Hands-On With Apple's New 6.5-Inch iPhone XS Max

[juan99999]

Got my XS Max today, and frankly I'm disappointed by the sheer amount of $$$ for a marginal improvement over prior plus models as it's exactly the same size and in fact HEAVIER than the say the 7+!

The screen, is simply just taller and not wider. Basically it's simply an 8plus screen with an extra row. So I fail to understand your review stating that it's better for "watching videos, looking at photos." That's BS as Videos are not bigger (if you maintain the proper aspect ratio), same with photos. The camera does not take longer photos. You just have a lot of blank screen, can't really use the bottom part, and the top left (say to go back in settings) is now even higher up and is impossible to reach. The horizontal mode looks dumb because of the notch.

 

[Vjosullivan]

I upgraded 256 go X to 512 gb XSMAX so I can truly experience the “ultimate” ‘max’ size and storage. The 512 GB XsMax is the ultimate “max” best iPhone (“mini” iPad) in the iPhone history. Kudos to Apple to produce the truly “max” iPhone.

Only until the "post-ultimate" 513 GB Mega XSMaximax Max Double Plus Good with supersized iMax 6K screen arrives.

 

[blackcrayon]

Got my XS Max today, and frankly I'm disappointed by the sheer amount of $$$ for a marginal improvement over prior plus models as it's exactly the same size and in fact HEAVIER than the say the 7+!

The screen, is simply just taller and not wider. Basically it's simply an 8plus screen with an extra row. So I fail to understand your review stating that it's better for "watching videos, looking at photos." That's BS as Videos are not bigger (if you maintain the proper aspect ratio), same with photos. The camera does not take longer photos. You just have a lot of blank screen, can't really use the bottom part, and the top left (say to go back in settings) is now even higher up and is impossible to reach. The horizontal mode looks dumb because of the notch.

Of course, there are lots of improvements over the prior plus models. The screen (not the size) is a vast improvement. And as for the size, you're conveniently ignoring all of the other places- safari, apps, etc where you are getting more content on the screen. I thought that was the point And if the screen were wider, it would be even more difficult to hold. I can't see them making an iPhone wider than they are now.

For me, I got the Max and liked it, but it's just too big for my use and hands. Pretty much a small tablet for me, and just about any place I'm going to be where I need a large touch screen device, I'll have my iPad (waiting on that new Pro!). So I went to an Apple store and exchanged it for the regular XS (to Apple's credit, it only took about 10 minutes).

I just need a convenient and powerful communicator but don't need the expansive screen (at the total expense of one handed use- I'll drop it!). If there were any other major aspects of the Max that were better (cameras, more RAM) I might have kept it. But this is totally a convenience thing. I can see people who have large hands or are perfectly fine with two handed use 100% of the time would love it.

 

[Vjosullivan]

the Max is exactly a slightly wider, by a fraction of a mm, bezel less Plus.

Well that's convinced me. Must rush out and get one now!

 

[OneMike]

The size of the Max is fine with me. It’s just too insignificant of an upgrade otherwise from an X.

 

[George Dawes]

is the xs max manageable ?

my 8 plus' bulk is making me hanker after a foldable/smaller phone

 

[dirtylilhobo]

Soon enough, these phones won’t fit in your pocket anymore..!

 

[gavroche]

Too bad AAPL decided NOT to use it for the Telephoto Camera on the XS & XS Max

Agreed. Seems like it almost makes the zoom not much better than just having digital zoom... since it will have lesser quality image. By the time you blow up the wide angle pic taken with bigger sensor to match the tele photo... how much difference?
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here in toronto when i went to the mall with my buddies.. we went to fido store & ask if iphone xs max 64gb is available & the employee said “yes we have alot” we were actually surprised that it didn’t get sold-out.. then we ask if they also have an iphone xs 64gb gold & said the same thing.. it didnt get sold out is it because its too expensive or what?

same thing here in Washington. I was a little upset to have pre ordered right after midnight, and am still waiting until next week for my phone to come, but we walked into both ATT and Verizon yesterday and they both had stock. It was frustrating, and my wife was laughing at me. In all the years of scrambling to get iphone at launch, I can't recall a carrier store having plenty of stock on opening weekend.

 

[WilliamG]

Really? On my XSMax it’s working super fast especially if you follow instructions on your Face ID.

I’m not saying it’s slow. It’s just a little faster than FaceID last year.

 

[nws0291]

I’ll be clearer. Yes, mentioned by Apple and reviewers.

But not that much of an emphasis. I mean, they are really good. REALLY good. If I’m alone, no headphones needed.

I couldn’t say that with the 7 Plus, 8 Plus or X, which I’ve owned at one point and represent all devices released with “stereo speakers” as marketable features.

They get better every year.

Yeah I am really impressed with the Xs Max speakers as well. Significantly better watching quality videos with good audio over my X.

