in India, 3G, 2G |
| Rear Camera | 48 MP + 12 MP + 12 MP |
| Front Camera | 12 MP |
| Price in India | ₹148,900 |
Design
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 159.9 mm |
| Width | 76.7 mm |
| Thickness | 8.25 mm |
| Weight | 221 grams |
| Colors | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
Display
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.7 inches (17.00 cm) |
| Screen Resolution | 2796 x 1290 Pixels |
| Pixel Density | 460 ppi |
| Display Type | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Touch Screen | Yes, Capacitive Touchscreen, Multi-touch |
Performance
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | Hexa-core Apple A17 Bionic |
Storage
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Internal Memory | 256 GB |
Camera
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Rear Camera Setup | Triple |
| Resolution | 48 MP 24 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, 12 MP Ultra Wide, 12 MP 3x Telephoto |
| Auto Focus | Yes |
| Rear Camera Flash | Yes |
| Settings | Exposure compensation, ISO control |
| Shooting Modes | Continuous Shooting, High Dynamic Range mode (HDR) |
| Camera Features | Digital Zoom, Auto Flash, Face detection, Touch to focus |
| Rear Camera Video Recording | Yes |
| Front Camera Setup | Single |
| Front Camera Resolution | 12 MP ƒ/1.9 aperture Primary Camera |
Battery
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 4852 mAh |
| USB Type-C | Yes |
Network Connectivity
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| SIM Size | SIM1: Nano, SIM2: eSIM |
| Network Support | 5G Supported in India, 4G Supported in India, 3G, 2G |
| VoLTE | Yes |
| WiFi | 6E (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO |
| WiFi Features | Mobile Hotspot |
| Bluetooth | v5.3 |
| GPS | with A-GPS, Glonass |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB Connectivity | Mass storage device, USB charging |
Multimedia
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| Audio Jack | USB Type-C |
iPhone 15 Pro Max Design and Display
The design of the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will feel familiar to those who have used the iPhone 14 Pro. Apple has opted for a similar design theme as the iPhone 14 Pro (2023), which in turn was similar to the iPhone 13 Pro (2022) and the iPhone 12 Pro (2021). While there were some subtle changes to the camera module between the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro, the differences between the 14 Pro and the latest 15 Pro are minimal.
Most design changes are focused on the frame. The sides remain flat, but now the edges where the frame meets the glass screens are curved. This subtle shift is significant because Apple has switched the frame material from stainless steel to titanium. This change, along with the rounded edges, significantly improves the hand feel of the phone, offering a stark contrast to the sharper edges of the 14 Pro reviewed last year.
While the titanium frame makes the phone lighter by about 19 grams, it tends to accumulate stains and fingerprints quickly despite its matte finish. This issue is more noticeable on darker finishes compared to the Natural Titanium variant. In contrast, the aluminum frame of the iPhone 15 shows better resistance to smudges.
While Apple’s website showcases the iPhone 15 Pro Max as a flawless marvel, a closer inspection reveals a fine panel gap where the rear glass screen meets the titanium frame. This minor gap allows you to feel the sharp edges of the titanium frame when holding the phone. Interestingly, the alignment with the display’s glass screen is perfect, so you won’t feel any sharp edges while swiping inwards or outwards when using the phone’s interface. The long-term impact of this fine gap on the phone’s IP68 rating is uncertain, but for a device priced at nearly $2500 this is a bit disappointing.
The new Action Button also falls short in terms of finish. It feels rough to the touch, making it uncomfortable to use. This is quite surprising, as poor build quality is not something commonly associated with high-end phones costing upwards of nearly $1000.
Accessories
Apple’s FineWoven Case and FinWoven Wallet are MagSafe accessories that align with the company’s environmental goals. However, they may not become the preferred choice for many users this year. Made from “durable micro-twill” material, the case is supposed to have a “soft, suede-like feel,” but it doesn’t. It feels rough and lacks the luxurious or premium feel of many leather cases available online. Additionally, the cutouts on the case don’t match well with some of Apple’s own accessories, and the edges are sharp, making the case uncomfortable to hold.
The new MagSafe Wallet, while maintaining a good grip when mounted onto the FineWoven case, does not hold as tightly when directly snapped onto the phone. This inconsistency can be frustrating for users who expect seamless functionality from their accessories.
