iPhone 16 Pro Max: latest news, rumors and everything we know so far
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The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best iPhone you can buy, at least if money is no object, and it's one of the absolute best phones from any company. So we're understandably rather looking forward to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
We now know that we should get an official look at this phone on September 9, but Apple revealed iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 (checkout our WWDC 2024 live blog for a beat-by-beat account of the keynote), complete with some slick features and a new smarter Siri with ChatGPT skills. So from that we can posit the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a host of AI-centric features, and access to Apple Intelligence.
So there are certainly upgrades Apple can make, beyond just adding more power, and from what we've heard so far it's likely that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be a significant upgrade, with talk of a larger screen, an extra button, and a longer distance optical zoom, among other things.
You'll find all the leaks we've heard about this phone below, and we'll add to this article whenever we hear anything new. Or for a deeper dive into what we want from the iPhone 16 Pro Max, head to the second half of this article, where you'll find our wish list.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: what you need to know
The iPhone 16 Pro Max will be announced on September 9
Expect the iPhone 16 Pro Max to cost at least $1,199 / ￡1,199 / AU$2,199
This could be a big phone, with a 6.9-inch display
Design leaks point to a new Capture button for taking photos
The iPhone 16 Pro Max will probably get the A18 Pro chipset
Expect 8GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage
A new 48MP ultra-wide camera is tipped
A larger 4,676mAh battery is rumored
Expect it to ship with iOS 18
Shortly after launch it should get a new smarter Siri and some early Apple Intelligence AI features
Color options could include white, black, gray, and gold
iPhone 16 Pro Max latest rumors and news
An even higher price and an imminent launch
Will be announced on September 9
Might ship on September 20
May cost even more than the iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple has now confirmed that its next big launch event will happen on September 9, so it's here that we should see the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The event is set to start at 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm BST on September 9, which is 3am September 10 AEST. If you'd like to tune in, here's how to watch the iPhone 16 launch event live.
That's somewhat in line with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which was unveiled on September 12 2023 at Apple's September event, hitting pre-order on the Friday of that week (September 15) and going on sale on the following Friday (September 22), priced from $1,199 / ￡1,199 / AU$2,199 for the base 256GB version. It also has a 512GB build in the middle of the range and a 1TB model costing $1,599 / ￡1,599 / AU$2,899 at the top.
We expect the the iPhone 16 Pro Max pre-order date and the iPhone 16 Pro Max release date to mirror this availability pretty closely (along with the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup), meaning that it will probably be up for pre-order on Friday, September 13, and ship on Friday, September 20.
That said, the iPhone 16 Pro Max's price might be higher than its predecessor's, with one report suggesting the iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera upgrades will add to the price. A higher price though could put buyers off, according to a survey of iPhone owners.
We've also heard that production of the iPhone 16 line is reportedly on schedule, so there's currently no reason to think Apple will stray from its usual release patterns.
Can you trust these rumors?
We're in no doubt that the iPhone 16 series will be announced on September 9, and as for the pre-order and release dates there's a good chance our predictions will prove accurate, based on previous models.
Pricing is less clear. Most signs point to a price increase and we don't have any reason to doubt that, but exactly how much more the iPhone 16 Pro Max will cost than its predecessor is uncertain.
A bigger screen and a new button
Rumored larger 6.9-inch 120Hz 'ProMotion' screen
Possible under-display Face ID system
Probably a titanium frame, like the 15 Pro Max
A new, capacitive 'Capture' button rumored for every model
At this point, a lot of talk around the iPhone 16 Pro Max's design has now surfaced.
For one thing, Apple managed to make the bezels thinner across both iPhone 15 Pro models, but a key analyst at Display Supply Chain Consultants expects the entire panel to grow in size this year. If true, this could mean the iPhone 16 Pro Max would clock in with a 6.9-inch screen, compared to the 15 Pro Max's current 6.7-inch offering, and making it the largest iPhone yet. DSCC's key analyst Ross Young also suggests that Apple might finally deviate from the 19.5:9 aspect ratio sported by the last few iPhones, opting instead for a 19.6:9 ratio. This would make the iPhone 16 Pro range fractionally taller and narrower than the 15 Pros.
We've also heard this larger iPhone 16 Pro Max screen size mentioned by another source, while a third similarly points to a 6.86-inch screen for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, so this sounds fairly likely.
