You don’t have to be nearly deaf to use a hearing aid. Many doctors urge patients to get started with the devices early, before hearing loss becomes critical. Olive Union’s Olive Max is the first hearing aid I’ve encountered designed for this specific purpose, built for users with “mild to moderate” hearing loss, which the company defines as 26 to 55 decibels of loss. That’s right in line with my diagnosis, so I figured I’d be a perfect candidate for these new devices.
Out of the box, you’re likely to say what I—and everyone I’ve been around—immediately said when I first laid eyes on the Olive Max: They sure are big. Like, really big. Each looks like a Bluetooth headset from the early 2000s, except you have to wear two. At least the units, in a two-tone white and gray design, look sporty, including a wrap-around ear hook that helps keep them in place. They also carry an IPX7 water-resistance rating. But at more than 12 grams each, they’re a solid four or five times the weight of a typical over-the-counter hearing aid. A total of eight different ear tips, in three different styles, are included in the kit to ensure you get a good fit.
Photograph: Olive Union
As hearing aids, the Olive Max units work roughly as advertised, and casual users can pop them out of the box and into their ears to get started with minimal fuss, though getting them hooked over your ear properly can be tricky, especially if you wear glasses. Controls on the back of each aid handle volume (independently for each ear) and let you select one of four environmental modes (TV, Meeting Room, Outdoor, or Restaurant). You can also use the buttons to toggle “Hear-Thru mode,” which lets you turn off environmental audio processing altogether if you simply want to use the Olive Max as Bluetooth earbuds.
You can fine-tune your listening experience in the My Olive app—though, bizarrely, the hearing aid manual does not mention that an app exists, or even that you can use the hearing aids as Bluetooth earbuds. (You want the My Olive app (Android, iOS), not the incompatible Olive Smart Ear app.) The app allows you to make the same adjustments as the physical controls, but it also offers a noise-reduction and feedback-cancellation feature (pro tip: max out both of these), and it includes a more detailed graphic equalizer that lets you fine-tune frequency response further.
You can’t test your hearing directly within the app, although a short questionnaire will hook you up with various “AI-recommended presets” based on your age and a few other basic inputs. If you want anything more refined, you’ll need to delve into the equalizer by hand, but this is mostly a trial-and-error situation. It’s also worth noting that the My Olive app includes an audio therapy system designed to help people with tinnitus. I don’t suffer from tinnitus so I wasn’t qualified to test this feature.
And you can get M3 Pro and M3 Max laptops in space black. Photo: Apple
Right now you can lop up to $250 off the regular prices of M3 Pro or M3 Max MacBook Pro, the latest and greatest Apple laptops. And you can do it at your choice of competing retailers. Amazon, B&H Photo and Best Buy all have the same deals.
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Get $200 off M3 MacBook Pro with choice of M3 Pro or M3 Max chips
Apple released new MacBook Pro models with a choice of M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max chips in early November 2023. These latest chips used the 3nm process, gaining more efficiency and power than previous Apple silicon chips. Or Intel ones, for that matter.
And you can order M3 Pro and M3 Max versions of the machine with up to 8TB of SSD storage and 128GB of RAM (M3 Max option). If you go all the way with memory and storage in that manner, the laptop’s computing power will rival that of M2 Ultra Mac Studio.
As for connectivity, the laptop features three built-in Thunderbolt 4 ports, a MagSafe port for charging and an 8K HDMI port.
And as far as external displays go, M3 Pro models support up to two. M3 Max models support up to four. And after all that, the machine’s battery life still lasts up to 18 hours.
Features at a glance
M3 Pro or M3 Max chip
Up to 22 hours of battery life
Liquid Retina XDR display
Up to 128GB unified memory
Up to 8TB of storage
Three Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports
HDMI port
SDXC card slot
So go ahead and pay $1,799 rather than $1,999 for the 14-inch M3 Pro MacBook Pro with 18GB unified memory and 512GB SSD at Amazon, B&H Photo or Best Buy.
And you can pay $2,299 instead of $2,499 for the 16-inch version of the machine at Amazon, B&H Photo or Best Buy.
Want to go max for $250 off? You can get that much off an M3 Max MacBook Pro with 36GB unified memory and 1TB SSD at Amazon or B&H Photo.
The late-2023 14-inch MacBook Pro packs an M3 Pro chip, 18GB of unified memory, and 512GB of storage, all in a package that can last you a day of heavy use.
Bose could be about to launch SoundLink Max, a bigger and brawnier version of the popular and portable SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker, according to a leak and an FCC filing.
That will put another HomePod competitor on the market, and it may be a worthy one with quality sound plus portability.
However, Bose has remained tight-lipped about this potential new addition to its SoundLink family. But it seems likely the new speaker will be another competitor of HomePod 2 released in January 2023 (though Apple’s speakers aren’t designed for portable use).
If the leaks are accurate, SoundLink Max will come in blue and black colors. It will measure 10.4 inches in width, 6.4 inches in height and 3.9 inches in depth. That would make it slightly larger than the SoundLink Flex.
But despite the increased size, a notable feature of the SoundLink Max will likely be portability. It could have a built-in handle on top , allowing users to easily carry it around. That would make it a perfect companion for outdoor activities, beach parties or even just moving it from room to room in your house.
Expect Bose sound quality
Bose has always been known for its exceptional sound quality, and SoundLink Max will probably continue the legacy. With its larger size than Flex, it could offer even better audio performance, delivering rich and immersive sound.
The speaker is rumored to feature multiple drivers and advanced audio technologies, ensuring well-balanced and powerful output.
Connectivity and battery life
Here’s what Bose SoundLink Flex looks like — smaller than SoundLink Max. Photo: Bose
The leaked information suggests that the SoundLink Max will support various connectivity options. Bluetooth 5.1 will let users easily connect their smartphones, tablets or laptops wirelessly. Additionally, it might also come with an auxiliary input for wired connections.
In terms of battery life, the SoundLink Max is rumored to offer a significant improvement over its predecessor. While the SoundLink Flex provided up to 12 hours of playtime, the SoundLink Max may offer an impressive 20 hours of continuous playback. So you won’t have to recharge via USB-C connection as often.
Additional features
Apart from its core features, Bose SoundLink Max might come with some additional functionalities. One possibility is voice assistant integration, allowing users to conveniently control the speaker using voice commands. It will most likely integrate with Bose Music app and Bose SimpleSync to connect with other speakers.
It may also have water resistance, making it more durable and suitable for outdoor use.
Bose SoundLink Max: Price and availability
As of now, there is no official information about the price and availability of the SoundLink Max. However, based on the leaked details, it is expected to be priced higher than the SoundLink Flex’s $149 price tag, considering the larger size and improved features. The Tanguay site suggested the speaker will come out April 23 for about $399.
Dock accessory company iVANKY recently launched its most powerful Thunderbolt dock yet, the FusionDock Max 1, which takes advantage of dual Thunderbolt chips and connections to offer the greatest amount of versatility I’ve seen in a Mac-focused dock. I’ve spent some time testing out the FusionDock Max 1 in my daily workflow, and I think I’ve found my new daily driver.
What sets the FusionDock Max 1 apart from other Thunderbolt docks on the market is the inclusion of dual Thunderbolt 4 chips in the dock, which essentially doubles the capacity of the dock, allowing you to run all sorts of displays and other peripherals at maximum speed. We’ll dig into what that means for connectivity in just a minute, but let’s start with an overview of the design and setup. Note that the FusionDock Max 1 is only compatible with Apple silicon Macs, so it won’t work with older Intel Macs, Windows PCs, or Chromebooks.
