Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: New features, price, specs, and release date predictions

UPDATED: MAY 08, 2024, 6:26 AM 

There are now just a few months until Apple's next big device release. The iPhone 16 Pro Max will be Apple's next big release, expected to launch in September 2024. We believe that the device might be announced on September 10, with pre-orders starting on September 13 and the phone potentially hitting the shelves around September 20. This totally syncs up with Apple's annual iPhone release schedule. 

Like most previous iPhones, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will arrive alongside the rest of the iPhone 16 family sometime in September 2024. Naturally, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be the most advanced and best iPhone to come out this year, but expect to pay a premium for it. 

In terms of pricing, it's improbable that Apple will raise the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, though not impossible. With the last iPhone model, Apple ditched the entry-level 128GB version, so an argument can be made that the base iPhone Pro Max became pricier.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature Apple's upcoming A18 chip. This one will be the second-generation chip built on a 3nm manufacturing process and might be called Apple A18 Pro. It might also include a vastly improved Neural Engine for generative AI, which would be the biggest upgrade delivered by the upcoming iOS 18 software update. We expect Apple to boost the efficiency and processing metrics with the upcoming chip, which will result in better performance and battery life. 

In terms of design, we expect the largest iPhone's display to be larger and have the thinnest bezels on an iPhone, a square camera bump, and a reinforced structure to prevent glass shattering. It is also very probable that Apple will introduce a new Capture Button that might allow users to quickly take videos and photos with the click (or tap) of this new button. This feature could become a universal iPhone feature. Colors-wise, we might see the iPhone 16 Pro Max in Space Black, White, Gray, and Rose Gold colors.

As far as battery rumors are concerned, the new iPhone is said to feature a larger battery for improved battery life, as well as faster USB Type-C charging speeds. The iPhone 16 Pro Max will be powered by the upcoming iOS 18 software update, which will be announced at WWDC'24 in June. iOS 18 will reportedly feature tons of AI features. The iPhone 16 Pro Max will be supported for five years at least, so expect the device to receive new iOS versions at least until 2029. 

iPhone 16 Pro Max release date

• Probable announcement: September 10, 2024 (Tuesday)

• Probable pre-orders start date: September 13, 2023 (Friday)

• Probable market release: September 20, 2024 (Friday)

The iPhone 16 Pro Max will probably be announced on September 10, 2024, which happens to be the second Tuesday of September, Apple's favorite day to announce its new iPhones.

A couple of days after the official iPhone 16 Pro Max announcement, Apple will kick off the pre-orders for its upcoming phones. This will happen on Friday, September 13, 2024. Some ten days after the phone's announcement and a week after the pre-orders have kicked off, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will officially hit the shelves, most probably on September 20, 2024.

Historically, most iPhone announcements have taken place on the second Tuesday of September. It's not a rule set in stone, so some slight changes are always possible. 

This launch weekend is not just a major event for Apple; it's also a key indicator of consumer interest and market trends for the holiday season. Based on an opening weekend, one can make a fairly accurate prediction about the lifetime sales of a given iPhone family.

iPhone 16 Pro Max price

• Current Expectations: There are two natural possibilities with the iPhone 16 Pro Max: it will either stay on the same pricing as its predecessor or score a price hike. As a reminder, the entry-level variation of the current iPhone Pro Max flagship starts at $1,199.

Every year, we hear rumors that Apple will be jacking up prices of its iPhone Pro Max, and despite those, Cupertino has generally kept the $1,199 price tag largely unchanged. That was especially true last year, when just about everyone was convinced that Apple will surely increase the prices of the Pro models. There's always that possibility. 

