After five months of use, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has not only lived up to its high-end reputation, but it has also pleasantly surprised me with its performance, durability, and flexibility. With the various hard treatments I've given the phone over the past few months, it still performs incredibly well. Here is a detailed summary of my extensive experience with Apple's latest phone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max. I've highlighted the phone's outstanding features, such as its durability, excellent display, extended battery life, upgraded software, camera capabilities, and accessories.
Strength: Surviving Many Drops Without a Case:
The long life of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of its most impressive features, especially because I don't use a case. You read correctly: I have been using this expensive gadget without a case, and I dropped it more often than I would want to admit. It slid out of my pocket on the ground, tumbled off the arm of the seat onto wood floors, and even hit the concrete floor when recording. With this, the phone is in surprisingly decent shape, which is proof of how durable its design is.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max's titanium frame, one of its main selling points, has done a fantastic job of keeping the phone safe. Even with all the drops, there is only a small scratch in the upper-left corner, and fingerprints and scratches are perfectly hidden by the natural titanium color. The back glass is excellent and shows no evidence of scratches or damage, and the matte surface has a luxurious feel to it. It's clear that titanium and Ceramic Shield glass, two materials that Apple prioritized for durability, paid off.
The Ceramic Shield display hasn't completely avoided discoloration, either. There are a few minor scratches after five months of nonstop use, especially in the lower-left corner. Even if they aren't very obvious, these scratches can be seen up close. Although there are wear indicators on the oleophobic coating—which is meant to avoid fingerprints—I'm not too worried considering how many drops and accurate usage it has seen. I don't abuse my phone, and the screen has generally held up really well.
Surprisingly, the phone hasn't cracked or sustained any major damage when it isn't in a cover. I'm beginning to question my choice to leave my iPhone 15 Pro Max without a case, but its strength gives me hope that it will survive more than I anticipated. Having said that, I might finally cave and purchase a case — just in case.
Battery Life: Consistent and Impressive:
iPhone 15 Pro Max / Image Credits - iFixit
One of the most important aspects of daily use is battery life, and I'm still impressed by how efficiently the iPhone 15 Pro Max handles electricity. My phone's battery health is still at 99% after months of use, with the fact that I use it for hours every day. It has only decreased by 1% from its initial 100% maximum capacity. This is impressive given how many images, movies, and programs I've used.
I usually use the phone's screen for eight hours a day, but I'm happy to say that it easily lasts the entire day on a single charge. The battery can last up to 1.5 days on days with less use. When I use my phone to its full potential—attending things, taking videos, or making a lot of 5G calls, for example—low-power mode helps the battery last just long enough to get me through the day. Due to its larger battery than the standard iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 15 Pro Max consistently holds up at events like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Samsung Unpacked, where I've used the phone extensively.
My phone's battery is currently at 111 cycles, which is remarkable considering how often I used it for five months. The phone works great in high-demand situations, such as when I'm out taking lots of pictures or using power-hungry apps, but when I'm running short on battery, low-power mode can come in rather handy.
Display Quality: Stunning but Reflective:
iPhone 15 Pro Max / Image Credits - Darrell Etherington
The huge 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of its most striking features. The screen is great to use for anything from browsing social media to editing images to binge-watching Netflix series. Vibrant colors and sharp details are guaranteed by the resolution. Everything looks amazing, whether I'm reading the news or playing graphically demanding games.
But there is one issue I have with the display: reflections. The screen is quite reflective, especially in bright situations, even though the brightness and color accuracy are excellent. The screen of the iPhone 15 Pro Max seems to lag behind other smartphones in this regard, such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which boasts a low-reflection display. While it's not a deal breaker, you will notice it after using a display with improved anti-reflective qualities.
However, the display performs well in a range of lighting situations, whether I'm taking pictures outside in the bright sun or viewing a film in a poorly lit room. For those who enjoy taking pictures and consuming media, the phone is still a fantastic option due to the screen's quality.
Software: iOS 17 and Improvements Over Time:
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is now even more enjoyable to use thanks to several new features and enhancements that Apple has added with the release of iOS 17. The most notable change is StandBy Mode, which, when enabled and held horizontally while charging, transforms your iPhone into a tiny smart display. This function has been really helpful to me both at home and at work. It lets me check the clock, glance at widgets, and enjoy a slideshow of my favorite pictures while my phone charges.