Another source again points to a 6.9-inch display for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but adds that thanks to smaller bezels the overall size of the phone might not increase. Another source has also pointed to the iPhone 16 Pro Max having smaller bezels, while a third has said the iPhone 16 Pro Max might have the thinnest bezels of any phone, at just 1.15mm. So smaller bezels is looking likely.
We've also now seen how these tiny bezels could look, as you can see in a leaked iPhone 16 Pro Max comparison image.
Another leak has echoed all this, saying that each of the iPhone 16 Pro Max's bezels are 1.153mm, and adding that the phone's dimensions are 163.024 x 77.575 x 8.26mm (making it bigger than the iPhone 15 Pro Max) because its screen is 6.883 inches.
Interestingly, we've also heard that the dimensions, screen size, and bezel size of the iPhone 16 Pro Max could be almost identical to those of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
One other rumor (again, from The Elec) suggests that the already-bright displays that Apple places into its iPhones will be surpassed in grand fashion by a new 'Multi-Lens Array" (MLA) AMOLED panel. Thought to be exclusive to the Pro (and possibly Ultra) members of 2024's iPhone family, MLA tech reportedly helped LG make its TV panels 60% brighter and Samsung is already apparently using MLA AMOLED screens on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
The trade-offs with MLA technology are that viewing angles can be reduced and that the panels are more expensive, which could have a knock-on effect on the final price of the 16 Pro Max, if Apple decides to go down this route.
Beyond this, the Action button – which replaces the long-standing silent/ring switch on the side of the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max – will almost certainly be retained for this year's model. But there's more: solid-state buttons, which were originally expected on 2023's Pro iPhones, are rumored to make their debut on every iPhone 16 model, including the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
On top of which, we've heard that the iPhone 16 Pro Max and its siblings may be getting an entirely new, solid-state 'Capture' button instead. The source of this rumor doesn't say what the button is for, but a later leak points to the Capture button being a dedicated video recording button.
We've now also heard mention of the addition of a new button to the entire iPhone 16 line, and to expect solid-state/capacitive Action and Capture buttons on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, so this is sounding likely.
That said, a more recent leak claims that the Capture button will instead be mechanical, and has gone into more detail about how it will apparently work. Supposedly, you'll be able to use it for both photos and videos, and swipe across the top of it to zoom in and out. Then, with a light press you can focus the camera, and with a hard press you can activate the shutter.
We've also heard that swiping across the Capture button will still be possible even when it's covered by case material, at least when using an official Apple case.
Meanwhile, the USB-C port introduced this year and the new lightweight titanium frame will all also undoubtedly make another appearance. Here's hoping Apple serves up more interesting colors on next year's Pro Max, though, as this year's lineup looks a little... bland.
We've also now seen how the iPhone 16 Pro Max might look (alongside the iPhone 16 Pro) in mockups from MacRumors, supposedly based on Apple's internal designs. You can see one of these above.
These shows that rumored Capture button and include a 6.9-inch screen, but the rest of the design seems largely unchanged from the iPhone 15 Pro Max, meaning no under-display Face ID, at least according to this information.
This leak also mentions colors, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max apparently being tested in the same shades as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but with one extra mystery color apparently planned too.
This design has since been backed up by leaked dummy units of the entire iPhone 16 line, which you can see below. A second set of iPhone 16 series dummy units also shows this design.
Yet another iPhone 16 Pro Max dummy unit has also leaked with this design, and this time showing it alongside an iPhone 15 Pro Max, which it's only a tiny bit bigger than, despite the rumored larger screen.
However, another leak is at odds with aspects of this design in claiming that the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro will house its trio of camera lenses in a triangular block. We doubt this though, so for now we'd say the design in the images above is more likely.
Back on the subject of colors, and another leak has suggested that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available in Space Black, White, Gray, and Rose. Those are similar to the current shades except Rose, which might be more of a Rose Gold, and will reportedly replace the Titanium Blue of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
We've also since heard this same selection of iPhone 16 Pro Max colors from another source, and all of those iPhone 16 Pro Max shades except rose have also been leaked in a photo, which you can see above.
However, more recent leaks suggest that rose won't be present, and instead the iPhone 16 Pro Max could come in a bronze shade, or perhaps a 'Desert Titanium' shade (which is said to be more of a dark gold). Indeed, gold and most likely a dark gold now seems the most likely option.
And finally, one report by South Korean publication The Elec claims that the Face ID system, which was first relocated to the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro line, will make its way under the pixels of the screen, leaving only the front camera visible on the 16 Pro Max. But we're skeptical of this, as recent leaks don't mention it.
