Design
Looking at the iPhone XS Max next to the XS, they're pretty similar in design. Both have the same glass-on-glass design with a stainless steel frame, making them look gorgeous. The distinguishing feature of the XS Max is its size, catering to those who wanted a larger iPhone option. However, it's large, heavy, and much more comfortable to use with two hands. The build is more resilient than last year's, featuring a more durable Gorilla Glass 6, making it more resistant to physical damage. The new IP68 rating allows the phone to be submerged in even deeper water with no problem, but liquid damage isn't covered by the warranty if the seal fails.
Face ID and Biometrics
The only biometric way to unlock the iPhone XS Max is with Face ID, which is quite accurate using infrared to scan your face. It's even faster this year and has the option to add a second alternative face, providing enhanced security.
Stereo Audio Playback
The iPhone XS Max features two speakers for stereo audio playback, with the earpiece speaker being much louder this year, resulting in richer and more balanced sound. The speakers tested even louder than the XS, earning an excellent score in lab tests.
Audio
The iPhone XS Max no longer includes a lightning to 3.5-millimeter audio adapter, indicating a transition towards wireless audio solutions. Users will need to consider wireless or Lightning-connected options for audio output.
Display
The Apple iPhone XS Max boasts a massive 6.5-inch OLED screen with a pixel density of 458 ppi, delivering stunning content visuals on its bezel-less display. Despite the notch cutout, the screen offers impressive brightness, measuring at 650 nits of maximum brightness, on par with the smaller iPhone XS. Additionally, its excellent sunlight legibility test scores make it one of the best AMOLED displays available.
Resolution and Size
- Larger 6.5-inch OLED display with 458 ppi pixel density
- Impressive 650 nits of maximum brightness
- Excellent sunlight legibility test scores
Notch Cutout
Although the notch cutout may obstruct the viewing experience, it does not detract from the overall brilliance of the display.
Screen Performance
- Bezel-less design for immersive viewing
- Stunning content visuals and vibrant colors
- Impressive brightness and legibility, even in direct sunlight
Performance
The Apple iPhone XS Max is powered by the cutting-edge A12 Bionic chipset, featuring a seven nanometer architecture, four gigs of RAM, and an eight-core neural engine. The phone's benchmark performance surpasses that of any other device currently available, making it the fastest hardware on the market. However, due to the glass construction, heat dissipation may be a concern during prolonged heavy usage.
Chipset and RAM
- A12 Bionic chipset with advanced seven nanometer architecture
- Four gigs of RAM for seamless multitasking
- Eight-core neural engine for enhanced processing power
Benchmark Performance
- Outstanding benchmark performance, topping the charts
- Unparalleled speed and processing capabilities
- Questionable heat dissipation due to glass construction
Battery
The Apple iPhone XS Max is equipped with a 3,200 milliamp-hour battery, the largest ever seen in an iPhone. In GSMArena's proprietary battery tests, it achieved an endurance rating of 79 hours, surpassing the performance of the smaller iPhone XS. However, it fell slightly short of the results obtained by the iPhone 8 Plus and the Note 9 in individual battery tests with the screen on.
Charging
Despite shipping with a 5-watt charger, the iPhone XS Max's charging performance was underwhelming, reaching only 18% charge in 30 minutes. However, users have the option to purchase a faster charger and cable from Apple, which can deliver over 50% charge in half an hour, albeit at an additional cost of around 70 bucks.
iOS 12.1 Update
Apple has released a beta version of iOS 12.1, addressing the notorious charging issue that prevented the new iPhones from charging when plugged in after a period of idle time. Additionally, iOS 12 brings improvements under the hood to enhance overall device performance.
Cameras
The Apple iPhone XS Max is equipped with the same camera setup as the iPhone XS, featuring a single 12-megapixel f/1.8 wide-angle camera and a 12-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto camera, both with optical image stabilization (OIS). The wide-angle camera boasts a new sensor with larger pixels, and both cameras benefit from the new image signal processor, enabling features such as Smart HDR through image stacking.
Camera App
Despite the camera enhancements, the camera app itself has received no significant updates. Users still need to navigate to the settings outside the camera app to adjust image and video settings, which can be inconvenient.
Camera Comparison
When comparing the camera quality of the Apple iPhone XS Max and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, several differences become evident.
Daylight Photo Quality
- iPhone XS Max: restrained and true to life color rendition
- Galaxy Note 9: more vivid and warmer color rendition
- Level of detail: comparable, with slightly softer corners on the iPhone
The iPhone XS Max exhibits a more restrained color rendition, while the Galaxy Note 9's photos are more vivid and warmer. Both phones offer comparable detail, with the iPhone XS Max showing slightly softer corners. Additionally, the iPhone XS Max is more prone to lens flare in direct sunlight, although it produces a beautiful lens flare. With Smart HDR, the iPhone XS Max also boasts wider dynamic range, particularly in the highlights, compared to the Note 9.
Low Light Performance
- iPhone XS Max: darker exposure, drab and muted colors
- Galaxy Note 9: more saturated and pleasant colors
- No noticeable noise in photos from both phones
In low light conditions, the iPhone XS Max captures photos with a darker exposure, resulting in slightly drab and muted colors. On the other hand, the Galaxy Note 9's photos exhibit more saturated and pleasant colors. Despite the differences in color rendition, both phones produce photos with minimal noise in low light.
Telephoto Camera
- iPhone XS Max: better contrast and sharper images
- Galaxy Note 9: limited use of telephoto in low light
When using the telephoto camera, the iPhone XS Max delivers better contrast and sharper images. However, it's important to note that the telephoto lens cannot be used in low light conditions on both phones, unless forced through portrait mode.
Video Recording
- iPhone XS Max: slightly better detail in 4K footage
- Galaxy Note 9: sharper 1080p footage
- Both phones offer stabilization at 4K 30 and 1080p
In video recordings, the iPhone XS Max provides slightly better detail in 4K footage, while the Galaxy Note 9 delivers sharper 1080p footage. Both phones offer stabilization at 4K 30 and 1080p, with the iPhone XS Max exhibiting extra smoothness compared to the Note 9.
Selfie Cameras
When it comes to selfie cameras, the Apple iPhone XS Max and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 showcase distinct differences in terms of color rendition and field of view.
Conclusion
The Apple iPhone XS Max offers notable upgrades over its predecessor, including a leading-edge chipset, a larger bezel-less OLED display, enhanced stereo speakers, and improved camera capabilities. While the camera quality is impressive, the differences compared to other flagship models like the Note 9 are minimal, making it a less decisive factor in this price range. With a price exceeding 1200 euros, the iPhone XS Max may deter a significant portion of potential buyers. Furthermore, the existing divide between Android and iOS platforms may limit its appeal to a specific audience. However, for those seeking the pinnacle of Apple's offerings, the iPhone XS Max stands as a top choice deserving of a recommendation.
FAQ
What are the standout features of the Apple iPhone XS Max?
The Apple iPhone XS Max boasts industry-leading performance, a larger bezel-less OLED display, improved stereo speakers, and an enhanced camera setup, making it a compelling choice for tech enthusiasts and Apple loyalists.
Is the camera quality of the iPhone XS Max significantly superior to its competitors?
While the iPhone XS Max's camera delivers impressive results, the differences compared to other top flagships like the Note 9 are minimal. Therefore, the camera quality may not be a decisive factor for those considering a purchase in this price range.
