Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max review - Lots of small improvements for the top smartphone
Ahoy, camera button!
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is Apple's largest smartphone. Its display has once again grown and this year, a dedicated camera button has found its way onto the iPhone. However, it has more to offer than just that, even if Apple Intelligence isn't yet available in the EU.Daniel Schmidt, 👁 Daniel Schmidt (translated by Daisy Dickson) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
The iPhone 16 Pro Max follows last year's iPhone 15 Pro Max. Amongst other things, the smartphone has been given a more modern SoC, which forms an important basis for the new Apple Intelligence. Unfortunately, the AI functions from Apple won't be coming to the EU for the time being and even in the US, they will follow at a later date.
Aside from a new chipset, its camera has been given a new ultra-wide-angle sensor, Wi-Fi 7 is finally on board, it features an improved Ceramic Shield and has a dedicated camera button. In addition, the iPhone is said to be even more sustainable, as it is now easier to repair and is manufactured using more recycled materials.
The prices have remained stable this year and Apple also hasn't made any changes to the lineup of storage variants:
| Storage | Price (MRSP) |
|---|---|
| 256 GB | US$1,199 |
| 512 GB | US$1,399 |
| 1,024 GB | US$1,599 |
Possible competitors compared
Rating | Version | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88.6 % | v8 | 10 / 2024 | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max A18 Pro, A18 Pro GPU | 227 g | 256 GB NVMe | 6.90" | 2868x1320 | |
| 90.6 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 05 / 2024 | Honor Magic6 Pro SD 8 Gen 3, Adreno 750 | 229 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.80" | 2800x1280 | |
| 91.1 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 05 / 2024 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra SD 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, Adreno 750 | 232 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.80" | 3120x1440 | |
| 89.2 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 04 / 2024 | Xiaomi 14 Ultra SD 8 Gen 3, Adreno 750 | 219.8 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.73" | 3200x1440 | |
| 81.8 % | v8 | 07 / 2024 | Huawei Pura 70 Ultra Kirin 9010, Maleoon 910 | 226 g | 1 TB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.80" | 2844x1260 | |
| 84.6 % | v8 | 07 / 2024 | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra SD 8s Gen 3, Adreno 735 | 197 g | 1 TB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.70" | 2712x1220 | |
| 86.3 % | v8 | 08 / 2024 | Sony Xperia 1 VI SD 8 Gen 3, Adreno 750 | 192 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.50" | 2340x1080 |
Please note: We have updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7. More information is available here.
Case - A new color for the 16 Pro Max
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max continues to rely on a frame made of a titanium alloy and weighing in at 227 grams, it is a little heavier. According to the manufacturer, it has a thickness of 8.25 millimeters, while we measured 8.3 millimeters. The camera hump has grown a little, now adding an additional 4.3 millimeters (15 Pro Max: 4.1 mm), resulting in a build height of 12.6 millimeters at the thickest point.
Even so, the iPhone 16 Pro Max isn't top-heavy and feels comfortable to hold despite its size. Its build quality is great and the feel of the materials is excellent. All the gaps are tight and even. Only a slight creaking noise could be heard when trying to twist it. The SIM slot cover sits flush with the frame and even the tray for the nano-SIM is made of metal.
The Apple smartphone is IP68-certified, so it is dust and waterproof. It also complies with the IEC standard 60529, meaning it can be submerged to a depth of up to six meters for at least 30 minutes without any problems. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is available in Natural Titanium, white, black and Desert Titanium. The latter is the color of our test device.
Connectivity - The iPhone 16 series with a camera button
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a fast USB 3.2 port (Gen 2), which achieved high transfer rates of 498.85 MB/s in our copying test with a connected Samsung 980 Pro (Asus ROG Strix Arion Case, USB 3.2 Gen. 2). External data carriers can be formatted with all file systems commonly used by Apple, and FAT32 and exFAT are also supported. The interface also supports wired image output in Ultra HD at up to 60 frames per second and HDR.
