Supersize me, anyday!

It’s been a month since I got my hands on the iPhone 18 Pro Max and let me just say that after a year of operating an iPhone 17 Pro, I was glad to have the big, heavy machine back in the palm of my hand. 

If you’ve upgraded from an iPhone 17 Pro Max, the minuscule weight difference will go unnoticed after a day or two. Though if you have small hands, this is not a one-hand phone. It will require two hands to operate. 

Battery: I use my phone for work, so immediately I noticed that the battery lasts at least around 30 hours, despite excessive usage. You probably really have to use the phone every second of the day to drain it. Though if you do take a lot of videos and use the camera continuously, you’ll see the battery drain. But that is relative to use. Apple does claim that battery life has increased up to 45 hours and on the Max, it is apparently the longest on any iPhone.

Charging: With a lightening charger, this beauty of a phone charges within the hour and maybe 1.15 hours to reach 100%. This is a significant change from my previous phone where I had to turn on Airplane Mode to get it to charge faster. 

Camera: Despite the three 48 megapixel rear cameras, one main fusion camera, an ultra wide camera and a telephoto camera, one of the biggest upgrades to the new iPhone is the first-ever variable aperture, found in the main camera. This controls how much light reaches the sensor or enters the lens. This means it provides more flexibility when taking photos in different lighting and essentially means more creative control. Though it may take intense camera knowledge to adjust to the settings you prefer to take your photos. Photographic Styles has changed and the photos do look more refined, though dimly-lit and night photos will prove a challenge and may need additional camera adjustments. 

Display: Scrolling is definitely smoother and watching reels (because who are we fooling?!) and playing games are much more immersive. The high brightness makes the screen easier to see in the bright sunlight, where it actually adjusts to the outside light. This is much welcomed, especially if you have eyes like mine, which are sensitive to the sun’s glare.  

Performance: The iPhone 18 Pro Max is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, though if you’re using every day apps like IG, WhatsApp and Line, you’re not gonna need all the processing power the phone has.  

The real question, as always, is if this phone is worth the money. It all depends on the currently phone you’re using. If you’re using any phone older than an iPhone 15, upgrading offers a noticeable improvement. Like with most luxuries, and yes, I consider an iPhone a luxury, if you have the money, but it. There are plenty of offers with service providers that are tempting enough. 

While, I am not a huge fan of the new burgundy colour, I am a huge fan of the vibrant, hot magenta with the matching MagSafe and wrist strap. Can’t wait for 2027 if only to see what the 20th anniversary iPhone will bring to my hand!