iPhone 16 Pro Max Review: Big Screen, Big Hype... Big Problems Too?

Many people are thinking about upgrading to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. 

Apple's latest top phone, released in September 2024, promises the biggest screen ever on an iPhone, amazing battery life, and a powerful A18 Pro chip made for the popular Apple Intelligence features. 

Choosing a new phone, especially an expensive one like this, can be confusing.

You often hear in ads and news that the new Pro Max is automatically the best – the perfect iPhone experience money can buy.

But if you look closer, there are real issues. Charging is still very slow, there's a new Camera button that not everyone likes, and the AI system (Apple Intelligence) is still not complete even now (May 2025). 

These problems might make people think twice, and perhaps last year's model or even a phone from another brand could be a smarter choice.

This review combines information from many real user tests and expert opinions to give a fair view – showing both the good and the bad parts.

Design and Screen: Big, Beautiful... But Big!

For those who love big screens for watching videos or playing games, the 16 Pro Max has the biggest ever on an iPhone: a huge 6.9 inches. It looks amazing because the borders (edges) are super thin – great design work by Apple.

It still uses strong Titanium on the sides and tougher Ceramic Shield glass on the front. It’s also very water-resistant (IP68). 

We can all agree the screen quality is excellent: colors look great, it’s super smooth (thanks to 1-120Hz ProMotion), and a new feature lets the screen get very dim (1 nit) which is nice for eyes at night.

However, because the screen is so big, the phone itself is bigger and slightly heavier than last year's Pro Max. 

For those with small hands or who prefer using their phone one-handed, this size might be a real problem. It feels premium, but "big" is the key word here.

Speed and Power: Super Fast for Almost Anything

For users needing a phone that feels fast for apps, games, and multitasking, the A18 Pro chip inside is incredibly powerful. 

Apple says it’s much faster than the previous chip, and tests confirm it's one of the fastest phone chips available.

This chip was specially made for "Apple Intelligence" (AI features). It has special parts to handle AI tasks right on the phone, which Apple says helps keep personal information private. It also has 8GB of RAM (memory) and better cooling.

So yes, it’s super fast now and should stay fast for years, easily handling heavy use and future updates. No worries about speed here.

Cameras: Great Photos, Amazing Videos

For users to whom taking great photos and videos is important, Apple cameras are known for being reliable and easy to use.

The main camera (48MP) is faster. The Ultra Wide camera also got a big upgrade (now 48MP), making low-light and close-up (macro) shots look better. 

Good news: the excellent 5x optical zoom lens (great for far-away shots) is now on both the Pro and Pro Max models, not just the Max like last year.

Photos generally look great with natural colors, and it takes pictures quickly. Videos are where the iPhone really shines – it can shoot amazing-quality 4K video (Dolby Vision HDR) that looks incredibly smooth (up to 120fps). It also has many features for serious video shooters (ProRes, Log) and fun modes like Cinematic and Action Mode. 

We often call the iPhone's video quality the best you can get on a phone.

While competitors might offer even longer zoom, the iPhone camera system is excellent overall and very consistent.

That New Camera Control Button: Good Idea or Bad Design?

Apple added a new touch-sensitive button on the side just for the camera. It allows users to open the camera fast, swipe to zoom, or lightly press to lock focus.

But here’s the problem: many users and reviewers find it awkward. Some say its position is too low, it’s too easy to accidentally swipe and change settings, and it’s hard to learn the different presses and swipes. It can be especially tricky to use with one hand. 

Some key functions weren't even available when the phone first came out, being added later via software updates.

Users might like it if they take lots of landscape photos with two hands, but many people find it more annoying than helpful. It’s definitely something to be aware of.

For those who hate their phone dying before the end of the day, the 16 Pro Max offers fantastic battery life. 

Thanks to the efficient chip and a bigger battery, it easily lasts all day, even with heavy use. Tests show it's one of the very best phones for battery life.This is a huge plus.

BUT... charging it back up is still painfully slow. Wired charging takes about two hours for a full charge. Many cheaper Android phones charge much, much faster. This is a big complaint every year, and Apple hasn't fixed it.

Wireless charging (MagSafe) is faster now (25W), which helps a bit. Apple might be doing this slow charging to protect the battery long-term, but it’s very inconvenient compared to the competition.

Apple Intelligence (AI): Cool Ideas, But Still Waiting... 

Regarding smart AI features, Apple Intelligence aims to help with writing, editing photos, summarizing things, and making Siri smarter, all while focusing on privacy.

The problem is, it's taking a long time to arrive fully. When the phone launched, many AI features weren't ready or only worked in US English. 

Even now (May 2025), some key promised features (like Siri understanding users better across apps) are still not here and might only come later this year or next year.

So, while the idea of Apple Intelligence is good, users are buying a phone where the full software potential isn't realized yet. The features that are available are useful sometimes, but it’s not the game-changer Apple promised at launch... at least, not yet.

Competitors and Price: Is It Really the Best Value?

This phone is very expensive. Is it worth the high price compared to others?

 * vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: The 16 Pro Max has a bigger screen, slightly faster chip, better battery, and better Ultra Wide camera. But the 15 Pro Max is still very good, also has Apple Intelligence (most of it), doesn't have the potentially annoying Camera button, and might be cheaper now. The upgrade might not feel huge.

 * vs. Android (Samsung S25 Ultra / Google Pixel 9 Pro XL): The iPhone often has better video and works seamlessly with other Apple products. But top Android phones usually have much faster charging, sometimes more camera zoom options, and different features (like Samsung's S Pen) that users might prefer.

Who SHOULD Buy the iPhone 16 Pro Max?

After looking at everything – the good and the bad – here’s the honest advice:

Buy the iPhone 16 Pro Max IF:

 * You absolutely must have the biggest possible iPhone screen.

 * Getting the longest possible battery life is your #1 priority.

 * You shoot a lot of video and want the best quality and features.

 * You have an iPhone 13 Pro or older, and you're ready for a big upgrade.

 * You are deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPad, Watch).

 * You are patient and okay with waiting for Apple Intelligence features to fully arrive.

Think TWICE or Look Elsewhere IF:

 * Fast charging is really important to you (this phone is SLOW).

 * You often use your phone one-handed (the size and Camera button might be annoying).

 * You want the most camera zoom possible (some competitors offer more).

 * You have the iPhone 15 Pro Max (the upgrade might not feel worth the high cost).

 * You want all the advertised AI features working perfectly right now.

 * Your budget is tight (it's very expensive).

In the end, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a powerful phone with an amazing screen and incredible battery life, showing Apple's quality. But it's not perfect. Users should weigh the pros against the real cons – especially the slow charging and unfinished AI – and decide if it fits their needs and budget best.