The action button is also on board once more and adding to this on the opposite long side of the phone is a dedicated camera button. In itself, this isn't really anything new, as you can also find this feature in other phones, such as the Xperia 1 VI. However, Apple has come up with some new ideas, as the button is also a sensor surface that can recognize pressure and swipe gestures and is protected by sapphire glass. The camera can be launched directly using this button—a long press starts a video recording, and you can use swipe gestures to change the depth of field, for example. An upcoming update will also allow different pressure levels to be recognized in order to control the autofocus and exposure even more effectively. Whether the button represents added value probably depends on personal preference. In any case, it already works very well.
Moreover, the phone comes with a 2nd-gen ultra-wideband chip (UWB), Bluetooth 5.3 as well as NFC.
Software - The iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with iOS 18
The iPhone 16 Pro Max comes delivered with iOS 18 and in our test, it ran using version 18.0.1. It will likely receive updates for at least five years. iOS 18 sees Apple having added lots of customization options and laying the foundation for Apple Intelligence.
These are AI functions that are intended to enable intelligent image and video editing, for example to remove unwanted objects or people from images. Apple's AI can also summarize, write or correct texts. Siri should also benefit by filtering out slips of the tongue or answering follow-up questions. The first version will be rolled out in the US with iOS 18.1, with other English-speaking regions to follow by the end of the year. Only the EU has been left out in the cold so far, which Apple justifies with uncertainties in connection with the European Digital Markets Act (DMA). It will therefore probably not be available before the first quarter of 2025, but Apple wants to create the linguistic basis by then. Why Samsung and Google, among others, are already able to offer very similar and even more AI functions in Europe will probably remain the Californians' secret.
Sustainability
The packaging of the iPhone 16 Pro Max is completely plastic-free and, according to Apple, the smartphone is made from over 25 % recycled materials and features a high recycling rate. You can find all the details on Apple's website, including detailed sustainability reports on most of its products.
Apple has additionally improved the iPhone's repairability, as confirmed by our colleagues at iFixit. Many components are now easier to access and can be replaced without damaging the device. However, Apple still doesn't sell spare parts to private individuals.
Compared to the 15 Pro Max, our 256-GB version's CO2 footprint over its entire life cycle has only been slightly reduced from 75 to 74 kg CO2e. The 1-TB version uses 3 kg less.
Communication and GNSS - Wi-Fi 7 without 320 MHz
At first, there was great joy: Wi-Fi 7 at last! But then a little disillusionment set in, as the iPhone 16 Pro Max only supports up to 160 MHz and is therefore just as fast as when using the Wi-Fi 6E network.
While its transmission rates to our reference router, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 (Wi-Fi 6E, 6 GHz), reached a peak of 1,435 MBit/s when transmitting, we noted 1,427 MBit/s with Wi-Fi 7 to an AVM Fritz!Box 5690 Pro (Wi-Fi 7, MLO, 6 GHz). For comparison: the Xiaomi 14 achieves 2,382 MBit/s on the same AVM router, whereby the 2.5 GBit port of the router is the bottleneck, as the Xiaomi even manages up to 3,957 MBit/s on the TP-Link Archer BE800. However, the iPhone's transmission performance is still stable and MLO is also supported.
When it comes to mobile communications, the Apple smartphone is exemplary, as it supports a large number of frequency bands for all standards, so it should be able to establish the best possible connection worldwide.
| Networking | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Average of class Smartphone | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
For locating purposes, the iPhone 16 Pro Max supports dual-band GNSS in all satellite networks. This allows it to be located very quickly and precisely, even between buildings.
On a bike ride, we compared the route recording abilities of the Apple phone with those of a Garmin Venu 2. Both devices worked very well, with the fitness smartwatch recording the route covered just a little better.
Telephone functions and call quality
When held up to your ear, the iPhone 16 Pro Max delivers natural voice sound and also does a good job of suppressing annoying ambient noise—provided it isn't too loud. In loudspeaker mode, the iPhone also performs well, but the user then sounds somewhat muffled.
The Apple smartphone still supports a physical nano SIM card in Germany, where this test was carried out, and can also be expanded with an eSIM. Dual SIM operation is also only possible with eSIMs. In the USA, the phone no longer comes with a physical SIM card slot.
