It’s been two years since Apple launched the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which ushered in a new era for Apple with the revamped Dynamic Island and the addition of an Always-On display (AOD). In the two years since, Apple has pushed on the Pro Max range to include not only these features, but also a range of new hybrid experiences. These include the Action Button — which replaced the Mute switch — and new for the iPhone 16 series, the Camera Control button, which helps unlock some of the new and upcoming features of the camera.
Then there’s the push for AI. In the two years since Apple launched the
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: specs
Specs | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
---|---|---|
Size | 163 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm (6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches) | 160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 inches) |
Weight | 227 grams (7.99 oz) | 240 grams (8.47 oz) |
Screen | 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
1320 x 2868 pixels ProMotion with 120Hz dynamic refresh rate |
6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
1290 x 2796 pixels 19.5:9 aspect ratio (460 pixels per inch density) ProMotion with 120Hz dynamic refresh rate |
Operating system | iOS 18 | Upgradable to iOS 18 |
RAM & Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
8GB |
128GB, 256GB, 512GB
6GB |
Processor | Apple A18 Pro
Six-core CPU Six-core GPU 16-core NPU |
Apple A16 Bionic
Six-core CPU (2×3.46 GHz + 4×2.02 GHz) Five-core GPU 16-core NPU |
Camera | Rear:
48-megapixel primary, f/1.8, 1/1.28″, OIS 48MP ultrawide, f/2.2, 120° FOV 12MP telephoto, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom Front: 12MP, f/1.9, 1/3.6″ |
Rear:
48MP primary, f/1.8, 1/1.28″, OIS 12MP ultrawide, f/2.2, 120° FOV 12MP telephoto, f/2.8, 3x optical zoom Front: 12MP, f/1.9, 1/3.6″ |
Video | Rear:
4K, up to 120fps Front: |
Rear:
Front: |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.3 |
Wi-Fi 6, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.3 |
Ports | USB-C Gen 3.2
DisplayPort |
USB-C Gen 3.2 |
Water resistance | IP68 (maximum depth of 6m up to 30 minutes) | IP68 (maximum depth of 6m up to 30 minutes) |
Battery & charging | Details of battery capacity to be confirmed
Wired via USB-C, up to 30W 25W wireless charging via MagSafe 15W Qi2 wireless charging |
4,323mAh battery
Wired via USB-C, up to 15W 15W wireless charging via MagSafe |
Colors | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium | Space Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple |
Price | Starts at $1,199 | Starts at $1,099 |
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max : design and display
Look at the back of these two phones at a distance and you’ll be hard-pressed to spot the differences. However, get closer and you’ll begin to realize that they’re not the same.
This is most obvious with the titanium build; the iPhone 16 Pro Max retains the titanium build launched last year, while the
There’s a pronounced difference in the thickness as well, and if you upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, you may notice it’s a tiny bit thicker. It doesn’t make a big difference in day-to-day use, but it is noticeable when comparing the two. Alongside the frame on both devices, you’ll notice the lack of a SIM card tray: if you were annoyed by the switch to eSIM exclusively with the
One of the benefits of the Apple ecosystem has been the wide range of accessories, and their compatibility with future versions of the iPhone. The
On the sides of the phones are where you’ll also notice some big differences. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has the Camera Control button, which was launched this year, and the Action Button that debuted last year with the
These two phones look and feel very similar, and that’s because the iPhone experience is largely the same. However, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has enough changes — the Action Button, Camera Control button, the titanium build, and the USB-C port — to make the upgrade worthwhile.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: performance and battery
The
Across many benchmarks, the A18 Pro chipset regularly achieves a 20% advantage over the A16 Bionic chipset. If you’re a gamer, you’ll find the upgrade worthwhile as the iPhone 16 Pro Max can run AAA games like Assassin’s Creed and Resident Evil 4. Apple stepped up the gaming performance with last year’s
The
Despite the change from Lightning to USB-C, both batteries charge at similar speeds, requiring around an hour and a half to charge to full when plugged in. However, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is much faster at charging wirelessly and supports the latest MagSafe and Qi2 charging standards.
This is a much closer battle, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max is more future-proofed than the
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: software and updates
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know Apple has unveiled its take on AI. Dubbed Apple Intelligence — see what they did with the initials? — it’s the future of the Apple ecosystem, and the
Do you need Apple Intelligence? While some of the generative features will likely lose their appeal quickly, many of the personal features have practical uses at work or home. In particular, AI-powered summaries of Notes, Emails, webpages, group chats, and notifications from any app will make it easier to read, digest, and react to anything that happens in your daily life.
Then there are Writing Tools to help improve your writing, summarize information, and make you appear more professional or personable in your tone. If you struggle with written communication, Apple Intelligence — and therefore the iPhone 16 Pro Max — could prove a worthwhile upgrade.
The rest of the iOS 18 feature set is available on both devices, so you won’t notice a marked difference with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, except for Apple Intelligence. That means you’ll still get the same home screen customization and theming, reactions and tapbacks in iMessage, a customizable control center, and much more. These are just some of the top reasons to update to iOS 18.
Apple has committed to a minimum of five years of updates for both phones, meaning the
Newer is usually better, and in this case, the ability to run AI makes the iPhone 16 Pro Max a worthwhile upgrade.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro Max camera is similar to that of the
Both phones feature a 48MP main camera, although the iPhone 16 Pro Max uses a Fusion camera that uses pixel binning to capture 24MP high-resolution images and a sensor crop to enable a 2x cropped-zoom. The ultrawide camera has also been improved from 12MP on the
The biggest difference in the camera is in the third lens. The
If you switch to the iPhone 16 Pro Max from the
This is another fairly close category. While the improvements in the iPhone 16 Pro Max aren’t extensive, they do improve the overall camera experience. In particular, the periscope lens on the iPhone 16 Pro Max is significantly better as it also uses 3D sensor-shift OIS for improved stabilization when taking photos and videos.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: price and availability
The
The
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: verdict
It’s only been two years since the
It is bigger and thinner, has smaller bezels, and boasts a newer processor that delivers gains in CPU, GPU, and neural processing unit (NPU) performance for better gaming and AI performance. The camera has been improved throughout, especially in the zoom category, while the battery life should be slightly improved as well.
The
Ultimately, if you’re upgrading from the