John Thomas 
Apple has taken a significant leap forward with its latest and most expensive flagship smartphone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max. While boasting a powerful new camera and the adoption of the USB-C port, its most outstanding feature is its lighter weight.
Historically, Apple’s 6.7-inch iPhones have been known for their hefty price tags and weight. However, the new iPhone 15 Pro Max, starting at £1,199 (€1,449/$1,199/A$2,199), manages to shed 19 grams of weight, making it noticeably more comfortable to hold and carry.
The reduced weight is attributed to the phone’s titanium sides, a departure from the stainless steel used in previous models. This shift not only makes the phone lighter but also improves its overall balance, giving it a lighter feel in hand. The design largely follows the style introduced with the iPhone 12 Pro Max in 2020, with minor refinements around the edges and slimmer screen bezels.
The device’s display is among the finest on the market, boasting impressive brightness for outdoor readability. A notable addition this year is the action button, replacing the traditional mute switch, which can be customized to perform various tasks like enabling “do not disturb,” launching the camera, activating the flashlight, recording voice memos, and more.
A significant change for the iPhone in 2023 is the transition from the Lightning port to USB-C for charging and accessories. This switch simplifies the charging process and opens up compatibility with a wide range of USB-C accessories, such as docks, game controllers, ethernet adapters, flash drives, audio adapters, display cables, and SD card readers. This versatility enhances the device’s functionality for different user needs.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is powered by the A17 Pro chip, offering a 10% performance boost, 20% more powerful graphics, and support for advanced ray tracing graphics. While there were initial reports of the phone becoming hot to the touch, Apple addressed this issue with an iOS update. In everyday use, the phone’s temperature remained consistent with previous models, even during demanding tasks.
Battery life is impressive, with the phone lasting up to 44 hours between charges under moderate use. The device’s sustainability features include a battery designed to last over 500 full-charge cycles with at least 80% capacity, along with recyclable materials and repair-friendly design elements.
The camera system on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a standout feature, featuring a 5x optical zoom on the telephoto camera and improved low-light capabilities with automatic portrait mode. It can capture 24-megapixel photos by default and offers various focal lengths for photography enthusiasts. Additionally, the device excels in video recording capabilities, making it a top choice for videographers and amateur filmmakers.
While the iPhone 15 Pro Max is Apple’s most feature-rich smartphone, it comes at a considerable cost, facing stiff competition from rivals with even more advanced zoom capabilities and features. Nonetheless, for those with the means and a preference for larger phones, the iPhone 15 Pro Max stands as the pinnacle of Apple’s smartphone lineup, offering an exceptional camera, stunning screen, long battery life, and ample storage.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Dive Digest journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.