The FusionDock Max 1 offers an eye-catching design in something of a midnight-colored aluminum housing. Rather than just featuring a simple brick shape, the FusionDock Max 1 has a unique “floating” design with a thin metal frame on the left side and bottom of the dock and the main body of the dock elevated on small legs. The design might help ensure some airflow around the dock, though I’m not sure just how much it actually assists in that regard. The dock can definitely get fairly warm during use, but I’ve never found it to get so hot that it’s uncomfortable to leave a hand on it.
Similar to the Satechi USB-C Dual Dock Stand that I recently reviewed, the FusionDock Max 1 uses a dual-cable connection to your Mac, but this is Thunderbolt rather than the slower USB, so the greater bandwidth opens up a lot more possibilities for connectivity. The custom cable includes rather bulky housing on each end with a fixed arrangement of the two Thunderbolt connectors to match the port spacing on the dock and Apple’s laptops. This makes it super easy to plug in and unplug the cable in one motion with very little fiddling required to get the connectors lined up properly.
The dock measures in at around 6.7 inches (17 cm) wide, 3.7 inches (9.4 cm) deep, and a little under 2 inches (5 cm) high, and there’s a separate 180-watt power brick. The brick does have a fairly bright green light on it that could be distracting in dark rooms, but most users should be able to tuck it away on the floor or elsewhere where it won’t be bothersome.
The dock itself has smooth surfaces on all sides, and it can tend to slide around on surfaces if it’s bumped or even just under any sort of tension from the attached cables. Fortunately, iVANKY includes some sticky rubber pads you can install for either horizontal or vertical orientation of your dock, and those go a long way toward making sure the dock stays where you want it.
The dock’s 20 ports are clearly labeled, which is great simply because there are so many that it’s tricky to keep track of all of them. Aside from the DC-in barrel plug connection for power, everything is driven through a pair of 40 Gbps Thunderbolt USB-C ports stacked vertically on the rear on panel of the dock. iVANKY provides a custom cable with a vertically arranged dual connector on one end to fit these ports and a horizontally arranged dual connector on the other end to fit the exact spacing of adjacent Thunderbolt ports on your Mac.
Once you’ve hooked the dock up to power and your computer, your Mac will recognize the dock and you’ll need to grant a couple privacy-related permissions, and then you’ll be ready to go. The dock can deliver up to 96 watts of power to a connected computer, so you won’t need a separate power connection for your Mac.
In addition to the DC-in and upstream Thunderbolt ports, the rear of the dock features two additional 40 Gbps USB-C ports that can drive up to 6K displays at 60Hz, and they can each provide up to 15 watts of power. For other types of displays, there are two HDMI ports supporting up to 4K displays at 60Hz, and while the ports officially support HDMI 2.1, iVANKY is only advertising them as supporting HDMI 2.0 due to Apple’s limitations on docking stations connecting over USB-C/Thunderbolt. There are also three 10 Gbps USB-A ports delivering up to 7.5 watts of power each, a 2.5 Gb Ethernet port, a 3.5 mm audio out port, and a Toslink optical audio out port. A Kensington lock slot is also included to help physically secure the dock if desired.
On the front of the dock, you’ll find another pair of 40 Gbps Thunderbolt USB-C ports capable of driving up to 6K displays at 60Hz, a pair of 10 Gbps USB-C ports (one with 20-watt Power Delivery capabilities and one offering 7.5 watts), another pair of 10 Gbps USB-A ports with 7.5 watts of power, plus a 3.5 mm combo headphone/mic audio port and SD and TF/microSD slots supporting the UHS-II standard. There is a white LED on the front to indicate whether the dock has power, but it’s dim enough that it’s not bothersome in a dark room.
With this array of ports, the FusionDock Max 1 can support up to four external displays, but it depends on which Mac you have, as that’s where the graphics horsepower is ultimately coming from. If you’ve got a Mac with the base M1, or M2 chip such as a MacBook Air, Mac mini, or entry-level MacBook Pro, you can only drive a single external display at up to 6K resolution. M3-based machines like the latest MacBook Air and entry-level MacBook Pro models should be able to drive a pair of displays as long as your Mac is in clamshell mode with the display off.
If you’ve got a Mac with an M1 Pro, M2 Pro, or M3 Pro chip such as a higher-end Mac mini or a mid-level MacBook Pro, you’ll be able to drive dual displays at up to 6K via the dock in additional to an internal display for the MacBook Pro, and if you’ve got a Max or Ultra chip from any of those families, you can drive a total of four external displays at up to 6K resolution.
It’s important to keep in mind that only the USB-C ports support 6K resolution, but there are four downstream ones available for display connections, two on the front and two on the back. The HDMI ports on the back can only support a maximum of 4K resolution.
I don’t have any machines in my possession equipped with Max-level chips, so I wasn’t able to push the FusionDock Max 1 to its limit when it comes to displays, but it had no trouble driving a pair of 5K displays from my 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 Pro chip. I tried several other combinations of displays over Thunderbolt/USB and HDMI, including Alogic’s 32-inch 4K display with touchscreen support, and everything worked without a hitch.
Other peripherals also worked well with the dock, from my USB-A Stream Deck to a fast external SSD that was able to achieve speeds of up to 2,800 MB/s read and 1,950 MB/s write when connected to one of the 40 Gbps USB-C ports. Connecting that drive directly to my MacBook Pro yields read speeds of around 3,000 MB/s and write speeds of around 3,100 MB/s, so there’s only a small penalty to read speeds for going through the dock, while write speeds take a bit bigger hit but remain speedy. Read and write speeds will ultimately depend on what else is connected to the dock and thus what that SSD is sharing its connection with.
SD card speeds came in at around 90 MB/s read and 90–160 MB/s write depending on file size for the reasonably fast card I had available for testing, which is below both the theoretical specs of the card and the up to ~200 MB/s speeds I see in some testing when inserting it directly into my MacBook Pro, but still satisfactory in my opinion.
Wrap-up
I’ve been a loyal CalDigit TS3 Plus user for many years, but the iVANKY FusionDock Max 1 is likely to take its place in my permanent desk setup. With a single-cable connection (yes, it has dual connectors, but just one thing to plug and unplug), it’s the most convenient way to quickly and easily convert my MacBook Pro from a large desk setup to a convenient on-the-go machine.
With the FusionDock Max 1’s vast array of ports, everything from my dual 5K displays to external drives, a Stream Deck, and more can all be connected and disconnected with almost no effort, and there’s essentially no compromise in performance or speed.
All of this convenience and technology packed into the FusionDock Max 1 doesn’t come cheap, however, as it carries a normal price of $549.99, so this dock definitely won’t be everyone, but for power users this may be well worth the price tag. Fortunately, iVANKY is currently offering $150 off when you use our exclusive promo code MACRUMOURS on iVANKY’s site, bringing the price to $399.99.
Note: iVANKY provided MacRumors with the FusionDock Max 1 for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with iVANKY and Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
If you’ve never seen a total eclipse in person, whatever you’ve seen and what you imagine don’t come close. The best photos, the most stunning video, they won’t match the silent, dazzling fury of the real thing. Your phone or monitor won’t capture the infinite diamond brilliance of the Sun’s corona twinkling around the black Moon. I set out to shoot the total eclipse with my three best camera phones and my Nikon DSLR, but I am thankful that I decided to enjoy the eclipse in the scant three minutes I was under its totality.
Before I talk tech, I’ll do my best to describe the total solar eclipse if you’ve never seen one in person. April 8 was my first total eclipse, and before that day I thought it would be my last. Now I’m sure that I’ll find another opportunity. I’ve already spotted an upcoming eclipse over Tunis, Tunisia, and Luxor, Egypt in 2027. That could be an incredible trip.
