I returned my iPhone 16 Pro Max purchased on launch day
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is a great phone. A phone call. It’s spectacular. As Apple says, This is the most powerful iPhone they have launched to date. And they are right. HAS the best battery on an iPhone (we are talking about the best autonomy), the best camera (and even if there is a lot of debate because you have to make certain adjustments to have its full potential, the 48Mpx etc., I will not go into details); it has the best screen (now larger and with fewer frames) and it has the best colors and materials (Many of you will disagree here because you like one color more than another, but I’ll give you my point of view).
However, despite all this, The WOW effect and the feeling of having renewed my device did not last more than 3 hourswhich took about for it to download the minimum to be able to use it as my primary iPhone, transferring data from my old (but current) iPhone 15 Pro Max. And yes, Maybe that’s the problem, coming from an iPhone 15 Pro Max.
When I installed the typical elements to be able to leave the house: WhatsApp, settings and nothing else, I started using the iPhone 16 Pro Max as my shiny new primary device. A true marvel. I like. The screen is slightly larger (and it shows), the bezels are narrower, the Desert Titanium marked a change compared to the Natural Titanium of the 15 Pro Max and the camera and battery capacities have takes a leap from the previous one. . However, from that moment on, I felt like I had the same iPhone as last year.. I picked it up again and I had the impression that it hadn’t changed. The excitement of renewing my iPhone only lasted a few hours (after purchase, the whole process of booking, going to buy it, etc. I’m excluding it from here, because ultimately we all know that the process of waiting for something is more exciting than actually live it or have it). Nevertheless, I gave it a chance during these two weeks
Design
Let’s say design is the main thing that makes you feel like you’re switching devices. Here I include the the colors, the materials and the screen itself.
In this case and as I already mentioned, This year’s 6.9-inch screen is visible and you feel that the phone is bigger and the screen is wider. I like it, I really like it. I have a knack for handling large devices, so the Pro Max is my ideal size. Frames are noticeably narrower and this is also appreciated when looking at the iPhone and feeling like the screen is “flying” in front of you.
On the other hand, Desert Titanium is the color of this yearsomething that I always like to try (after a 14 Pro Max Purple and a 15 Pro Max Titanium Natural, I wanted to go back to the gold that I haven’t had since the 6 or the XS that I have in secondary for a certain time). The back is whitish and the sides are less garish thanks to the matt Titaniumnot like in the XS where the steel made it more shiny and “eye-catching”. Also, having level 5 titanium on the sides in a polished and matte way is something I prefer over the shiny sides of the 14 back Pro.
However, I have the 15 Pro Max in Natural Titanium. The difference between having one in hand and the other is not very noticeable beyond the first few in which you get used to the new size.. On the other hand, I think Natural Titanium is the prettiest color they’ve ever released, so going to 16 for this aspect, it didn’t end up compensating me. It felt like I had the same thing in a slightly different color (looking at it from the front, not even that and if you’re one of those who uses a cover, the change would be even less).
Camera and capture button
If you already owned the camera of a 15 Pro Max, you will surely understand this experience.
Are there any changes? Yes, of course there is. The iPhone 16 Pro Max camera is (too) good and even better if we talk about non-average users. What do I mean? that 48Mpx wide-angle photos, 4K recording at 120fps or the improved main lens (with configuration) are not used by everyone at all times. Open the camera and take the photo. Probably 90% of your photos are like this (and I’m a big part of that).
With this and using the camera, the change is not surprising in 90% of my photos because, even if I like taking photos or recording videos, I don’t even devote myself to publishing them elsewhere than on classic social networks (and we already know how the compression of these works…) or to make a video from time to time on the channel and let some of you watch it. But no, I’m not MKDBH and the quality of what I do isn’t so brutal that I need to record in 4K at 120fps 99% of my time.
The new thing that I liked the most were the styles or filters. They give incredible versatility to the camera, depending on how you like to take your photos with cooler, warmer, darker, lighter tones… and all with a very simple and straightforward interface, seeing the result before taking the photo. Image processing that is undoubtedly something I will miss when returning from the 16 Pro Max.
