IPhone 13 Pro Max – Detailed Review

How does the iPhone 13 Pro Max stack up against the other iPhone 13 models? The iPhone 13 Pro Max is Apple’s largest flagship device.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is what?
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is the most technologically advanced iPhone model ever, even though both iPhone 13 Pro versions are technically considered flagships in terms of both specs and pricing.
It is the larger and more expensive of the two “professional” devices that Apple unveiled at its launch event in September 2021. It is the only smartphone in the most recent lineup that starts at over a grand and has a massive 6.7-inch screen. This results in it being more than half an inch larger and costing at least £100 more than the comparable iPhone 13 Pro.
The Pro Max’s specifications are essentially identical to those of the iPhone 12 Pro Max from the prior year. It sports the same Super Retina XDR OLED panel, which is shielded by Ceramic Shield technology and is waterproof to IP68 standards for 30 minutes. iOS 15 is the most recent version of Apple’s operating system, which powers the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The A15 Bionic chip and the Pro camera configuration seen in the iPhone 13 Pro Max make a number of upgrades to this program possible. Share Play, Live Text, and Cinematic Mode, to name a few.
The A15 Bionic Processor, which has a 16-core Neural Engine, a 6-core CPU, and a 5-core GPU, is Apple’s “fastest, most efficient” processor. According to Apple, this not only makes the phone very quick and responsive but also increases battery life on the iPhone 13 Pro Max to up to 28 hours. Further information about these facts can be found in the battery section below.
The 12MP camera system on the back of the iPhone 13 Pro Max combines a Telephoto lens with a Wide and Ultra-Wide sensor. This means that the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the smaller 13 Pro both now provide a Macro Mode, enabling you to shoot shots of up-close things on an iPhone in a way that has never been possible before. A 12MP True Depth selfie camera is located on the front of the 13 Pro Max. This module, along with the FaceID module, are all contained in a notch that protrudes from the top of the display.
The function of the iPhone 13 Pro Max
- provides cutting-edge capabilities for video and photography, including a macro mode, photographic styles, and 4K video.
- Battery life is increased by ProMotion technology’s automated switching between ideal screen refresh rates.
- Hardware, apps, and online accounts can all be unlocked with FaceID.
- High-end gaming, enhanced multitasking, and augmented reality are all possible with the A15 Bionic Chip, which is driven by a 16-core Neural Engine.
- New Focus features, Live Text, updated notifications, Apple Maps, and more are included in iOS 15.
- The Apple TV app, which serves as a remote control for Apple TV streaming devices, a library for video content purchased from the iTunes store, and a central location to locate and view Apple TV Plus programs, allows users to stream media (for subscribers)
- Millions of apps, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, All 4, ITV Hub, SkyGo, and Disney+, are available via the Apple App Store.
- when watching videos, up to 28 hours, or when listening to audio, up to 95 hours.
- Together with support for common Qi wireless charging hardware, MagSafe compatibility offers peak power wireless charging of up to 15W.
- backing for 5G (when available)
- When 5G speeds are not required, Smart Data mode automatically switches the iPhone to 4G to conserve battery life.
Specs of the iPhone 13 Pro Max
In terms of hardware, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR panel display that is protected by Ceramic Shield technology, according to Apple, giving the phone four times the drop protection.
With new Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto sensors that catch more light than older iPhones, the updated Pro camera system is even better suited to take pictures in low light. The iPhone 13 Pro Max now has a 2 cm minimum focus distance to capture even the smallest details thanks to the introduction of Macro Mode and the new Ultra Wide sensor.
The enhanced Telephoto lens, meanwhile, provides more optical and digital zoom choices and stabilizes videos and photos with more sophisticated sensor-shift optical image stabilization.
Both the front-facing and back-facing cameras work with Apple’s new Cinematic Mode and Photographic Styles, which are intended to give pictures and films a more polished appearance. As comparison to last year’s notch, the FaceID sensor, which is integrated into the True Depth camera on the front, now occupies less screen real estate.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max expands on the storage options offered by last year’s range, allowing you to choose between Pro models with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage. These storage options can still not be physically expanded, therefore purchasing additional hardware is the only method to enhance the built-in capacity.
