Buying a gently used iPhone that is a generation (or two) older is a great way to save money and still get a phone that can meet your needs with ease. You just have to decide what features are most important to you, and what kind of a budget you have available. If you happen to be looking for an iPhone with a big screen, you may find yourself looking towards the iPhone XS Max.
Table of contents:
- When was the iPhone XS Max released?
- iPhone XS Max specifications
- Is the iPhone XS Max worth it in 2021?
- Should I get the iPhone XS Max or the iPhone 11?
Read our iPhone XS Max Buyer’s Guide and our iPhone XS Max Upgrade/Comparison Guide
When was the iPhone XS Max released?
The iPhone XS Max was released on September 21, 2018. The iPhone XS Max is part of the 12th generation iPhone lineup, which also includes the iPhone XS and the iPhone Xr. Apple sold the iPhone XS Max until September 10, 2019, which is when the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro were released. The iPhone 11 arrived with some new features such as Night Mode, a newer processor, and better battery life — but while the iPhone 11 offered some new features, the release of the iPhone 11 lineup also made the iPhone XS Max a bit more appealing due to the dropping prices.
iPhone XS Max specifications
The iPhone XS Max is the biggest phone from the 12th generation of the iPhone lineup. The XS Max features a 6.5-inch display, whereas the iPhone XS display is 5.8-inches and the iPhone Xr display is 6.1-inches. Essentially, the iPhone XS Max was the phone to choose if you wanted a big display but it also had the highest price out of the 12th generation iPhone lineup, which possibly kept some people away. We’ll be taking a look at the iPhone XS Max to see how it stacks up to newer iPhones in 2021, a few years after its initial release.
- 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display
- Face ID
- Apple A12 Bionic chip
- Second generation Neural Engine
- 4GB of RAM
- 64GB, 256GB or 512GB of storage
- 3174 mAh battery
- IP68 (Maximum depth of 2 meters for up to 30 minutes)
- 4G LTE
- WiFi 5 (802.11ac) with MIMO
- Bluetooth 5.0
- GPS/GNSS
- Front camera: 7MP TrueDepth
- Rear camera: Dual 12MP wide and telephoto
- Dual SIM (nano SIM and eSIM)
The iPhone XS Max has glass on the front and back with a surgical-grade stainless steel frame. It was also the first “max” sized device to ship without a home button, marking the difference from the “plus” sized model that was available with the iPhone 8 lineup. If you remember back, the iPhone X introduced the nearly edge-to-edge display on the iPhone, but the iPhone X was not available as a plus or max-sized model.
The iPhone XS Max supports Spatial audio playback, which would pair nicely with a set of Apple AirPods Pro. The phone doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack, but Apple does include a set of EarPods with Lightning Connector headphones in the box. Other supported features include VoLTE, WiFi calling, NFC with support for Apple Pay and Express Cards (with power reserve). Of course, Siri is also available, which can be activated hands-free by saying “Hey Siri.”
What size is the iPhone XS Max display?
The iPhone XS Max has a 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display with a resolution of 2688 x 1242. This meant the iPhone XS Max has the biggest display out of the three models in the 12th generation iPhone lineup. The phone also has a high-quality display with the following features:
- HDR
- True Tone
- 458 ppi
- 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
- Wide color display (P3)
- 625 nits max brightness (typical)
Of course, while the iPhone XS Max display can be described as high-quality, there are quite a few similarities between the iPhone XS Max display and the display on the models that came before and after, which were the iPhone X and the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
In comparison to the iPhone X, the iPhone XS Max display is larger, and it has a higher resolution, but otherwise, the key features remain the same, as outlined in the list above. There are also lots of similarities between the iPhone XS Max and the iPhone 11 Pro Max displays. These two models each have the same size display, with the same resolution and many of the same features such as HDR and True Tone. But the 11 Pro Max switched to Haptic Touch (from 3D Touch), and brought an improved contrast ratio and nits max brightness, at 2,000,000:1 and 800 nits, respectively.
How big is the iPhone XS Max?
The iPhone XS Max is a big phone and a heavy phone. The phone measures 6.20 (H) x 3.05 (W) x 0.30 (D) inches, and weighs 7.34 ounces. In comparison, the iPhone XS measures 5.65 (H) x 2.79 (W) x 0.30 (D) inches, and weighs 6.24 ounces. Of course, if you want an iPhone with the biggest screen, the added size and weight should be a worthwhile tradeoff.
Which iPhone XS Max color is the best?
Apple released the iPhone XS Max in three color options; silver, space gray, and gold. The best color is going to be a personal choice, however, gold was a very popular choice for the iPhone XS Max when it was first released. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus were available in gold, however, the predecessor to the iPhone XS Max was only available in silver and space gray so the iPhone XS Max became the first iPhone without the home button to ship in gold.
What camera does the iPhone XS Max have?
