Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, positioning them as the ultimate iPhone experience. Both models boast Apple’s most powerful phone hardware yet, rivaling the performance of Apple’s M series Mac chips. But beyond their size, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max share nearly identical features.
The primary distinction lies in their dimensions, with the Pro Max offering a significantly larger display and footprint. This size difference naturally translates to variations in screen size, weight, and battery capacity. But does opting for the Pro Max over the smaller Pro, or vice versa, offer any real advantages beyond screen size?
Let’s delve into the specific differences and explore how these dimensions impact the user experience on both models. We’ll also investigate whether one model truly emerges as the superior choice.
Design: A Tale of Two Sizes
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max share an essentially identical design, with the most obvious difference being their size. The standard iPhone 16 Pro retains a smaller footprint, similar to the smaller iPhone 16, while the Pro Max boasts a larger frame to accommodate its massive display. This size disparity also results in the iPhone 16 Pro Max being approximately 30 grams heavier than the standard Pro. Despite these differences, both phones maintain a slim profile at 8.25mm thickness, a commendable achievement.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max can be considered a scaled-up version of the 16 Pro, although the camera modules are almost identical in size. Both phones feature identical button layouts, including the new Camera Control button, though their positioning may vary based on the size of the device. The ease of access to these buttons will ultimately depend on individual hand size and preferences.
One aspect we’re a bit skeptical about is the accessibility of the Camera Control button, particularly on the smaller model. The new button, positioned on the side of all iPhone 16 models, aims to quickly launch the Camera app. While its shutter-button-like placement might encourage more landscape photo captures, some users might prefer using it for vertical photos or videos, or even to invoke the Visual Intelligence interface for scanning surroundings. The limited space on the iPhone 16 Pro could pose a slight challenge when attempting to use the button with one hand.
Apart from this minor consideration, the two iPhones are remarkably similar. They even boast identical color options, including the new Sand Titanium hue, which initially sparked rumors of a coffee-like color.
Display: A Bigger Canvas for Visuals
The difference between the displays on the two phones is undeniably apparent, with a clear distinction between the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both models feature a marginal increase in display size compared to their non-Pro iPhone 16 counterparts, as well as the previous iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models. This increase is attributed to slimmer bezels and slightly larger bodies.
The iPhone 16 Pro now boasts a 6.3-inch display, stepping up from the 6.1-inch screen on its predecessor. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max takes things up a notch, reaching 6.9 inches, exceeding not only the iPhone 15 Pro Max but also stalwarts in the Android ecosystem like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL.
This size discrepancy translates to different screen resolutions as Apple strives to maintain the same level of sharpness (pixel density) across both displays. Both displays also offer a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits, a variable 120Hz refresh rate, and the Dynamic Island feature.
Beyond size, there are minimal differences between the displays on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.
Performance: Powerhouse Under the Hood
Apple equips both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max with almost identical hardware. Both models are powered by Apple’s latest A18 Pro chip, boasting a new and more efficient design compared to its predecessor, which powers the iPhone 15 Pro. While the core counts for the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine remain largely unchanged, Apple claims the new chipset offers a 15% performance boost over last year’s A17 Pro.
The CPU now features two dedicated units for running low-power AI applications directly, eliminating the need to rely on the Neural Engine. The GPU boasts 20% enhanced graphics capabilities and 2X faster ray tracing rendering. While the Neural Engine doesn’t receive a significant upgrade despite the event’s emphasis on Apple Intelligence, it still delivers a remarkable performance of up to 35 TOPS (trillion operations per second), nearly matching the Neural Engine found in the Mac’s M4 silicon.
One minor discrepancy between the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max lies in their storage options. While the iPhone 16 Pro offers 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB variants, the Pro Max lacks a 128GB option, mirroring the pattern established in the iPhone 15 Pro lineup. Admittedly, 128GB storage might seem limited for phones of this caliber, especially if you frequently record videos. While a 128GB option could have made the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max more accessible and potentially reduced its price, Apple’s seamless iCloud integration for storing files, media, and app data might make it a less pressing concern.
Another potential difference between the two models could be their ability to manage heat. While Apple doesn’t provide specifics, it’s reasonable to suspect that the smaller phone might necessitate a reduction in the size of the passive vapor cooling technology inside. Even if this isn’t the case, the smaller surface area could potentially lead to slower heat dissipation during demanding scenarios like gaming. We’ll thoroughly assess this aspect during our upcoming reviews.