Alternately, you may purchase a less expensive phone and add more money for iCloud storage. When you sign up for iCloud, Apple cushions the impact a little by providing you 5GB of extra storage, but it’s still a headache. iCloud options range in price from 79p per month for an additional 50GB to £6.99 for 2TB, so you’ll need to consider which is most economical over time.
iOS 15, the newest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, powers the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The Live Text feature in iOS 15 is our favorite new addition since it allows you to copy text from inside of photographs. This may seem unimportant, yet it has frequently saved us. Even for the relatively brief time we’ve had this phone. The most recent operating system also has updated notifications and Apple apps, as well as new FaceTime features that let you share movies, music, or anything else that’s on your screen. New Focus features are also included to help you focus when working, resting, or chatting with friends.
Speaking of Apple apps, the iPhone 13 Pro Max comes pre-loaded with a ton of them. The Camera, Photographs, Health, Messages, Mail, Music, Wallet, Safari, Maps, Siri, Calendar, iTunes Store, App Store, Notes, News, Weather, Reminders, Stocks, Calculator, Voice Memos, and more are among these. iMovie, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, GarageBand, the Apple Store, the iTunes Remote, and Clips are all additional free applications. When combined with the operating system files, these apps use up 15.1GB of storage space, but if you don’t need them all, they are simple (if time-consuming) to remove.
Apple claims the battery life of the iPhone 13 Pro Max will be up to eight hours longer than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, and no, that is not a typo. This new software has been optimized to operate with the upgraded hardware. This increases from 75 to 95 hours when used for audio-only content. Further information is provided in the Batteries section below.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max style
For many people, spending this much money on a phone will serve more as a status statement than a necessity. As a result, the iPhone 13 Pro differs significantly in appearance from the more affordable iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 small devices.
The Pro variants are covered with an aluminum coating rather than glass. This gives them a more premium feel to the touch in addition to giving them a more substantial and robust feel.
In contrast to the pinks, reds, and “starlight white” of the more affordable range, the Pro versions are available in fewer and less daring color combinations, including slightly subdued greys, golds, blues, and silvers. But rather of becoming monotonous, it enhances the luxury and businesslike appearance. If you’re going to buy anything other than a transparent case, this is essentially a moot point, but it’s still important to be aware of.
More of the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s enormous screen is visible thanks to a 20% lower notch than on prior models, which applies to the full iPhone 13 line.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is somewhat thicker overall than the iPhone 12 Pro Max from the previous year, but the change is negligible—the depth increased by just 0.1mm. You can feel the difference in weight when holding both devices—it weighs 12g more. However, this additional weight has very little impact on how comfortable the phone is to carry when held on its own. Furthermore, we don’t mind the price increase at all with the recent advancements made to the cameras and batteries.
Camera on the iPhone 13 Pro Max
When examining the iPhone 13 Pro Max, the upgrades made to the camera hardware and software were what caught our attention the most. These upgrades practically alone are reason enough to upgrade.
Apple has made several adjustments to the sensors used in the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which may seem minor but are actually crucial. First off, the Ultra-Wide camera has a new autofocus sensor and a bigger /1.8 aperture, which results in 92% more light being let in. In our experiments, this meant that even images captured at nightfall or in a pitch-black space had greater sharpness and detail.
The inclusion of Night Mode by Apple in the iPhone 11 back in 2019 was a game-changer because it ensured that our images looked fantastic at any time of day. However, the requirement to wait one to three seconds in order to capture the picture accurately has always been our major gripe with this option. When trying to record any kind of motion or action at night, this is an issue. Although while the iPhone 13 Pro Max still has Night Mode, we hardly ever utilize it because of the considerably enhanced sensor configuration and new sensor-shift OIS technology, which enable it to take the same quality low-light images instantly.
Conclusion
The iPhone 13 Pro Max has enough advantages over the Pro Max model from the previous year to be considered an upgrade. This is a clear pick if you have the money and believe that “the larger the screen, the better.”