After seeing the total solar eclipse live, I felt like I can’t live the rest of my life without seeing one again. I’ve never seen a photo that was equally compelling. Seeing the real eclipse in person, it was so gloriously beautiful that I was immediately sad that it was so fleeting.
Here’s what a total solar eclipse really looks like
I was not shocked to hear the crowd around me erupt into spontaneous applause.
There is a bright flash in the instant before the Sun goes dark. The world gets colder suddenly, but the landscape is not pitch dark. Watching the eclipse from the shore of Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont, the view of Mount Marcy and the Adirondacks presented a panoramic sunset, with waning light surrounding me at the horizon on all sides, and the black eclipse at the center.
The Sun’s corona dazzles and flares with wisps of magic. You’ve never seen any light move in such a way. The contrast between the shockingly dark moon and the incredibly bright corona makes the halo seem brilliant and crisply present, as though the Sun is just beyond your grasp, and not seven light-minutes away.
The corona is bright, but not as bright as the face of the Sun. It reaches the limit of what my eyes could tolerate without causing pain. To see something so shockingly intense, after avoiding the painfully bright Sun for the previous hour, is a revelation. It feels like a gift being unwrapped in the sky above. It is a surprise and a joy, and I was not shocked to hear the crowd around me erupt into spontaneous applause.
I was awestruck. I forgot everything I was supposed to do at that moment. I’m now grateful that I decided at the last minute to drive all the way up to Burlington, where the clouds were wispy and few and the totality lasted more than three whole minutes. A good friend traveled farther to experience just over thirty seconds of totality in the Ozarks. Neither of us regrets taking our trip.
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Ruining a solar eclipse with too much tech
The eclipse shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max and Vaonis Hestia telescope (Image credit: Philip Berne/ Future)
Back to the tech. My plan was … too much. I brought a telescope, and a DSLR, and three phones, and even smart glasses on my face. I don’t know what I was thinking. The eclipse lasted three minutes. I barely had time to focus one camera, let alone try to shoot with five. My plans fell to pieces, and I gave up quickly. I got a few good shots, then I turned my attention to the sky and just allowed myself to soak it in.
Seeing the eclipse was more rewarding than the best photo I’ve seen of the eclipse.
Here’s the gear I brought to shoot the solar eclipse. I borrowed a Vaonis Hestia telescope, which uses your phone as the viewfinder. I used an iPhone 15 Pro Max to take photos and view the eclipse through that telescope, with a solar filter provided by Vaonis. Those photos turned out pretty good, but it isn’t the most powerful telescope. Plus, an eclipse is a very complicated scene for lighting, especially for a phone camera.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I also had a Google Pixel 8 Pro and a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. I already decided I was not going to try to take telephoto zoom shots of the eclipse with these phones. The 5X range is simply not enough to capture any detail, and the sensor for the longest lens is also the smallest, lowest-quality sensor on the phone. Better to take wide-angle photos.
I set up the Galaxy S24 Ultra to shoot a time-lapse (Samsung calls it Hyperlapse) video of the entire event. I was pretty disappointed with the results. The sun was too high in the sky for even the widest lens to capture the scene around me as well as the eclipse in progress. The camera had trouble balancing the incredibly bright partial eclipse with the surroundings, so it just looks like a sunny day until totality occurs. When the eclipse happens, the camera balances the light in a way that doesn’t present the sunset colors and the changing light in the way I remember it.
The eclipse shot with Pixel 8 Pro and a solar filter (Image credit: Philip Berne/ Future)
I attached a solar filter to the Google Pixel 8 Pro, hoping I would be able to see more of the partial eclipse as it happened. Nope, the filter cut out too much light for the phone to handle. I was barely able to see the Sun through the filter, let alone capture great shots.
At the last minute, I decided to also bring my Nikon D750 camera with a Nikon 80-400mm lens. I don’t have a solar filter for that huge lens, so I planned on shooting only the totality of the eclipse, when it is safe to look at the sun without glasses. I got some pretty good shots, but I was rushing around too much, juggling too many chores. I should have reduced the exposure levels, or used a manual mode to dial back the shutter speed. The photos were blurry and blown out, not very good.
Eclipse shot with Nikon D750 at 400mm (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
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(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
In the end, I got a couple of good shots from the iPhone on the telescope. They were better than the shots my friends took with their phones, and they impressed the people I shared them with. From my own perfectionist standards, I was disappointed with my pics, but I wasn’t disappointed at all with the experience.
In fact, I’m happy that I didn’t try much harder to take great photos, because at the last minute I chose to sacrifice the pics and enjoy the eclipse. It was amazing. It was the greatest natural phenomena I’ve ever seen. For the next eclipse, I’ll bring only one camera, and only one easy plan, and if I screw it up then I won’t even care. The best photo I could get would pale in comparison to the totality of the real thing.
If you like to dig deeper into the stats on your best smartwatch, there’s a strong chance you may have come across one called VO2 Max. It can be called something different on different smartwatches. On the Apple Watch, it’s known as ‘cardio fitness’, while on Fitbits, it’s referred to as your ‘cardio fitness score’.
VO2 Max is a fitness metric that has been around for some time, but if you’ve been grappling with what it actually is, what it tells you, and whether you should care about it, we’re going to clear things up for you here. This is the lowdown on the key fitness metric, and why it might be something you should take more notice of.
What does VO2 Max stand for?
Firstly, let’s break down what VO2 Max actually stands for. It’s defined as the maximum (Max) rate (V) of oxygen (O2) your body absorbs during exercise.
(Image credit: Future)
What does VO2 Max actually mean?
In simplest terms, it’s about breathing and what happens during the breathing process while you’re exercising.
When you breathe in, you’re taking in oxygen. That oxygen is used to create energy to enable the body and organs to properly function.
One of those energy forms created is called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. ATP is used as fuel for your muscles, and will help your body to better cope with the demands of exercise.
While you’re exercising, the body demands more oxygen to turn into those ATP reserves. The more oxygen you can take in and turn into that energy form, the better your body should be at reducing the onset of fatigue.
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Having an insight like VO2 Max can tell you the maximum rate of oxygen you can absorb, to offer a good indication of the ATP energy levels your body can produce to keep you powering through your workout.
(Image credit: Future)
Why is knowing your VO2 Max useful?
VO2 Max is a useful stat because it offers a window into your cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance. The former relates to how well your heart and lungs can supply oxygen during exercise and the latter relates to your ability to handle exercise at moderate intensity over extended periods.
It’s going to tell you about your capabilities to tackle tough training schedules, events and races. It’s why athletes will look to attain a high VO2 Max to ensure their body is considered well-equipped to meet the demands of the pressures put on the body by more intense exercise associated with endurance sports like running a marathon, ultra marathon or doing a triathlon.
It’s not just about fitness here either. Maintaining a good VO2 Max can help you become more resilient to stress, help combat the effects of aging, and can also decrease your chances of getting ill.
How is VO2 Max measured on your smartwatch?
VO2 Max is typically measured in millimetres of oxygen consumed per kilogram of body weight per minute, and is typically represented as a single two-digit number. While there’s some inconsistency across how smartwatches present VO2 Max, having a higher VO2 Max score typically indicates someone with an excellent level of cardiovascular fitness.
The most accurate way to measure VO2 Max is from a lab test, where you’ll jump on a bike or treadmill,strap on a mask and work out until exhaustion to measure the air you consume and release. Watches are actually giving you an estimate of that VO2 Max, as most aren’t able to replicate that same rigorous lab testing process.
