The 13 Pro Max still feels fast, takes excellent photos, and easily lasts all day on a full charge even at 88% battery health. The usual improvements you expect from a new iPhone—faster processor, better cameras, longer battery life—would be lost on me in day-to-day use.

Discover if it's worth upgrading to the new Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max or if you should stick with your current iPhone

Apple iPhone 16 delivery lead times have trended below historical results, but data indicates this might be due to stronger supply. Read more here.

According to Morgan Stanley analysts, lead times for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)'s iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models are stabilizing and even extending, marking an unexpectedly positive development. The bank said that as of September 27,

There's a cost-effective iPhone Pro if you want to prepare for Apple Intelligence, but Apple will not sell it to you.

As for Apple’s main high-end phone competition, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra fell well short of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, clocking 16 hours and 45 minutes of battery life, despite having a larger 5,000mAh cell (compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s 4,685mAh).

I now crown the iPhone 16 Pro Max as our new smartphone battery life king, kicking the Google Pixel 9 out of its short-lived throne. You won't believe how long the top-tier iPhone 16 lasted on a charge.

The best iPhone 16 Pro Max cases come in various materials and styles. They include military-grade drop-testing for added peace of mind and a responsive button for the new Camera Control feature. They're also inexpensive compared to your phone and are worth the cash outlay when considering the costs of potential repairs.