Your Guide to the iPhone 16 Pro Max

As the latest addition to the iPhone lineup, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is rumoured to be the biggest model yet – both literally and in terms of its epic range of features.

From harbouring a powerful A18 Pro chip and longer battery life to potentially being one of the few devices to support the Apple Intelligence platform, Apple's new flagship device looks set to rival the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. But will it surpass our expectations or fall short of what looks set to be one of 2024's biggest launches?

Here's everything we know about the iPhone 16 Pro Max and what you should expect when investing in this new device, including battery life, cameras, key specs, and upgraded display features.

Specs

Ahead of its upcoming launch, and following the latest leaks and rumours, here's a quick round-up of what we think we know about the specs of the iPhone 16 Pro Max:

• Dimensions: 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.33 inches
• Weight: 225 g
• Build: Corning-made glass front and back
• Case Design: Natural Titanium
• Operating System: iOS 18
• Screen Size: 6.9 inches
• Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
• Resolution: 1328 x 2878 pixels
• Protection: Ceramic Shield glass
• Processor: A18 Pro
• Battery Size: 4,676 mAh
• Internal Storage: 256 GB/ 512 GB/ 1 TB
• Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7
• Ultra Wide Camera: 48 MP
• Optical Zoom: 5x

Design and Display

As the largest of the new iPhones added to Apple's lineup, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to be around 0.19 inches taller than the previous model. However, it only has an extra 0.019 inches in width, meaning that it still feels comfortable to hold.

The screen size of the iPhone 16 Pro Max is also increasing from 6.7 to 6.9 inches, surpassing other iPhone Pro models, as well as the 6.8-inch screen of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. It therefore joins the base iPhone 16 Pro screen in this area, which could also see an upgrade to 6.3 inches.

Apple's OLED display is expected to be more power efficient, thanks to an upgrade from blue fluorescent technology to blue phosphorescence technology with a new M14 material set. Provided by Samsung, these bright light sources could boost the brightness levels of the iPhone 16 Pro Max by 20%.

Another possible change to the display of the new iPhone comes courtesy of Apple's border reduction structure. This narrows the display bezels from 1.71mm to 1.5mm around the active area, making the screen appear even larger.

It may also feature a thinner MagSafe ring for wireless charging, which would make the upcoming phones less bulky and more pocket-friendly, despite their large size.

iPhone 16 Pro Max Colours

Apple introduced the iPhone 15 Pro Max in a variety of colours, including black titanium, blue titanium, white titanium, and natural titanium.

While the new iPhone 16 Pro Max is likely to feature the same Ceramic Shield front, it's rumoured to be available in a new range of colours, including space black, silver, or grey. Rose or bronze could be this year's signature design, along with a new colour-infused back glass that can currently only be found on the base iPhone 15 and Plus models.

Cameras

One of the biggest upgrades to the iPhone 16 Pro Max is likely to come from its ultrawide camera. This is set to feature a 48MP lens, which delivers a significant improvement in terms of quality compared to the current 12MP offering. The lens will have enhanced Digital Gain Control (DCG), which provides improved dynamic range and noise control.

It may also feature a thinner 300mm telephoto lens with improved magnification, which more than doubles the focal length of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as a slightly larger 1/1.14-inch sensor for improved low-light performance.

The selfie camera could be kitted out with a single circle as a slimmer alternative to the pill-shaped cutout or square camera bump found on the Dynamic Island of previous models.

A stand-out addition to the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the new Capture button. Designed to improve your photography and videography experience, this works like the shutter button on a digital camera to quickly snap images, while detecting varying pressure levels to help with zoom and focusing functions.

The Capture button joins the existing Action button that featured on previous iPhone Pro models, allowing you to conveniently launch the camera, change the ringer settings, trigger Do Not Disturb, and turn on the torch.

Battery Life

Apple continues its yearly offering of a larger battery capacity with the iPhone 16 Pro Max. These battery rumours are highly beneficial if you're looking to upgrade, since this is a feature that tends to degrade over time.

While it doesn't quite beat the base Pro model, which may see an increase of 9.25%, the capacity of the 16 Pro Max could be boosted by 5.74% from 4,422 mAh to 4,676 mAh.

This may be because of a new metal shell and an electric vehicle-style stacked battery, a technology that failed to make its debut on the iPhone 15 range. The stacked battery provides greater energy density, with more milliamp-hour capacity in the same battery footprint, meaning a longer battery life of around 30 hours.

The Pro models may also feature more powerful MagSafe wireless charging, increasing from the current 27W wired and 15W wireless capacity to 40W and 20W respectively. You'll therefore need to spend less time charging your device, leaving you free to make use of its fantastic new features.

Processing and Storage

Over the past few years, Apple has given its Pro models a higher quality chipset than the Plus and base model iPhones, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is likely to be no different.

While the 16 and 16 Plus may keep the same A17 Pro Chip, the Pro is rumoured to be seeing a powerful new A18 Pro chip. This should have a larger die area than the A17 Pro, providing more space for transistors and specialised hardware that enhances on-device Apple Intelligence features.

One area that is unlikely to see improvements, however, is RAM. The Pro models are sticking with the 8GB of RAM as seen on older iPhones, although faster internet speeds with Wifi-7 should be a key new feature.

You'll also be able to choose from 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB of storage for your new iPhone, which could even increase to 2TB later on thanks to a new memory standard.

When is the iPhone 16 Pro Max Release Date?

We should learn everything we need to know about the iPhone 16 Pro Max on September 10th 2024, which has been reserved for Apple's "It's Glowtime" event at Apple Park, Cupertino.

This will launch alongside the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, and the base iPhone 16 Pro models, plus Apple may announce a date for the upcoming iOS 18 operating system. As previewed at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, this should feature everything from redesigned Maps and Apple Pay wallet functions to a more customisable home screen.

Following this event, the iPhone 16 Pro Max looks set to launch on Friday September 20th. It could cost as much as $2,199 if the pricing stays in line with the iPhone 15 models, which received a higher price tag than the previous year's range.

If you decide to take the plunge, protecting your investment is essential for maintaining the OLED display, ultrawide camera, and colour-infused back glass of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. At Ghostek, our premium Apple iPhone cases are designed to be completely shockproof, with everything from military-grade drop-proofing to built-in screen protection.

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