Launch report · Apple
iPhone 16 Pro Max: The most refined Pro Max yet — and the one to beat for video.
SpecEagle Editorial·Sep 2024·$1,199·Score 91/100
Two generations of bigger sensors, refined haptics, and titanium have made the Pro Max what it should have been at launch. The A18 Pro pulls ahead on sustained loads; Apple Intelligence covers the AI-feature gap on paper. The two weak points — charging speed and entry pricing — are the same ones you would have flagged a year ago.
Key specs at launch
Display
6.9" LTPO OLED
Chipset
Apple A18 Pro
Memory
8 GB · 256 GB
Main cam
48 MP · f/1.78
Battery
4,685 mAh
Weight
227 g
What stands out
- Best-in-class video stabilization and Dolby Vision capture.
- Sustained gaming performance ahead of every Android peer.
- Six-plus years of major OS updates with day-one global rollout.
- Compact for a 6.9" device — titanium frame keeps weight reasonable.
What to watch
- ~27 W wired charging trails Android peers by a wide margin.
- Only 8 GB RAM — competitors ship 12 GB at the same tier.
- No periscope telephoto; 5× optical reach is the ceiling.
- Starting price stayed flat — no cheaper entry point.
The phone it has to beat
Pixel 10 Pro XL
$1,199 · score 92/100