The dual SIM function can be configured extensively during setup: A primary call line must be defined, which can be individually adjusted later for each contact. Both phone numbers can be used for FaceTime if required. Mobile data can be set to one SIM, but the cell phone can optionally switch to the other line if the primary line is too weak. One small drawback is the lack of dual app support. Although this can be compensated for via apps from the App Store, there is always a charge.
Cameras - New ultra-wide angle and Ultra HD at 120fps
The iPhone 16 Pro Max's front-facing camera has remained unchanged, and it comes with an autofocus once more. The photos look great and there are lots of settings options. You can record video in Ultra HD at best (60fps, Dolby Vision).
The main camera has a 48-MP sensor which uses optical image stabilization with a sensor-shift (Gen 2). A 3D sensor shift also stabilizes the zoom, which again allows 5x optical magnification and 25x digital magnification. New, however, is the 48-MP ultra-wide-angle sensor which also serves as a macro lens.
The primary camera uses pixel binning and usually takes pictures at 24 MP (12 and 48 MP are also possible). The resulting shots look good overall and can be customized individually or using predefined settings via the photography styles if required. Compared to the competition, however, its slightly lower dynamic range is noticeable in the lake scene. The iPhone also delivers a strong performance in low light.
The main lens nominally shoots with a focal length of 24 mm. However, 28 and 35 mm can also be used without loss via a sensor crop. 5x optical zoom is available for longer focal lengths and can also be used digitally up to a tenfold magnification. A maximum of 25x zoom is possible, the results of which can be seen during post-processing, but they are basically still okay as long as their use doesn't go beyond social media. The image stabilization works very well and keeps things looking stable even at longer focal lengths. However, the camera button can hardly be used in this case, as its pressure point is very firm, which can quickly lead to the camera shaking when zooming.
Videos can be recorded in Ultra HD at best, with frame rates ranging from 24 to 120fps, including PAL formats at 25, 50 and 100fps. Dolby Vision is also on board again. If required, videos can be recorded in ProRes, provided an external data carrier is connected to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. You can even do so at a high frame rate. These 10-bit HDR recordings are possible in Ultra HD at up to 120fps, but require more storage space due to their lower compression and are limited to 8 minutes. The new 120fps recordings make impressive slow-motion videos possible, including Dolby Vision. Spatial videos for Vision Pro (1,080p @ 30fps) can also be recorded.
Apple promises nothing less than studio quality for its microphones, and they actually proved to be very low-noise during our test. With the new Audio Mix tool, the sound post-processing of videos is very extensive and you can even suppress unwanted noises outside the image, which can also be graded and works wonderfully in everyday life.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main cameraMain cameraUltra-wide angle5x zoomLow-light
Under controlled lighting conditions, our test chart looked very rich in detail using the full 48 MP, but you can see that the image has been sharpened.
The color reproduction was very accurate, and the DeltaE deviation was only greater than 10 when it came to dark green and cyan.
Accessories and warranty - Now without a sticker
Apple has further slimmed down the iPhone 16 Pro Max's scope of delivery, but it still comes with a SIM tool and a USB-C cable. The latter is again covered in fabric. However, there is no longer an Apple sticker included.
The range of optional accessories continues to grow, not least thanks to protective covers from Beats (US$49), which are also MagSafe-compatible. If you still need a suitable power supply unit (30 watts), you will have to invest US$39 for the rather bulky original model.
Its warranty only lasts for 12 months. You can also take out an optional insurance package called Care+. This costs a one-off fee of US$199 and includes unlimited repairs in the event of accidental damage, express replacement service and priority support. Depending on the damage, additional charges may apply. Theft and loss can also be insured for US$269, which covers up to two cases per year. If you prefer, you can also pay for the service on a monthly basis (US$9.99 or US$13.49), which has a minimum term of two years, but can also run for longer.
Input devices & operation - The iPhone's new action button
The iPhone 16 Pro Max features a large capacitive touchscreen that responds to inputs quickly and precisely. The Ceramic Shield is nice and smooth; apparently, it is also now 50 % even more resistant. The system runs velvety smooth thanks to the 120 Hz panel.