However, there's also the outlook of a slight price increase, and the more time passes, the more probable that one is. There could potentially be a $50-$100 price increase to all storage tiers on the iPhone 16 Pro Max in the worst-case scenario.

iPhone 16 Pro Max camera

Currently, we expect Apple to introduce some crucial changes to the iPhone 16 Pro Max camera setup. That one debuted the tetraprism telephoto camera that offers 5x optical zoom (120mm), which is the longest telephoto ever fitted on an iPhone. A year before that, Apple introduced a 48MP main camera to the Pro models, so all cameras except for the ultra-wide one have scored a trove of improvements in the past two years.

• Optical excellence: The iPhone 16 Pro Max will retain both the super-sharp 48MP main camera and the new tetraprism-powered telephoto camera with 5X optical zoom, both nestled in the classic camera island at the back. The latter brings largely unprecedented zooming capabilities to the iPhone lineup. Although many phones offer longer-zooming periscope cameras, the 5X telephoto camera on the iPhone 16 Pro Max will hit a very decent balance between quality and usability.

• New ultra-wide camera: The iPhone 16 Pro Max will adopt a new ultra-wide camera. After years of using a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, Apple will transition to a sharper ultra-wide camera with a 48MP resolution, or just as detailed as the one on the iPhone 16 Pro Max's main camera. The new ultra-wide will reportedly have a pixel size of 0.7um and a sensor size of 1/2.6", a serious upgrade over the 12MP ultra-wide with 1.0um pixels and a 1/3.6" sensor that Apple has previously used. The latter upgrades will help with low-light image quality. 

• Spatial video: The iPhone 16 Pro Max will most certainly be able to capture Spatial Video, which could be viewed on the Apple Vision Pro headset. The same will reportedly be true of the other iPhone 16 models, too. 

• Thinner and lighter lenses: A certain rumor calls for the use of thinner and lighter molded glass lenses for the cameras of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This allows Apple to not only save some minuscule weight, but also improve the optical qualities and improve the quality of the cameras themselves. Molded glass is crafted by pouring molten glass into molds and cooling it rapidly, which results in thin but strong glass. 

• An exciting possibility: Some hard-to-believe rumors call for an ultra-long 12.5X 300mm "super-periscope" camera on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This one will best most Android devices out right now, but we don't feel that this rumor is believable at all and would take it with a grain of salt.
  
  

iPhone 16 Pro Max storage

iPhone 16 Pro Max expected storage versions:

• 256 GB

• 512 GB

• 1 TB

• 2TB* (rumored)

Last year, Apple ditched the 128GB entry-level storage version on its largest iPhone, so the device featured 256GB in its base version. On the other end of the spectrum, the device was still available with up to a terabyte of on-board storage. 

We are mostly certain that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will come in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB versions as well, mirroring its predecessor for the most part. Apple usually sticks with a new storage tier scheme for a couple of generations after a major change, so we can safely expect that the 128GB version won't be back on a Pro Max device. 

• Possible 2TB version: There is the possibility that a 2TB storage version of the iPhone 16 Pro Max could get released. Surely, it will be geared towards the most demanding professional users out there, giving them more native storage than an average user requires. This rumor is a bit hard-to-believe, but Apple already sells a 2TB iPad Pro, so the iPhone Pro Max lineup can definitely score a similar upgrade. 

iPhone 16 Pro Max Design Upgrades

While the iPhone 16 Pro Max will most certainly double down on the titanium design that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro/iPhone 15 Pro Max, we also expect many important design upgrades.

• Larger Screen: A very significant change with the iPhone 16 Pro Max would be its much larger 6.86-inch display, a significant improvement over the 6.7-inch display that we've enjoyed ever since the iPhone 12 Pro Max days. Apple will achieve this display real estate increase by further minimizing the bezels and will lead to much more efficient use of front space.
  
