Each year, with every new iPhone launch, I always thing ‘what else is left?’, ‘what more can be achieved?’, ‘how much more can Apple make it different compared to the last model launch?’ and each year I continue to be surprised and rewarded… with answers to all my questions.
Let’s take a closer look at the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Appearance
You are not spoilt for colour choice. The Pro Max come in a choice of four: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium and Natural Titanium. I would have loved a bit more of colour, but since the phone is always “dressed”, beauty is on the inside, I guess.
Though the design, which hasn’t changed since iPhone 12, is similar to previous models, a few differences are clearly visible. Now, all the phones use grade 5 titanium, evident in the colours it is averrable, and it is sleeker than previous models. But looks aren’t the only sleek effect. The phones are lighter and feel almost weightless in my palm. The iPhone 15 Pro Max (221g) are the lightest in Apple history. Though it will take me sometime to get used to, as I prefer holding a heavy phone, my arm will thank me in the long run.
The slight curves on the back of the phones are also noticeable, which help when holding the phone for long periods of time. Another first in Apple’s history is the complete eradication of the Mute button, which has been replaced with the Action button. The new button can be just pressed rather than turned up or down. Pressing this new Action button will put the iPhone into silent mode or normal mode. However, you can customise it to do more such as voice recording, turning on flashlight, etc. Pretty cool, eh?
Display
Usually, there is no difference between the iPhone Pro and the iPhone Pro Max. With the iPhone 15 however, Apple has gone a step further and made the Pro Max worth its hefty price tag. Both phones differ in screen sizes, with the Pro Max featuring a sharper display, which is evident in screen-to-body ratio.
Battery
No changes and since there were barely any problems with the iPhone 14 Pro Max, it remains the same with the iPhone 15. My iPhone 14 Pro Max is still at 100% despite it being used heavily for an entire year. My iPhone 13 Pro Max is now showing 99% after nearly two years in use. Pro Tip: I have my phone on low bat mode.
Camera
The triple camera on iPhones were incorporated in to the seasons in the iPhone 11 Pro and continue to be a major part of the phone. Though the iPhone 15 Pro Max model seems to have changed. The zoom on the Pro Max comes with the luxury of 5x zoom, due to a periscope lens. When it comes to video, the Pro and Pro Max are able to record up to 4K at 60 frames per second. Finally, supermoons will feel a lot closer, in photographs!
Charging ports
Can I ignore the most major change — the USB-C charging rather than a Lightning port. This is a major plus for constant travellers like me. It means one wire for my iPhone, MacBook and iPad. Can you tell I bit the forbidden Apple and am now a part of the Garden of Eden? Thanks, Europe!
Operating system
The iOS 17.0.2 brings new features to enhance the things you do every day. Express yourself like never before when you call or message someone. Share content in convenient new ways. And do even more with new experiences for your iPhone.
Perhaps the most ridiculous upgrade with the new operating system that is the iOS 17 is that Apple also took the liberty to “fix” something that did not need fixing. The upgrade to the ringtones and alert sounds have new tones to choose from in the Sounds setting for incoming alerts, text alerts and more. The downside is that the default app notification sounds have also changed, most noted in the Line app. Notifications for the Line app where the tri-tone has been replaced by “rebound” and it is barely audible! The worst thing is that iOS 17 offers no solutions to change it back. I can barely hear the notifications on Line, unless the phone is right next to me. This is simply because the tri-tone was a loud ding, while rebound is a more subtle combination of two quieter notes, with some reverb echo. Meh.
A17 chip and gaming potential
The A17 Pro chip in the new iPhone 15s haven’t gone unnoticed due to the processing and graphics performance, all while maintaining battery life. Both Pro handsets can support console games like Resident Evil Village, for example. Gamers have given it the thumbs up… if they can free their fingers from the devices long enough.
iPhone 15 Pro (6.1in. display) from B41,900++ and iPhone 15 Pro Max (6.7in. display) from B48,900++. Visit apple.com/th.