So, how accurate are those estimates? Firstbeat Analytics, which calculates the data for VO2 Max estimates on Garmin’s watches, claims an accuracy of 95%.
Apple estimates its VO2 Max estimates (known as cardio fitness) by using data from its heart rate sensors and motion sensors during outdoor runs, walks or hikes. It’ll also factor in elements like your age, sex, weight and height to produce a reliable VO2 Max score, which ranges from 14 to 65 mL/kg/min.
(Image credit: Future)
If you’ve got a Garmin watch, Garmin produces its VO2 Max estimates based on heart rate from your watch or an external heart rate monitor. It’s also generated from exercises lasting 10 minutes or longer. It looks at activities recorded outdoors using GPS and when heart rate is elevated to at least 70% of your maximum heart rate continuously for ten minutes.
Garmin’s VO2 Max score ranges from 0-95. The highest VO2 Max ever recorded was Bjørn Dæhlie, an Olympic skier, with 96. Although a good VO2 Max estimate depends on your age, height and weight, generally speaking, the higher the better. Garmin has a handy chart explaining what constitutes a “good” VO2 Max for your demographic.
The way those estimates are calculated can vary by exercise and the likes of Garmin is aiming to do a better job of factoring in how different activities and workout conditions can impact on VO2 Max measurements.
(Image credit: Future)
In the case of Google and Fitbit and its own VO2 Max scores known as cardio fitness score, it looks at resting heart rate, age, sex, weight and will provide more accurate scores when using your GPS to track workouts.
Fitbit breaks scores down into one of six levels. A 55 cardio fitness score is considered an excellent score and puts you in that top 6 level, while a 35 score is deemed average and puts you at level 3 on that scale.
(Image credit: Future)
Where can you view VO2 Max on your smartwatch?
Again, this entirely depends on what smartwatch you’re using to try to view your VO2 Max stats. So in the case of the Apple Watch, Apple doesn’t natively show this information off on the Watch, instead tucking away inside of the Apple Health iPhone app. There are third party Apple Watch apps though that will let you view that data on the Watch if you do want to see it there.
(Image credit: Future)
The likes of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 will let you see measurements on the watch after workouts are completed in the Health section of the app while Fitbit hosts that information inside of the companion app when you click on the heart tile on the Today section of its app to delve into its Cardio Fitness scores.
For Garmin users, you’ll be able to see current and historical VO2 Max data in the performance stats section of the Garmin Connect app. You can also view it on the watch from the Training Status widget.
(Image credit: Future)
Why are VO2 Max scores different across smartwatches?
While the core approach that smartwatches calculate VO2 Max estimates will largely be the same, the heart rate sensors (sensor accuracy) and algorithms that help to throw up that data may not be. These can be big factors as to why you might see different numbers across watches.
There’s also the subject of how much historical workout data the smartwatch has had access to, which can influence the reliability of those VO2 Max numbers as well.
How can you improve VO2 Max?
That is the big question and one that has a few simple answers. The most straightforward one is increasing the amount of exercise you do on a regular basis, paying close attention to the intensity of that exercise time.
High intensity interval training (HIIT) during which you’re quickly spiking heart rate and then resting and recovering, gets the body more accustomed to the increased demand of oxygen. This strengthens muscles and helping the body to adapt to handle more intense exercise. There have been studies conducted examining how this type of training can give VO2 Max estimates a boost.
Low-intensity training can do the trick as well, so activities like running, cycling or hiking and mixing up those low-intensity activities can also be routes to an improved VO2 Max. It’s why runners training for marathons and sticking to those regular runs and long runs can see an uptick in their VO2 Max and increase their capacity to endure tougher bouts of exercise.
Recovery time in between workouts is also as important as doing the workouts, as your body needs time to adapt to the increased demands of more intense exercise.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max streaming device is on sale for $40. That’s a record low for Amazon’s top-of-the-line streaming stick, which usually costs $60.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max plugs into your TV’s HDMI port to access all the top streaming services, including (among many others) Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Apple TV+ and, of course, Amazon’s Prime Video.
Amazon
The streaming stick has a 2GHz quad-core processor to help make navigation zippy and smooth. The device’s 16GB of storage is double that of Amazon’s cheaper models so that you can download plenty of apps and offline content without worries.
The 4K Max supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos audio for a dynamic viewing experience and more immersive audio (with compatible TVs and speakers). It also supports Wi-Fi 6E for smoother streaming with fewer hiccups if your router also supports it.
It includes Amazon’s latest Alexa Voice Remote. The accessory has four pre-programmed shortcut buttons (for apps like Netflix and Prime Video). It supports Alexa, so you can use it to control the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and other Alexa-compatible smart home devices from your couch.
If you’d prefer to save money over having Amazon’s highest-end model, the Fire TV Stick Lite is also on sale. It’s Engadget’s pick for the best budget streaming stick. The device doesn’t support 4K, so this is only a good option if your television’s resolution is 1080p or lower. (However, it does support HDR.) Usually $30, you can get the entry-level model today for $20.
For those who want an upgraded audio setup, the Fire TV Soundbar is $20 off. It supports virtual surround sound with DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Audio. It hooks up to your TV’s HDMI port and only takes up 24 inches (with a 2.5-inch height) on your entertainment center. The device works with anything connected to your TV, not only the devices in Amazon’s streaming devices. As an alternative, you can connect it to other devices via Bluetooth. Typically $120, the Fire TV Soundbar is available today for $100.
Who doesn’t love a good MacBook? Or maybe two MacBooks, like in today’s setup. The guy has his own M2 MacBook Air, a formidable machine. But he’s lucky enough to add to it an absolutely screaming M3 Max MacBook Pro courtesy of his employer. Nice perk, that.
He can also thank work for his second 4K display. But it doesn’t top his own.
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So now he runs two powerful Apple laptops. His personal one is a 15-inch M2 MacBook Air with 24GB of unified memory and a 1TB SSD. And his work provided him with a 16-inch M3 Max MacBook Pro with a whopping 95GB of memory and a 1TB SSD.
He uses the two slick laptops with two slick displays. First, his own is a big 40-inch Dell UltraSharp U4025QW curved 4K display he got after trying two other configurations. And second, his work provided him with a 27-inch LG UltraFine 4K monitor.
Then he rounds out his setup with a Logitech C920 webcam, a Keychron Q3 Pro custom mechanical keyboard, a Logitech MX Master 3S wireless mouse, a Blue Yeti USB microphone and an Elgato Stream Deck.
Powerful M3 Max MacBook Pro and M2 MacBook Air laptops
Anyway, I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind if work handed me a nice laptop like an M3 Max MacBook Pro packed with memory and a nice 4K display. Not that Chris’ personal M2 MacBook Air is much of a slouch, but his work laptop must be blazing fast.
And with that much memory, it’s future-proofed for a good while. You can actually pack one with 128GB or memory to max it out.
A 16-inch M3 Max MacBook Pro hails from late 2023. Its M3 Max chip carries a 14-core CPU and a 30-core GPU. Loaded with 96GB of unified memory and a 1TB SSD for storage, Chris’ model goes for a little over $4,100. It comes with 6.56-foot USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable and a USB-C power adapter.
M3 Max MacBook Pro features:
M3 Max chip with up to 16-core CPU and up to 40-core GPU
Up to 128GB of unified memory
Up to 8TB of super-fast SSD storage
16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with Extreme Dynamic Range, 1000 nits of sustained brightness (HDR content) and up to 600 nits of brightness for (SDR content)
Up to 22 hours of battery life
And if you like the desktop wallpaper showing on the big display, you can find it here.
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If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected]. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
This version of Apple’s professional laptop comes with a 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and an M3 Max Chip with 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU, plus 96GB of unified memory and 1TB SSD storage.
