The iPhone 16 Pro Max appears to be the biggest iPhone ever. Additionally, when this gadget is released this autumn as part of Apple's new smartphone lineup, we'll get to see everything from a powerful new A18 Pro chip to improved cameras and a new capture button on the design.
Apple Intelligence is just one of a wide range of AI features that the company has already introduced. These updates are said to include chat GPT support, generative AI photo editing, an improved version of Siri, and more. The iPhone 16 Pro Max could be one of the few smartphones that can offer AI in this way as well. In addition, there are also hardware improvements like the powerful A18 Pro processor, Wi-Fi 7, and a denser battery.
Here’s everything we know about the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
iPhone 16 Pro Max cheat sheet: Biggest rumours
- Release date prediction: September 2024
- Price prediction: from $1199
- Design: Larger, brighter 6.9-inch display, capture button
- Cameras: Bigger main sensor, 48MP ultrawide, 5x telephoto
- AI features: Generative AI in several Apple apps, including Photos and Notes
- Specs: A18 Pro chip, up to 2TB storage, Wi-Fi 7
- Colors: Rose, Gray, Silver and Space Black
- Battery: Larger battery than iPhone 15 Pro Max at 4,676 mAh
- Software: iOS 18List
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Price and release date speculation
It's too early to determine exactly how much the iPhone 16 Pro Max will cost. However, given that the iPhone 15 Pro Max has seen a $100 price increase, we expect Apple to keep the current price for at least another year. If that's the case, the 256GB version of the iPhone 16 Pro Max could have a starting price of $1,199, £1,199 or AU$2,199.
Apple typically releases its new iPhones in early to mid-September; the pandemic was the only time in the last few years that this didn't happen. The event usually takes place around the second or third week of the month, with Tuesday being the most common day. We've checked a calendar to estimate the potential iPhone 16 release date as accurately as possible.
In 2024, if Apple continues on its current trajectory, September 10 could be the date for the Apple September event. Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 Pro Max will open on Friday, September 13, and the device could launch on September 20. However, this is all speculation.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Design and display
Early speculations suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro Max could grow in size from 6.7 inches to 6.9 inches. In doing so, the 16 Pro Max will surpass the 6.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in size and become the largest iPhone ever. This screen size increase is also expected to come with a bigger battery.
Check out these images of iPhone 16 dummy units showcasing the size of each model to get an idea of what the 6.9-inch iPhone Pro Max will look like. Even better, a leaked image shows the iPhone 16 Pro Max next to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, seen above.
According to early CAD renders, the new phone will be just 0.019 inches wider than the iPhone 15 Pro Max but 0.19 inches taller. This should indicate that despite its larger size, the 16 Pro Max is still easy and comfortable to use, although it may not be the best choice for those who have trouble handling larger phones.
Phone Arena's side-by-side render comparison of the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Galaxy S24 Ultra indicates that Samsung's next phone will be slightly wider than the enlarged iPhone 16 Pro Max, while Apple's flagship will be slightly taller. The weight difference between the Galaxy S24 Ultra Max and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 233 grams and 225 grams, respectively.
Samsung is the company that typically provides iPhone screens, and speculation about the supply chain suggests that the version used in the iPhone 16 Pro Max and other models will use less power. This is due to the anticipated transition of OLED materials from blue fluorescence to blue phosphorescence technology. According to a separate Asian story, Samsung is reportedly providing Apple's Pro phones with cutting-edge OLED displays that can boost brightness by up to 20%.
Another improvement to the OLED panel will be smaller bezels, which will accentuate the iPhone 16 Pro Max's larger screen by surrounding the active part of the display with an incredibly thin 1.15mm border. To put things into perspective, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 1.5mm bezel, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 1.71mm bezel. The remaining specifications for the iPhone 16 Pro Max have also been provided in full.
It appears that it will be slightly thicker and wider than the current iPhone 15 Pro Max, but it will be taller. It's also speculated that Apple could hide the remaining Face ID sensor beneath the screen of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Instead of the Dynamic Island's pill-shaped cutout, it would reduce the cutout required for the selfie camera to a circle. But we may have to wait until 2025 and the release of the iPhone 17 Pro before this actually happens.
