iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 14 Pro Max specs
Screen size : 6.7-inches
Refresh rate : 1-120Hz
CPU : Apple A16 Bionic
Storage : 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Cameras : 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom
Dust/Water resistance : IP68
Colors : Purple, gold, silver, and space black
Rated battery life : 13 hours 39 minutes (web surfing)
Size : 6.33 x 3.05 x 0.31 inches
Weight : 8.47 ounces
DESIGN AND SCREEN
Available in Space Black, Silver, Gold, and an all-new Deep Purple color, we have the latter option, and it’s a color-shifting, elegant, aubergine delight. The matte, frosted finish fends off fingerprints well (though the same can’t be said for the frame), and it feels rich.
Many were expecting a USB-C connector this time around, bringing the iPhone Pro family in line with the iPad Pro and virtually every other smartphone, laptop, and smart device launched in 2022. But no. Apple is still firmly attached to its Lightning connector and isn’t budging yet. In true iPhone style, there’s no headphone jack either, and if you’re in the US, you don’t even get a SIM card slot.
It’s the front of the phone where things start to look a little bit different. We’ve spent years getting used to the iPhone notch, where the selfie camera and Face ID sensors live. These have been shrunk and now live in a pill-shaped cutout in the top center of the screen. In true Apple style, a design problem – components cutting out a portion of the screen – is turned into an opportunity to make a visual flourish, so Dynamic Island was born.
We’ll go into more detail when it comes to Dynamic Island’s functionality a little later when discussing the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s UI. In a nutshell, though, the pixels around it fade to pitch black, making it appear to expand and contract depending on what’s on-screen, and it all looks – you guessed it – dynamic.
CAMERA
On a day-to-day level, the camera upgrade is probably the most enticing aspect of the new 14 Pro Max versus past iPhones. Specifically, it’s the first time we’ve seen a resolution bump in years, with the camera climbing from 12MP in the 13 Pro Max to 48MP in the 14 Pro Max. The 14 Pro Max still takes 12MP photos but captures full-resolution, 48MP RAW files for photography enthusiasts to play with. Apple’s also loaded the 14 Pro Max with a wider than usual, 24mm angle of view, and an f/1.78 aperture lens with OIS.
More exciting than the iPhone 14 Pro Max‘s resolution, though, is its sensor size. The bigger the sensor, the greater its light-grabbing capabilities, and the better it’s likely to perform in challenging lighting. A big sensor also means more natural background blur, making your smartphone snaps look a little bit more like photos captured on a dedicated camera.
While the main camera is the star of the show, it’s flanked by two others. The ultra-wide camera sports a traditional 12MP resolution with a 13mm, expansive angle of view, and it’s matched with an f/2.2 aperture. And the 12MP telephoto camera creates a roughly three-times zoom equivalent, with a 77mm angle of view, OIS, and an f/2.8 aperture.
Apple also uses the inner 12MP in the 48MP sensor to create a two-times zoom digital lens as well, so you can crop losslessly in well-lit environments.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max was the phone to beat when it came to battery life, and the 14 Pro Max fails to outperform it, especially with that always-on display active. It comfortably lasts a full day, and if you turn off the always-on display and dial back the screen’s refresh rate to 60Hz, you could probably eke two days out of it. That said, it isn’t the best-in-class battery champ the 13 Pro Max was on launch.
Apple isn’t too forthcoming with battery numbers, though it does say you can expect up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher. There’s no charger in the box, though there is a USB-C to lightning cable, and the phone also supports wireless charging.
PERFORMANCE AND INTERFACE
While most recent iPhones can run iOS 16, none do with as much gusto as the 14 Pro and Pro Max. We’ve already touched on Dynamic Island, which straddles both hardware and software updates. If you’re listening to content, either side of the pill-shaped cutout will feature an added element – on one side, the cover art, and on the other, a visualization illustrating whether the audio is playing or not.
While there’s a lot of good stuff to the Dynamic Island, especially from a UX point of view, it is more noticeable when watching movies, shows, and YouTube videos in full-screen than the iPhone Notch of old. The fact you have a thin strip of screen content above it takes some getting used to.
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are powered by Apple’s A16 Bionic chips, which deliver competition-beating gaming and performance, and with 128GB through to 1TB of storage, the phones should pack plenty of space for files and photos.
The Pro Max is also able to communicate with satellites when there’s a broad clearing around you, so if you’re out in the wilderness and don’t have a signal, you can still communicate with emergency services. And with crash detection, the new iPhones can send an alert if you’ve been in a collision.
