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.

Phones iPhone
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. 

Advertisement

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. 

Sponsored Links
The New Jeep Grand Cherokee 2024 Is Utter Perfection - See The Prices
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee | Search Ads
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. 

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

Advertisement

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. 

Advertisement

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. 

While Apple's announcement came out of the blue – there was no event to announce the launch, just a press release emailed to media outlets – it wasn't entirely surprising.

As well as all those talks about new MacBook Airs, when Apple launched its M3 chip last year it also launched new M3-powered MacBook Pros and a new iMac. The fact that this was the first M-series launch to not feature a MacBook Air didn't go unnoticed – and many of us assumed (or hoped) that an M3-powered Air would appear at some point. Thankfully, we've not had long to wait. So, the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) is a much better-value proposition, and in a world where the price of everything seems to be climbing it's great to see Apple buck that trend and release a laptop that's cheaper than its predecessor. With the launch of the M3 version, Apple has officially dropped the price of the M2 model to $999 / £999 / AU$1,599, and has stopped selling the M1 version altogether (it's still available for the moment from third-party retailers, and will likely drop further in price).  While the base M3 model's price is a nice surprise, what's less surprising – and less nice – is the fact that this model has the same 8GB of unified memory and just 256GB of SSD storage space as its predecessor. In 2024, those specifications don't really cut it – especially for a laptop that starts at just over $1,000. The configuration I was sent from Apple comes with double the memory and storage and 16GB and 512GB, along with a slight bump to GPU cores in the M3 chip over the base model, and it's a much more well-rounded offering that won't feel outdated after a year or so. This model is significantly pricier, though, at $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,399.Other than the switch to the M3 chip, the new MacBook Air 13- inch keeps essentially the same design as the M2 version, which is no bad thing, as that model remains one of the nicest-looking thin and light laptops out there. I much prefer the 13-inch MacBook Air to the 15-inch model, as the smaller device is much more easy to carry about. The fact that the battery lasted over 14 hours on a single charge in our battery life tests again shows just how good the 13-inch MacBook Air is for people who want a compact laptop they can use almost anywhere. Performance-wise, the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) does an excellent job with day-to-day tasks such as web browsing and watching TV shows, while also putting in an impressive showing when used for content creation I used applications including Adobe Photoshop and Ableton Live 11, and even played a few games, and the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) proved fast and dependable at all times. Even when putting this laptop through its paces by trying out a range of apps (often at the same time), the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) didn't once freeze or crash. The M3 model retains its predecessors' fan-less design, so it's essentially silent when in use.

While the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) isn't a radical reimagining in the way the M2 model was, it doesn't need to be. This is an assured release from a company at the top of its game, offering improved performance for a lower price, which means I have no trouble recommending the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) as the best laptop you can buy right now.

"Apple has spent almost a decade developing the Vision Pro, and it shows. Everything about it is spectacular, from the exquisite design to brilliant visuals that blend the real with the fantastical, to the versatility that puts other mixed-reality headsets to shame.


The fact that, even after all that work, there are still limitations are frustrating. Sure, I want a sub-1lb/500g headset that somehow integrates the battery; and, of course, I want it to cost $500. The state of the art, even Apple's bleeding-edge form of it, isn't there yet. None of that, however, makes me think less of the Vision Pro. It's a stunning achievement in industrial design and technology that translates the inscrutable worlds of AR, VR , and mixed reality into an experience that pretty much anyone can understand and enjoy.

Using your gaze and gestures (finger taps, long pinch, pull) to control a computer is the intuitive technology control you didn't know you were missing – the millimeter precision is more like what you'd expect from a seasoned OS, not the brand new Vision Pro platform, visionOS, Apple introduced nine months ago. Apple got this right on the first try, and it could become as second-nature as tapping, pinching, and swiping on an iPhone or iPad is today.


As a new computing platform, the Vision Pro is rich with features and possibilities. The fact that it does so many things so well, and that they work and make sense, is a legacy to Apple's efforts. I've been marveling at the attention to detail, and at how a bleeding-edge, V1 product can feel so finished and complete. Apple has created a headset that I'm itching to wear almost every day, and if I did nothing but work in it the Vision Pro would transform my life. I've long dreamed of having a 150-inch or larger workspace, but I couldn't imagine how it would be practical or, more importantly, viewable. With the Vision Pro, I get an almost unlimited desktop that makes me want to never return to the confined space of my laptop.

I've rarely tested a technology that has moved me in the way the Vision Pro does. Spatial videos are so achingly real that they instantly trigger an emotion that a flat image might not. Being up close with otherworldly or prehistoric creatures that seem to almost see me is at once jarring and thrilling. To pull this off, you need more than great apps, software, developers, and artists; you need a cohesive system that brings it all to life. The Vision Pro does it time and again, with 23 million pixels of imagery, spatial audio that travels the distance from band-bound speakers directly to your ears, and eye-tracking that knows your gaze better than you do.

I struggled to find the best fit, and while I can now wear the Vision Pro for hours, my face reminds me afterwards that it's not built for this. I've struggled on occasion to find a fit that doesn't cause me some niggling discomfort (although the more immersed I get, the less I feel anything).


I don't mind the external battery, but it feels not quite up to the task when you want to watch a 3D movie and power seems to drain at double speed. Thank goodness the battery can be plugged in for continued use.
While I think the outside-in pass-through technology that marries the real and computer-generated worlds is among the best I've seen, Apple's attempts to keep you connected to people in front of you and through, say, FaceTime calls, need work. Personas are just this side of creepy, and EyeSight, which shows a video of your eyes to those around you on the exterior screen, looks a bit scary. Then there's the price, which is overwhelming, and will be an instant turnoff for many. I wonder, though, if they might feel differently after their first experience – I'd argue that they will decide they want a Vision Pro, and the only question will be how they can afford it.