iPhone 18 Pro Max Review: Minor Upgrades, Exceptional Battery Life
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
The iPhone 18 Pro Max has been reviewed, highlighting its minor design changes, a smaller Dynamic Island, and a new variable aperture camera system. It features a larger battery offering exceptional longevity, a powerful A20 Pro chip, and improved camera performance. While not a significant upgrade from the previous model, it is recommended for users upgrading from older iPhones, with a price of 5,950 shekels in Israel.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The iPhone 18 Pro Max offers a smaller Dynamic Island and a variable aperture camera.
- Its battery capacity has increased, providing excellent longevity, lasting well over a day.
- The device is powered by the new A20 Pro chip with reduced energy consumption.
- Camera sensors remain 48 megapixels, with a new variable aperture for better light control.
- The phone maintains its premium design with minor aesthetic updates and new color options.
- Priced at 5,950 shekels, it's recommended for users upgrading from older iPhone models.
The new iPhone 18 Pro Max retains a familiar design but introduces new colors, a smaller Dynamic Island, and a variable aperture camera, aiming to entice users to upgrade. The device launched in Israel concurrently with its global release, available to consumers in the first sales wave. However, the model offers limited upgrades and arrives overshadowed by the iPhone Duo, which is drawing significant attention.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max features an aluminum frame and identical dimensions to its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but is heavier at 249 grams due to an enlarged battery. Apple has reduced the size of the Dynamic Island by integrating Face ID technology beneath the display. The phone is available in black, white, and two new colors: Glacier, a silver-blue, and Burgundy, a shade of maroon. It maintains the same durability standards with Ceramic Shield front and back, and IP68 water and dust resistance. The 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display supports a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate for smooth visuals and battery efficiency, offering 1000 nits of brightness, peaking at 3000 nits.
Under the hood, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is powered by Apple's A20 Pro chip, built on a 2nm process for reduced energy consumption and heat. It is optimized for gaming and AI processing, comes with 12GB of RAM, and offers storage options from 256GB to 2TB. The device supports eSIM alongside a physical SIM, features WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and stereo speakers.
The camera system boasts a 48-megapixel main sensor with a new variable aperture mechanism (f/1.48 to f/4.0). This allows for precise control over depth of field and light intake, enhancing portrait bokeh and low-light performance. The telephoto lens offers 4x optical zoom, and the ultrawide lens has a 120-degree field of view. The selfie camera remains at 18 megapixels. Reviewer Tzachi Hoffman noted excellent photo quality with wide dynamic range, detail, and realistic colors, even in low light.
Battery performance is significantly improved with a 5391 mAh capacity (or 5567 mAh for eSIM-only models), lasting well over a day. In testing, the phone retained 46% battery by 11 PM after a 7:35 AM start. While Apple doesn't officially state wired charging speeds, a 60W charger is suggested to reach 50% in about 15 minutes. It also supports 25W wireless charging and magnetic charging accessories.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is priced at 5,950 shekels in Israel. The reviewer concludes that while there's little reason to upgrade from the previous generation, it's an excellent choice for those upgrading from older models, offering a long-lasting battery, a high-quality display, and improved camera capabilities, particularly for professional photographers.