Plus, if we’re talking about another star change this year, the capture button, I didn’t get used to it. I just don’t see the end of it. This doesn’t improve my experience using the camera to navigate the interface. Using zoom with the capture button is almost impossible (you’ll need both hands on the phone) if you want stable video. It is (very) useful for me only to open the camera and, on certain occasions, take the photo. Why sometimes? because quite simply not made for portrait mode. I have to change the way I hold the iPhone for a few seconds to force myself to take the photo with the capture button. And no, it doesn’t feel agile or something I’m willing to go through just to use the button.
I understand its purpose and functionality. And I’m 100% sure that when Apple Intelligence is here, opening the camera and looking at the things we capture with the camera in real time will be the bomb. But we are not there yet… not at least until 2025. And what happens almost on these dates? that we are probably close to the iPhone 17.
That’s why no, the camera improvement isn’t worth it for me for 90% of my life coming from a 15 Pro Max and the capture button doesn’t change my life enough to consider a change just for that.
Battery
Here we enter a swampy area. Everyone uses the iPhone in their own way. The battery will last more or less even with the same screen hours. I tell you my experience.
The battery is a beast. Yeah. You start to notice this 2-3 days after the update required by iOS 18 has been installed and your entire copy of iCloud has been downloaded and installed correctly. We must keep in mind that the battery is new and there fore will last longer. Last year, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it had two days of battery life in some cases. A day and a half at least.
The battery of the iPhone 16 Pro Max must be better, with more autonomy and capacity for the simple fact that, when Apple Intelligence arrives, it will have to maintain the autonomy that a 15 Pro Max had until now. Obviously now with equal tasks, it’s improving, but for me it doesn’t mean anything (or rather a lot) to have an autonomy of a day and a half and not one, which is currently what the 15 Pro Max gives me .
I’m already in the habit of charging my iPhone at night. and it’s better for me than midday or fast charging at any other time… so comparing the battery the 16 Pro Max gives me vs the 15 Pro Max, It doesn’t improve my habits. It makes no difference to me, at the moment and without Apple Intelligence.
iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence
Finally, I wanted to briefly touch on iOS 18 because Apple is leaving some specific features from the latest iOS for the latest model. This year, there’s nothing notable (if anything) that the 15 Pro Max can’t do beyond in-camera filters.. The “exclusive” of the iPhone 16 is Apple Intelligence and it’s not whether you compare it with an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max that will also be able to make it work.
So, the biggest new feature of the iPhone 16 Pro Max that I can also have (when it arrives) on my iPhone 15 Pro Max. We assume this will continue until 2025, so there won’t be much left for an iPhone 17 where from the start we can have a better battery, Apple Intelligence and probably new AI camera features with an improved camera compared to the 16 (and more compared to the 15 Pro Max).
Neither iOS 18 nor Apple Intelligencewho change their device this year with the customization possibilities and thus feel that it is different with the integration of Apple Intelligence, There will be differentials this year between the 16 Pro Max and the 15 Pro Max and if they are, it will only be a matter of a few months because AI is not available NOW.
Conclusion
For all these reasons, plus the feeling in my hand that the device is (almost) the same, I decided to return my iPhone 16 Pro Max and keep the iPhone 15 Pro Max. But BE CAREFUL, I would like to emphasize at all times that It’s because I’m coming from a 15 Pro Max and not a previous model.
I recommend and think it’s worth it to upgrade from a 14 Pro Max upside down to a 16 Pro Maxwhere you will notice that it is something different. You will notice the weight, you will notice the materials, you will notice the colors, you will notice the battery and the heater (here the 2 p.m. has suffered a lot), you will have the possibility of have Apple Intelligence, you will have USB-C and you will have an iPhone for the next 4 years if you want to keep it without question.
This is the first time this has happened to me with an iPhone. And I’m the first one who can’t wait to launch the 17 Pro Max right now and be in the virtual queue to book and go to the store to feel like I’m changing devices again. The excitement over a new iPhone will never end. This year has just been… different and felt like it was worth enduring.
My impressions, my feeling… I still wanted to share it knowing that many of you have made this same update and that it was worth it. Because we don’t all use iPhone the same way.
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