• Original review date: September, 2023 • Apple keeps improving iOS 17 • Spacial video is now possible with Apple Vision Pro
Update: April 2024. Apple continues to show the rest of the smartphone world how to update phones, and iOS 17 has added new features to the iPhone 15 Pro Max as well as every iPhone released in the last five years. With new discovery features, Apple’s new Journal app, and plenty more, iOS 17 is the gift that keeps on giving. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also now has the capability to record videos with an added depth component. These videos take advantage of Apple’s spatial computing platform, Apple Vision Pro, and give you a more realistic, 3D look at whatever you record, as long as you watch the videos while wearing Apple’s new headset.
Philip Berne
iPhone 15 Pro Max: Two-minute review
Leave it to Apple to make titanium sound sexy, while also putting me in mind of my somewhat aging joints.
I know, Apple enthusiastically told us how the iPhone 15 Pro Max (and Pro) uses the same titanium as was used by NASA on the Mars rover. I buy that, and it sounds impressive; but when I think of titanium, I usually think of hip or knee replacements. The low-corrosion, lightweight, and high-strength material is favored by surgeons for those properties, and it’s for those same reasons that it makes perfect sense as the new frame material for the iPhone.
Patients sporting new titanium knees and hips will likely never get to touch the metal, but if you buy an iPhone 15 Pro Max or – as I did – test it, you’ll find that it’s smooth yet solid, with a brushed surface that feels cool but not cold. Holding the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max is a distinctly different experience compared to handling the iPhone 14 Pro Max; it’s lighter, and the titanium feels a little warmer than the polished steel of its predecessor.
It’s not just the titanium, though; Apple has made a small yet subtle change to the frame, removing just enough metal to add contoured edges all around. It’s one of the smallest yet most impactful changes I’ve seen a smartphone manufacturer make to a design, and it truly changes how the phone feels in the hand.
Staying with the frame, Apple’s retirement of the silence / ring button is one of the most welcome and useful changes. It takes a dull, one-trick-pony analog feature and transforms it into a sleek, customizable button that can be almost anything you want it to be.
Apple contoured the edges on the iPhone 15 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The biggest change for some iPhone fans, though, will be the introduction of the USB-C port in place of Lightning. I know there’s a fair amount of frustration over the change (all those now-useless cords in your home, office, and car) but it doesn’t change the operation of the phone, and at least Apple supplies you with a woven USB-C-to-USB-C cable. I will miss the old port, but believe we’ll all soon forget it.
Naturally, if those external changes were the only differences between this phone and its predecessor, the iPhone 15 Pro Max might be a disappointment. However, this is a significantly more powerful phone than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, with Apple’s all-new A17 Pro silicon that, for the first time ever, brings console-quality gaming to the iPhone line. Granted, console games like Resident Evil: Village were not designed for a 6.7-inch display, even Apple’s high-definition Super Retina XDR OLED panel, although at least that display now benefits from the smallest iPhone bezels I’ve seen.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s triple-camera array looks unchanged from the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s, but looks can be deceiving – there are upgrades both inside and out that help to deliver one of the best photography experiences you’ll find on any phone.
While Apple appears to have used the same 48MP primary camera sensor as in last year’s Pro Max, it’s basically rebuilt its image processing pipeline.
The three-camera array looks the same, but there’s now a more powerful 5x optical zoom lens (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
There’s a new 24MP default image size that cannily combines 12MP of pixel-binned image data with full-sensor 48MP information for images that are, in almost all instances, true-to-life (Apple may be over-blueing the sky a little).
The new setup is more versatile too. I never had to decide if I wanted to shoot portrait mode now or later – in most instances, if the iPhone 15 Pro Max could read depth information, it stored all the detail I’d need to change a photo to portrait mode and choose the focus subject post-shoot.
If you were hoping for 10x optical zoom on an iPhone, though, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will disappoint you (though not as much as the 3x optical iPhone 15 Pro). I was frustrated when Apple announced that it had only raised the maximum optical zoom on its largest smartphone to 5x; after all, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has an excellent 10x optical zoom, plus the wild, AI-assisted 100x Space Zoom (which may add too much ‘artificial’ information for my taste, but it’s an option if you need it). Apple does do a remarkably good job of competing with just half that zoom range, largely because the image quality at that extended focal length is simply excellent, rivaling and sometimes beating Samsung‘s best camera.
The combination of its new 3nm chipset, a display that can stop down to a power-sipping 1Hz, and smart power management may account for excellent full-day-plus battery life; though your experience will depend on how you use the iPhone.
In short (this is my two-minute review, after all), this is my favorite iPhone ever. I usually don’t like Apple’s largest iPhone, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max is lighter (and a tiny bit smaller) than the iPhone 14 Pro Max which – along with the new contoured edges – makes it feel comfortable in my hand. Add to all that excellent photography, fast performance, and seemingly unlimited potential and you’ve got a lock for a place at or near the top of our best phone list.
There’s your new USB-C port (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,199 , which is a price hike over its predecessor – the iPhone 14 Pro Max – but you do get twice the storage in the base model: 256GB. This also puts the iPhone 15 Pro Max in line with the starting price of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (both now start at 256GB).
The iPhone 15 Pro Max became available to buy in-store and online on September 22, 2023, and if you’re interesting in picking one up, head over to our iPhone 15 Pro Max deals page for a roundup of all the best offers available now.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
iPhone 15 Pro Max prices
Storage
US price
UK price
AU price
256GB
$1,199.99
£1,199
AU$2,199
512GB
$1,399.99
£1,399
AU$2,549
1TB
$1,599.99
£1,599
AU$2,899
It’s not entirely accurate to say Apple raised the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max (from the iPhone 14 Pro Max base price) because what it actually did was remove a tier and settle on the 256GB storage and $1,119 as the new base model. This makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max a little less affordable (no less so than the similarly configured Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra) but, as I see it, 256GB should really be the base storage on all smartphones nowadays, especially as we continue to shoot higher resolution photos and videos (and manage our lives on them).
If storage is your jam, you can pack the iPhone 15 Pro Max (or iPhone 15 Pro) with up to 1TB of storage and pay $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,899 for the privilege. What you won’t get for that price, though, is more memory. While the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra raises the RAM level to 12GB – starting with its 512GB model, the iPhone 15 Pro Max seemingly sticks with 8GB through all tiers.
There’s no getting around that this is Apple’s most expensive iPhone, but at least there are numerous payment options, including those from Apple which can start as low as $33 a month in the US. As for whether or not the iPhone 15 Pro Max is worth the money, its design, build, quality, and exceptional capabilities convince me it is. Even at this price, I suspect it will be Apple’s best-seller.
iPhone 15 Pro Max review: Design
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is lighter and a little easier to hold (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Titanium!
Contoured edges make it a pleasure to hold
It’s lighter and slightly smaller
Exquisite build
In case you haven’t heard, Apple’s 2023 Pro-level iPhone has traded in its shiny stainless steel frame for a brushed titanium one. It’s tough (though not necessarily harder than steel), corrosion-resistant, and – perhaps most importantly for your hands, pockets, and bags – a lighter material.
Apple made a handful of other changes that give the phone a new look and feel beyond changing up the outer metalwork, however. First are the new contoured edges. It’s true that this iPhone can, at a glance, look almost exactly the same as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but close inspection reveals rounding along the sides that give the phone a softer look and make it – especially at this size – much more comfortable to hold. Additionally, the Super Retina XDR display looks larger (and the Dynamic Island looks smaller), thanks to a noticeably thinner bezel.
