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Review: Two Months With the iPhone 15 Pro Max

New Mexico Bob said:
It's been an okay-ish upgrade from the 13 ProMax. My main issue has been with Apple Pay which is very spotty for me. Phone 13 was always reliable, but with 15PM I frequently have to use my watch as a backup. In hindsight, I should have waited at least one more iPhone cycle to see more of a speed and camera bump.
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I had the 15 Pro Max in my basket up until the end of November , wavered , deleted it and have decided to wait as my current phone is the 13 Pro Max and previous to the 11 Max Pro.

Ill be waiting for the next model as there will no doubt be features and possible refinements that didn’t make it or were left out for marketing reasons on the 15 Max Pro . Stopped using my phone for Apple Pay when I purchased the Apple watch as it’s far easier.
 
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My thoughts on having the 15 PM since launch day.

I use the action button almost daily. IMHO it's easier to put the phone in silent mode than it was with the old switch.

I've had no overheating issues with the 15PM. This was totally a non-issue for me from go.

The USB C connector came in useful on a recent cruise and flight back and forth. I took one cable to charge my phone, one USB C brick to charge all my devices. Big fan of the USB C.

I'm a new phone every year guy anyway, but overall I'm as happy as I've been with any other PM upgrade.
 
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ShadowJade said:
My immediate reply is why EVER use the phone for ApplePay? As an individual with almost $4,000 lifetime cash back, I only use my watch. I am actually a bit triggered when a merchant makes me pass them my phone as their drive-thru isn't equipped to tap by watch...or a bar won't let me come behind a bit to tap-just one more transfer that could invoke a dropped device.
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You guys give your phones away to use tap-to-pay? This can never happen in Germany 😂
 
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ghanwani said:
Wow, still overheating. I thought they had fixed that.
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“The iPhone 15 Pro stays cool to the touch for the most part, even when playing games”

Not sure if the video contradicts the text, but they said outside of charging (where devices pretty normally heat up) there is no overheating.

So what were you thinking with your comment?
 
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Born Again said:
no mention how useless the action button is?
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Dude, I use the Action Button far more than I ever used the mute switch! I was one of those folks who was disappointed when the OG iPad’s physical switch was changed from rotation lock to mute (and now, I’m not even sure if the iPad even has a physical switch anymore, I don’t think it does).

I’ve got mine set up to launch an app that contains a bunch of Siri Shortcuts. Some of them are for public transit navigation via Transit, some are for weather, some of them are for my HomeKit automations. I use these automations at least once a day, often far more. It’s kinda like Shortcuts itself, there’s a lot of power if you’re willing to dig in and roll your own solutions.

Come to think of it, I feel like I’m still missing out on some of the power. I could be using Pythonista or Scriptable to launch legit Python or JavaScript scripts from my launcher, since both support launching scripts via Shortcuts, for instance. The Action Button is totally what you make of it, unlike the mute switch.
 
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I upgrade yearly and the iPhone 15 Pro Max feels like a bigger upgrade than usual to me!

It’s so FAST! Not that previous models were slow but holy crap everything I do is rocket fast!

Battery life is INSANE, so much so that I set it to only charge to 80%. The speakers are incredible, of course so is the screen. I like the lighter feel too. USB-C I could care less.

It’s just a wonderful phone!
 
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I’ve upgraded from a 12 Pro Max, personally it’s the best iPhone I’ve used. I use the action button for the camera daily, battery feels impressive, no overheating etc and still feels super quick! AirDrop seems awful though, but probably software related.
 
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Two months with the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a great review, but I'd be really hyped for a "7 years with the first-gen iPhone SE" video! :p
 
coffeemilktea said:
Two months with the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a great review, but I'd be really hyped for a "7 years with the first-gen iPhone SE" video! :p
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I could ask a friend of mine who’s still rocking hers.

I was planning on giving her my old iPhone XR, which reminds me, I should really get around to wiping it…
 
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My 15 PM doesn't overheat. It does get mildly warm when charging. Certainly not overheating.

I'm now a convert to USB-C. I can plug a small Samsung SSD in and record video using the Blackmagic Camera app in Apple ProRes with Log color encoding and get a ton more recording time.

With USB-C I should also be able to record to an SD card using Apple's (or others') SD dongle and a fast card. Will be trying that soon. That'll save some bulk/weight.

For those interested in making high quality videos, be sure and give Blackmagic's Camera app a whirl. I'm still learning using it as it has a ton of features/options, and is easy to use.

Best of all, it's FREE.
 
