iPhone 16 Pro Max Thoughts

I recently upgraded to the iPhone 16 Pro Max from the iPhone 15 Pro Max because I'm part of the iPhone Upgrade program and like to have the latest tech. Here are my first impressions:

This year's "big" upgrades are the camera, screen size, battery, and new camera control feature. Oh yeah, and the unreleased Apple Intelligence features. But the phone is largely the same as the iPhone 15 Pro Max. You also get the Apple Intelligence features in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. I have been using the iOS 18.1 beta and just wanted to be upfront about it.

I didn't think I would notice a significant difference in the screen size, but I certainly did. It throws me off a bit because when I'm typing, I don't always spell words correctly. But I do enjoy the smaller bales.

The bigger battery is definitely an upgrade for me, as I have been pushing the limits with my battery this summer. I was struggling to get through an entire day on a single charge, which could largely be due to running the iOS betas. While I've only had the phone for a few days, the battery life has improved.

Since I shoot many videos and photos on my iPhone, I'm excited about the camera control and upgrades. The camera is super fast, and I love opening it from the camera control "button." The A18 Pro might be responsible for this, as it offers 15% better processing performance. The 48MP ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 16 Pro Max significantly improved over the 12MP ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, allowing for high-resolution macro photography.

Finally, it's worth upgrading if you are excited about these features. If you currently have an iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max and are happy with it, there may not be a compelling reason to upgrade. However, if you have an iPhone 15 or an older model and want to take advantage of the new Apple Intelligence, then upgrading is a must. Remember that many of these features announced at WWDC have yet to be released and will be rolled out in beta over time. I hope this helps.