The phone feels different because the dimensions and weight are different. Where the iPhone 14 Pro Max was 77.6 x 160.7 x 7.85mm, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is 76.7 x 159.9 x 8.25mm. That means it’s just a hair smaller than the last model, a fact I confirmed when I tried slipping the iPhone 15 Pro Max into an iPhone 14 Pro Max leather case (Apple is no longer selling leather accessories) and it was loose inside it. It is worth noting that the new phone is almost a millimeter thicker than the last model.
This side of the iPhone 15 Pro Max looks just like the iPhone 14 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
However, thanks to the titanium body and new recycled aluminum frame, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is 19 grams lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro Max (221g vs. 240g). That’s a noticeable difference.
Another major design change is actually a functional one: the new USB-C port. It’s a little bit larger than the departed Lighting port but will – if you have the right cable – bring some 10Gbps high-speed data transfer capabilities (the cable Apple ships with the iPhone is not a high-speed one).
The body is covered on the front and back with what Apple calls “tough glass-based materials”, and on the front is also their Ceramic Shield, designed to protect the glass from damage. I’m not in the business of dropping my phones, so I could not tell you much about the strength of these glass materials. I did, though subject the phone to a dunk in a water fountain. The IP68-rated phone handled it just fine. That was just for a moment, but the phone is rated to handle swimming in up to six feet of fresh water for 30 minutes. If you dunk your phone, just remember that you can’t plug it into a charger again until it’s completely dry.
Apple didn’t mess with the power/sleep/Siri button or the pair of volume buttons but right above that is Apple’s other big design/functionality change: the new Action button, which is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro.
This tiny little button replaces the long-surviving silence/ring switch (still available on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus). Instead of a single-function switch, the Action button is programmable via one of Apple’s most high-designed utility interfaces ever.
The Action button defaults to ring/silence control but instead of a switch, it takes a press to check the status of your phone (ring or silent) and a long press to change it. Many people may leave well enough alone here, but then they’d be missing out on all the hidden utility. Action button can enable a preferred Focus Mode (with detailed controls inside the Action button settings page), turn the flashlight on and off, launch voice memos, turn your phone into a digital magnifying glass, run your favorite Shortcut, offer instant access to accessibility features, launch the camera, or even turn off all Action button features (a waste, really). If you miss the ring/silent control you can still find it under the updated Control Center too.
Apple’s Action Control settings are look unlike any other iPhone feature settings (Image credit: Future)
After trying out the Action button in default mode, I quickly switched it to control the camera. From there, I could use a long-press to instantly open the camera and then use a quick press to take a picture.
The only downside to this new button is that if you are in the habit of taking a lot of screenshots by simultaneously pressing the power and volume up buttons, you may accidentally press the new Action button instead because, well, it’s now the top button on the left side of the phone. I expect this to become an iPhone 15 Pro Max meme (“When you press Action instead of Volume Up”).
In total, I think the iPhone 15 Pro Max design retains what was good about the last model while making ergonomic and functionality tweaks that move the familiar into the future, with a lighter chassis, smoother lines, a bigger screen, and more functional buttons and ports.
Doesn’t that button look at home next to the two volume buttons? (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
iPhone 15 Pro Max review: Sustainability
The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s new FineWoven case. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Over the years, Apple has been rethinking its packaging and, increasingly its products, with an eye toward sustainability. I can still remember when Apple started using biodegradable packaging on its EarPods. The corn-based material would dissolve in water. Now, Apple’s efforts extend to its Apple Watch Series 9 (Apple claims the product is now carbon neutral) and iPhones.
This iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 100% recycled aluminum interior and uses recycled cobalt in its battery. Beyond the phone, Apple is whittling away at its carbon footprint by using more earth-friendly materials. In past years, I would usually get leather cases to protect my iPhone test unit but leather is not exactly carbon-friendly. This year, Apple is using a new material, FineWoven, on cases and MagSafe Apple Wallets.
Those cases, by the way, still feel luxurious. My wife thought they were faux suede, but I pointed out the ultra-fine weave.
iPhone 15 Pro Max review: Display
The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s Super Retina XDR screen’s 2,000 nit max brightness can beat back the sun (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
Surrounded by ultra-thin bezels
Unchanged resolution. Still supports ProMotion adaptive refresh rate
Always-on display
If you liked the 6.7-inch display on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, you’ll probably like the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s screen just that little bit more.
Apple shaved millimeters off the black bezel surrounding the Super Retina XDR OLED screen to make it seem larger (this also makes the Dynamic Island look smaller). Between that and the newly-curved edges, it really looks as if the screen extends all the way to the outer edge of the phone.
To be clear, the screen is slightly larger but the resolution, 2796 x 1290 and 460ppi is unchanged from the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Essentially, this iPhone is just giving those pixels a little more breathing room.
It remains a beautiful and bright screen, with a maximum brightness of 2000 nits, which means I had no trouble using it outdoors in bright sunlight. Its wide color gamut means visuals are rich and the 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio endows it with support for the inkiest of blacks. Looking at everything from photos to games, apps, websites, and videos on this display is a pleasure.
ProMotion support means the iPhone 15 Pro Max is as adept at handling web page scrolling as it is at videos and gaming. All motion looks smooth. Plus, the phone’s ability to stop down to 1Hz means that, when it needs to, it sips power while still providing you information; ideal for always-on functionality.
Everything, including streaming videos looks great on the big 6.7-inch display. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
I put the iPhone 15 Pro Max on a Belkin Boost Charge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless charge stand with MagSafe, which automatically puts the phone in iOS 17’s new Standby mode, and then set it up on my nightstand. Overnight, the Always-On display was just bright enough that I could glance at it in the middle of the night and see the time.
This is still an excellent smartphone display, though I wonder why, now that Samsung’s flagship has an integrated pen and supports not only touch but stylus input, Apple can’t finally add Apple Pencil support to its biggest and best smartphone. Even so, I understand that not everyone needs or wants pen input and that may be something Apple intuits as well.
Basically, what you have is Apple’s top-notch screen technology, slightly embiggened and now supported by some excellent new iOS 17 functionality.
iPhone 15 Pro Max review: Cameras
The iPhone 15 Pro Max camera array (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Dedicated 5x optical zoom camera
New 48MP primary sensor
Impressive new portrait photography capabilities
If you read the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s specs, see 48MP, and think little has changed since the iPhone 14 Pro Max, you would be mistaken.
Leaving aside the obviously-different 5x optical zoom camera (even the iPhone 15 Pro doesn’t get that new snapper), let’s look at the leading 48MP sensor. It’s not the same one as was introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro Max (or the new iPhone 15). It’s larger and, reportedly a Sony-made IMX903. And Apple is using this sensor in ways it has never done before.
Every default image I shot with the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes rendered at 24MP resolution. Yes, that’s a new resolution for iPhones and Apple manages it by first pixel binning 48 megapixels-worth of data into the best possible 12 megapixel still and then combining that with the full detail of the 48MP sensor. The only downside is that 24MP images will be larger than 12MP stills (by about a megabyte). Apple mitigates the storage cost a bit by automatically storing photos in HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) format. You can also shoot in 48MP RAW format for uncompressed imagery, ready for editing.
The result is some truly eye-popping images. The colors are brighter and, with the exception of maybe a just too-blue sky (possibly a result of more aggressive use of smart HDR), the most accurate I have ever seen from a smartphone. Even in direct comparison with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the iPhone 15 Pro Max won. The colors in flowers are perfect and the sharpness is startling. My macros are levels above what I gathered with the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. The skin tones are exact. It didn’t matter the skin tone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max understood it and reproduced it. I, for instance, look just as pale and freckled as I do in real life.
