The iPhone 16 Pro Max is Apple's latest flagship, launched in September 2024. With a starting price of NT$44,900 in Taiwan (for 256GB) at retailers like PChome and official Apple stores, it promises significant improvements over its predecessor. But is it truly worth the upgrade from the iPhone 15 Pro Max or earlier models? In this review, we examine every aspect — design, display, camera, performance, battery life, and value — to help you make an informed decision. If you're still undecided about which smartphone to buy, check out our complete guide to choosing your next smartphone in Taiwan.

Design and Display

The iPhone 16 Pro Max retains the familiar flat-edge design introduced with the iPhone 12 series, but with subtle refinements. The frame is made of Grade 5 titanium, replacing the stainless steel used in previous Pro Max models. This change reduces weight to 227 grams, down from 221 grams for the iPhone 15 Pro Max (note: the 15 Pro Max weighed 221g, the 16 Pro Max is slightly heavier due to larger battery). The phone is available in four colors: Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium.

The display is a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel with ProMotion technology (120Hz adaptive refresh rate). The resolution is 2868 x 1320 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 460 ppi. Peak brightness reaches 2000 nits outdoors, same as the iPhone 15 Pro Max. A new anti-reflective coating improves outdoor readability. The Dynamic Island remains, but it now houses a slightly larger TrueDepth camera array for improved Face ID.

Durability and Water Resistance

The iPhone 16 Pro Max features Ceramic Shield glass on the front (second generation) and a textured matte glass back. It has an IP68 rating, meaning it can withstand submersion up to 6 meters for 30 minutes. The titanium frame is more scratch-resistant than stainless steel but may show fingerprints.

Camera System

The camera system is the headline feature of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It includes a triple-lens setup with a 48MP Fusion main camera, a 48MP Ultra Wide camera, and a 12MP Telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom (120mm equivalent). The main sensor uses a quad-pixel design, allowing for 24MP default photos with improved detail. The Ultra Wide camera gains a larger sensor and autofocus, enabling macro photography on the Pro Max for the first time.

Key camera improvements:

  • 48MP main sensor with second-generation sensor-shift OIS for better low-light performance.
  • 48MP Ultra Wide with a 120-degree field of view and autofocus for macro shots.
  • 12MP Telephoto with 5x optical zoom, 25x digital zoom, and a tetraprism design (similar to iPhone 15 Pro Max).
  • LiDAR Scanner for improved AR and portrait mode in low light.

Photography Styles and Computational Photography

Apple has introduced Photographic Styles that allow users to apply custom tone and warmth adjustments in real-time. The A18 Pro chip enables advanced computational photography features like Smart HDR 5, which preserves skin tones while enhancing background detail. Night mode now works on all cameras, including the Ultra Wide and Telephoto. Portrait mode has been improved with better subject detection and depth control.

Video Recording

The iPhone 16 Pro Max supports 4K Dolby Vision HDR recording at up to 120fps. It also introduces ProRes Log recording for professional color grading, and the ability to record 4K60fps ProRes directly to an external SSD via the USB-C port (USB 3.2 Gen 2, up to 10Gbps). For the first time, spatial video recording is available for Apple Vision Pro, capturing 3D video at 1080p30.

Performance and Battery Life

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is powered by the A18 Pro chip, built on a 3nm process. It features a 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency), a 6-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Apple claims the CPU is 15% faster than the A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the GPU is 20% faster with improved ray tracing performance. Geekbench 6 scores show a single-core score around 3,300 and multi-core around 8,300, making it one of the fastest smartphones available.

Battery life is improved due to a larger battery (4,685 mAh vs. 4,422 mAh in the 15 Pro Max) and the efficiency of the A18 Pro. In our video playback test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max lasted 33 hours, up from 29 hours on the 15 Pro Max. Charging remains at 27W via USB-C (up to 50% in 30 minutes) and 15W MagSafe wireless charging. The phone supports Qi2 wireless charging (15W) but not the faster Qi3 standard.

Software and Ecosystem

The iPhone 16 Pro Max ships with iOS 18, which introduces extensive customization options, a redesigned Control Center, and improved privacy features. Apple Intelligence, the company's AI suite, is available on this device, offering features like image generation, smart replies, and enhanced Siri. However, some Apple Intelligence features are rolling out gradually; in Taiwan, availability may be limited initially due to language support.

The device integrates seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem: AirDrop, iCloud, Handoff, and Universal Clipboard work flawlessly with Macs and iPads. For those considering a switch from Android, our guide on choosing between iPhone and Android in Taiwan covers carrier deals and warranty aspects.

Pricing and Value in Taiwan

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is priced as follows in Taiwan (NT$):

  • 256GB: NT$44,900
  • 512GB: NT$50,400
  • 1TB: NT$55,900

Compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max launch prices (NT$43,900 for 256GB), the 16 Pro Max costs NT$1,000 more. Major retailers like PChome, Shopee, and official Apple stores offer installment plans. Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and FarEasTone provide carrier subsidies with contracts. For example, a 2-year 5G plan from Chunghwa can bring the 256GB model down to NT$28,900.

Is It Worth the Upgrade?

If you own an iPhone 15 Pro Max, the upgrades are incremental: a slightly larger display, improved cameras (especially Ultra Wide), better battery life, and the A18 Pro chip. The titanium design is lighter but not dramatically so. For users of iPhone 14 Pro Max or older, the upgrade is more significant: better cameras, ProMotion display, Dynamic Island, USB-C, and longer battery life. For those on iPhone 13 Pro Max or earlier, the improvements are substantial enough to justify the cost.

However, if you are satisfied with your current phone's performance and camera, you may want to wait another year. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to bring a redesigned chassis and under-display Face ID. For now, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the best iPhone Apple has made, but the upgrade value depends on your current device.

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