So, what I thought would be a brief flirtation with iOS and an iPhone 13 Pro at the end of 2021 actually led to a committed relationship with an Apple smartphone. Sure, I still have access to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but my SIM card (we still use them in the UK) sits in an iPhone. 

Lately, the variation of Android and general boredom with iPhones nearly saw me swap back to Google's smartphone platform, but just when I thought I was out, the iPhone 15 Pro Max pulled me back in.  And I'm ok with that, as it's a fantastic flagship-grade smartphone. However, it might be a little too good – to the extent that I have no clear idea of ​​​​where phones can go next to be more than just iterative upgrades over their predecessors.  But let me first tell you why the iPhone 15 Pro Max has my attention, despite me never really being into the Max phones.  First off, the titanium construction is a game changer, taking what could be a heavy and unwieldy 6.7-inch-display-equipped phone into a device that I can just about use one-handed. And subtle tweaks to the sides, adding a degree of curvature at the edges means the iPhone 15 Pro Max still rocks the slick flat-edges Apple brought back with the iPhone 12 series but makes them a little more comfortable to hold. The matte finish of the phone's rear and the way the colors are blended with the titanium chassis is also very neat.  flag of US (English) TRENDING Apple Vision Pro review Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) review Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review Galaxy Ring Wordle hints Best VPN When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works.

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The iPhone 15 Pro Max has me worried…
Opinion
By Roland Moore-Colyer published February 24, 2024
Apple's nailed the smartphone formula but that could be bad for future innovation

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max in front of stalactite photo
(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
I was an Android user for many years, having transitioned from a venerable iPhone 4S to a Samsung Galaxy S6 in 2015. Since then, I've used some of the best Android phones. 

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So, what I thought would be a brief flirtation with iOS and an iPhone 13 Pro at the end of 2021 actually led to a committed relationship with an Apple smartphone. Sure, I still have access to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but my SIM card (we still use them in the UK) sits in an iPhone. 

Lately, the variation of Android and general boredom with iPhones nearly saw me swap back to Google's smartphone platform, but just when I thought I was out, the iPhone 15 Pro Max pulled me back in. 

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And I'm ok with that, as it's a fantastic flagship-grade smartphone. However, it might be a little too good – to the extent that I have no clear idea of ​​​​where phones can go next to be more than just iterative upgrades over their predecessors. 

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But let me first tell you why the iPhone 15 Pro Max has my attention, despite me never really being into the Max phones. 

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The sum of its tweaks
an image of the iPhone 15 Pro Max

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)
First off, the titanium construction is a game changer, taking what could be a heavy and unwieldy 6.7-inch-display-equipped phone into a device that I can just about use one-handed And subtle tweaks to the sides, adding a degree of curvature at the edges means the iPhone 15 Pro Max still rocks the slick flat-edges Apple brought back with the iPhone 12 series but makes them a little more comfortable to hold. The matte finish of the phone's rear and the way the colors are blended with the titanium chassis is also very neat. 

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While the Dynamic Island isn't perfect, it's a welcome departure from the notch I begrudgingly got used to on the iPhone 13 Pro. And I don't feel it's much more intrusive than the punch-hole cameras on Android rivals like the Google Pixel 8 Pro; plus the added functionality is appreciated if not always used to its full potential. 

I like the new Action button too, which I use to quickly trigger the 'torch' – aka the rear camera flash. USB-C connectivity is very welcome. And I still love Apple's take on a 1Hz to 120Hz screen with its ProMotion display. Combined with slick software, the iPhone 15 Pro Max feels very fast. 

Of course, it's ridiculously fast with its A17 Pro chip, which can run console-quality games on a device that's a heck of a lot more pocketable than an Xbox Series X. There's scope for more performance to help these games run a little better, but with how much Apple Arcade has to offer, you're never stuck finding a neat little game to play while surviving a tedious commute.