Apple continues to rely exclusively on Face ID 3D facial recognition, which is considered very secure. There is no fingerprint sensor on the device. Unlocking the phone using Face ID is very reliable and fast, even in dark environments. If desired, an additional profile with glasses or a mask can also be stored.
The action button, which was first used in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, is also back on board and has been given two additional functions: It can now directly launch Shazam for music recognition, whereby the app doesn't need to be installed first, as it is now integrated into Apple Music. Search and the track display are shown via the Dynamic Island. In addition, the live translator can now be launched directly.
The Taptic Engine is responsible for vibrations. This is an electromagnetic linear motor that provides crisp and responsive haptic feedback. Functions such as AssistiveTouch, one-hand mode and tap gestures for the back have also been retained.
Display - Bright and accurate 120 Hz OLED in the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Thanks to its slimmer bezels, the iPhone's panel has grown to 6.9 inches (17.53 cm) and its resolution has increased to retain its high pixel density. The LTPO OLED regulates its refresh rate dynamically between 1 and 120 Hz, while the touchscreen's sampling rate is 240 Hz.
Compared to the 15 Pro Max, its brightness is about the same when depicting a pure white display and its illumination is even. It manages peak brightness levels of 2,357 cd/m² when depicting smaller white excerpts (APL20) and when showing HDR videos, its brightness even rises to 2,600 cd/m². Certainly not a top value in the industry, but still very good.
When it comes to OLED flickering, the iPhone 16 Pro Max shows a frequency of just 240 Hz with a fairly flat and even amplitude at minimum brightness. If the brightness increases slightly, the frequency rises to 480 Hz. Sensitive people should therefore definitely expect some complaints.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 93 %
Center on Battery: 1055 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.5 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91
ΔE Greyscale 2.3 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
99.6% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.21
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Super Retina XDR OLED, 2868x1320, 6.9" | Honor Magic6 Pro OLED, 2800x1280, 6.8" | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120x1440, 6.8" | Xiaomi 14 Ultra AMOLED, 3200x1440, 6.7" | Huawei Pura 70 Ultra OLED, 2844x1260, 6.8" | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra P-OLED, 2712x1220, 6.7" | Sony Xperia 1 VI OLED, 2340x1080, 6.5" | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max OLED, 2796x1290, 6.7" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 15% | -17% | 6% | 14% | 41% | 2% | 17% | |
| Brightness middle | 1055 | 1575 49% | 1317 25% | 997 -5% | 1095 4% | 1326 26% | 1305 24% | 1102 4% |
| Brightness | 1061 | 1508 42% | 1365 29% | 1002 -6% | 1094 3% | 1312 24% | 1319 24% | 1102 4% |
| Brightness Distribution | 93 | 89 -4% | 94 1% | 96 3% | 96 3% | 90 -3% | 98 5% | 98 5% |
| Black Level * | ||||||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.5 | 1.7 -13% | 3.4 -127% | 1.6 -7% | 1.1 27% | 0.51 66% | 2.8 -87% | 1.1 27% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 4.7 | 3.9 17% | 5 -6% | 3.3 30% | 2.4 49% | 1.85 61% | 4.5 4% | 3.1 34% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.3 | 2.4 -4% | 2.8 -22% | 1.8 22% | 2.3 -0% | 0.6 74% | 1.4 39% | 1.6 30% |
| Gamma | 2.21 100% | 2.22 99% | 2 110% | 2.19 100% | 2.28 96% | 2.191 100% | 2.19 100% | 2.19 100% |
| CCT | 6625 98% | 6398 102% | 6458 101% | 6493 100% | 6500 100% | 1355 480% | 6361 102% | 6555 99% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 240 Hz Amplitude: 26.44 % |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 240 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 240 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Measurement series with fixed zoom level and different brightness settings (The amplitude curve at minimum brightness looks flat, but this is due to the scaling. The info box shows the enlarged version of the amplitude at minimum brightness).
With the True Tone function deactivated, we noted a slight green cast when depicting light grayscale. Even so, this shouldn't be noticeable during everyday use. Deviations are barely perceptible by the naked eye and only when a reference is right next to it. However, this only really applies to orange tones.
