UP
Our takeEditorialThe 16 Pro Max is the longest-lasting, largest-screen iPhone available - if the size and price fit, there is no better argument for waiting for the 17 series.
Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium
Apple
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
8.5/10 UpPhone score
The largest, most capable iPhone Apple has produced - a 6.9-inch display, 5x zoom, and the longest battery in the lineup.
Verified for iOS
Storage
Screen
6.9"
Chip
Apple A18 Pro (3 nm)
Camera
48 MP
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“Best battery, biggest OLED, 5x telephoto - the Pro Max is the rare phone where the premium is fully justified.”
“At nearly $800 with 25W charging and no telephoto edge over the smaller Pro, the premium is mostly for screen size.”
Our take
The largest, most capable iPhone Apple has produced - a 6.9-inch display, 5x zoom, and the longest battery in the lineup.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max sits at the top of the 2024 iPhone lineup in every meaningful dimension. The 6.9-inch LTPO OLED panel is Apple's largest to date, and ProMotion drives it at anywhere from 1 Hz to 120 Hz depending on what is on screen. The A18 Pro chip is shared with the standard 16 Pro but the Pro Max pairs it with a 4685 mAh battery that provides all-day endurance even under heavy load. Camera hardware is identical to the 16 Pro: triple-lens with 48 MP main, 48 MP ultrawide macro, and 12 MP 5x periscope telephoto - though the larger chassis has historically allowed Apple to tune the main sensor for slightly longer exposure times in low light. The titanium frame keeps the 227g weight from feeling heavier than it looks on paper. USB-C with USB 3 speeds. IP68. eSIM-only.
What we love
- Largest display in any iPhone at 6.9 inches with 120 Hz ProMotion
- 4685 mAh battery provides all-day endurance even under heavy use
- 5x periscope telephoto with Apple's best-tuned main sensor
- A18 Pro with hardware ray tracing and full Apple Intelligence support
- Camera Control button for direct hardware photo access
- Titanium chassis at 227g - lighter than equivalently sized Android flagships
- USB-C USB 3 for fast wired data transfer
What we don't
- 227g is heavy and the 6.9-inch body is large for one-handed use
- eSIM-only limits physical SIM flexibility
- 25W wired charging is significantly slower than Android flagships at this price
- Base 256 GB is better than the 16 Pro but still below some rivals
- Premium pricing means value per dollar is moderate
Full specifications
Display
Size6.9"
TypeLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution2868 x 1320 px
PPI460
Performance
ChipApple A18 Pro (3 nm)
RAM8 GB
Storage256 GB
OSiOS (18.x)
Camera
Rear camera48 MP
Rear camera 248 MP
Front camera12 MP
VideoYes
Battery
Wireless charging25 W wireless (Qi2)
Design
Dimensions163.0 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm
Weight227
ColorsBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium
Form factorSlate
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3
NFCYes
USBUSB 3.2
Networks5G: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3296 | 4G: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53, 66 - A3296 | 3G: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | 2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
SIMeSIM only
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max on individual carriers
Showing 20 of 35 plans with Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Carrier: Any ▾Lines: 1 ▾Sort: Lowest ▾
CarrierPlanDataTermMonthly
Unlimited
36-mo term
$11.11/mo
total $56.11 over term
Unlimited
36-mo term
$30.55/mo
total $60.55 over term
Unlimited
24-mo term
$45.79/mo
total $85.79 over term
Unlimited
36-mo term
$30.55/mo
total $90.55 over term
50 GB
36-mo term
$33.33/mo
total $93.33 over term
Unlimited
24-mo term
$45.84/mo
total $95.84 over term
Frequently asked questions about the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
What kind of display does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max have?
At 6.9 inches with a 2868 x 1320 pixel resolution at 460 ppi, this is the largest OLED display Apple has shipped. LTPO ProMotion adapts continuously from 1 Hz for lock screen to 120 Hz during fast scrolling and gaming. Always-on display shows the lock screen at minimal power draw. Peak brightness reaches 2000 nits for HDR content, and outdoor peak extends to 1000 nits for ambient conditions. True Tone and P3 wide color gamut are standard inclusions. The display size advantage over the 16 Pro is most apparent in split-screen multitasking, reading, and watching widescreen content. It is the top-tier iPhone display option available in 2024-2025.
What kind of camera does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max have?
The triple-lens setup matches the 16 Pro: 48 MP f/1.78 main with sensor-shift OIS, 48 MP ultrawide with macro capability, and 12 MP 5x tetra-prism telephoto. Apple's computational photography pipeline - including photonic engine processing, Smart HDR 5, and Action Mode stabilization - is shared across both Pro models. Video captures 4K 120 fps in Log-encoded Dolby Vision across all three lenses, supporting professional color grading workflows. The Pro Max has historically benefited from Apple tuning the main sensor for slightly more aggressive noise reduction given the phone's thermal mass, though specifications are identical on paper. Audio recording uses four microphones with a spatial recording option for video.
What is the battery life of the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max?
The 4685 mAh battery is the largest in the 16 series and delivers dependable all-day endurance. Heavy users running navigation, media playback, and camera simultaneously can typically reach 18-22 hours of screen-on time under mixed conditions. Wired charging at 25W reaches a full charge in approximately 75 minutes. MagSafe wireless at 25W is the fastest wireless Apple offers. The combination of battery size, LTPO efficiency, and the A18 Pro's power management puts this among the top battery experiences in any iPhone.
What processor does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max use?
The A18 Pro on 3 nm pairs a 6-core CPU with a 6-core GPU capable of hardware ray tracing. The Neural Engine processes Apple Intelligence features on-device at 35 TOPS. With 8 GB of RAM the Pro Max handles all current computational photography, gaming, and productivity workloads without constraint. Thermal headroom in the larger chassis gives the Pro Max a slight edge in sustained performance over extended workloads compared to the 16 Pro.
How much storage does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max have?
256 GB is the base tier for the 16 Pro Max - a sensible floor given the 4K ProRes video capabilities. Higher tiers reach 512 GB and 1 TB. There is no microSD expansion. The 1 TB option addresses professionals who shoot extensively in Log format and prefer to keep footage on-device between offloads. For typical mixed use, 256 GB is sufficient unless local media libraries are large.
What kind of speakers does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max have?
The 16 Pro Max's larger chassis produces the most speaker volume in the iPhone 16 series. The stereo configuration pairs the earpiece and bottom-firing units with Apple's spatial audio tuning for Dolby Atmos. Output quality is clear and detailed across the midrange; bass response extends lower than on the standard 16. Spatial Audio works with AirPods for head-tracking playback. There is no 3.5 mm jack; USB-C and Bluetooth cover wired and wireless audio.
Does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max support fingerprint or face unlock?
Face ID is the sole biometric method. The TrueDepth camera housed in the Dynamic Island delivers 3D facial recognition that works in darkness, with glasses, and at off-angles. Authentication is rapid enough to be invisible in normal unlocking. Dynamic Island surfaces live activities from apps and serves as an interactive notification layer. No fingerprint sensor is present.
Is the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max water-resistant?
IP68 rated to 6 meters for 30 minutes in fresh water. The titanium chassis's tighter tolerances and more precise assembly contribute to seal reliability over time. Salt water and chlorinated pool water can accelerate gasket wear; rinsing with fresh water after exposure is recommended. The IP68 rating covers typical accident scenarios with high confidence.