Apple has stuffed this iPhone full of more pro-level photography tools than ever before. In particular, you can now choose physical camera-like digital lenses, from 13mm to 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 48mm, and 120mm for the 5x zoom. You can see these measurements in the camera app by holding down on one of the main magnification levels. You can also go into settings and set one of the lenses as a default.
Image 1 of 4
You can change digital lenses on the fly. Here’s the 13mm view,(Image credit: Future)
Here’s your 24mm lens.(Image credit: Future)
This is the 28mm lens.(Image credit: Future)
Here’s the 35MM lens.(Image credit: Future)
For most consumers, though, this might be more control than they want or need. It might help to understand what millimeters (mm) in lenses actually mean. The mm defines the degree of magnification and field of view. Lower mm means a wider field of view and lower magnification. Obviously, you can ignore this or act like a pro photographer and start switching up digital lenses during a shoot.
Apple’s decision to use just a 5x optical zoom is a source of frustration but I can’t really argue with the result. The lens, which uses an unusual tetraprism (four turns of the light between the lens and the image sensor), captures some lovely images. So while this is a long way from 10x optical zoom, I think Apple fans will still be pleased with this result. You can zoom quite a bit further with digital zoom but these images never hold up upon close examination.
Working in conjunction with that zoom is the new 3D sensor shift optical image stabilization which does a much better job of keeping shots stable, especially on digitally zoomed videos. I was impressed with the stabilization when I was capturing a video of a robin who was perched up in swaying branches at least five yards away from me.
The entire iPhone 15 line essentially refines portrait photography. There’s still a specific mode, but you no longer need to use it to get the same result. As long as the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s cameras can capture depth information, you can turn almost any photo into a portrait shot after the fact, even if it was shot with only the main camera.
Image 1 of 4
This photo started off as a standard image. I changed it to portrait. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
You can see the controls here.(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
With portrait turned off.(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
I tapped the car to switch focus.(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
You can tell if the camera is seeing any depth while you shoot because a little “Portrait f” will appear in the upper righthand corner. You can tap on it and then select Portrait (On or Off) to see what the photo would look like in portrait mode. it doesn’t always work because, if the camera does not ‘see’, say, a person, or pet or fails to capture any useful depth information, then you can’t change a photo to portrait mode; in my experience, most photos were convertible, however. As with traditional Portrait Mode shots, you can set the depth of field but additionally, you can now also tap on different subjects to change the focus point. This works just as advertised and makes you feel like a god of portrait photography.
Portrait photography – including that taken with the front-facing TrueDepth camera – got a huge upgrade with access to Apple’s Photonic Engine (I know, Apple, loves it’s tech labels) that just makes portrait photography look more authentic and less computational than ever.
Apple has made some leaps in low-light and night photography. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s ISPs (image signal processors) collect more light and make better use of it in even the most challenging situations. It’s not vastly better than what you get with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, but I think Apple achieves parity.
Night photography is better, too. I noticed less green in the star photography and more stars. The one thing I still can’t do as easily as I can with the Galaxy S23 Ultra is take star trail photography (without a third-party app).
The iPhone remains a great video capture tool, with a wide variety of lens options, Action mode for shooting your child’s soccer game without nausea-inducing judder, and Cinematic mode for when you want to shoot auteur-quality video. The last, by the way, works just like portrait mode photography in that you can, while capturing video, shift focus from one subject to another with just a tap (in filmmaking, this is the job of the focus puller). What the iPhone 15 Pro Max can do that you can’t with the traditional film is change the focus point of the video after shooting. It’s more than a neat trick and could be useful if you happen to forget to focus on the right subject during the initial shoot.
iPhone 15 Pro Max: Camera samples
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This photo started out as a regular shot with the main camera. I tapped to convert it to portrait.(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The iPhone 15 Pro Max can capture action shots(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
A front-facing camera selfie. The blue sky might be a little over-baked.(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
This was an impressive lowlight shot that captured me and the night sky(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
New Yorker “P.pataci on Instagram” was kind enough to pose for me and let me try out the new potrait features.(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
A city shot with the ultrawide camera(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Stepped up to the Main camera(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Using the 2x zoom that uses the center 12MP of the 48 MP main camera(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Using the 3x optical zoom camera. The sky was blue. Was it THAT blue? (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
An untrawide city shot(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
A shot with the Main camera(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Using the 2x zoom mode(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Using the 3x optical zoom(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
A macro shot(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Flower that looks just like this in real life.(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
A city bird(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Ultrawide city shot(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The phone now maxes out at shooting 4K 60fps ProRes, while I’d say leaving out 8K video shooting capabilities (which some rivals support) could only be a problem if I thought anyone actually had an 8K TV in their home.
Even as Apple dips its toes further into the pro-level smartphone photography waters, its camera app does not yet feel as deep and versatile as Samsung’s, which may go a bit too far and accidentally bury some really useful features.
Again, I think Apple knows its consumers better than most and is being careful about what it presents to iPhone users; not wanting to confuse them while also not holding them back, either. It’s a delicate balance. In the end, Apple mostly pulls it off and the real proof is in the fantastic image quality, which should make any smartphone owner envious.
iPhone 15 Pro Max review: Performance
Hello new A17 Pro
8GB of RAM
More base storage (for a price)
Ever since Apple launched Apple silicon, it’s been pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, with system-on-chips (SoCs) in laptops, desktops, and mobile that rival and often beat the competition, and sometimes they even take generational leaps.
I think it’s fair to call the A17 Pro a leap forward from the A16 Bionic in the iPhone 14 Pro Max (the chip now also powering the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus). As compared to the A16 Bionic, the A17 Pro is built on an even-smaller 3nm process, which should improve efficiency (think battery life), with a CPU that is 10% faster and a six-core GPU that’s not only 20% faster but supports on-hardware Ray Tracing.
Geekbench 6 comparison (Image credit: Future)
The iPhone 15 Pro Max Geekbench 6 results support Apple’s performance claims. It shows that the A17 Pro is running at a 3.78GHz clockspeed, as compared to 3.46GHz for the A16 Bionic and 3.36GHz for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 inside the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Numbers, naturally, only tell part of the performance story. For me, it’s what I can do with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. One of the promised experiences is playing console-quality games natively. Not gonna lie, I was skeptical. Console gaming is not mobile gaming and never the twain shall meet – until they do on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Playing Resident Evil: Village on iPhone 15 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Capcom gave me test flight access to the ported version of Resident Evil: Village. It was a large file that I needed to download at home on WiFi. Once it loaded up I immediately saw a problem. The game is designed for consoles and their controllers. Without one, Resident Evil put the controls on-screen – all the buttons you would usually find on a console controller were crowding the 6.7-inch display. I realized I needed a physical controller, so I borrowed one of my son’s extra Xbox controllers and connected it to the phone via Bluetooth.
I’m not much of a gamer, but the visuals, especially on the cut scenes, look quite good on the 6.7-inch display. Still, on such a small console gaming screen, losing even a little bit of space to the Dynamic Island is frustrating.
The graphics never stuttered or tore. I only noticed one spot of pixelation early in the game, where a shadow didn’t quite hold together on the snow. This was a repeatable experience which makes me wonder if it’s less about the A17 Pro and more about the game port from console to mobile.
The game was otherwise responsive and the sound was excellent. When I put in my AirPods Pro, I was presented with a really captivating and immersive experience; an experience good enough for me to proclaim that console-quality gaming has finally arrived on the mobile phone.
