Pros
Cons
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is a flagship smartphone powered by the six-core A20 Pro processor and seven-core GPU. It features a 6.9-inch 120 Hz OLED display with a resolution of 2868 by 1320 pixels. Its rear camera system combines three 48 MP sensors with variable aperture, optical zoom, ultrawide coverage, and 3D sensing. The phone includes 12 GB of memory, storage options from 256 GB to 2 TB, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and USB-C connectivity. A 5,391 mAh battery and efficiency improvements are expected to deliver longer operating times. Reviews describe the device as a capable but evolutionary upgrade focused primarily on performance, photography, and battery life.
Specifications
Secondary Camera: 18 MPix (f/1.9, 20mm)
Price comparison
Average of 24 scores (from 90 reviews)
Reviews for the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Source: 91mobiles

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is one of Apple’s most incremental updates in years, and I still think it’s the best iPhone you can buy. The build is tough, the screen and camera system are among the best around, video is unmatched, performance is unrivalled, and charging is finally quick.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/07/2026
Rating: Total score: 87% performance: 88% display: 86% mobility: 88% workmanship: 83%
Source: Digital Camera World

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is an exceptionally capable phone, and I still think it offers the most consistently excellent video experience you can get from a smartphone. Its photos might not reach the same heights as the best Chinese flagships, particularly when it comes to long-range zoom and sheer sensor quality, but I trust the iPhone to give me a usable image almost every time I press the shutter, while its color consistency between lenses remains excellent.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/07/2026
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% performance: 100% workmanship: 90%
Source: Matthew Moniz

I've been using the iPhone 18 Pro Max as my daily driver for two weeks, and in that time owners have reported a list of problems: Face ID failing, freezing and reboots, a crackle and pop from the earpiece, scratches, and discolouration around the camera rings.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/03/2026
Source: Dom Esposito

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max Review is here... TWO week later! Is it worth the upgrade vs older devices? We're talking about the performance, the camera, battery life, and more as I go over Apple's overshadowed release, the iPhone 18 Pro Max!
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/02/2026
Source: TechTablets

Xiaomi 18 Pro Max Vs Vivo X500 Pro Max Vs iPhone 18 Pro Max Camera Comparison. Side-by-side look at 4K60 video, 4K120, audio quality, portrait mode, super macro, all-camera, max zoom test, and more!
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/02/2026
Source: Phone Arena

Sure, the upcoming iPhone Duo will offer a bigger, flexible display, but I'm confident that the 18 Pro Max has a superior camera system, longer battery life, and even higher performance compared to the Duo. Plus, there are benefits to the standard candybar form-factor.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/01/2026
Rating: Total score: 85% performance: 84% display: 85% mobility: 100% workmanship: 80%
Source: 91mobiles

After putting all three phones through the same set of scenarios, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (review) comes out as the overall winner in our comparison. It delivered the most consistent results, particularly in detail, sharpness, and handling difficult lighting conditions.
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 09/30/2026
Source: Business Standard

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is not a phone that announces its upgrade with a redesigned exterior. In fact, the lack of visible differentiation is one of the first things I noticed. Put the 2025 and 2026 models next to each other and the differences are difficult to spot, apart from the new finishes and the smaller Dynamic Island.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/29/2026
Source: ben's gadget reviews

The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro Max are new flagships with a lot in common. So I took both out and snapped dozens of photos and videos for a good ol' fashioned camera shootout.
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 09/29/2026
Source: Trusted Reviews

It's big. It's expensive. But it's great. The iPhone 18 Pro Max doesn't arrive with a notable single upgrade, rather a selection of smaller refinements from the camera, to the battery and the screen.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/29/2026
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: The Indian Express

If you’re a regular smartphone user, don’t upgrade to this; the regular iPhone or iPhone Air will do just fine. If you already have a Pro device, only upgrade if you’re on an iPhone 15 Pro or older which had a significantly different camera. This phone will give you an edge and more efficiency.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/28/2026
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Whistle Out

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are a refinement of last year’s top-end models, adding creative camera features, a bit of extra grunt, and longevity to an already excellent base. If you’re a photography nerd, you’ll appreciate the camera upgrades. Between the film-like Photographic Styles, variable aperture, and proper manual controls, I don’t think I’ve had as much fun taking and editing photos on an iPhone.
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 09/28/2026
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Tech with Benefits

Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/28/2026
Source: Expert Reviews

