Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone 15 Pro Max: One Year Review

Bought on launch day, 90% battery.

I've never used cases and this phone is by far more beat up than any previous iPhone I've had. The titanium is noticeably softer than the stainless steel of the old phones. Somehow my back glass cracked (just noticed it was split in half one day) and the corners have way more dents than the stainless phones ever did.

The front glass also has more scratches than previous phones. Durability is an obvious step down from the 14 Pro although it is noticeable lighter.
 
  • Disagree
  • Like
Reactions: Mother Nature and Fred Zed
89% battery life after 1 year is wild. I am still 100% thanks to the 80% charging limit.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3020.png
    IMG_3020.png
    189.9 KB · Views: 100
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: bb9 and JapanApple
It’s a good device not perfect tough, the build is amazing, the battery is awesome, the camera is second to none , the only issue I am dealing with is the heat even without the decide not doing anything that use power, hopefully the 16 PM will have a better heat management, still 15 PM is highly recommended
 
Release Day 2023 iPhone 15 Pro Max 512GB in "Titanium Blue", upgraded from a 13PM - I use this 15PM a lot every single day. I abolutely love this thing. Cameras and video are excellent. Size perfect for me. A tiny bit on the heavy side, but the amazing battery life and high strength of the body make it worth every gram.

Screen is set to medium brightness; I use the phone probably 70% indoors, 30% outdoors and raise the brightness a bit outside. Battery is set to always charge to 80%, mostly via a cordless charger/holder on my desk. I charge it while working at night from 2am-5am daily and it is usually hovering around 25-35% by the end of the 21 hours of use. Stats: Battery health "normal" — maximum capacity "100%" — cycle count "170" — manufacture date "July 2023" — first use "September 2023".

When I do take it "out on the road" and capture lots of video, sure the battery level ends up in the red between 8 and 20% say, so I do have to charge it in the car or elsewhere when that happens. Once in a while I will boost it to 100% charge, like before flying anywhere. I hate the fact that it gets super hot when using it on a Qi charger in a car, so I opt now for wired charging if using the phone for nav and/or CarPlay in a rental car, positioning it by an air conditioning vent in my favorite vent-mounted holder to keep it cool.

I have it in an Apple clear case with no front protection except for the case lip and I've been lucky that it has only taken a few tumbles over the year I've had it and has suffered no damage to the frame or screen. It goes everywhere with me, all the time. BTW, I never used the "action button". Looking forward to iOS 18 and perhaps finding a good use for that button.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mother Nature, brgjoe, centauratlas and 1 other person
Bought one week after release. 167 cycle count....100% capacity yet. The first six months or so I charged to 80% daily. The past few months to 100% daily. No complaints or issues so far and I'm happy with my purchase.
 
Macropanda said:
You think the opinion/thoughts are going to change in the next two weeks and it will be considered less misleading?
Click to expand...

Technically he is right. The phone didn't officially release until Sept 22nd 2023 so it's still a few weeks before the iPhone 15 models will be a year old. But tech sites like this do their year review/ recap like in August before the newest iPhone are announced in September. Plus some tech reviewers get access to the phones the same week as the Keynote or even a before.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mother Nature
15PM, purchased in November. Battery health 99%. Battery life is excellent - typically only 10% battery drain for each hour of screen-on time, or 10 hours between charges.

Love the 5x camera. Even the main camera, the same as in the 14PM (which I owned), takes better pictures because of better processing. (Max Tech found the same thing in a blind comparison test.)

When not in a case, it's a bit easier and nicer to hold than the 14PM. But I usually use a case, and I can't perceive a difference compared to 14PM in comfort or weight.

I used to upgrade every year. I'm going to hang on to the 15PM at least another year. It does everything I need, and does it really well.

I know many of you will pick up one of the 16's, maybe the 16PM. I'm excited for y'all and will be looking forward to your comments about it.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: drmacnut, Mother Nature, LockOn2B and 1 other person
Got near launch. 142 cycles, 99% battery health. Usually just charge it overnight on the puck. Screen and back are clear but a small ding in the ti band from a drop.
 
  • Like
Reactions: roncron
iP15 pro
100% after 9 months of usage
189 cycle count
80% limit enabled (same usage as with my iP11pro, but with 15pro 80% is enough)
100% wireless charging

battery statistics with a beta OS = makes no sense
 
  • Like
Reactions: drmacnut
Following in the 14PM battery's steps. Quickly dropping in just a year. Some find some decent health, but those that use the phone with normal use and don't baby the phone see the battery health go quickly.
 
My personal thoughts having owned it from UK release day 1. I love the action button, it's so handy for quick access to the camera. The camera is pretty bloody good, rarely lets me down. Battery has been great, and no overheating, even using the new 18.1 beta. Its also damn fast.

However, iOS is just stagnant, I also own the S24 Ultra, and for the past good few months I've been using that more and more as my daily, I've even put my main sim card in the galaxy. I had high hopes for iOS 18, hoping that would be what makes me stick to the iPhone, but I'm just not feeling it. Android has matured so much, feels lighting fast (faster than iOS) has so, so many features and you can make it do virtually whatever. I loathe the camera on the Galaxy though, it stutters and isn't reliable in a quick shot environment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: drmacnut
My main complaint is the speed of which the A17 Pro heats up my phone. Even in a normal cool temp room my iPhone 15 Pro heats up quicker than any other iPhone I’ve owned. No matter how little apps are running or without a case. It’s a hot running phone.

My second complaint as of recent is the USB-C port. It’s very selective with what cables work. I keep the port clean and lint free but still at times with just doesn’t want to work.

Other than that. It’s a iPhone. It’s a great daily driver. My battery is fine at 98% after 10 months.
 
Egregius said:
I still got 100%, 99 cycles. Bought on release date.
Click to expand...
Same on 15 Pro. Slow wired charging over night (12W brick, not basic 5W), 80% limit most days, and my usage is pretty light, 150 cycles since launch. Still at 100%. Some conservation and heat reduction really helps.
 
  • Love
Reactions: Mother Nature
15PM from launch day. Runs too hot too often. Battery life is meh.

My 14PM was significantly better on heat and battery life.

I’m at 89% capacity on my 15PM with 360 cycles.

I love the titanium, and I still love my phone but I hope the 16 addresses heat, battery life and battery health.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dominiongamma
zuckuss00 said:
My main complaint is the speed of which the A17 Pro heats up my phone. Even in a normal cool temp room my iPhone 15 Pro heats up quicker than any other iPhone I’ve owned. No matter how little apps are running or without a case. It’s a hot running phone.

My second complaint as of recent is the USB-C port. It’s very selective with what cables work. I keep the port clean and lint free but still at times with just doesn’t want to work.

Other than that. It’s a iPhone. It’s a great daily driver. My battery is fine at 98% after 10 months.
Click to expand...
Yeah, as long as I'm on efficiency cores, it runs cool, and that covers most things for me and it's very fast. But it does heat up quickly on performance cores. Luckily my usage is mostly light except for camera, where it heats up.

I wonder if A18 Pro will be any different with new node. From indepth cpu videos they are saying it might not change much, because performance cores are mostly getting a voltage boost (= more heat). But efficiency cores are performing great.

A17 Pro (great performance out of efficiency cores, but performance core gains are basically voltage boosts)

M4 (new N3E process) (great performance but similar power consumption ratio = same heat, see 14:00)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back