Apple IPhone XS Max Review

The 3-Minute iPhone XS Max Review

Bigger and Better?

By Graeme Messina | September 25, 2018                                        

The Specifics:

Features & Design: 4/5 ● Performance: 4/5 ● Value: 4/5 ● Sound Quality 4/5

The Best:

The new Apple models that have launched this year are interesting. On the one hand, there are no real surprises, such as form factor, screen size and battery life. On the other hand, edge-to-edge Organic Light Emitting Diode panels are now a thing, and the new glass that is in use is supposedly among the strongest that Apple has ever used.

The Bugs:

Size. As much as a bigger screen is better for watching movies, browsing the internet, and just about anything else, size is a stumbling block if you have smaller hands. On the surface, the camera looks like it could have used a little sprucing up as well.

Is it for you?

Apple users know what they want, and the iPhone shows that Apple has been listening. For those that want a bigger device with an amazing display, as well as a decent battery and great build quality, then this could be the Apple for you.

Meet the Apple iPhone XS Max

As if the ‘XS’ wasn’t enough to tell you that you were heading into surplus luxury territory with this iPhone, then the ‘Max’ should give an even heavier clue. It is with this in mind that we should remember what the original iPhone looked like, and just how small it was when compared to this behemoth. It is an amazingly desirable device, and will be on many wish lists this year around Christmas time.

What we like

The battery is a great place to start with when looking at improvements over previous models. It is a 3174mAh lithium ion power pack that is plenty powerful for even the most media hungry users. The overall screen size is 6.5”, which, as we have already mentioned, may or may not be a good thing depending on your hand size.

Build quality is typically Apple, which remains to a high standard with an ultra-premium fit and finish. The frame is made from stainless steel, and the front and back are covered in glass.The camera sounds a little low spec for 2018, but the 12MP device has plenty of detail and image reproduction capabilities for a premium smartphone camera.

The keyboard can be shrunk down to a more manageable size for the more modestly handed individuals among us, which is a nice touch as well. The CPU and GPU configurations are nothing to sneeze at either, and they are more than up to the task.

What we don’t like

Small issues such as the oversized dimensions, along with glass on both the front and back of the phone, could be a bit of a negative for most people. This is because the glass is a bit of a fingerprint magnet, which makes the phone seem unnecessarily grubby from time to time.

Other than those small issues, there isn’t all that much not to like about this impressive phone.

Should you buy it?

Apple fans will know immediately if this is a device worth having or not. It retains much of the overall styling and functionality that Apple has cultivated over the past decade with these devices, while innovating with better internal components and hardware. You would be hard pressed to find a premium device with as much fanfare and support behind it as the new iPhone XS Max, and for that it is definitely worth taking a look at.