I watched the Apple iPhone 16 event earlier this month and knew within 15 minutes of the iPhone 16 Pro Max segment that I'd be upgrading. My phone is the one piece of tech I never go anywhere without; as a full-time digital nomad, I work remotely from around the world, so I rely on a robust smartphone not only to stay connected to family and friends but also to watch entertainment, read books, manage travel logistics and even run parts of my business.
There are times when I'm on a bus or plane for hours on end (or worse, stranded in the airport terminal) and still need to work, so a more souped-up smartphone like the iPhone 16 Pro Max line is a better fit for me. Although I already have the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which I bought last year while living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the prospect of longer battery life, a great camera and a slightly larger display has convinced me to trade up again.
Other users appear to agree on these prospects. In a survey on smartphone shopping conducted by CNET earlier this month, respondents said the biggest factors to upgrading their phone are longer battery life, more storage and better camera features (61%, 46% and 38%, respectively).
It seemed like Apple's Glowtime event focused more on these upgrades than AI features like Apple Intelligence, and I liked that the attention was more on practical improvements than AI hype. It's now been a week since I made my purchase, and I'm loving the new features.
Here are four reasons why I upgraded to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is available now.
A new camera control button
A separate camera control button will simplify my selfie game.
Kimanzi ConstableThe new iPhone 16 Pro Max's main camera is 48 megapixels and can shoot 4K video at 120 frames per second (which is new for the iPhone), but what got me even more excited is the new camera control button. When I saw the camera control button functions being demonstrated, I thought about how much easier it will be to take selfies on the go, like what I recently did at the Paris Olympics, and have already started thinking about the photos I want to snap while at Mount Fuji in Japan, my next travel destination.
Read more: The iPhone 16 Pro's High-Res Slow-Motion Video Is the Best Apple Feature in Years
As CNET's Corinne Reichert explained, the camera control button "looks similar to a side fingerprint reader," and is a little indented. Pressing the button will open the camera app, and additional presses or glides of your finger will let you toggle between various settings. This seems handy for perfecting the shot while your arm is still outstretched without having to reset multiple times, which is travel selfie gold.
This has probably been my favorite new feature. I take a lot of photos for my business and when I travel. I also have the cutest grandbabies, one of whom is five and loves taking selfies with grandpa. The camera control button makes it much easier to open the camera app, find and adjust the settings I need, and take photos one-handed. The photos I'm taking are better quality with the camera control button and the improved camera array.
Improved battery life
I frequently use tech accessories in my travels to stay connected and get work done, so battery life is an important consideration. External battery chargers and power banks help ensure I don't run out of juice (unless I forget to charge the charger itself, which has definitely happened before), but sometimes travel days get extended in ways I can't plan for. I also FaceTime with my kids a lot, and don't want to have to ration those opportunities because of battery life, which is why I generally lean more toward the advanced iPhone models.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max battery life was only mentioned briefly, but it was enough for me to go investigate the specs. Apple says the battery will enable up to33 hoursofvideo playback, up to 29 hours of streamed video playback and up to 105 hours of audio playback. Apple also said the newest version of the Pro Max has 25-watt MagSafe fast-charging capabilities, which will let you wirelessly charge the phone to 50% in around 30 minutes. I'd like to test this for myself to confirm, but it sounds promising.
The camera control button is slightly depressed on the side of the iPhone 16 Pro Max and will have haptic feedback.
Screenshot by CNETApple Intelligence features, visual intelligence perks
I'm not a big AI user, so Apple integrating its proprietary Apple Intelligence technology (which conveniently also abbreviates to AI) into a device I already interact with will help someone like me get more familiar with the features. To be clear, Apple Intelligence features will also be in iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max models as part of iOS 18, which is currently available as a developer beta and formally releases later this month.
The feature I'm most excited about is Apple's visual intelligence, which uses AI to identify things around you. This will be especially helpful when traveling to foreign countries and needing to identify things I'm not used to, though there might be language barriers at first; Apple said the visual intelligence feature will only work in English through the end of this year, and will expand to other languages in 2025.
I'm excited about Apple Intelligence's writing and editing tools, as I compose a lot of emails, social media posts and article drafts on the fly, so having those features on my iPhone will be handy. I could also see myself getting a lot of utility out of the AI image finding function. (Like a lot of people, I have thousands of photos on my phone.) I'm also looking forward to the Siri upgrade that still gets the gist of what you're saying in case you mumble your way through a voice command.
A summary of the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max features, as shown during the Glowtime event.
Apple/Screenshot by James Martin/CNETBigger screen, better durability, bolder sound
The iPhone 15 Pro Max I currently have has a 6.7-inch screen, which is a decent size. I like that the new iPhone 16 Pro Max has both a slightly larger 6.9-inch screen and thinner bezels (the angled borders on the front of your phone that aren't a part of the screen itself). Thinner bezels will make the screen feel even larger as I watch movies, take video calls and read books. I'm also a big fan of the new speakers in the iPhone 16 Pro Max. I listen to music and watch YouTube videos with louder and clearer sound coming from the four speakers on this new phone.
The new iPhone 16 Pro Max's case is made with a ceramic shield. Apple says the material is "grade-five titanium," which I'm not entirely familiar with, but know the material will result in less scratching, which I am all too familiar with. I've dropped my iPhone more than a few times as I scramble to catch a train or flight, so the extra protection will come in handy.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is a go for me
I think the iPhone 16 Pro Max will improve my day-to-day life as a digital nomad and business owner. It's a lifestyle that can be challenging at times, but is worth it for going on adventures and documenting new experiences along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can you get the iPhone 16 Pro Max?
Preorders for the iPhone 16 Pro Max began on Sept. 13, and the devices officially go on sale on Friday, Sept. 20.
How much is the iPhone 16?
It depends on which model you're referring to.
- iPhone 16: From $799
- iPhone 16 Plus: From $899
- iPhone 16 Pro: From $999
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: From $1,199
How big will the iPhone 16 Pro Max be?
The iPhone 16 Pro display is a 6.3-inch OLED, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro Max display is a 6.9-inch OLED.
What will be new on the iPhone 16 Pro Max?
The most notable upgrades for the iPhone 16 Pro Max are the camera control button, a larger display with smaller bezels, a new A18 chip and Apple Intelligence, the company's in-house AI functionality.
What is the difference between the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max?
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a larger display, faster charging and more storage, but also starts at a $200 higher price point than the iPhone 16 Pro.
Is the iPhone 16 Pro Max worth the upgrade?
We compared the iPhone 16 Pro Max to the Galaxy S24 Ultra here, and compared the iPhone 16 line to the iPhone 15 line here.
When was the iPhone 16 release date?
The iPhone 16 became available for preorder on Sept. 13, and officially goes on sale on Friday, Sept. 20.