iPhone 18 Pro Max lasts up to three days but feels unwieldy

Keeping the Pro Max tradition, Apple enlarges the display and the battery while preserving the overall design language. The 6.9-inch OLED screen is bright and sharp, with a smaller camera cutout and a more expansive Dynamic Island. The main camera gains a variable aperture option, allowing more light in for low-light shots and offering more creative control for depth effects. A refreshed cooling system helps maintain peak performance in extended use.

Apple touts endurance that can reach almost three days under light usage. In typical scenarios, video, web, messaging, the device aims to stretch well beyond a day, potentially requiring charging only every second or third day for many users.

The triple 48MP rear cameras remain the core photography system, with strong zoom and ultra-wide options. The headline addition is the variable aperture on the main sensor, which improves low-light performance and offers new creative possibilities, including starburst-like effects. Inside the software, the new Siri AI can review past conversations and suggest actions based on what’s on your screen, though it leans on Messages and Mail for best use. Expect improved AI-powered focus tracking and automatic cinematic video options as well.

For many people, this is a two-handed device. It’s big and heavy, which can make pocketing and one-handed use awkward. If you prize the best-in-class screen and camera performance and don’t mind the heft, it’s a strong option. If you prefer compact phones, you may want to look at smaller iPhone models.

Two clear takeaways stand out. First, you’ll get the longest battery life among iPhones, useful for long trips or heavy media use. Second, you’ll enjoy a camera system with more low-light flexibility and AI-powered features, but you’ll trade ease of single-handed use for the benefit of the bigger display.

Pricing sits at the higher end of the market, with availability varying by region. Apple continues to promote trade-ins and recycling as part of its environmental push. If you’re weighing this model, think about how often you need long runtime between charges and how you feel about a very large phone in daily life.