Can you trust these rumors?
The two main design and display rumors relate to a larger 6.9-inch screen and a new Capture button, and we'd say both of these things are very likely, since numerous sources have made both claims.
What we don't expect to see is an under-display Face ID system, as while one early leak pointed to this, we haven't heard anything recently about it.
A big upgrade for the ultra-wide camera
Reports mention a 48MP ultra-wide camera
Rumors of a stacked sensor that could improve low-light performance
A small chance of a 'super telephoto' camera
The camera hardware across the last two generations of iPhones has represented significant progression for the line, with the iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max embracing a new 48MP main sensor (up from 12MP previously) that added lossless 2x zoom by way of sensor cropping, along with a few other new photographic tricks.
Fast-forward to last year's iPhone line and, along with an enhanced 48MP main sensor, the iPhone 15 Pro Max also benefits from Apple's first periscope telephoto lens, which zooms up to 5x.
For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, we might see the ultra-wide camera get some attention, as respected tech analyst Jeff Pu claims the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will get some key upgrades over the iPhone 15 Pro, including a 48MP ultra-wide camera, something which Pu reiterated in October.
We've also heard from another source that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will get a 48MP ultra-wide camera, plus a new (but still 48MP) main sensor, but that the telephoto snapper will be the same as last year.
That's at odds with an earlier leak though, as according to popular tipster Digital Chat Station, the iPhone 16 Pro Max camera might finally challenge Samsung in one key area - namely that this year's model could boast a "super telephoto" camera. That implies a snapper with a focal range that meets or exceeds 300mm, which would surpass the zoom range of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, its current key rival in this department.
Depending on Apple's approach, the sensor could use either an extended prism design (like Samsung's Ultra phones) or a folded prism (like the tetraprism found on the 15 Pro Max's 5x telephoto snapper) for a lower-profile camera module. Alternatively, the company could pair its existing prism and sensor-cropping tech together to achieve this impressive target zoom range.
We've also heard that Apple might use thinner molded glass to help achieve this extended zoom in the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This would mean that whichever of the above approaches Apple uses, the resulting lens would be smaller than otherwise.
Assuming the iPhone 16 Pro Max's primary sensor maintains the current 24mm focal length of the 15 Pro/Pro Max, a 6x telephoto camera (sporting a 150mm focal range), paired with a larger sensor (the Pro Max currently sports a 12MP telephoto sensor) that allows for a 2x zoom sensor crop could be used to reach the magic 300mm figure.
All that said, talk of a 'super telephoto' lens has died down, so we're now thinking that's unlikely to make an appearance this year.
Still, there's one other upgrade we might see, as Apple's use of Sony camera hardware may extend to the stacked Exmor T for Mobile sensor technology currently found in the Xperia 1 V and Xperia 5 V.
By rearranging the layout of the sensor's internals, Sony has been able to build a smartphone camera that can suck in more light at the same resolution; seasoned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, for one, claims the iPhone 16 Pro models will also get this camera sensor upgrade.
Can you trust these rumors?
Lots of leaks point to a 48MP ultra-wide camera, so that much looks likely. What we really doubt is that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a 'super telephoto' camera, as there's no sign of that in recent leaks.
Other rumors, like those of a stacked camera design, we're not sure of either way. They sound credible, but aren't something many sources have spoken of.
A new A18 Pro chipset
Assumed Apple A18 Pro chip
At least 8GB of RAM, as with the 15 Pro Max
On the day of the iPhone 15 Pro Max's launch, Apple also released the Xcode 15 Release Candidate, which revealed that the phone sports 8GB RAM – up from 6GB on previous generations. As such, it's assumed that the iPhone 16 Pro Max's specs will continue this trend, supporting the assumed successor to the latest Apple-made A17 Pro chipset which debuts in the 15 Pro Max – presumably the A18 Pro SoC.
Indeed, one leak has now specifically mentioned the A18 Pro paired with 8GB of RAM for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.
We've heard too that the A18 Pro chipset powering the iPhone 16 Pro Max might have significantly more cores for its Neural Engine – which handles AI tasks – than the A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The A18 Pro chipset might also have a larger die area, which should make it better for on-device AI.
However, the A18 Pro might not have much more raw power, with one leak stating that the A18 Pro is only around 10% more powerful than the A17 Pro. Another leak meanwhile suggests the A18 Pro might be less powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 expected in rival Android phones.