  

• Dummies leak out: A set of four dummies depicting the whole iPhone 16 range has been revealed, revealing the imposing size of the iPhone 16 Pro Max is. Aside from giving us a very impressive real-life size comparison, it also showcases how compact the iPhone 16 Plus will look in contrast, a move

• The thinnest bezels on an iPhone: Reports claim that the iPhone 16 lineup, possibly even the base model, will feature the thinnest bezels on an iPhone so far, a great design change! Apple will use a so-called BRS (Border Reduction Structure) technology to minimize the display bezels. There were ways to reduce the size of the top and side bezels, but the bottom bezel was a challenge because of heat generation issues. The BRS tech appears to take care of this issue, as it has been designed to make the bottom bezel as thin as possible. BRS does that by "rolling the copper wires at the bottom upward."

• Capture Button: A novelty on the iPhone 16 Pro Max could be the addition of a new capacitive Capture Button situated on the frame of the phone. This novel addition could be used as a shutter button, yet another way to take photos and videos by default, and might even be customizable similarly to the Action Button that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max. Protective cases with the Capture Button have leaked already, and while they may not be indicative of the iPhone 16 Pro Max's final design, it falls in line with the anticipated changes.

• Action Button: One of the new design features that debuted on last year's iPhone lineup was the customizable Action Button, which allows users to choose between a handful of options and features to quickly enable or disable. This is certainly an upgrade from the old-school mute switch. With the iPhone 16 Pro Max, we might see Apple further improve the customizability of the Action Button. There are even rumors about the Action Button becoming larger, but we don't really think that would happen. One way or another, the mute switch is gone. 

What could the iPhone 16 Pro Max look like?

Based on the existing rumors and expectations, this is what the iPhone 16 Pro Max might look like next to its brethren from the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup. These renders were created by us and represent what the iPhone 16 Pro Max might look like based on the current rumors as of late 2023.

iPhone 16 Pro Max display

• Larger Display: Through the use of slimmer bezels and revamped design, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will boast a larger 6.86-inch display, noticeably larger than the 6.7-inch one that we've grown accustomed to on previous iPhone Pro Max devices. 

• Possible Brightness Improvements: These days, peak brightness seems to be the new front on which phone manufacturers deliver punches. iPhones are already bright enough, but lag behind devices like the Google Pixel 8 Pro, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the OnePlus 12, all of which achieve really high maximum brightness. Rumor has it that Apple could outfit its next Pro iPhones with even brighter displays, which would boost legibility under sunny conditions and also enhance make HDR content more impactful. 

• Display Technology: The iPhone 16 Pro Max will use an OLED display. OLED screens have exceptional contrast, superb viewing angles, and lovely color rendition, not to mention the potential for extremely high maximum brightness, making them the top choice for all flagship phones.

• Smooth interface: The iPhone 16 Pro Max will surely support ProMotion refresh rate, which allows the display to automatically and dynamically switch between 1 and 120Hz depending on the on-screen content and context, for a very smooth and rewarding interface experience. 

iPhone 16 Pro Max battery

Battery life is one of the most important aspects of modern phones. Last year's iPhone 15 lineup set an absolute record for iPhones as far as battery size is considered, so if the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with an even larger battery at the rear, we can expect this one to shatter the previous records and deliver excellent battery life.

• It appears that the iPhone 16 Pro Maxcould come along with a larger battery on board. As per the latest rumors, the device could come with a larger battery than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The rumor calls for a large 4,676mAh battery on board the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which would make it the largest battery on an iPhone so far. Of course, this will lead to excellent battery life. 

Charging Speed Evolution

When it comes to charging, iPhones are usually way slower to adopt faster charging speeds. Still, we are hopeful that Apple could adopt faster charging, as the company was mostly restricted by the limited power throughput of the Lightning port. Apple's Lightning supported up to 12W/2.4A of power throughput, while the USB Type-C port that debuted on Cupertino's wares with the iPhone 15 series can theoretically allow for much greater power throughput, up to 100W/3A or 240W/5A.

