by The iPhone 14 Pro Max takes the always-on display experience to the next level with its Super Retina XDR display and ability to customize the always-on display through iOS 16.2. This panel offers up to 1,600 nits of brightness with HDR content, creating an immersive viewing experience when zooming in on footage, playing games, and more.
In addition to its remarkable display, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has an integrated motion sensor that allows the always-on display to turn off when the phone is placed in a pocket or upside down on a table. This feature is especially helpful for those who want to quickly check the time without turning on the full display.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s display also offers impressive color accuracy and saturation. On our lab tests, the display registered a Delta-E score of 0.26, reflecting near-perfect accuracy. It also reached up to 117.5% of the sRGB color gamut and 83.2% of the DCI-P3 color space.
In conclusion, the iPhone 14 Pro Max offers a unique always-on display experience that allows you to customize the display to your preferences, while also providing remarkable color accuracy and brightness. Whether you’re watching videos, gaming, or just checking the time, the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s display is sure to impress.
iPhone 14 Pro Max Review: Design
The latest iPhone iteration is packed with amazing features, and the design of the iPhone 14 Pro Max is no exception. The device measures 6.33 x 3.05 x 0.31 inches and weighs 8.47 ounces, making it slightly heavier and thicker than the 13 Pro Max. The device is available in four color options: deep purple, silver, gold and space black. The matte glass back is now removable and the polished steel sides give the device a sleek and sophisticated look.
The most notable changes in design are the notch being replaced by a pill-shaped cutout and the camera bump being larger than before. All three camera lenses, along with the flash, take up a significant amount of the back panel. This impressive camera setup will come in handy for those who enjoy taking pictures, or shooting videos.
Another addition to the phone is the eSIM technology which eliminates the need for a SIM card tray on U.S. models. It provides a convenient way to add a line to the device and have two active numbers at once. However, some overseas carriers are not yet compatible with the eSIM, so it’s important to check with your provider before traveling overseas.
iPhone 14 Pro Max Review: Cameras
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is the latest and greatest phone released by Apple. It comes with a 48MP main wide sensor, 12MP 3x telephoto zoom lens, and a new 12MP ultrawide camera. With its Photonic Engine powered by the A16 Bionic chip, the iPhone 14 Pro Max offers brighter and more colorful photos. It also has a 12MP TrueDepth camera with improved autofocus and a faster f/1.9 aperture for better low-light photos. This phone has a lot to offer, but there have been some reports of its photos being overly processed. In general, however, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is an excellent choice for a top-of-the-line smartphone with excellent camera features. It delivers great shots in a variety of scenarios and provides more detail than other flagship phones. It is a great option for those who are looking for an outstanding camera experience.
iPhone 14 Pro Max: Video
The iPhone 14 Pro Max offers two major upgrades in terms of video capture. The first is Action mode, which smooths out the action when both the shooter and subject are in motion. To test this out, I shot a clip running up a small incline on a trail. With Action mode off, the camera shook back and forth so much it was dizzying, but with Action mode on the ascent looks silky smooth.
When compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s Super Steady Mode, both phones offered equally smooth footage when running up a hill. The downhill video did look steadier on the iPhone than the Samsung, as the S22 Ultra’s clip was shakier albeit brighter.
The overall video recording quality from the iPhone 14 Pro Max is excellent. I captured a fountain and the rushing water and green moss looked professional-grade as if shot by a pro-level camera, despite a bit of lens flare. Apple has also made switching between zoom levels when shooting video smoother than before.
However, to shoot in 4K ProRes, you will need to buy an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max with at least 256GB of storage. Otherwise, you will be limited to 1080p HD video at 30FPS.
Phone 14 Pro Max Review: Performance
The iPhone 14 Pro Max packs some serious power under the hood thanks to its Apple-designed A16 Bionic chip. This is the first chip built with a 4-nanometer process, making it one of the most powerful chips on the market. It’s rated to be 10% faster than the A15 Bionic, and it has 50% more memory bandwidth which helps to improve gaming performance.
In my testing, I found the iPhone 14 Pro Max to be extremely responsive, regardless of what task I was carrying out. Whether I was running multiple apps simultaneously or playing a game like Asphalt 9 Legends, the phone delivered smooth, uninterrupted gaming.
The phone scored 1,882 in single-core and 5,333 in multicore on Geekbench 5, a benchmark that measures overall performance. This is notably better than the iPhone 13 Pro Max (1,720/4,549), as well as the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and its Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip (1,328/3,831). The Galaxy S22 Ultra, with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, came in even further behind with a score of 1,249/3,392.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max also scored well on the 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited benchmark. It achieved a score of 12,363, or 74 frames per second, compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 9,499, and 56.87 fps. Last year’s iPhone 13 Pro Max managed 11,418 and 68.37 fps.
Our video editing test, which involved transcoding a 4K video to 1080p in the Adobe Premiere Rush app, produced slightly slower results on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It took 30 seconds to complete the task, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max took 25 seconds. The Galaxy S22 Ultra was slower, at 47 seconds, and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 lagged even further behind at 45 seconds.
Overall, the iPhone 14 Pro Max delivers powerful performance, and if you’d like to learn more, you can check out our iPhone 14 benchmarks guide. Our only gripe is that the base model still comes with 128GB of storage. With 48MP photos and 4K video taking up lots of space, we feel that Apple should offer more than 128GB of storage as standard.
iPhone 14 Pro Max Review: Battery Life and Charging
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is the latest flagship phone from Apple, and it comes with a range of new features and improvements over its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Pro Max. One of the key areas where the new phone shines is in its battery life and charging capabilities. In this review, we will take an in-depth look at the battery life of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, as well as its charging speeds and capabilities.