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MacRumors said:


Apple's iPhone 15 lineup came out in September, and while most reviews are done shortly after a new device launches, we like to follow up with a longer term review that gives us an opportunity to provide a deeper dive into what it's like using these phones on a day to day basis for months.


MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using his iPhone 15 Pro Max without a case to test durability, and the titanium frame has been holding up much better than stainless steel. Even after some minor drops, there are no scratches or scuffs to speak of.

There were reports of overheating early on with the iPhone 15 Pro models, but Apple has addressed this in software updates. The iPhone 15 Pro stays cool to the touch for the most part, even when playing games. It can heat up when charging at random times, but it's not a consistent issue.

Battery life is about on par with the iPhone 14 Pro Max battery life, and there doesn't seem to be much of an improvement.

With the iPhone 15 Pro models, Apple added an Action Button, and , well, it's not getting much use. It's hard to get in the habit of using a new button for things that we've done for years using other workflows.

As for the camera, the best feature by far is the automatic portrait mode that lets you adjust focus after an image is captured without having to turn on Portrait mode. It's fun to use, and you can tap on each subject in the photo to change the focus from the foreground to the background. The 5x Telephoto lens is also a useful addition.

Make sure to watch our full video for more thoughts on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and let us know how it's performed for you over the last two months if you have one.

Article Link: Review: Two Months With the iPhone 15 Pro Max
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@Dan Barbera , have you tried using a usb hub in the car so both the Lightning & USB-C cable stay connected & you can just use whichever one you need without plugging it in? Not sure if the CarPlay USB ports in cars play nice with USB hubs...
 
I've had my iPhone 15 Pro Max (blue, 512GB) since launch day. I am coming from a XS Max, by way of a 14PM I had for about a month to hold me over when the XS Max overheated while capturing video in the heat. (FaceID stopped working, I got it working again, then it stopped working again and wouldn't be revived. The phone would also randomly shut down.)

I use my iPhones caseless, so the feel is important. The 15PM is so much lighter than the 14PM in the hand. It is heavier than the XS Max, but doesn't feel like it. The rounded edges are comfortable, but the brushed texture on the titanium offers better grip than either of my last two phones. And no scratches! The camera system is better - I find it taking excellent, sharp Night Mode shots that I don't think the 14PM could have pulled off. Definitely not the XS Max. The 5x zoom is useful for getting unique shots in the city. I filmed a recreational soccer match in pouring rain and the footage was beautiful - no rain spots in the footage. I use my action button to start the Camera app in video mode. I use it a lot and it has meant the difference between getting a shot and not many times.

The battery life is excellent, as is the ability to set the 15PM to not charge over 80%. I have this turned on, and charge via USB-C, because I am realizing how slow and hot wireless charging is. I only charge wirelessly in the car due to the convenience of MagSafe in placing and removing the phone instantly. If the AC is cooling, I'll open the vent and let it cool the phone. I often try to charge to near 80% so it's not charging (much) in the car.

Live Activities are super convenient. I use Maps & Music while driving, and can easily see/switch. Wonderful. The always-on display and Dynamic Island are cool.

I love the 15PM. It is a big leap forward from the 14PM.

PS - now I am redoing my car, home, and travel charging setups. It's interesting that USB-C can charge everything, and that AW fast charging, MagSafe 15W charging, and USB-C charging of iPhone & iPad all now require the same 20W from a USB-C port. For travel, some sort of corded desktop power in a small bag with a few 20W USB-C ports & cables should take care of everything except a MacBook, which takes 30W (MBA) to 140W (MBP16). I think a suitable USB-C cable can charge up to 100W. 140W would require the USB-C to MagSafe2 charging cable for MBP. Cool. AirPods Pro 2 probably charge at 5W via USB-C - has anyone checked? There's usually at least one higher wattage USB-C port on multiport chargers. I can't wait to see the lone USB-A port that most models have flip to USB-C. Much more useful. I think this is going to drastically simplify in particular my travel setup.
 
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Love the action button. I use the flashlight all the time and I instantly knew that's what I was going to use it for. I just wish turning the flashlight on and off via the action button wouldn't activate the screen.
 
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Why do people still use screen protectors? Honest question. Don't they degrade the screen experience? Have they been a lifesaver for dropped phones? I haven't used a screen protector in 10 years and don't feel the need for one.
 
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Fuzzball84 said:
Iphone 16 Pro Max is going to be so much better than this, and the iPhone 17 Pro max, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. But I think I'll hold on for the iPhone 20 Pro Max as it might have a half decent 9 inch screen.

I like the hardware, but detest the current naming schemes Apple have. Max? Max what? What's Pro?
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Max "screen size".
Pro "features" and "storage capacity".
 
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