With the default True Tone activated, the depiction generally appears a little warmer.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1.03 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.473 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.56 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 2 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 1.78 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.899 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.877 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 6 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.8 ms). | ||
The iPhone 16 Pro Max's display does a good job outside and remains legible in most lighting conditions. Even reflections aren't too big an issue. However, on particularly hot days, its maximum brightness may only be available for a short time.
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's viewing-angle stability is great. At most, a slight loss of brightness is noticeable at very flat angles.
Performance - The Apple A18 Pro with unbeatable CPU power
The same as inside the smaller iPhone 16 Pro, the powerhouse of the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the Apple A18 Pro which can access 8 GB of RAM.
The CPU beat the competition during Geekbench and was the fastest inside a smartphone at the time of testing. The system speed is correspondingly high and is as smooth as butter during everyday use.
The iPhone is also ideally equipped for AI tasks and delivered high scores in the Geekbench AI test, but its competitors with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 were sometimes considerably faster during AIMark.
| Geekbench AI | |
| Single Precision Core ML Neural Engine | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Average Apple A18 Pro () | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2278 - 4564, n=2, last 2 years) | |
| Half Precision Core ML Neural Engine | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Average Apple A18 Pro () | |
| Average of class Smartphone (12378 - 32340, n=2, last 2 years) | |
| Quantized Core ML Neural Engine | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Average Apple A18 Pro () | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13254 - 44858, n=2, last 2 years) | |
The Apple A18 Pro GPU ensures graphics calculations at the highest level and supports all common standards, including hardware-based ray tracing.
It delivered high scores in the benchmarks, but had to admit defeat to the Adreno 750 in most cases. However, this isn't a disadvantage due to the better performance scalability in iOS.
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| 3DMark / Solar Bay Score | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| 3DMark / Solar Bay Unlimited Score | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Score | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
In the browser benchmarks, the iPhone remained the measure of all things and once again showed massive improvements compared to its predecessor.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average Apple A18 Pro (354 - 387, n=2) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 18.0.1) | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 17) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra (Chrome 126) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Chrome 121) | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI (Chrome 127.0.6533.64) | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (Chrome 125) | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Chrome 123) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=164, last 2 years) | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro (Chrome 122) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average Apple A18 Pro (557 - 569, n=2) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 18.0.1) | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 17) | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI (Chrome 127.0.6533.64) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Chrome 121) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra (Chrome 126) | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (Chrome 125) | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Chrome 123) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 569, n=150, last 2 years) | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro (Chrome 122) | |
| Speedometer 3.0 - Score | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 18.0.1) | |
| Average Apple A18 Pro (33.5 - 33.5, n=2) | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI (Chrome 127.0.6533.64) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra (Chrome 126) | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (Chrome 125) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1.03 - 34, n=61, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Chrome 123) | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro (Chrome 122) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 18.0.1) | |
| Average Apple A18 Pro (267 - 271, n=2) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Chrome 121) | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI (Chrome 127.0.6533.64) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra (Chrome 126) | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Chrome 123) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (22 - 271, n=155, last 2 years) | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 18.0.1) | |
| Average Apple A18 Pro (98997 - 100368, n=2) | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 17) | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI (Chrome 127.0.6533.64) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Chrome 121) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra (Chrome 126) | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Chrome 123) | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (Chrome 125) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=205, last 2 years) | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro (Chrome 122) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=163, last 2 years) | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro (Chrome 122) | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (Chrome 125) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra (Chrome 126) | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Chrome 123) | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI (Chrome 127.0.6533.64) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Chrome 121) | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 17) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 18.0.1) | |
| Average Apple A18 Pro (277 - 279, n=2) | |
* ... smaller is better
Games - Plenty of power for full graphic splendor and 120fps
The Apple A18 Pro GPU is the basis for unlimited gaming fun and even the most demanding games such as the console port of Resident Evil Village run smoothly and in all their glory.
