phenomenal battery life steals the show

The new iPhones of this year are the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. In this review we take a closer look at the largest and most expensive model. Is the 13 Pro Max worth its high price? Read on quick!

This is the iPhone 13 Pro Max review

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is a beautiful all-round device that will satisfy even the most demanding users. However, the price is quite high, the smartphone is large and very heavy and the design has hardly changed compared to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. As far as we are concerned, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is nevertheless more than worth it. Read here why.

Design: premium, but quite cumbersome and heavy

The design of the iPhone 13 Pro Max has hardly changed compared to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Both devices have flat sides made of shiny stainless steel. In combination with the frosted glass back, the iPhone 13 Pro Max also looks incredibly premium. The steel edges scratch quite easily, so a case is not an unnecessary luxury.

The notch has changed, however: it has become a bit smaller this year. However, we hardly notice that. Apple does not use the extra space in software at all. For example, it is still not possible to display the battery percentage, and we think that is a bit of a shame.

The new Max iPhone is available in four colors: graphite, silver, gold and a new blue-grey color. The new color is called ‘Sierra Blue’ and has a lighter character compared to last year’s ocean blue color. Sierra Blue doesn’t look the same in any light. You have to love it – and we love it.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max wouldn’t be called ‘Max’ without its huge 6.7-inch screen. This makes the device quite suitable. The weight of no less than 238 grams does not help either. Although the angular edges of the iPhone 13 Pro Max have a robust appearance, the device does not always fit comfortably in the hand in combination with the weight.

Screen: welcome, ProMotion

The screen of the iPhone 13 Pro Max is one of the biggest upgrades. Finally, the screen features ProMotion technology, or a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. We have been waiting for this for several years. The iPad Pro and many Android competitors have had a similar screen for years.

Thanks to ProMotion, the screen does not work constantly with a refresh rate of 120Hz. For example, are you watching a video at 30 frames per second? Then the screen automatically scales back to a refresh rate of 30Hz. This way the iPhone saves a lot of energy, without you having to do anything.

Because the screen also has an OLED panel in addition to ProMotion, the colors are very clear. The black is really black. In addition, the screen is a lot brighter than the iPhone 12 Pro Max and things are still clearly visible in bright sunlight.

ceramic shield

In addition, we also see the strong Ceramic Shield of the iPhone 12 Pro Max on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. According to Apple, this glass is the strongest glass in the industry. Ceramic Shield should be able to withstand drops and bumps much better than the competition’s screens. We also recommend using a screen protector, because the screen is less resistant to scratches.

The display is the main reason for choosing the iPhone 13 Pro Max. It offers the largest, most immersive iPhone experience of the entire iPhone 13 series. Do you watch a lot of videos and do a lot of photography? Then it is wise to choose the Max. Do you value portability and ease of use? Then the more handy iPhone 13 Pro may be a better choice.

Cameras: more light, better photos

The cameras were the main focus during the announcement of the iPhone 13 series. And that was not without reason; the cameras of the iPhone 13 Pro (Max) have been greatly improved. This applies to the main lens, telephoto lens and ultra-wide-angle lens and it shows, because the cameras have grown considerably compared to last year.

The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max were very different in terms of cameras. However, the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max have the exact same camera systems. So you no longer have to buy the larger, more expensive Max variant to get started with the best cameras.

Editor Mike has also extensively tested the cameras of the iPhone 13 Pro (Max). For more examples and a comparison with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, read our iPhone 13 Pro review.

Larger sensors

Thanks to the new, large sensors, natural depth of field is much clearer than before. In some situations, the portrait mode is actually not even necessary anymore, because the background is already nicely blurred by itself.

Because the cameras let in more light, the night mode has also been improved. This allows you to capture the starry sky even on a clear night. For best results, set the shutter speed to 10 seconds. You have to hold your iPhone as still as possible, otherwise the image will be blurry.

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Different lenses, different ‘looks’

The iPhone 13 Pro Max has – as mentioned before – a main lens, telephoto lens and ultra-wide angle lens. All three lenses have the same resolution of 12 megapixels. The different lenses are intended for different situations. For example, the wide-angle lens works very well for expansive landscapes. The telephoto lens, which zooms in further this year than before, works perfectly for portraits and architecture.

In addition, it is very nice to work with different compositions. Alternating between the three lenses is more pleasant than ever this year, as the photo quality of all three lenses is almost the same. Previously, wide-angle and zoom photos lacked quite a bit of detail compared to the main lens.