Thanks to the more efficient chip that Apple has used in the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the phone boasts an impressive battery life. According to Tom’s Guide’s battery test, the phone lasted an average of 13 hours and 39 minutes, which is an impressive feat. This puts the iPhone 14 Pro Max near the top of the list when it comes to the best phone battery life.
Anecdotally, the iPhone 14 Pro Max also fared well in terms of endurance. After charging the phone to close to 90%, the battery only dropped to 60% after using it for several hours for downloading apps, playing music, and taking photos and videos. This is an impressive feat and shows that the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a great choice for those who need a phone with excellent battery life.
Charging Speeds
While the battery life of the iPhone 14 Pro Max is impressive, the same cannot be said for its charging speeds. The phone sticks with the same 20W charging as its predecessor, which means that there are faster charging phones available on the market. When charging a drained iPhone 14 Pro Max, we only managed to get to 42% in 30 minutes, which is a far cry from the 50% that Apple claims is possible.
By comparison, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which comes with a 25W charger, managed to get to 58% in 30 minutes, while the OnePlus 10 Pro, which benefits from 65W charging speeds, reached 93% and got to 55% in just 15 minutes. This means that if you need a phone that can charge quickly, the iPhone 14 Pro Max may not be the best choice.
Overall, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is an excellent phone with an impressive battery life. It lasted a long time on Tom’s Guide’s battery test, and it fared well in terms of endurance during anecdotal testing. However, the charging speeds of the phone are a bit disappointing, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max sticking with the same 20W charging as its predecessor. If you need a phone with fast charging speeds, there are better options available on the market.
iPhone 14 Pro Max Review: The Power of iOS 16 Unleashed
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is the latest addition to the iPhone family, and it boasts a large 6.7-inch OLED display, perfect for media consumption. But the device is more than just a big screen – its operating system, iOS 16, is packed with new features and enhancements that make the phone stand out from the rest.
Customizable Lock Screen
iOS 16 allows users to customize their lock screen with widgets, photos, and more. This means you can have quick access to your favorite apps, the weather, your calendar, and other important information without having to unlock your phone. The widgets you choose will also appear on your always-on display, so you can stay up to date without ever needing to wake your device.
Improved Text Messaging
iOS 16 also introduces the ability to unsend and edit texts. This means you can make changes to a text message before it’s too late, or if you accidentally send something you regret, you can simply unsend it. This is a great feature for those of us who have a habit of sending texts we later regret.
Passkeys Instead of Passwords
Say goodbye to traditional passwords with the introduction of Passkeys. These unique numbers or codes are generated on the spot and are virtually impossible to hack, providing users with an extra layer of security. Passkeys can also be used across all your Apple devices, keep your information secure.
New Fitness App
The new fitness app on iOS 16 includes guided workouts, personalized coaching, and the ability to track your progress. This app is perfect for anyone looking to make improvements in their fitness.
Battery Percentage Indicator
The battery percentage indicator finally makes its return in iOS 16. This means you can see exactly how much battery life you have left without having to guess.
iCloud Shared Photo Library
The iCloud Shared Photo Library introduced in iOS 16.1 makes it easier to share and edit photos with family members. This feature is perfect for those who love taking photos and want to share them with their loved ones.
Live Activities
Live Activities are now available in iOS 16, allowing users to keep up with sports scores, the progress of their food order, or the status of their ride share. This feature is great for those who
want to keep up with what’s happening without having to constantly check their phone.
Freeform Collaboration App
iOS 16.2 introduces a Freeform collaboration app for brainstorming with others in real-time and across different Apple devices. This app is perfect for anyone who needs to work on a project with others and wants to keep everything in one place.
Karaoke Feature
Apple Music subscribers can now access a fun karaoke feature. With this feature, you can sing along to your favorite songs and share your performances with friends.
Enhancements to Widgets
iOS 16.2 also introduces enhancements to widgets, making it easier to get quick access to the information you need. With improved widget functionality, you can customize your home screen to suit your needs.
iPhone 14 Pro Max Problems and Issues
Some iPhone 14 Pro owners have reported issues with the camera shaking or rattling when using apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram. While we have not been able to replicate the issue, some users have posted videos of the problem. However, we anticipate that a software update
from Apple will address this issue in the near future.
Another reported issue is related to the battery life of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. While the phone has a large battery capacity, some users have reported that it drains quickly, especially when using power-hungry apps. It’s important to note that battery life can vary depending on usage and settings, so it’s worth taking a look at which apps are using the most battery and adjusting settings accordingly.
Finally, some users have reported issues with the Face ID feature, which is used to unlock the phone. While Face ID is generally reliable, some users have reported that it doesn’t work consistently or can be slow to recognize their face. Again, this is likely to be addressed in a software update from Apple.
Overall, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a powerful and feature-packed phone that is sure to please Apple fans. With its large OLED display, customizable lock screen, and new features like Passkeys and the fitness app, it’s clear that Apple has put a lot of thought into the design of this phone. While there are some reported issues, it’s likely that these will be addressed in future software updates, making the iPhone 14 Pro Max an even better phone over time.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is a beautiful device with a wide range of features. From the pill-shaped cutout to the bigger camera bump, the device is sure to be a hit with users. The device is also compatible with many cases, allowing users to keep their phone looking fresh for years to come.
