iPhone 15 Pro Max

With more powerful specs, a better zoom and a sleeker design, Tom's Guide's Mark Spoonauer explains why the new Pro Max is a big step forward

- Mark Spoonauer

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the iPhone I've been waiting for. I spent some time with it at the Apple event, and came away impressed with the potential of the new A17 Pro chip and the versatility of the camera system. The biggest upgrade for me is the new 5x telephoto zoom, but the most pleasantly surprising thing is how this flagship feels in your hand.

Thanks to the new titanium design, Apple has shrunk the weight from 241g on the iPhone 14 Pro Max to just 221g here. And it makes a substantial difference when holding this device. In fact, it's so light you might decide to upgrade from the 6.1-inch Pro to get the Pro Max's bigger screen.

The titanium bands also have a cool brushed metal look to them, as opposed to the more ostentatious (and smudge prone) stainless steel side rails on the previous Pro Max. Plus, it sports the thinnest borders yet on an iPhone, so the 6.7-inch display seems even more immersive.

The Pro Max ditches the mute switch on previous iPhones for the new Action button on the left side. It uses haptics to tell you when you've silenced the phone with a long press, but you can perform all sorts of other shortcuts. In the settings menu you can program what it does, including launching the camera, the flashlight, voice recorder and magnifier. My only complaint is that you can't map more than one shortcut at a time; for example, why not launch the camera with one press and flashlight with a double press?