Macro mode

Another function that we have seen on Android smartphones for some time: the macro mode. Thanks to macro mode you can now take pictures from a distance of only 2 centimeters. This opens up a world of new possibilities. From a rose to your silver ring: everything suddenly looks very different up close.

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Movie mode: cool function, but still needs some work

With the new movie mode, Apple hopes to turn every hobbyist into a cinematographer. Movie mode is simply portrait mode for videos. The mode makes the background nicely out of focus, so that all the attention goes to the subject in the foreground.

Users can adjust the intensity of the backgroundblur adjust afterwards. Users can also choose to move the focus to the background. The movie mode is very convincing in some circumstances, but it is still far from perfect.

The edges around subjects are often still too blurry to look realistic. Movie mode will probably get better over time, just like Portrait mode has.

Photographic Styles

Apple has given the filter a new dimension with the arrival of the iPhone 13 series: photographic styles. Photographic styles give your photos a custom look. For example, you choose a cooler or warmer shade. According to Apple, that works better than applying a filter afterwards.

Photographic styles don’t make us very excited to be honest. After all, it is possible to adjust the temperature or contrast of a photo afterwards. A major disadvantage of photographic styles is that they cannot be modified or removed afterwards. As far as we’re concerned, it’s better to start ‘bare’ and later decorate a photo to your liking.

A15 chip gives you more speed than you need

The new A15 chip is a speed monster. Thanks to ProMotion, the device now feels even faster. The A14 chip of the iPhone 12 series was already very fast, but with the A13, Apple is taking it a step further.

It is striking that Apple compared the new chip during the event with the competition, not with the A14. That suggests the A15 isn’t a giant leap from the A14. How bad is that? Well, not at all. The A14 was and still is one of the fastest chips on the market.

Working memory and storage space

In addition to the fast chip, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has 6 gigabytes of RAM. That may sound like relatively little, since many Android smartphones have 8 to 12GB of RAM. However, iOS is very efficient with the available RAM. In other words, 6GB is more than enough.

The cheapest iPhone 13 Pro Max comes with 128GB of storage. That is enough for many people, but feels somewhat scanty for the high price. Apple reinforces that feeling of frugality by not giving the cheapest version of the iPhone 13 Pro Max full ProRes support. The 128GB version can record a maximum of 1080p at 30 fps, while the more expensive devices can film in 4K.

Battery life: phenomenal

In our opinion, the battery life is the best new feature of the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The device lasts so long that we could hardly believe it. At the time of writing, our iPhone 13 Pro Max with a screen time of 6 hours and 37 minutes still has 71 percent of the battery left.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max lasts longer than any smartphone we tested. With this device you never have to worry about the battery life. A long day in a museum where you take a lot of pictures? No problem. A 12-hour flight to America? Nothing to worry about, the iPhone 13 Pro Max survives with ease. With light to normal use, the battery even lasts for two days.

The long battery life also means it will take longer to replace the battery on your iPhone 13 Pro Max. We expect that the battery will still survive the day well after two years of use.

Fast charging… or slow charging?

A disadvantage is that the charging is not very fast. The iPhone 13 Pro Max supports a maximum of 27 Watts of fast charging. This is faster than all other iPhones, but chances are users won’t have an iPhone charger laying around that can actually charge the iPhone at this speed. Unfortunately, a charger is not included in the box.

Several smartphones from the competition are now charging at speeds of 65 Watts or even faster. Apple reportedly chooses to charge the iPhone quite ‘slowly’. Fast charging is not very conducive to the lifespan of a smartphone battery.

Conclusion iPhone 13 Pro Max review

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is a powerhouse device for the real powerhouse user. With great cameras, a beautiful screen, lightning-fast chip and great battery life, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is a fantastic choice in our opinion.

Do you like compact smartphones that weigh little and are easy to use? Or do you think the price of the iPhone 13 Pro Max is simply too high? Then the iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are also worth considering. However, do you want the very best device Apple currently has to offer? Then the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the smartphone for you.

Buy iPhone 13 Pro Max

Are you convinced after reading our iPhone 13 Pro Max review? For the device you pay a minimum 1259 euros. That’s for the model with 128GB of internal storage. Variants with 256GB, 512GB or 1TB are also for sale. They cost 1379, 1609 and 1839 euros respectively.

You can go for a separate iPhone 13 Pro Max or opt for the iPhone 13 Pro Max with a subscription. In addition to the different amount of storage, you can also choose from four colors: blue, silver, gold and graphite. You can of course view the best deals via the price comparator below.