Check-In is another iOS 17 feature that I've grown to love. I use it a lot when I go on long bike rides. I can keep my family and friends updated on my activities and progress, which gives me peace of mind when I'm traveling. The daily experience has been even more seamless thanks to minor but important changes like the Catch Up arrow in Messages, which allows you to rapidly get to the most recent unread message in group chats.
iOS 17 had a few software faults at first like Safari stopping and becoming unresponsive, but those problems appear to have been fixed in more recent releases. Given how dependent I am on my phone for both business and personal needs, I'm relieved that I haven't had any significant software problems in months.
Dynamic Island: Still Early Days for This Feature:
Although third-party apps still seem to underuse the Dynamic Island, which was first included with the iPhone 14 Pro series, it is still an important feature. Dynamic Island is a terrific feature that Apple's own apps utilize well for things like system warnings, Uber, and music controls, but external developers have not yet properly utilized this opportunity. Still, I find it helpful for scheduling background chores like alarms or timers, and I hope that more applications will utilize it in the future.
Stolen Device Protection, which helps secure your personal information in the unlikely event that your phone is stolen, is one of the more significant enhancements in recent iOS versions. I urge everyone to enable this fantastic security feature by going into the Face ID & Passcode settings. Fortunately, I haven't needed to use it, but it's still comforting to know that these safeguards for your data exist.
Camera and Video Capabilities: A Creative Powerhouse:
iPhone 15 Pro Max / Image credit: Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has an incredible camera setup. With its 48MP primary camera and 5x optical zoom lens, the 15 Pro Max's 48MP camera raises the bar for mobile photography and produces amazing images in nearly any lighting scenario. The degree of sharpness and detail is superb, regardless of whether I'm shooting close-ups or landscapes.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max truly performs when it comes to filming videos. It can record in SDR, HDR, or Log in addition to supporting Pro Res video. It can even shoot in 4K. The goal of log mode is to record as much information as possible, particularly for post-production color grading. In my experience, Pro Res Log allows me a great deal of control over post-editing video editing, even though the raw footage appears flat and desaturated. Because of this, content producers who wish to produce high-quality videos without carrying a separate camera will find the iPhone 15 Pro Max to be a valuable tool.
It has also never been simpler to transfer big video files thanks to the new USB-C port's compatibility with USB 3 speeds. I can now record video directly to an external SSD and transfer it to my computer for editing without having to wait for files to airdropped or upload to the cloud.
My Favorite Accessories for the iPhone 15 Pro Max:
iPhone 15 Pro Max / Image credit: 9to5Mac
I've used a few essential accessories that increase the iPhone 15 Pro Max's functionality to improve the video shooting experience. For example, the Blackmagic Cam app has transformed into a necessary tool for shooting professional-quality videos. Complete manual control over parameters like ISO and shutter speed is provided, and for more intricate video productions, a mini-slate function is included.
The Samsung T9 SSD changed storage. It is small, strong, and has 4TB of storage capacity. I always have it with me, and it works perfectly with the iPhone to record straight to the drive. It is quite easy to handle huge Pro Res video files with its quick transmission speeds.
Another item I've grown to love is the Peak Design mobile tripod. Being lightweight, portable, and MagSafe compatible, it's the ideal travel companion for taking videos. Because of its compact design, the tripod is easy to take in my backpack and goes well with my always-on schedule. The flexibility of the Peak Design mobile tripod is what I enjoy most about it. It's not only a useful setup for watching material or making video chats, but it also makes capturing video straightforward. It feels expensive because of its metal development, and since it's MagSafe compatible, I can just attach it to my iPhone without struggling with clips or other accessories. The tripod is incredibly portable due to its foldable legs, and it also includes a tiny Allen socket that is magnetically held in the body for adjusting the ball joint.
Final Thoughts:
After having the iPhone 15 Pro Max for five months, I can declare with confidence that it is among the best phones I have ever owned. It is an exceptional device due to its unique blend of software features, camera quality, performance, and durability. When it comes to work, playing, or taking pictures, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has never failed to live up to my expectations.
I'm excited to see what advancements Apple makes with the upcoming iPhone generation, particularly in areas like display technology and the Dynamic Island. However, as of right now, the iPhone 15 Pro Max continues to be a superior product, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who needs a dependable, feature-rich smartphone.
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