iPhone 16 Pro Max review

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is Apple’s most powerful iPhone to date. With a massive 6.9″ display, advanced camera system, and A18 Pro chip, it’s clearly built for users who need top-tier performance, whether for creative work, content creation, or simply having the best tech available.

Contents

• Price
• Release date
• Key upgrades
• Design and build
• Colours
• Display
• Camera system
• Software and Apple Intelligence
• Battery life
• 16 Pro Max vs other models
• Ecosystem and connectivity
• Pros and cons
• Refurbished option
• Final verdict

Price 💶

As of September 2025, the official Apple pricing in Ireland is:

• 256 GB: €1,359
• 512 GB: €1,609
• 1 TB: €1,859
  

On Swappie, you can find refurbished iPhone 16 Pro Max models from €1,069, fully tested and backed by warranty. A solid alternative if you want the same features for less.

Release date 📅

Announced on 10 September 2024 and released on 20 September, the 16 Pro Max joined the iPhone 16 series as the flagship model.

Key upgrades 🔧

Apple positioned this device as a “creative powerhouse”, and for good reason:

• A18 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
• 5x tetraprism optical zoom
• USB-C with USB 3 speeds
• New 6.9″ OLED display, the largest on any iPhone
• Longest battery life ever in an iPhone.
  

Design and build 🛠️

The design continues Apple’s titanium approach, but with slimmer bezels and refined curves for improved handling. It’s large, but doesn’t feel awkward.

• Materials: Titanium frame, Ceramic Shield front, glass back
• Weight: 227 g
• Dimensions: 163 × 77.6 × 8.25 mm
• It also includes the Action Button, which you can customise for quick access to apps or features like the camera or flashlight.
  

Colours 🎨

Available in four minimalist titanium finishes:

• Natural Titanium
• Black Titanium
• White Titanium
• Blue Titanium.

These colours suit both professional users and tech enthusiasts looking for a sleek look.

Display 🌟

The 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED is vibrant and crisp, with excellent contrast and brightness.

• Resolution: 2868 × 1320
• Refresh rate: Adaptive up to 120Hz (ProMotion)
• Brightness: Up to 2000 nits (outdoor), 1600 nits (HDR)
• Features: Always-On, HDR10, Dolby Vision, True Tone
  

Perfect for watching content, editing, or multitasking.

Camera system 📸

The triple-camera setup is ideal for mobile photography and video production.

• Main: 48 MP, ƒ/1.78 with sensor-shift OIS
• Ultra-wide: 12 MP with macro mode
• Telephoto: 12 MP with 5x optical zoom (tetraprism lens)
• Digital zoom: Up to 25x
• Front camera: 12 MP TrueDepth with 4K video and Portrait mode
  

It supports Apple ProRAW, ProRes, Smart HDR 5, Night Mode, and now even spatial video recording, ready for Apple Vision Pro.

Software and Apple Intelligence 🧠

Running iOS 18, the 16 Pro Max is fully compatible with Apple Intelligence, Apple’s new on-device AI system.

You can now generate images, summarise content, write replies, and interact with Siri in a more natural, context-aware way. All processing is done locally, so your data stays private.

Battery life 🔋

The battery is one of the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s biggest strengths.

• Up to 33 hours video playback
• Up to 29 hours streaming
• 50% charge in 30 minutes with a 30W adapter
• Supports MagSafe and Qi wireless charging
  

Even with heavy usage, it comfortably lasts through the day, and often into the next.

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs other models ⚙️

Model	Display	Chip	Zoom	From Price
iPhone 16	6.1″	A18	No	€849
iPhone 16 Pro	6.3″	A18 Pro	3x optical	€1,109
iPhone 16 Pro Max	6.9″	A18 Pro	5x optical	€1,359

The Pro Max leads in screen size, battery life and camera capabilities, especially for those who use zoom or video features often.

Ecosystem and connectivity 🔗

The iPhone 16 Pro Max integrates smoothly with the full Apple ecosystem:

• USB-C with USB 3: up to 10 Gbps transfer speeds
• MagSafe support for chargers and accessories
• Precision Finding with second-gen UWB chip
• Works seamlessly with AirPods, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad
  

You can even connect it to external drives or displays, making it a real productivity device.

Pros and cons ⚖️

Pros

• Excellent performance with A18 Pro
• Largest and brightest display ever on iPhone
• 5x optical zoom and spatial video
• Longest battery life
• USB-C with fast file transfer
  

Cons

• Expensive, starting at €1,359
• Quite large for small hands or pockets
• Some features (e.g. ProRAW, spatial video) are only useful to advanced users
  

Refurbished option ♻️

Buying a refurbished iPhone 16 Pro Max from Swappie means:

• Savings up to €240 compared to new
• 52-step quality control
• 12-month warranty
• 14-day right of return
• Lower environmental impact
  

It’s the same premium iPhone experience, at a more accessible price.

Final verdict ✅

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is made for users who demand the most from their phone. Whether it’s for photography, 4K video, gaming, design or just all-day battery life, it delivers. For those who want the best iPhone in 2025, this is it.

And with Swappie’s refurbished models, it’s now more affordable, and more sustainable, than ever.