Specifications and Software
This year’s iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max models come with the new Apple A17 Pro processor, a significant upgrade over last year’s A16 Bionic. Manufactured using an industry-first 3nm fabrication process, it offers a noticeable improvement from the 4nm process used in the A16 Bionic and many premium Android smartphones.
The processor retains its six-core architecture, with two high-performance cores now clocked at 3.78 GHz, delivering a 10 percent increase in raw performance compared to the previous processor. The new Apple-designed six-core GPU boasts a 20 percent performance boost and supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, enhancing the gaming experience for high-end AAA titles.
RAM has been increased to 8GB from last year’s 6GB, providing better multitasking capabilities. The new processor also supports USB 3.2 Gen 2, offering much higher transfer speeds (up to 10Gbps) than those available on the standard iPhone 15 models. This feature is particularly useful for content creators and videographers who shoot in ProRes, allowing them to save large video files directly to an external SSD.
However, there’s a catch. The braided cable included in the box only supports USB 2.0 speeds, so you’ll need to purchase a separate cable to take advantage of USB 3.0 speeds for transferring large video files.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max also includes DisplayPort support, enabling users to plug in a supported cable and mirror 4K HDR video to a compatible monitor or TV.
While Apple’s website presents the iPhone 15 Pro Max as a flawless marvel, a closer inspection reveals a fine panel gap where the rear glass screen meets the titanium frame. This minor gap allows you to feel the sharp edges of the titanium frame when holding the phone. Interestingly, the alignment with the display’s glass screen is perfect, so you won’t feel any sharp edges while swiping inwards or outwards when using the phone’s interface. The long-term impact of this fine gap on the phone’s IP68 rating is uncertain, but for a device priced at nearly Rs. 2,00,000, this is a bit disappointing.
The new Action Button also falls short in terms of finish. It feels rough to the touch, making it uncomfortable to use. This is quite surprising, as poor build quality is not something commonly associated with high-end phones costing upwards of Rs. 80,000.
Apple’s FineWoven Case and FinWoven Wallet are MagSafe accessories that align with the company’s environmental goals. However, they may not become the preferred choice for many users this year. Made from “durable micro-twill” material, the case is supposed to have a “soft, suede-like feel,” but it doesn’t. It feels rough and lacks the luxurious or premium feel of many leather cases available online. Additionally, the cutouts on the case don’t match well with some of Apple’s own accessories, and the edges are sharp, making the case uncomfortable to hold.
The new MagSafe Wallet, while maintaining a good grip when mounted onto the FineWoven case, does not hold as tightly when directly snapped onto the phone. This inconsistency can be frustrating for users who expect seamless functionality from their accessories.
Battery Life and Charging
Thankfully, Apple did not reduce the Pro Max’s battery capacity, keeping its more power-efficient processor in mind. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 4,441mAh battery, which supports up to 20W wired charging using a compatible adapter, 15W using a MagSafe wireless charger, and 7.5W wireless charging with a standard Qi-compatible charger.
The battery performance is impressive, easily lasting a day and a half with casual usage, which includes an hour of gaming. Playing AAA gaming titles depletes the battery faster, so it’s advisable to keep the phone plugged in during such sessions. On regular workdays, the phone ended with about 40-45 percent battery remaining, but on busier days with constant usage, it can deplete to around 20 percent. Disabling the Always-on display mode can extend battery life by an additional hour or two.
Wired charging remains similar to last year. Using a 65W GaN charger, the iPhone 15 Pro Max charged to 53 percent in 30 minutes and 83 percent in an hour, completing a full charge in about two hours. This is slower compared to most Android flagships, but it’s consistent with Apple’s previous charging speeds.
Camera Performance
Unlike Google’s Pixel 8 Pro, which features a majorly overhauled rear camera this year, Apple has only replaced its 12-megapixel telephoto camera with a new 12-megapixel telephoto periscopic zoom camera system with 5X optical zoom. The primary camera now shoots at 24 megapixels by default, with an option to shoot 12-megapixel photos if preferred. For this review, all samples were captured at 24 megapixels. The phone can also shoot at 48 megapixels, mainly for ProRAW or ProRAW Max, which results in larger files that require additional tweaking.