The iPhone XS Max has a great camera setup, which means you will be able to capture great images and videos to share with friends and family. However, similar to what we saw with the display technology, there are quite a few similarities with the camera setup on the previous-generation iPhone X.
iPhone XS Max rear camera features
- Dual 12MP wide and telephoto cameras
- Wide: f/1.8 aperture, Telephoto: f/2.4 aperture
- Dual optical image stabilization
- Up to 10x digital zoom, and up to 2x optical zoom in
- True Tone flash with Slow Sync
- Smart HDR for photos
Some of the differences between the iPhone XS Max and the iPhone X rear-facing camera include going from Auto HDR on the X to an improved Smart HDR on the XS Max. The iPhone XS Max also added support for advanced bokeh and Depth Control in Portrait Mode. The iPhone XS Max also has Portrait Lighting with six different modes; Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, and High-Key Mono. In comparison, the iPhone X has support for five modes in Portrait Lighting.
iPhone XS Max rear camera video recording
- 4k video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 frames per second
- 1080p HD video recording at 25, 30, or 60 frames per second
- Slo-mo video support at 1080p at 120 or 240 frames per second
- Time-lapse video with stabilization
- Optical image stabilization
- Digital zoom up to 6x
- Optical zoom in up to 2x
- Extended dynamic range for video at up to 30 frames per second
- Stereo recording
iPhone XS Max front camera features
- 7MP True Depth camera
- f/2.2 aperture
- Retina Flash
- Smart HDR for photos
Similar to the rear camera, the front-facing camera on the iPhone XS Max also supports Portrait mode and Portrait Lighting, which were also features found on the iPhone X. The Portrait mode on the iPhone XS Max arrived with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, and the Portrait Lighting effects include Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, and High-Key Mono.
The iPhone XS Max also offers FaceTime audio or video calling over cellular and WiFi, along with FaceTime HD video calling at 1080p when using WiFi.
iPhone XS Max front camera video recording
- 1080p HD video recording at 25, 30, or 60 frames per second
- Extended dynamic range for video at 30 frames per second
- Cinematic video stabilization in 1080p and 720p
Another feature included with the iPhone XS Max front-facing camera is support for Animojo and Memoji, both of which were first introduced with iOS 11.
iPhone XS Max battery life
The iPhone XS Max is the biggest phone in the 12th generation iPhone lineup, which means it has the biggest display and is also the biggest and heaviest in terms of measurements and weight. But the bigger size of the phone also brings a perk — a bigger battery. The iPhone XS Max has a 3174 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and according to Apple, that will allow for up to 15 hours of video playback and up to 65 hours of audio playback.
One item to note in regards to battery life is that all batteries will degrade over time due to regular usage and regular charging. In other words, while the phone was originally rated at 15 hours for video and 65 hours for audio playback, you should expect to see a bit less if you are buying a newish iPhone XS Max in 2021.
Otherwise, some of the battery-related features include regular charging over USB using a Lighting cable, and fast charging if you are also using a 20W Apple power adapter. The fast charge support allows for up to a 50% charge in 30 minutes. And if you’re the type that is trying to avoid wires — the iPhone XS Max also supports wireless charging using the Qi wireless standard.
Is the iPhone XS Max waterproof?
The iPhone XS Max has an IP68 rating under IEC standard 60529, which means it is rated for a maximum depth of 2 meters for up to 30 minutes. Similar to other models in the iPhone lineup, the XS Max is not fully waterproof. More specifically, Apple states the iPhone XS Max is splash, water, and dust resistant.
Apple also warns that the splash, water, and dust resistance “are not permanent conditions, and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear.” Additional warnings include an instruction that you should not attempt to charge a wet iPhone, and the fine print states that liquid damage is not covered under your warranty.
Is the iPhone XS Max worth it in 2021?
The iPhone XS Max is worth buying in 2021. In fact, despite the phone being a few years old at this time, it can be argued that the iPhone XS Max is more appealing now than when it was first released. At the time of release, the iPhone XS Max had a starting price of $1,099, and that likely caused some buyers to look towards lower-priced models, such as the iPhone XS or even the iPhone Xr. But with used iPhone XS Max prices lower than ever, now is the perfect time to buy.
Should I get the iPhone XS Max or the iPhone 11?
It is always worthwhile to consider a few different models when getting ready to upgrade your iPhone. If you were considering the iPhone XS Max as your upgrade — it may be beneficial to also look at the iPhone 11, or even the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. The iPhone 11 is the base model of the 13th generation iPhone lineup, but it does have a wide variety of colors, which can be an important factor for some buyers.
The 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max were higher-end models, and they offered some key perks above what is offered on the XS Max. For example, the camera on the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max is a triple setup with an ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto lens (the iPhone XS Max has a wide and telephoto) with new features such as Night Mode and Deep Fusion.
The iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max also shipped with a newer processor and has better battery life and a higher rating for water resistance when being compared to the iPhone XS Max. Of course, your budget should also guide your decision. You can tap the widgets below to check current prices for the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max.
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