• Will there be a charger in the box? The iPhone 16 Pro Max won't come with a charger in the box. Apple stopped including chargers with the iPhone 12 generation and instead moved onto slim shipping boxes. We doubt that this decision will ever be repealed, so we don't hold our breath that a charger will make it inside the iPhone 16 Pro Max. 

iPhone 16 Pro Max features and software

The iPhone 16 Pro Max will arrive with iOS 18 on board. Aside from iOS 18, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will probably be supported for no less than five years, or at least until iOS 23. 

• iOS 18 in a nutshell: Numerous generative AI features might make the majority of iOS updates. iOS 18 will deliver a revamp regarding AI and LLMs (Large Language Models), which are direly needed as far as the company's Siri assistant is considered. As far as AI features come and go, Apple's iOS is objectively behind the competition, so it's only natural to expect Cupertino to boost the AI features of its software product in 2024. 

iOS 18 Preview at WWDC 2024: Focus on generative AI features and ML

The next major software version will be officially revealed at the Apple WWDC'24 developer summit. We suppose that this one will take place in early June 2024. June is when Apple usually hosts its software-centric keynotes. 

Word on the street is that generative AI features will seemingly play a large part of iOS 18's feature list, with Apple reportedly investing heavily into AI servers. The company's in-house AJAX LLM (Large Language Model) is reportedly as capable as ChatGPT3.5. This one would probably be used to super-charge the AI capabilities of Siri, which lags behind the general competition when it comes to intelligence, capabilities, and overall utility. Reportedly, a so-called Apple GPT also exists for internal use in Cupertino. 

Powered by the Apple A18 chip: iPhone 16 Pro Max hardware and specs

The iPhone 16 Pro Maxwill most certainly arrive with the Apple A18 chip, which will reportedly be built on TSMC's second-gen 3nm manufacturing process, dubbed N3E. This one will allow for better yield and less defective chipset dies. Hopefully, this will boost the performance and battery life of the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

• Improved Neural Engine: As AI is getting a hotter and hotter topic, Apple is pressured to include even more generative AI goodies on its upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, the iPhone 16 Pro Max included. Including an improved Neural Engine will result in a significant upgrade to the potential on-device AI capabilities of the upcoming device. Rumors have it that Apple will boost the Neural Engine cores, which will be a serious upgrade in both machine learning and artificial intelligence processing.

• Performance leaks: Some preliminary leaks exploring the potential processing power of the Apple A18 chip have surfaced in China, but it's extremely early to draw any conclusions yet. The leaked benchmarks reveal the A18 scores 2822 points in the GeekBench 6 single-core test and 8571 in the multi-core test. Our benchmark tests show that the A17 Pro chip scored 2958 points in the single-core test, but it scored 7288 points in the multi-core test.

• Better Thermal Management: Additionally, Apple is also said to be looking into ways to further improve the internal thermal management system on its next iPhone, possibly through the use of graphene. This would allow it to better dissipate the heat accumulated by Apple's latest 3nm Apple Pro chips, which tend to run hotter for some in select situations.

Should you wait for the iPhone 16 Pro Max?

When to Consider Waiting for the iPhone 16 Pro Max

• For Those with Older Models: You should wait for the iPhone 16 Pro Max if you've held up on upgrading to a newer iPhone in the past few years and are using a device that's nearing the end of its life. These include the iPhone 8 series, iPhone Xs series, and to some extent the iPhone 11 series.
  
  

• Why It Makes Sense: Upgrading from any of those to the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max will be more than a major improvement in terms of overall features and general value. Of course, if you're using an older regular iPhone, then the next top Apple flagship might entice you. 

When It's Better Not to Wait for the iPhone 16 Pro Max

• For Recent Upgraders: you've recently upgraded to or purchased a fairly recent iPhone, especially of the Pro Max flavor. Those with iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro Max, and even iPhone 13 Pro Max might not be swayed to upgrade to the 2024 iteration of the flagship. 

• Reasoning Behind This: Those devices will be more than capable and adequate for years to come, so if you're willing to maximize the value of your existing device, you should stick with your existing device for another year or so.