I have had the iPhone 15 Pro Max since its release date, and I wanted to share some of my first impressions on using the new iPhone.
What are the differences from the 14 Pro Max, and are they really that big a difference and therefore worth upgrading? I am going to focus on a few key areas in which I have spent the most time in the short period that I have been using the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
- Look
- Feel
- Display
- Camera System
- Action button
- USB-C
I will, of course, provide a more long-term review of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but for now, let’s check out my first impressions.
Look
Now as we all know no, there have been some changes to the look of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. We now get a brushed titanium frame rather than the stainless steel frame of the 14 Pro Max. I liked this new finish from the moment that I unboxed the device, and it has a nice Matt finish look which I much prefer to the more shiny finishes. It also helps when it comes to fingerprints on the sides. You will still get them, but they are less obvious, and if you rock a case, it won’t be an issue at all.
Along with a new titanium frame, we get more rounded/curved edges which I think gives the iPhone 15 Pro Max a softer look. I feel like it looks a bit smaller than the iPhone 14 Pro Max. I am not saying that it is not still a big phone, but it certainly looks less wieldy.
Feel
One of the most noticeable upsides to the titanium frame is the weight. The iPhone 15 Pro Max feels a lot lighter than last year’s 14 Pro Max, which can only be a benefit. I have also found that it feels less slippy in the hand, but it is still a bit slippy so a case might be a must for some of us.
It also feels more comfortable to hold with the rounded edges, and they don’t stick into your hand. It just sits nicely. So with the combination of the iPhone 15 Pro Max being light and rounder, it makes using it for long periods of time so much more comfortable.
Display
The displays on the Pro model iPhones are always great, and this is no different. The display is crisp, and Pro Motion is a joy. The change with the display this year is that we have thinner bezels and I am going to be honest it doesn’t jump out at you that they are smaller. Yes, it’s nice to have a bit more screen, but I am not sure that it’s really that noticeable.
Camera
Year after year, I think this is where we see the biggest improvement. I have not generally been someone who got really excited about the camera upgrades because they are generally so good anyway, but this year is different.
What I was most looking forward to was the increased zoom capability, and I have not been disappointed. The 5x zoom is great, and the ability to digitally zoom at x25 is great to have and still provides a great shot.
There are some other changes in the camera, with the main lenses now having 3 different focal lengths that you can choose from, 24mm, 28mm and 35mm. From my limited knowledge of photography, I believe these are very popular focal lengths.
To change between the focal lengths, you just tap on 1x, and it will take you through them. I must admit this was not that clear, and I only found out how to change them through watching a review on YouTube.
Action Button
I have initially set up my action button to turn my torch on and off. In order to turn it on, you need to hold the button down for a few seconds, which is good and avoids turning it on in your pocket accidentally. I do want to play more with this and try different actions.
You can also set it up with a shortcut which is interesting. Shortcuts are something that I want to experiment with more, so this is something I will definitely be giving a go in the future. If you are wondering about how you now turn your phone on and off silent mode, then it now sits in the command centre.
USB-C
This is one that people were really excited about, and you know what, I haven’t used it once yet. I charge my phone wirelessly at night, so I have had no need so far. I am planning on taking some Pro Res videos, so I will see how quick and easy it is to get them off my phone and onto my Mac to edit.
The cable provided, however, is nice as it’s braided and feels really good quality, as you would expect.
Final Thoughts
I have only had the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and I am really enjoying it. OK, so it is not much different from the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and many would say it is not worth upgrading, and I can see why they would say that.
For me, I wanted to get a better zoom camera as I have a small human and being able to zoom in at times is priceless. The other thing was a change of frame in both material and more rounded edges. USB-C was not a major factor for me, but it is really nice not to have to carry different cables about (just need to swap out my AirPods)
So yes, I am glad I upgraded and am looking forward to using it more in anger to provide you guys with a long-term review.