In addition to the action button added to the Pro series in autumn last year, there are rumors that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max could have at least one additional capacitive button. This is believed to be the "capture" button, and it enables you to quickly take photos and videos (it also has a focusing feature). This button looks and feels minimal, with new dummy model images showing up - even inside the case.
These MacRumors prototype-based renders show all of these suspected possibilities. While Apple refines this design, things may change, but it doesn't deviate too much from the device it was intended to be.th should be the one we eventually buy. Additionally, all of the alleged cases for the iPhone 16 lineup show action and capture buttons.
Additional dummy units show the iPhone 16 device with a smaller-sized wireless charging MagSafe ring. This could improve wireless charging while also making the next-generation phone smaller.
According to a source, the iPhone 16 Pro Max could be available in Space Black, Silver or Gray, and Rose. Rose seems to be a new option and could be the color of the year, but it looks similar to the older gold iPhones.
The new color-infused rear glass will reflect these colors. This material, which is new to the Pro Max anyway, has currently been seen on the back of the iPhone 15 Plus and base model.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Possible Specs
Given that Apple has made a strong commitment to providing better chipsets to the Pro iPhones than the regular and Plus models, it is highly likely that Apple will do the same with the iPhone 16 series. This suggests that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models will likely have an A18 chip, most likely the A18 Pro. Different A18 variants may come for the other iPhone 16 models.
Compared to the A17 Pro, one of those variants is expected to have a larger die size, providing more room for additional transistors and specialized hardware. According to analyst Jeff Pu, this will improve the performance of on-device AI. But according to Mark Gurman, Apple will still need to use servers running the M2 Ultra chip in the cloud for some AI processing.
Although we are unsure about the additional features this chip will have, the report suggests that it will be slightly different from the A17 Pro. It seems that instead of using the N3B process to make the A17 Pro, Apple will use chips made with TSMC's N3E technology. This technology is claimed to increase yields and cost-effectiveness, but also improves performance at the regrettable cost of efficiency. According to an industry report, these will be followed by 2nm iPhone 17 chips.
With similar core technology, the A18 Pro could have unexpected power. According to a set of leaked benchmark data, it could outperform Apple's M-series laptop/tablet CPUs in single-core testing and rank higher among Apple devices when it comes to AI features thanks to a very powerful NPU.
Apple has ordered 100 million A18 processors for the upcoming autumn, indicating that it expects a high level of demand for its new phones. This could mean that the limited availability of the Pro models won't be as problematic as it has been with previous iPhone releases.
Although leaker @Tech_Reve claims this is unlikely to happen, others have speculated that Apple could increase the built-in memory in its phones to accommodate more AI-powered features. It appears that the Pro Max will continue to use 8GB of RAM instead. It seems more plausible that the Pro models will support Wi-Fi 7, which is a rumor.
As for memory, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is speculated to have a starting memory capacity of 256GB. Thanks to the new memory standard, this could increase to 2TB this year, although this could lead to reduced read/write performance.
There has also been a lot of speculation over the past few years about Apple's deployment of an in-house 5G modem. Sadly, the most recent information indicates that this modem won't be available until 2025, and Qualcomm appears to be maintaining its role as modem supplier for at least another year.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Battery
We've heard that Apple is investigating measures to reduce heat dispersion for the battery in the iPhone 16, including changing the aluminum casing and connector on the iPhone 16 Pro Max's battery. The phone could have longer battery life without sacrificing thermal management, thanks to a redesigned shell and higher battery density.
In an effort to mitigate supply constraints during launch — like the one that caused shipment delays for iPhone 15 Pro Max orders last fall — Apple is also looking to diversify the locations where its batteries are made.
According to another source, the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max could all have larger batteries, with the Pro Max potentially having a 4,676 mAh battery. (The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 4,422 mAh battery powering it.) However, the iPhone 16 Plus could have a smaller battery size, which could mean the Pro Max could once again regain its status as the iPhone with the longest lifespan.