Outside of gaming, every action on the iPhone 15 Pro Max was as responsive as I expected and wanted it to be. I tried editing multiple 4K 60fps clips in iMovie and found no issues with it or the output. The speed of the latter was no faster on the A17 Pro than it was on the A16 Bionic on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The SIM tray started to disappear with last year’s iPhone 14 series in the US. It’s still available on 15 models elsewhere in the world, however. (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
As with last year’s iPhone 14 Pro Max (pictured above) in the US, my test unit was eSIM-only. It’s incredibly easy to transfer your phone number from an existing phone to these new eSIM variants, but it also means you can no longer easily swap in and out SIM cards without carrier assistance and support.
This is also a 5G phone, though your 5G experience will depend largely on the proximity of cell towers and how many people are sharing them. Lately, 5G speeds are making me pine for still-under-development 6G.
Call quality is good. My wife remarked I sounded good, clear, and “younger”. I don’t know if that’s a product of the connection or if the iPhone 15 Pro Max includes a time machine for free; if it’s the latter, Apple should adjust its marketing to place a little more emphasis on that particular upgrade.
This is also Apple’s first Wi-Fi 6E iPhone, which is good news if you have a Wi-Fi 6E router in your home or office. In my anecdotal tests, the iPhone 15 Pro Max had consistently faster download and upload speeds (as measured by Google’s online Speet Test) than the WiFi 6-supporting iPhone 15 and my iPhone 14 Pro (also WiFi 6).
There’s also a new Ultra Wide-band chip (across all iPhone 15 models) that should help with precision finding of not only your Apple stuff but other friends carrying iPhones too.
Apple is also expanding its integrated Satellite services support beyond Emergency SOS to free (for two years) roadside assistance. The idea is that in areas where cell service is poor or non-existent, the system can guide you to connect with an orbiting satellite and then message nearby road services.
Performance score: 4.5 / 5
iPhone 15 Pro Max review: Software
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max on a Belkin MagSafe charger showing off iOS 17’s StandBy feature. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
iOS 17 out the box
Nice quality-of-life improvements
No major changes otherwise
iOS 17, which will come pre-installed on your new iPhone 15 Pro Max is, in total, a relatively lightweight update to what is already a very rich and deep platform, of which I suspect most iPhone owners barely scratch the surface.
The StandBy feature turns the iPhone 15 Pro Max into one of the best bedside clocks and at-a-glance-info hubs around. New Contact Posters are a nice extension of some of the features first found in the impressive Lock Screen update. I also like the new Name Drop feature, which utilizes AirDrop to instantly share contact information with another iPhone placed next to it. Just know that this feature is on by default and if you have two phones near each other with this enabled it might automatically connect. If and when you get your iPhone 15 (of any model), I’d suggest you go into settings and turn this off until you learn how and when to use it.
When I made a FaceTime call – which looked fantastic, by the way – I used iOS 17’s new gestures to send thumbs ups and balloons, some of which appeared behind me; it was a neat effect.
iPhone 15 Pro Max review: Battery life
Same quoted battery life as iPhone 14 Pro Max
Marginally larger capacity YoY
USB-C charging (and data speeds up to 10Gbps)
Power adapter not included
MagSafe for iPhone
The new USB-C-to-USB-C cable that ships with the iPhone 15 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Apple never shares the battery capacity and one can only assume that the iPhone 15 Pro Max battery is at least as big as the one in the iPhone 14 Pro Max (independent sources suggest it’s fractionally larger). Battery size, though, is only part of the story. Managing battery life is a product of mAhs (milliampere-hours), processor efficiency, and onboard intelligence (often AI-based), to manage battery consumption.
All of this, I would say, is done well on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which managed 28 hours of mixed-use. This is an anecdotal measure and your results will vary depending on what you do with the phone. Remember that part of my time with the phone was not using it while I slept for five hours (I did not charge it).
The new USB-C port (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Apple says the iPhone 15 Pro Max can recharge to 50% in 30 minutes with an optional 20W USB-C adapter. Mine charged 47% in that time. It took another hour and a half for it to fully charge. I’m not sure why Apple can’t get fully on board with faster wired charging.
As for how you charge the iPhone 15 Pro Max, now you’ll use the new USB-C port and the included USB-C cable. I was surprised to see that the cable is now woven – as opposed to the classic plastic/rubber protective jacket. This is similar to MacBook and HomePod cables and may prove more durable than the old cables.
The phone also supports Qi and, obviously MagSafe charging (and accessories).
iPhone 15 Pro Max review: Verdict
The iPhone 15 Pro Max raises the bar, not only for the iPhone family but for smartphones in general. From the new materials to some of the best smartphone cameras we have ever used; Apple’s big flagship satisfies your smartphone needs in virtually every aspect. It falls just short of perfection thanks to a slightly higher price tag than the last model, the lack of true fast charging, and Apple’s frustrating insistence in presenting 5x optical zoom as the apex of smartphone telephoto technology. Still, these end up being minor quibbles for a broadly exceptional iPhone experience.
Should I buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
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iPhone 15 Pro Max score card
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
More expensive but you do get more storage for your money.
4.5 / 5
Design
The combination of a titanium body and new smoother curves is an aesthetic and ergonomic win.
4.5 / 5
Display
The screen in bigger (though not higher resolution) and looks better than ever.
4.5 / 5
Camera
This is the best collection of cameras I have ever used on an iPhone.
5 / 5
Performance
The A17 Pro is fast as advertised and, yes, makes console gaming a reality in an iPhone.
4.5 / 5
Software
iOS 17 is a solid upgrade with welcome quality-of-life improvements.
4.5 / 5
Battery
All-day battery life but still waiting for fast charging.
4 / 5
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
iPhone 15 Pro Max review: also consider
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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Google Pixel 7 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
Price (at launch):
From $1,199.99 / £1,249 / AU$1,949
From $899 / £849 / AU$1,299
From $1,099 / £1,199 / AU$1,899
Display
6.8-inch adaptive 120Hz (3088 x 1440) Dynamic AMOLED 2X
6.7-inch adaptive 120Hz (1440 x 3120) LTPO OLED display
6.7-inch adaptive 120Hz (1290 x 2796) Super Retina XDR OLED
I tested the iPhone 15 Pro Max for four days, using it to take pictures, play games, watch videos, listen to music, and do a variety of other mobile tasks. I ran anecdotal battery tests and various benchmarks, but I have also included benchmark and battery results from Future Labs.
I bring almost 20 years of phone testing experience and 32 years of technology media experience to my review work and have tried or reviewed almost every iPhone since Apple first released them in 2007.
This is your last day to , the streaming service that has nothing to do with Cinemax and everything to do with HBO. Annual subscriptions , depending on the tier. The discount is available to both new and returning subscribers, just in time for the second season of House of the Dragon.
Max
The best deal knocks $100 off the Ultimate plan, which offers an ad-free 4K viewing experience. The grand total here will be $140 per year, instead of $240. The next step down is a mid-level plan that also drops the ads, but there’s no option for 4K streaming. This plan costs $150 per year, instead of $192. Finally, there’s the ad-supported plan, which costs $70 per year as part of this deal. Sure, it might seem weird to watch Curb Your Enthusiasm (RIP) with commercials, but it gets the job done.
The deals apply no matter how you sign up for the Max, including directly from the website, through the Apple App Store or Google Play. There’s one major caveat, as only new subscribers via Fire TV are eligible. All of this is tied to March Madness, as Max is streaming all 2024 Division I NCAA men’s basketball championship games, .
For those too busy to memorize the comings and goings of multinational streaming platforms, Max is a service that combines . So you can watch all five seasons of the critically-acclaimed crime series The Wire and chase it down with 47 seasons of Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, as nature intended. Max is a weird streamer to pin down, but there’s certainly a glut of content to choose from. There’s a reason we named it one of the .