The other cameras remain unchanged, with improvements in image quality mainly due to the new processor and updated algorithms. Despite these enhancements, Apple still does not offer Pro camera controls on its Pro models, which is a missed opportunity considering the capabilities of the device.
A new setting in the Camera section of the Settings app allows for locking white balance while recording video. This feature sets the white balance based on the scene in the first frame, which is useful as Apple’s metering and white balance can be inconsistent. Enthusiasts and professionals often prefer third-party apps for manual control, but this new setting is a step in the right direction.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers impressive performance, topping synthetic benchmark charts with a score of 16,66,1205 in AnTuTu and strong Geekbench scores of 2,938 (single-core) and 7,116 (multi-core). GFXBench scores were equally impressive, with 59fps, 60fps, and 59fps in the T-Rex, Manhattan 3.1, and Car Chase test suites, respectively.
High-end gaming titles like Capcom’s Resident Evil Village run smoothly, although the limited screen space and numerous controls make it better suited for play with a Bluetooth controller. The phone’s performance in regular gaming titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9: Legends was flawless, with no heating issues and smooth gameplay.
Regular software usage was smooth overall, but there were some instances of heating during indoor use. The phone heats up quickly when used outdoors or when operating the camera for extended periods. Despite this, there were no slowdowns or app crashes. iOS 17.0.3 resolved most of the previously reported heating issues, but the phone can still get warm when browsing Instagram or using the Uber app with mobile data.
The 6.7-inch LTPO XDR OLED display remains similar to the previous model, with accurate, natural-looking colors, a 120Hz refresh rate, and excellent touch sampling for gaming. The Always-on display mode is exclusive to the recent Pro models, adding to their appeal.
Since I had the iPhone 14 Pro, I decided to compare the quality between the new and old models. The iPhone 15 Pro’s primary camera stands out with higher resolution images and improved white balance, which was a major issue for me with the iPhone 14 Pro, especially compared to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The iPhone 15 Pro produces more accurate colors and better detail in low light. However, Apple’s contrast-heavy approach still loses some shadow details.
The ultra-wide camera has seen improvements in detail, with less noise in daylight, avoiding the over-processed look of the iPhone 14 Pro. There is still noticeable purple fringing in brighter areas. In low light, the results are similar to the iPhone 14 Pro, with limited detail and softness. Macro photos remain excellent with slightly better colors than before.
Apple’s new tetraprism design and 3D sensor shift OIS in the iPhone 15 Pro provide better stability at higher zoom levels. The 5X optical zoom photos are sharp and detailed, outperforming the iPhone 14 Pro’s 3X optical zoom. However, the 15 Pro Max shows issues at 3X zoom, with slightly blurry images. At 10X, images remain sharp and usable, but at 25X, the details are smudged. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s zoom capability is best up to 10X.
In low light with Night mode, the primary sensor of the iPhone 15 Pro Max performs well at 1X but loses quality at 3X. At 5X, image quality improves significantly, despite some noise and reduced detail, which is a solid improvement over the iPhone 14 Pro.
Selfies have better dynamic range, resulting in more detailed backgrounds. The new iPhone also allows for full-frame selfies with depth data for applying bokeh in post-editing. Low-light selfies have less noise but remain soft. Daylight portrait selfies show accurate skin tones, detail, and edge detection, showcasing Apple’s impressive telephoto camera.
Video quality is similar to the iPhone 14 Pro, though I preferred the 14 Pro’s stabilization. Low-light video is good, with low noise and proper exposure.
iPhone 15 Pro Max Review: Verdict With rising iPhone prices and the introduction of a new tier in the ‘Pro’ segment, the iPhone seems to be losing value. However, considering the lighter design, improved primary camera, impressive telephoto camera, and the powerful new processor, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is worth the upgrade despite its higher price, even if you own the iPhone 14 Pro.
Apple’s pitch for the iPhone Pro has shifted this year. It’s not just for “Pros” or videographers seeking the best imaging quality from a mobile phone. The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers AAA gaming, a lighter design, better battery life, improved zoom, and a customizable Action Button, making it appealing to the average consumer who might otherwise choose a regular iPhone 15 Plus.
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