Apple's latest, most expensive, best iPhone is better than last year's model. It is a little lighter, a little faster, a little more convenient, and has a slightly better camera.
And yet it's hard not to feel decidedly underwhelmed. After days of use and a battery of tests, I can't help but feel bored with it. All the improvements are welcome, but they're largely uninspired.
It's as if Apple is out of ideas, or the iPhone is just too important to take any risks with, or all the company's best efforts have been spent working on Apple Vision Pro (fave.co/40wNica).
The best case one can make for the latest iPhone is that it's an iPhone-it runs iOS, it runs iPhone apps, it's fairly privacy-minded, and it works great with all your other Apple products and services. But you can say that of every modern iPhone, so why choose this one?
Because, though it's somewhat uninspired, it's still the best iPhone. And if you want the best iPhone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is it.
DESIGN AND BUILD
The first thing you'll notice upon picking up an iPhone 15 Pro Max (or the regular Pro model) is how much lighter it feels than previous Pro phones. Apple's switch from stainless steel to titanium for the outer frame has only reduced weight by about 10 percent, but all that weight comes from the outer edges, so it seems like an even bigger weight reduction.
This doesn't really make it a light phone, mind you. Other premium smartphones of this size - the Pixel 7 Pro and the Galaxy S23+, for example - have been lighter than the iPhone Pro Max models for some time, and this change brings Apple in line with them. It's welcome, but not revolutionary or even a competitive advantage.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Mac 911
Solutions to your most vexing Mac problems.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Great-sounding headphones that support aptX
B&W's new top-of-the-range Bluetooth earbuds sound great and include an innovative smart case that supports aptX technology for high-quality audio-even on Apple devices.
AirPods versus AirPods Pro: How they compare
Don't know whether to buy the AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with ANC, or AirPods Pro 2? Here's how they stack up.
Apple's true hit of 2024 isn't the iPhone 16
Apple's unsung hero of the fall is the AirPods 4.
Ugreen Revodok Pro 210: Decent speeds at a nice price
A hub for users who don't need top performance from their connections.
Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger: Clever and compact
Anker proves that with a clever design, you can also achieve compact dimensions suitable for traveling.
Wombat Willow: A solid typing tool with some quirks
This isn't a keyboard that lets you simply plug in and go-you need to read the manual.
pdfFiller: An overpriced, half-baked PDF editor for macOS
A basic PDF editor that doesn't fulfill its promises and costs too much.
iPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS REVIEW: THE PHONE FOR EVERYONE CREEPS INTO PRO TERRITORY
APPLE'S BEST ALL-AROUND PHONE IS BETTER AND ALL-AROUNDER.
APPLE WATCH SERIES 10 REVIEW: MODEST IMPROVEMENTS TO A PROVEN FORMULA
IF YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A BIG APPLE WATCH REVAMP, THIS ISN'T IT, BUT IT'S STILL THE BEST SMARTWATCH AROUND.