For conservative Apple fans who want the best of the best, and the biggest screen, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the phone to own. It’s more expensive than it was last year, but that’s not really Apple’s fault, and in critical areas, it has been improved. Plus the new Siri AI is here to, you know, actually work when you want it to, although it’s still not perfect.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/28/2026
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: Hardware Zone

Last year was a good one for the Pro iPhones, which made me wonder how Apple would follow up. The answer, it seems, is to take what made them good and make it even better. In my hands-on, I said the Pro iPhones are “more pro than ever”, and now, after spending a few days with them, I believe my initial impressions were spot on.
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 09/26/2026
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 85% performance: 100% workmanship: 90%
Source: Tech with Benefits

Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/25/2026
Source: ben's gadget reviews

The Vivo X500 Pro Max is here, so I did the obvious and compared it against the iPhone 18 Pro Max in photography and videography. For this video I shot over 400 images and videos side-by-side with both phones in various conditions and I'm sharing my findings here.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/24/2026
Source: GSM Arena

So, is the iPhone 18 Pro Max worth buying? Absolutely. It remains an exceptional flagship packed with top-tier features. If it fits your needs - or if you're upgrading from an iPhone 15 Pro Max or earlier - it's an easy recommendation. And it can stand tall against any Android rival, too.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/23/2026
Rating: Total score: 88%
Source: Tech Spurt

We start with how to customise this Apple blower, including a look at the new lock screen tools and updated widgets. iOS 27 also improves existing apps like Shortcuts, to help you get the best from your iPhone 18 Pro or Max. Safari has some new AI-based chicanery, and there's also new battery tools to try and keep your phone from dying mid-day. Of course, you might be wondering what's new in Apple's camera app.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/23/2026
Source: Mark Ellis Reviews

Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/23/2026
Source: TechTablets

Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 09/22/2026
Source: PC Mag

The iPhone 18 Pro Max isn't just the best phone Apple has ever built—it's the most complete flagship on the market. Between its PCMag Lab Award-winning battery life, crushing A20 Pro speed, and a camera system with serious post-production chops, it leaves virtually no weaknesses exposed.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/21/2026
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Tom's Guide

My take on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max is that they are obscenely powerful phones inside a quiet redesign. Between the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, I’d opt for the Pro Max because of the bigger screen and longer battery life, but the regular 18 Pro is no slouch and an hour better than the 17 Pro based on our testing.
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 09/20/2026
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Tech Guru Daily

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are bigger upgrades than they appear. Apple has improved the tentpole features – performance, battery, Apple Intelligence and the camera to make it a pro-level device that’s tailor-made for a high-end user and content creator.
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 09/20/2026
Rating: Total score: 95%
Source: Tech with Benefits

I did it, I switched to the iPhone 18 Pro Max from the S26 Ultra. This is my second ever iPhone after I tried this again last year.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/20/2026
Source: Matthew Moniz

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max full review and comparison. A20 Pro is incredible, better battery life and a new variable aperture wide lens camera. but is it enough?
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 09/19/2026
Source: ben's gadget reviews

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is the first Pro iPhone to not be the star of the show at its own launch event. But while all the hype is on the foldable iPhone Duo, the reality is the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the much more polished iPhone with better cameras and no weird one-hand usability issues.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/19/2026
Source: Tom's Guide

In this video, Mark reviews the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max by answering your most pressed questions from YouTube, TikTok, and our executive interview! From weight concerns and case compatibility to battery myths, camera upgrades, and whether you should wait for the iPhone Duo, we break down our full lab data and real-world testing.
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 09/19/2026
Source: SuperSaf

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Full Comparison including Display, Hands-on, Size, Design, Performance, Camera, Battery & Price.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/19/2026
Source: CNet

I’ve taken some of my favorite iPhone images ever with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and yet, I don’t think just anyone should buy it. Apple made shooting with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max’s cameras more like using the Fujifilm X100VI camera.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/18/2026
Rating: Total score: 93%
Source: Chrome Unboxed

Apple is once again doubling down on professional-level camera improvements in the iPhone 18 Pro Max, aimed squarely at filmmakers and content creators. Normally, going from one generation to the next should not be that big a leap, especially when the previous generation already had a massive overhaul.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/18/2026
Source: Geek Culture

Is it the photographer or the camera? With Apple, it can be both, unless you simply want a camera that thinks for you. With no base iPhone 18 (yet), the Apple iPhone 18 Pro series is the new norm, and the Pro Max resets the benchmark for what a smartphone can do on so many levels.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/18/2026
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 85% performance: 95% workmanship: 90%
Source: Patrick Rambles

Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/18/2026
Source: The Tech Chap

Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 09/18/2026
Source: Tech with Benefits

Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/18/2026
Source: Canbuyornot

Ever since Xiaomi dropped the variable aperture feature from their phone, I've been waiting for someone to pick up the tech. Thankfully my wish has been granted, as Apple is using the technology in the new Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max and 18 Pro. It features six laser-cut polymer composite blades that open and close, giving the phone four physical stops: F1.48, F1.8, F2.8, and F4.0.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/17/2026
Source: SuperSaf

Comparing 4K/8K, HDR with Dolby Vision, 48MP/200MP, Cinematic Mode, Action Mode, Horizontal Lock, Primary, Ultrawide, Zoom and Selfie cameras, Portrait Mode and Stereo Audio of the iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for video and photos with sample shots indoors, outdoors and in low-light.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/17/2026
Source: Techradar

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max take last year’s Pro reinvention and refine it in all the right places — but the cameras are where Apple has made the biggest leap, with a variable aperture and finally useful Pro controls giving you more creative freedom without sacrificing the effortless shooting iPhone is known for.
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 09/16/2026
Rating: Total score: 100% price: 80% performance: 100% display: 100% mobility: 100% workmanship: 100%
Source: Mashable

The new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max start at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively, a $100 price hike over last year’s smartphones. They look and feel largely the same, and while they do bring a few big improvements, including better camera, cooling, and battery life, they don't make this phone a necessary upgrade for folks who already have the 17 Pro. If you have an even older model, the 18 Pro will be a massive upgrade, especially when it comes to battery life.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/16/2026
Rating: Total score: 84% performance: 90%
Source: CNN underscored

If you haven’t figured it out, I’d be buying an iPhone 18 Pro Max in Burgundy had I not already bought the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The wild jump in battery life compared to the phone I already love, plus Focus Tracking and Photographic Styles 3, make this the phone that I’d be able to take superior photos and video for longer without needing a portable charger.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/16/2026
Source: Dave 2D

Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/16/2026
Source: Emkwan Reviews

Unboxing and reviewing the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, including a closer look at the new colours, design, performance and camera upgrades. In this video I also check out Apple’s latest accessories including the TechWoven Case, Silicone Case, Crossbody Strap and Wrist Strap to see how they look and feel with the new iPhones.
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 09/16/2026
Source: SuperSaf

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max feature a Aluminium Unibody Build, ProMotion Display, powered by the A20 Pro with a Vapor Chamber, a 48MP Primary Fusion Camera with Variable Aperture, 48MP Ultrawide and 48MP 4x Telephoto, Customizable Action Button, Camera Control, iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and Price is from $1199/$1299.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/16/2026
Source: The Tech Chap

Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/16/2026
Source: GadgetMatch

Apple just announced the new iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, and AirPods 5 and there’s a lot to talk about. In this video, we break down everything Apple announced, including the biggest new iPhone 18 Pro features, camera upgrades, design changes, performance improvements, and the latest updates coming to Apple Watch and AirPods.
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 09/13/2026
Source: Phone Arena

Overall, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is focusing on two main areas: efficiency and camera prowess. The faster new chipset, the larger battery, and the in-house modem all hint that Apple has truly put efficiency first and foremost with the iPhone 18 Pro Max. At the same time, the main camera;s party trick is a neat one, but I don't think many people would benefit from it.
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 09/11/2026
Source: Phone Arena

With the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple isn't changing the winning team; it's merely improving it. However, these improvements are already beating the Galaxy S26 Ultra in terms of raw hardware, and Samsung is definitely feeling the heat.
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 09/11/2026
Source: Phone Arena

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max is shaping up to be an evolutionary release like most previous ones, and it will naturally be the best one yet. Better performance, better camera, and much better battery life are the main upgrades with the iPhone, and Google hasn't really countered these very well with the Pixel 11 Pro XL.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 09/11/2026
Source: PC Mag

The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is a tough challenger to Samsung's capable Galaxy S26 Ultra. These two powerful phones are among the best you can buy, but which is the best one for you? We have the details you need.
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 09/11/2026
Source: SuperSaf

Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/11/2026
Source: Tech with Benefits

Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 09/11/2026
Source: The Tech Chap

Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 09/11/2026
Source: Manila Shaker

