I should have known a larger iPhone was a better match for me. I’ve been testing the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max for a few weeks now, and it matches not just my own preferences for what a gadget should be, but also matches the size of my hands better.
In fact, going back to try the Apple iPhone 16 Pro just today, I realize how that phone is not ideal for me. It almost looks petite, which might be the perfect size for you.
I’m 6-foot 2-inches and my hands wrap nicely around a football. I can pick up a basketball with one hand, so the fact that I have not tested the “Max” version of the iPhone in recent years is really a missed opportunity for me. The reason I avoided the bigger phone was simply because I wanted something lighter.
Technology, as often happens, has caught up with me. The Max version weighs only 8.01 ounces, and it never felt like a brick to carry around all day. What changed immediately for me was my testing speed. I am not the best texter in the world, but my larger fingers had more room to roam. I found my texts were more accurate and I could type faster.
Using the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max every day
You learn things about a new phone quickly over a few weeks time. Beyond the faster typing for texting and emails, I also noticed the larger phone was great for photos because you can see the results of your picts in a large 6.9-inch display.
The most critical new feature on this model is the new Camera Control button, which is positioned just below the power button on the right hand side. It’s recessed so you won’t accidentally click it too often, although I did find myself doing that the first week. Eventually, you start realizing there’s a button there. I used it quite often to not just activate the camera for photos and videos but also to adjust settings like zoom and depth of field.
Another realization after testing the phone for a while is that the new Apple Intelligence features really are a game changer. For me, speaking to Siri became much more useful with this new innovation. For starters, the voice sounds more like a human and less robotic. I was able to ask questions and engage in conversation. Siri now remembers context. So if I ask who won the last presidential race, and then ask “How old is he?” then Siri knows who I am talking about.
The Writing tools are also handy. Whether you are texting or writing an email, you can use Apple Intelligence to craft a message that is more professional or more casual with just a click. When texting, you can choose from canned responses that don’t seem that canned. Apple Intelligence seems to understand the context of the convo and provides quick replies that make a lot more sense than what I have used in Gmail over the last few years.
Final conclusions about the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
There are a few other improvements worth mentioning. For one, the battery does last longer. In my tests, I used the phone all day without needing a charge. Bigger phones have a larger battery that lasts longer. Plus, a brand new phone lasts longer because the battery is fresh.
Apple also improved the wireless signals on the phone so that it connects to cellular and Wi-Fi in a more reliable and consistent way. I never had any issues with my connection even when watching an entire Netflix movie over Wi-Fi in high-def.
At $1,200, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro is an expensive phone, but for me the extra size for typing and seeing photos really makes it worth it. I never knew what I was missing with the larger size.