 

[Sefstah]

6.5 inch screen*
*minus the hideous the notch.

 

[Glockworkorange]

6.5 inch screen*
*minus the hideous the notch.

There are still 7 and 8 series to buy if the notch bothers you that much.

 

[Sefstah]

There are still 7 and 8 series to buy if the notch bothers you that much.

I already have an 8 Plus thank you.
The point is, it’s not a 6.5inch screen.

 

[Glockworkorange]

I already have an 8 Plus thank you.
The point is, it’s not a 6.5inch screen.

I believe it is 6.5 inches diagonally. Notch irrelevant to that measure.

 

[GaryMumford]

Loving my Xs Max. Shame there are 2 really important banking apps that don't work properly, or at all... Both are not iOS12 issues, they are specific to the Xs range.

HSBC UK app crashes on launch. They say that are aware and working on a fix
NAT WEST app works bit does not recognise the device as a FaceID device and only allows passcode login. If you try to go to "settings/Payment Services" and select "ApplePay" the app just crashes.

 

[Teach4]

I am happy with my Xs max. It seems no matter what, there will always be people not happy with this or that. It’s life, but sad I think. We waste a lot of time and energy looking and finding the negative instead of looking for the positive. If you don’t like the Xs, Xs max whatever, don’t buy it and be happy you didn’t spend your money on something you don’t or won’t like.

 

[EdT]

The XS Max chassis is not physically bigger than the Plus phones.

The screen itself is obviously larger on the Max, and I can say that the far corners are more of a reach compared to any other iPhone.

Exactly. The Max is about the same size as every Apple Plus phone since the 6 Plus. I ordered the Max delivered to my house, and physically had both the new iphone and my old 6 Plus at the same time. When i set my 6 Plus on top of the Max they were both the same width and the height difference was a millimeter or 2. That's it. I'm willing to bet most people (in the US) have no idea how big a millimeter is. It's 0.03937 of an inch. To give you scale, a 1/16 in US measurements is 0.0625 of an inch in decimal. So a millimeter isn't even a 1/16 of an inch.

Complaining about the cost is a lot more valid than saying the phone is too big, because phones have been this large and larger for 7 or 8 years from just about every smartphone company.

 

[spinedoc77]

There are still 7 and 8 series to buy if the notch bothers you that much.

Ironic how the notch haters stay with the 8 series, I just don't get it. At the end of the day the notch is just a bezel with functional sides, accept it like this and life becomes much easier. How the heck someone would prefer the humungous bezels of a 8 series over the Xs series is beyond me, but of course that's their choice and I personally don't take offense to it even if I can't understand it.

 

[Woodcrest64]

So far from what I can find out about the XS Max vs the XS in terms of the displays, is the MAX does not actually use its larger display to display all that much more information. Everything is just bigger in most cases. I was hoping Apple would allow users to choose between wanting more content on the display vs a larger size. The screen is so big it can totally display a lot more content.

I know with some apps there are some work arounds like Twitter and font size but thats a pain and not all apps support that.

 

[jeabraham]

If you're buying a new phone right now, this one is clearly the one to buy if you have the cash. The Plus phones are just superior. They're super comfortable to read text and awesome for watching videos. If you've been using any Plus version then the X will be too small. The XS is like a longer 6 and the Max is exactly a slightly wider, by a fraction of a mm, bezel less Plus.

The XS has slightly more screen real estate than the 8plus. 13.06 sq inches vs 12.9.

 

[MacBird]

So far from what I can find out about the XS Max vs the XS in terms of the displays, is the MAX does not actually use its larger display to display more information. Everything is just bigger. I was hoping Apple would allow users to choose between wanting more content on the display vs a larger size.

I know with some apps there are some work arounds like Twitter and font size but thats a pain and not all apps support that.

If you still have an iPhone X, you can compare what is displayed. The font on the Max is a little larger but it shows a couple more lines vertically. You can also decrease the font size and it should show even more information if apps support dynamic type.

 

[HarryWild]

Surprised by how good the speakers are in the Max. Not only are they loud but has bass.

 

[matthiaswitt]

Swipe down gesture:
/ single hand mode

 

[Glockworkorange]

Surprised by how good the speakers are in the Max. Not only are they loud but has bass.

I had commented on this previously. They are surprising good.

 

[SuperCachetes]

The XS has slightly more screen real estate than the 8plus. 13.06 sq inches vs 12.9.

I honestly have no quarrel with the notch itself, but I’m guessing the pixel multiplication math you did (with the info provided by Apple) does not take that notch into account. The actual usable screen real estate is probably even closer, if not favoring the 8 Plus.

As was surely discussed at length when the X came out last year, the LED iPhones could simply hide their “status area” and use that space for video etc. The OLED phones (and now the XR) can never really use the notch area as display.