The iPhone 18 Pro Max offers a newer A20 Pro chip, a variable-aperture main camera, longer battery ratings, and faster wired charging. However, the iPhone 17 Pro Max still has the same 6.9-inch 120Hz OLED display and a similar 48MP triple-camera system with the same maximum optical-quality zoom.
Comparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/10/2026
Source: The Times of India

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max make this an unusually substantial year for what is usually the "safe" choice in Apple's lineup. Variable aperture is a new capability rather than a repackaged feature, Pro controls finally give enthusiasts native manual tools worth using, and Apple Reference Image feels like a meaningful first step toward verifying photo authenticity.
Comparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/10/2026
Source: Linus Tech Tips

Apple has FINALLY unveiled their entrant into the folding phone market, and it's undoubtedly slick. EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE MAJOR THING. Ugh. I really hope I'm wrong about this in the long term...
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/10/2026
Source: Snazzy Labs

Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/10/2026
Source: Tom's Guide

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Pro Max don't look that different than the iPhone 17 Pros, but they offer a new variable aperture for brighter images, pro-level manual controls, faster A20 Pro performance and much longer battery life.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/10/2026
Source: Expert Reviews

With the iPhone 18 on hold until 2027, the only “normal” iPhones to launch in 2026 are the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. You might expect Apple to lavish a bit more attention on them, but the advancements look fairly humdrum compared with the dramatically different iPhone Duo, Apple’s first folding phone, which debuted at the same time as the two new Pros.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 09/09/2026
Foreign Reviews
Source: WinFuture
DE→ENComparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/30/2026
Source: Computerbild
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/29/2026
Rating: Total score: 98%
Source: Chip.de
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/29/2026
Rating: Total score: 98% price: 55% performance: 100% display: 98% mobility: 98%
Source: Techtest.org
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/25/2026
Source: Futurezone.at
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/24/2026
Source: Teltarif
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/22/2026
Source: O2
DE→ENComparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/17/2026
Source: Computerbild
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/17/2026
Rating: Total score: 98%
Source: O2
DE→ENComparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/17/2026
Source: Spiegel Online
DE→ENComparison, online available, Short, Date: 09/16/2026
Source: O2
DE→ENComparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/11/2026
Source: O2
DE→ENComparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/09/2026
Source: DDay IT
IT→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/01/2026
Rating: Total score: 85% price: 70% workmanship: 80%
Source: Corriere
IT→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/16/2026
Source: Mister Gadget
IT→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/11/2026
Source: Mister Gadget
IT→ENComparison, online available, Short, Date: 09/10/2026
Source: Les Numeriques
FR→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/30/2026
Rating: Total score: 100% performance: 100% display: 90% mobility: 90% workmanship: 90%
Source: ITHardware.pl
PL→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/04/2026
Rating: Total score: 85%
Source: GSM Maniak
PL→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/28/2026
Rating: Total score: 98% performance: 98% display: 100% mobility: 90%
Source: FPT shop
VN→ENComparison, online available, Short, Date: 09/23/2026
Source: FPT shop
VN→ENComparison, online available, Short, Date: 09/23/2026
Source: Genk
VN→ENComparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/21/2026
Source: FPT shop
VN→ENComparison, online available, Short, Date: 09/18/2026
Source: Tinh Te
VN→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/18/2026
Source: XT Mobile
VN→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/14/2026
Source: VNReview
VN→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/11/2026
Source: VNReview
VN→ENComparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/10/2026
Source: VNReview
VN→ENComparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/10/2026
Source: Tek.no
NO→ENComparison, online available, Long, Date: 09/16/2026
Rating: Total score: 85%
Source: K-tai Watch
JA→ENComparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/10/2026
Source: Computerblog.ro
→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 10/06/2026
Comment
Apple A20 Pro 7-core GPU: A graphics processor integrated into Apple's A20 Pro SoCs. Early data indicates there are no architectural A19 Pro 6-core GPU from 2025, but there is now one computational cluster (core) more, and clock speeds may have received a slight increase as well.
Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
A20 Pro: Apple's powerful new SoC found inside its H2 2026 iPhones and possibly iPads. Made with an unspecified "2 nm" process, it features 2 high-performance and and 4 power-saving CPU cores running at higher clock speeds than what the A19 Pro could muster. The built-in NPU, as well as the iGPU are now both larger and faster.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
Devices with the same GPU
Devices with Same Screen Size and/or Weight
Devices from the same Manufacturer
