The iPhone 15 Pro Max represents Apple’s efforts to meet the ever-increasing expectations of users and competitors. While it features a more powerful processor, a titanium build, an action button instead of a ring mode toggle, and camera updates, these changes are more like evolutions than a full-blown revolution. The new features can be categorized into major updates, minor improvements, and unavoidable changes, which help differentiate the iPhone 15 from the iPhone 15 Plus.
iPhone 15 Pro Max User Review
The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s evolution can be seen as a pivotal moment, similar to the iPhone X’s release in 2017, marking a decade of innovation. The weight reduction resulting from the use of different metals is a significant improvement, but camera improvements and a brighter display are also noteworthy. The USB-C transition is necessary, but it’s not a game-changer.
However, the price increase of the iPhone 15 Pro Max should be considered when weighing the benefits of these features. The phone costs ₹1,59,900 for 256GB, ₹1,79,900 for 512GB, or ₹1,99,900 for 1TB, which is a significant increase from last year’s entry price point of ₹1,39,900.
Despite the higher price, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has several improvements over its predecessor. It’s 19 grams lighter, making it more ergonomic and comfortable to hold. The borders around the display are thinner, giving it a sleeker look. However, the titanium build doesn’t make it more scratch-resistant, so a case is still recommended for protection.
Overall, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is an evolution rather than a revolution, but it still represents a substantial step forward.
One of the new design elements in the iPhone 15 is the Action Button, which replaces the toggle for switching between ring and silent modes. Although it may take some time to get used to, the enhanced versatility is a plus. Pressing and holding the button still allows for switching between modes, but it can now be customized for other tasks such as turning on the flashlight, opening the camera app, or using the upcoming Translate feature. However, the button can only be configured for one action and does not offer the option for a long press or double press. This change was implemented due to regulations from the European Union.
All four models of the iPhone 15 now come with USB-C, thanks to the EU regulations. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro phones, however, have the faster standard and can achieve data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps). This is especially useful when recording ProRes videos at 4K 60fps directly to external storage, making it an innovative use case that is likely to be used extensively. The ability to shoot cinematic releases on iPhones also adds to its appeal. The USB-C port can also reverse charge other USB-C devices at 4.5 watts of power, making it useful for charging smartwatches or wireless earbuds.
Although there is no power adapter included in the box, this is a common trend in the industry that many Android phones have followed as well. However, Apple does include a woven charging cable. It is worth noting that this cable does not support 10Gbps, so a faster cable is necessary for “pro” use cases such as writing camera recordings to external solid-state drives. This is a bit of a drawback since the iPhone 15 Pro is not a budget phone.
A question that arose was whether the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max can be connected to an external display, such as a TV, for video output. The answer is a resounding yes. Apart from AirPlay, it can support up to 4K resolution with HDR (high-dynamic range) using a USB-C to HDMI cable. However, it is important to choose a cable that can support 3840 x 2160 resolution at 60Hz and HDR by default. Many older third-party adapters may not work as well as expected.
The iPhone 15’s processor is now the A17 Pro chip instead of the A16 Bionic. This change has resulted in a 10% faster CPU and 20% faster graphics than its predecessor and has pushed performance benchmarks even further.
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Several popular console gaming titles, such as Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 4, and Death Stranding, are set to arrive on the iPhone later this year. Assassin’s Creed Mirage will also be available in the first half of 2024. Pairing a game controller with the iPhone and connecting it to a 4K TV could unlock even more potential. Alternatively, accessories like Backbone One can enhance the mobile gaming experience.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts improved battery life, returning with approximately 30% battery at the end of a typical workday after 6 hours and 15 minutes of screen time. However, battery life may vary depending on screen brightness, camera usage, and gaming. Additionally, while some heating on the back panel is apparent at times, no specific trend has been identified. The A17 Pro chip may struggle during certain activities, but not during others.
Apple has boosted the wired charging speeds on the iPhone 15 Pro Max to 27 watts, though this pales in comparison to some Android phones that can juice up at triple-digit speeds. Using a 30-watt charger could save some time.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers 256GB storage as the starting point, while the iPhone 15 Pro has 128GB as the entry spec. This may seem perplexing, considering that more creators are expected to use the two Pro phones and the updated camera has new features that require more storage. The new 5x telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max replaces the 3x zoom from last year’s model, offering more versatility when shooting subjects at a distance, and can be used in portrait mode as well.
When it comes to shooting photos with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, there are several manual focal length options available in addition to optical zoom and up to 25x digital zoom. These options include 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm, which can be selected by tapping on the 1x zoom option (although it may not be the easiest to locate). It’s important to note that these options use a new image processing pipeline and are not to be confused with digital zoom. They are roughly equivalent to 1x, 1.2x, and 1.5x zoom levels.
The default photo resolution on the iPhone 15 Pro Max has been increased from 12 megapixels to 24 megapixels, with improvements in pixel binning. This results in an overall increase in image size from 2MB to 3MB per photo. The improvements also include sharper highlights, better dynamic range, and reduced lens flare. However, some photos may still have rogue green dots, especially if there is a light source facing the camera.
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While Android phone users may claim to have had access to a wider USB-C ecosystem and optical zoom for longer, many believe that Apple does it better. The 5x zoom photos taken with the iPhone 15 Pro Max capture more details than those taken with the Google Pixel, and are on par with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (which takes the lead with 10x zoom).
The era of annual smartphone revolutions seems to be over, and instead, we are seeing incremental improvements and different approaches with each new release. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is no exception, and Apple is hoping that its exclusivity will make it more appealing. For anyone upgrading from an iPhone earlier than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, this will be a significant improvement. The shift towards USB-C may also unlock new possibilities, such as improved gaming.
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