The A18 Pro might also not support as fast RAM as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, which could limit the iPhone 16 Pro Max's ability to perform on-device AI tasks.
For other iPhone 16 Pro Max features, the same source has also claimed that these phones will support Wi-Fi 7 and have a new 5G modem, allowing for higher data speeds than on the current models. That Wi-Fi 7 claim has since been made by another source too.
And months after the initial claim, one of the above sources has once again said to expect 8GB of RAM and a new 5G modem in the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The latter might not just allow for faster 5G, but also be more power efficient, thereby conserving battery life.
If that is the case then it could be bad news for the iPhone 16 Pro Max as 8GB of RAM might also limit the iPhone 16 Pro Max's AI abilities. But then again, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has said you’ll need either an iPhone 15 Pro or an M1 Mac (or better) to use many of Apple’s AI features, which should mean the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be fine.
On the storage side, one tipster suggests the iPhone 16 Pro Max will top out at 2TB rather than the current limit of 1TB. That's apparently down to a different type of storage being used, which takes up less space and is cheaper to produce, but offers slower write speeds.
We've also heard that the microphones in the iPhone 16 Pro Max (and the rest of the iPhone 16 line) might be improved, so that the AI-backed Siri upgrade we're expecting later this year will be able to hear you better.
However, while these tipped upgrades for the iPhone 16 range may be compelling thus far, a rumor of the iPhone 17's potential specs mean it could be the phone range worth waiting for.
Can you trust these rumors?
A new model almost certainly means a new chipset, so we'd be surprised if the iPhone 16 Pro Max doesn't have an A18 Pro chipset (though it's possible this chip will launch under a different name).
Apple has always been sparing with RAM, so talk of there just being 8GB again is also believable, though raises concerns about AI performance.
AI everywhere
Likely to run iOS 18 from day one
AI features should land as part of Apple Intelligence soon after launch
We fully expect the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the rest of the iPhone 16 line will run iOS 18 from day one.
This has been in beta for a while, so we know much of what to expect from it, including a redesigned photos app, better home screen and Control Center customization, and much more.
It's also expected that Apple will pack some AI features into the iPhone 16 line, possibly powered by Google Gemini, with one source claiming that at least some of these AI features will be exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.
However, Apple Intelligence (the name of Apple's AI suite) isn't expected to arrive before October, and some aspects of it probably won't land until later still.
Can you trust these rumors?
Based on Apple's typical release dates there's little doubt that iOS 18 will be pre-installed on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and thanks to betas we already know largely what to expect from it.
There's slightly more question over when Apple Intelligence will land, but the beta version of this is classed as an iOS 18.1 beta, which rather suggests it won't launch until after iOS 18 itself lands.
A bigger battery
A 4,676mAh battery
Possibly 40W charging
One source claims the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a 4,676mAh battery, up from 4,441mAh in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. We've heard that iPhone 16 Pro Max battery capacity mentioned multiple times now, while another source says less specifically that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a bigger battery than the current model and that it will be the longest lasting iPhone battery yet.
We've also elsewhere heard that Apple might use a higher energy density battery for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which could either mean it has more capacity (so it can last longer), or that Apple will shrink the size without reducing the capacity.
And we've heard that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is reportedly set to get a graphene heat sink and a metal battery shell, in order to help keep the phone cool. We've also now seen leaked images supposedly showing a battery for the iPhone 16 Pro, and this is housed in a metal shell, adding credence to the above.
On the charging front, the iPhone 16 Pro Max might support 40W wired charging and 20W wireless charging, up from around 27W and 15W respectively with the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Can you trust these rumors?
Numerous leaks point to a larger battery this year, so that's likely to happen, especially as there are no conflicting reports.
We're less sure that Apple will up the charging speed to 40W, especially as the source of this claim doesn't have much of a track record, but it's not impossible.
My analysis
The iPhone 16 Pro Max looks set to be a middling upgrade, with a raft of new and improved features, but little that looks truly essential.
A 48MP ultra-wide camera is long overdue, while the rumored Capture button could prove a niche but useful upgrade.
Things like a bigger screen, a faster chipset, and a slightly larger battery would all be nice to have too, but being limited to 8GB of RAM might harm the iPhone 16 Pro Max's AI ambitions.
Still, there's enough new rumored here to make this likely one of the best phones of 2024, and the iPhone to buy if you want the best that Apple has to offer.