Compared to the current 29 hours of video playback that Apple offers with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple may guarantee more than 30 hours of battery life on the next Pro Max.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Cameras
There are only a few rumors about the camera of the iPhone 16 Pro Max at the moment. The telephoto lens of the iPhone 16 Pro Max may have a 300mm focal length, which is more than double the 120mm lens of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. In addition, it is also reported that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a 1/1.4-inch sensor, which is slightly larger than the 1/1.28-inch sensor of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This is especially important considering the claim that the iPhone 16 Pro will have a 1/1.4-inch sensor of the iPhone 15 ProThe iPhone 16 Pro will use the Max's tetraprism-designed telephoto lens to match the Max's camera capabilities. This will allow the camera to capture more light and improve overall performance. A report released by research firm TrendForce further corroborates this rumor.
The telephoto lens used by Apple on the iPhone 16 Pro version may undergo additional modifications. Apple is reportedly considering adopting a smaller lens with better magnification.
According to the report, the 48MP ultrawide camera rumored to be included with the iPhone 16 Pro model will be a significant improvement over the current 12MP lens. However, the iPhone 17 may come with an improved selfie camera instead of the 12MP used on the iPhone 15.
The improvements may also apply to one or more lenses of the camera. According to the report, Apple is developing a new lens coating material that could help the iPhone handle intense light sources that can result in lens flare or other picture abnormalities.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Software
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to run iOS 18, which Apple introduced at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, just like the other models in the iPhone 16 family. Control Center has been redesigned, and the home screen is now more customisable, allowing you to place widgets and apps wherever you want. New features have been added to apps including Wallet, Messages and Maps, while the Photos app has been significantly overhauled. The Passwords app has also been updated.
However, Apple's AI-powered feature, known as Apple Intelligence, may be the more notable update. In addition to a more intelligent Siri, Apple Intelligence brings with it editing and image creation tools, contextually aware organising and writing tools that suggest phrasing and tone adjustments. Although Apple Intelligence has strict system requirements, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, with its A18 chipset, almost completely meets those requirements.
For those who want to try out iOS 18 ahead of its fall release — which is expected to coincide with the launch of the iPhone Pro Max — a public beta is set to launch later this month. Currently, the software is only available in developer beta. (To test out Apple Intelligence, you'll need an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max.)
iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Ultra?
Our main doubt about the iPhone 16 Pro Max is whether the long-awaited iPhone Ultra will replace it or whether the Pro Max model will still exist in 2024.
Several rumors suggested that the iPhone 15 and iPhone Ultra would be released simultaneously. There was even a suggestion that the Ultra could just be a renamed Pro Max rather than a "fifth iPhone." To be honest, the iPhone 16 Ultra is a little easier to pronounce than the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Mark Gurman, a well-known Apple insider source, suggests that the iPhone Ultra could be released in 2024. It's unclear if Apple will finally drop the Pro Max designation or if it will be an entirely new type of iPhone 16. This debate may now be settled as it appears that Apple will continue to support the Pro Max model for at least another year, as there has been no talk about an iPhone 16 Ultra over the summer.
Perhaps getting an even more advanced iPhone would be a mistake. Phones editor John Velasco believes it would be better for Apple to make a foldable iPhone instead of an Ultra.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Outlook
After WWDC 2024, rumors about the iPhone 16 Pro Max have started to surface, and they're not going to subside anytime soon. However, what we have heard so far points to the new phone being a formidable beast.
With the iPhone 16 series, AI should really start to shine in addition to getting a bigger display, a more powerful camera system, a capture button, and an increase in battery life. Also, if the iPhone 16 Pro Max gets the speculated RAM upgrade, it could really be something extraordinary. For more rumors and leaks about the iPhone 16 Pro Max, stay tuned.
Also Read:- iPhone 16 Pro rumours – everything we know so far
Also Read: –iPhone 16 Ultra: All the rumours so far
