Apple's latest iPhone releases are not quite as earth-shattering as they once were, in part due to perceived diminishing innovations. The iPhone 16 lineup was still a big deal and well-received.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max was released at a price point around 50% above the 16 base model, which is in line with their previous pricing strategy. But does that equate to 50% more in performance, or are you paying much more for only a slight edge?
Display Differences
The iPhone 16 Pro Max stands out with its stunning 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. This is perhaps the real selling point, at least initially, as it's the largest ever on an iPhone. The resolution of 2868 x 1320 pixels has a 460 pixels per inch (PPI) density, making it exceptionally sharp.
The standard iPhone 16 has a smaller 6.1-inch screen with a resolution of 2556 x 1179 pixels, which is around the same PPI. Both displays have exceptional color accuracy and HDR support. But, the Pro Max has the edge with its adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz, which can be great for battery life. Both models have a peak brightness of 2000 nits, meaning they're both suited to outdoor usage.
Performance & Hardware
Under the hood, both models house the cutting-edge A18 chip family. They're not the same, though, as the base model uses the A18 chip, while the Pro Max has its own A18 Pro processor. The A18 Pro is built on TSMC's advanced N3E process. It includes a faster Neural Engine optimized for AI tasks, which was a core theme of the iPhone 16's marketing push, and a GPU that is up to 20% faster than its predecessor. So, in regards to the price, this is far off the 50% increase, highlighting some level of diminishing returns that is typically the case.
Both phones have 8GB of RAM, which is an understandable decision as it's more than sufficient still in 2025, but storage options do differ: the iPhone 16 starts at 128GB, whereas the Pro Max begins at 256GB and goes up to 1TB—while the 16 caps out at 512GB. For users wanting top-tier performance for either gaming or professional-grade video editing, the A18 Pro with the higher storage can make the difference.
Camera Capabilities
The camera system on the iPhone 16 Pro Max was the real show-stopper. It has a triple-camera setup with a 48MP main sensor, an ultra-wide lens also at 48MP, and a telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom. This means that no quality is lost at 5x optical zoom at around 120mm—highly impressive for portrait shots and capturing wildlife from far away.
The iPhone 16 base mode has a dual-camera system with a 48MP main sensor and a single ultra-wide lens at 12MP. So, it's similar to close-range shots but simply cannot compete with long-range photographs.
The A18 Pro chip also means that the Pro Max performs better in low-light photography thanks to advanced computational photography. It also supports Apple's ProRAW format for professional photographers and has better video recording capabilities with ProRes support and more stabilization. So, the Pro Max becomes a must for serious photographers.
Battery Life & Charging
Battery life is often an interesting comparison, considering that the more premium models typically have bigger batteries but also larger displays, which consume more energy. The larger device has an impressive 4685mAh battery compared to the iPhone 16's disappointingly sized 3582mAh unit. Tests show that users get around 8.5 hours of heavy usage (16 hours of moderate usage) on the Pro Max compared to 6.5 hours of heavy usage on the standard model (14 hours of moderate usage).
Design & Build Quality
The design language of both models is, of course, quintessentially Apple. But there are some differences. The Pro Max has a premium titanium frame that's durable and lightweight and is generally preferred over the aluminium frame of the base model. So, it feels more luxurious, and the overall weight is 227 grams vs just under 170 grams. This isn't insignificant, and many users prefer a lighter phone that is more usable with one hand. Both have Ceramic Shield glass.
Verdict
The decision to opt for the iPhone 16 Pro Max over the base model generally comes down to a few key things. Generally, you're getting what you pay for with both models: While 50% extra performance may never be achievable on paper, the 20% better processor can sometimes feel 50% better with certain highly demanding tasks. So, the question comes down to whether the user will be using such demanding tasks or is very serious about their photography. If not, then there is a case for the smaller model, which is simply easier to use with one hand and has similar performance for day-to-day tasks and close-up photographs.