We looked at other classic games for smartphones using GameBench, all of which could be run at up to 120fps. When it came to PUBG Mobile, however, we had to select the lowest detail and Call of Duty also required this to be lowered by at least one level. One of the most demanding games is still Genshin Impact, but even it could be run at up to 120fps without having to compromise on the display quality. Due to its high heat dissipation, the frame rate was still adjusted downwards by the system, but it still remained at a high level. During turbulent scenes, a stutter sometimes crept in.
In general, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is perfectly suited for gaming, not least because of its large display and nice-sounding speakers. The only annoying thing is that the Dynamic Island obscures some content.
Emissions - not throttled as much as the iPhone 16 Pro
Temperature
The iPhone 16 Pro Max's surface temperatures stayed harmless at all times and only rose above the 40-degree mark in places—even under constant load.
We detected performance losses in the 3DMark stress tests. However, the Max model seems to benefit from its larger surface area and isn't throttled as much as the smaller iPhone 16 Pro. Its performance remains high despite everything, but gaming specialists like the ROG Phone 8 Pro offer more effective cooling and therefore noticeably more frames.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 40.1 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.3 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Stress Tests
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Solar Bay Stress Test Stability | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
| Steel Nomad Light Stress Test Stability | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VI | |
3DMark Stress Tests - Onscreen
3DMark Stress Tests - Unlimited
Speakers
The two speakers sound good at medium volume—although they can't go particularly deep, this is only noticeable at higher volume levels, as the high tones are then too dominant.
The USB-C port can be used for wired sound output. Wireless Bluetooth is available, but it only supports a few audio codecs and none for high-res audio. Bluetooth LE and Auracast are also not yet available from Apple.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (92.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.5% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (4.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7.8% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (1.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 3% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 95% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 20% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 76% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (93 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.6% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.3% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 11% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 82% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 31% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 61% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life - The iPhone 16 Pro Max with over 18 Wh
Power consumption
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has quite a low power consumption which has been greatly improved compared to the 15 Pro Max, especially when switched off. Compared to the competition, its consumption is higher with maximum manual display brightness, but this is due to its higher luminosity.
The iPhone can be charged at 4.5 to 30 watts but it actually doesn't work as effectively. Using a 30-watt power supply from Apple, the 4,685 mAh battery can be charged to 54 % within 30 minutes—the 80 % mark is reached after one hour and the iPhone needs a further 64 minutes for the remaining 20 %. All in all, this is a very long time, but it also saves battery power.
7.5 watts can be used wirelessly via Qi and 15 watts using Qi2. Up to 25 watts are possible with a MagSafe charger. The iPhone can charge other devices via USB-C at up to 4.5 watts.
| Off / Standby |   0.08 / 0.16 Watt |
| Idle |  0.42 / 1.55 / 1.58 Watt |
| Load |
3.41 / 11.82 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 4685 mAh | Honor Magic6 Pro 5600 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5000 mAh | Xiaomi 14 Ultra 5000 mAh | Huawei Pura 70 Ultra 5200 mAh | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra 4500 mAh | Sony Xperia 1 VI 5000 mAh | Average Apple A18 Pro | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -60% | -92% | -29% | -6% | -30% | -20% | -14% | -37% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.42 | 0.8 -90% | 0.73 -74% | 0.8 -90% | 0.6 -43% | 0.9 -114% | 0.4 5% | 0.41 ? 2% | 0.885 ? -111% |
| Idle Average * | 1.55 | 1.32 15% | 1.22 21% | 0.89 43% | 1.23 21% | 1.2 23% | 0.81 48% | 1.075 ? 31% | 1.451 ? 6% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.58 | 1.37 13% | 1.34 15% | 0.91 42% | 1.3 18% | 1.4 11% | 0.85 46% | 1.29 ? 18% | 1.608 ? -2% |
| Load Average * | 3.41 | 11.62 -241% | 16.52 -384% | 8.99 -164% | 4.54 -33% | 6.5 -91% | 9.25 -171% | 7.21 ? -111% | 6.55 ? -92% |
| Load Maximum * | 11.82 | 11.65 1% | 16.58 -40% | 9.01 24% | 10.84 8% | 9.2 22% | 14.99 -27% | 13.1 ? -11% | 9.92 ? 16% |
* ... smaller is better