Battery and Charging: Endurance and Speed
The smaller size of the iPhone 16 Pro, compared to the Pro Max, inevitably translates to limited space for its battery pack. While Apple doesn’t disclose exact battery capacities, they do provide estimates for expected battery life, revealing significant variations between the two models.
The iPhone 16 Pro delivers an impressive 27 hours of video playback time, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max stretches that to a remarkable 33 hours, despite its larger and potentially more power-hungry display. It’s important to note that these figures are merely indicative of battery performance and might not accurately reflect real-world usage patterns. Nevertheless, the Pro Max clearly holds an edge in this area.
While we anticipate learning about actual battery capacities soon, it’s worth noting that the iPhone 15 Pro featured a 25% smaller battery than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. We wouldn’t be surprised if the new iPhone 16 Pro series follows this trend.
Regarding charging speeds, Apple appears to have eliminated any disparities between the two devices. In fact, all iPhone 16 models are rumored to feature 45W fast charging via their wired USB-C connection. Additionally, the phones support up to 25W wireless charging with MagSafe and 15W wireless charging using accessories that adhere to the common Qi2 protocol. Both models also offer wireless charging capabilities for accessories like AirPods, though Apple Watch charging is not supported.
Cameras: Capturing Moments in All Their Glory
With the iPhone 15 series, Apple introduced a new 5x telephoto camera, but it was limited to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This year, both the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max boast identical camera systems, including the 5x telephoto lens.
This identical camera setup across both phones also includes a new 48-megapixel primary camera that can capture images faster and an enhanced 48MP ultrawide-angle camera capable of combining four pixels into one for brighter shots. The 12MP selfie camera remains unchanged from the previous generation.
Apple has also integrated the ability to shoot 4K HDR videos at 120 frames per second with the new primary camera. This feature allows you to slow down footage to 24fps, creating captivating cinematic effects. As with other performance-intensive tasks, we anticipate the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s larger body providing a thermal advantage.
Both phones now feature four microphones, enabling more holistic sound capture and optimized spatial audio performance. The microphone array can also utilize machine learning to eliminate background noise.
While both phones share the same camera hardware, we expect similar performance in terms of photography. However, the iPhone 16 Pro Max could potentially offer a slight edge in videography, both in terms of heat management and its larger viewfinder.
Software and Updates: A Consistent Experience
All new iPhone 16 models come preloaded with Apple’s latest iOS 18. Apple Intelligence and Android-like customization features are central to this new iOS iteration, and we expect a seamless experience across both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. iOS 18 introduces a key addition to Messages, namely RCS support.
The only potential advantage of the iPhone 16 Pro Max might stem from its larger screen, enabling easier editing of app icons or elements within the Control Center. However, considering Apple’s meticulous control over the user experience across its phones, especially flagship models, we anticipate no limitations on either model. Ultimately, the usability of the screen on each device hinges largely on personal preferences.
Price and Availability: A Premium Experience
The iPhone 16 Pro has a starting price of $999 for the 128GB variant, while the 256GB version is priced at $1,099. The iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199 for its base 256GB model.
Both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are currently available for pre-order. Apple is scheduled to begin deliveries on September 20, but due to high demand for the Pro models, you might have to wait several weeks for your device.
Which One Should You Buy?
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are essentially identical, with key differences stemming from size. The smaller iPhone 16 Pro is lighter and easier to handle. While its 6.3-inch screen might not be considered small, it should suffice unless you explicitly prefer larger displays.
The larger iPhone 16 Pro Max, despite its added bulk, offers certain advantages. The larger surface area contributes to better cooling performance during demanding tasks like gaming or videography. This advantage could become more pronounced over time as the processing demands of iOS and apps increase. The bigger screen also provides more real estate for video consumption, gaming, and video recording. We also expect a more comfortable thumb position when using the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 Pro Max compared to the smaller Pro.
While these minor trade-offs exist between the two phones, none are deal-breakers. Both models are among the best smartphones available for the remainder of the year and into September of next year. If you’re eager to experience Apple Intelligence features, which will be rolled out in the coming months, these devices are the perfect choices.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to opt for the smaller iPhone 16 Pro or the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max boils down to your individual needs and preferences. Consider factors like display size, battery life, and your usage patterns to determine the best fit for you.
