iPhone 15 Pro Max VS Google Pixel 8 Pro - 4 things to consider before you buy
5We've spent some time with Apple's biggest and most expensive new phone. Here are our findings.
We're in a weird position here with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, because the device feels like it is simultaneously representing all change and all upgrades, while also not feeling like it is THAT much different from what came before. And while that isn't necessarily a bad thing, Apple are left in a difficult position to make their customers feel comfortable in the level of quality AND different enough to warrant the big price tag.
Okay, good stuff. The USB-C is actually a bit of a godsend. We didn't think it would make that much of a difference, but we were wrong. Just needing one plug with one type of USB with you for all of your stuff negates the 9.01am question in the office: "Do you have an Apple charger? I left mine at home."
It also seems like Apple really did listen about some of the complaints about the iPhone 14 series and tackled them all head on with the 15 Pro Max. So we get the titanium body, which makes the phone much lighter and much more comfortable to hold and use.
There is also the Action Button, to which you can assign your device to do pretty much anything from the single push of the side button. Don't want to unlock and get into your settings/options/apps to do something specific? No problem, the Action Button will bring your straight to your camera, open your calendar, set your recorder, pretty much whatever you might need it to do at a moment's notice.
The camera is also, as expected, absolutely exceptional. Apple always seem to make proper generational jumps with their phone's cameras, and the camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is no different. Especially for the 5x telephoto zoom, which has been jumped up from the previous 3x, and makes for a substantial jump on what has come before.
But, and you knew there was going to be a but, if you add all of these up, there is no absolute reason to upgrade here if you already have an iPhone 14. The nice chassis and the improved camera and the Action Button and the USB-C are all nice gradients of improvements, but even all combined, there is nothing that demands you own this phone.
Let us not mince words here: the iPhone 15 Pro Max is absolutely the best iPhone on the market, and if you're still using an iPhone 13 or older as your daily device, then yes, we wholeheartedly recommend you jump in on this generation. But if do possess a last-gen iPhone and you can't check out the price tag below without it making your wince a little, then this might not be the one for you.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max costs from €1,489, and is available in most phone stores as well as the Apple Store online.