Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 15 Pro Max: One Year Review
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I have a 15 Plus that I got September of last year that I use pretty heavily and I'm still at 100% battery health. I have to wonder if the fast chargers mentioned make a difference for battery health. For the sake of reference I use a 5w charger to charge it at home overnight to 100%, and a 12w charger at work as needed, and I never let the battery go below 40%.
Great review and helpful I would think for a lot of people.
Great review and helpful I would think for a lot of people.
Launch day 15 Pro Max. Battery health is 96% at 226 cycles. It was still at 100% 27 cycles ago, before I installed the iOS 18 beta. I charge it wirelessly via MagSafe almost all of the time.
I had to use a case with my last phone, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, because the sharp corners and slippery sides made it uncomfortable to hold without a case. I’ve gone caseless with the 15 Pro Max, and after a year it still looks almost brand new.
The titanium outer edges make a subtle but noticeable difference in weight distribution, and the slightly rounded off sides and matte finish make the phone much more comfortable in the hand.
I have the Action Button set up with a MultiButton shortcut I found via MacStories. First press launches the camera. If I push the Action Button again a couple seconds later, it launches another custom shortcut I set up with several options like ring/silent switch, magnifier, flashlight, voice memo, a shortcut to call my partner, etc.
I have not noticed any overheating issues at all. To be fair, I do not live in a particularly warm part of the world.
The cameras are excellent, as is the overall performance. Overall, I like this phone way more than I ever liked the 12 Pro Max.
I don’t plan to upgrade again until 2026; I’ve been on a three-year upgrade cycle since the iPhone 6, and that’s worked out well for me so far.
I think the iPhone X is still my favourite iPhone that I’ve ever owned, but this one is a very close second, and might even overtake the X after a couple more years.
I had to use a case with my last phone, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, because the sharp corners and slippery sides made it uncomfortable to hold without a case. I’ve gone caseless with the 15 Pro Max, and after a year it still looks almost brand new.
The titanium outer edges make a subtle but noticeable difference in weight distribution, and the slightly rounded off sides and matte finish make the phone much more comfortable in the hand.
I have the Action Button set up with a MultiButton shortcut I found via MacStories. First press launches the camera. If I push the Action Button again a couple seconds later, it launches another custom shortcut I set up with several options like ring/silent switch, magnifier, flashlight, voice memo, a shortcut to call my partner, etc.
I have not noticed any overheating issues at all. To be fair, I do not live in a particularly warm part of the world.
The cameras are excellent, as is the overall performance. Overall, I like this phone way more than I ever liked the 12 Pro Max.
I don’t plan to upgrade again until 2026; I’ve been on a three-year upgrade cycle since the iPhone 6, and that’s worked out well for me so far.
I think the iPhone X is still my favourite iPhone that I’ve ever owned, but this one is a very close second, and might even overtake the X after a couple more years.
Kramerjn
macrumors regular
I have on the 80% charging limit and am way worse off with my launch day 15PM. 93% 🙁
I wrote this about my 14 Pro Max but then realized this post is about iPhone 15 line.
Since I bought my 14 Pro Max exactly 1 year ago, here is my experience - 88% battery health after 1 year (using the original charger and not playing games) - besides that the iPhone overheats so much that it once started to burn my hand I had to stop using it (no damage was done to the phone). I found 14 Pro Max horrible. My older 12 Pro has 93% battery health after 3 years of usage, and it didn't burn my skin. Wonder if 15 Pro Max was this bad.
Since I bought my 14 Pro Max exactly 1 year ago, here is my experience - 88% battery health after 1 year (using the original charger and not playing games) - besides that the iPhone overheats so much that it once started to burn my hand I had to stop using it (no damage was done to the phone). I found 14 Pro Max horrible. My older 12 Pro has 93% battery health after 3 years of usage, and it didn't burn my skin. Wonder if 15 Pro Max was this bad.
gaximus
macrumors 68020
Bought on release day, and Max capacity is 93% for me. What is your cycle count?
klasma
macrumors G4
frost_horizon
macrumors regular
133 cycles mean that you charged it ones every 2.5 days, if you own it for the year. This is a very light phone usage.
sw1tcher
macrumors 604
Lamdus
macrumors newbie
First use September
It's been almost a year since the iPhone 15 models were released, so MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera decided to do a one-year check-in review on the iPhone 15 Pro Max to see how it's performed over the last 12 months.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Unsurprisingly, Dan has seen some iPhone battery degradation, and it's dropped to 89 percent. That's with regular CarPlay usage, running betas, and standard day-to-day use. Even at 89 percent, the battery can still last for a full day without needing a charge.
As for the titanium chassis, it's held up well. There are a few nicks due to minor drops, but the display has seen a lot more damage with several scratches, some of which are deep.
The transition to USB-C has been a little tough just because there are still people with Lightning iPhones. If someone wants to borrow your charger, you may not have the right cable if you've switched to USB-C and they're still on Lightning.
Dan uses the Action Button for opening up the Camera app, but there's so much more that the Action Button can do in iOS 18, and it's going to get a lot more useful in the future. You can set Control Center controls to the Action Button, and developers can make new controls for apps that you can use.
There's not too much to say about the triple-lens camera setup, which is great. The 5x zoom lens is excellent for taking portrait pictures of people, and it's been a solid improvement. Otherwise, the cameras are fantastic with a lot of focal length versatility thanks to the new zoom option.
Overall, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has held up well, and if you have one (or a Pro), there's no real need to upgrade to the iPhone 16 models. The A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro is incredibly fast and there's no way most people are even reaching the limits of its capabilities at this time, and Apple isn't adding too much more than an extra Capture Button and a slightly larger display in 2024. You can already use Apple Intelligence if you have an iPhone 15 Pro model, so there's not a lot to get out of a year-over-year upgrade.
If you have an older iPhone, it's worth looking at the iPhone 16 models, or even an iPhone 15 Pro when prices drop and they're discontinued. All of the iPhone 16 models will have a chip compatible with Apple Intelligence, a Capture Button, and an Action Button, so there's a lot to gain coming from an iPhone 14 or earlier.
How has your iPhone 15 held up if you have one? Let us know in the comments below.
Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro Max: One Year Review
Capacity 100%
Count 175
frost_horizon
macrumors regular
By the way, the battery condition percentage doesn’t make sense to me and seems to be highly inaccurate.
Many people may have a 100% battery condition for a long time because they initially received a good sample with a real capacity over 100%, but the system caps it at 100% in the settings.
Another thing—after almost 3 years and 980 cycles, my iPhone 13 Pro Max battery was reporting 84% condition, but it was dying by 2 PM with normal use. I replaced the battery at an Apple Service 4 days ago, and yesterday, after 9.5 hours of screen time, I still had 30% left by 1 AM.
I really doubt that a 16% difference in battery condition can result in more than twice the actual battery performance. The entire “battery condition” metric is misleading and inaccurate.
Many people may have a 100% battery condition for a long time because they initially received a good sample with a real capacity over 100%, but the system caps it at 100% in the settings.
Another thing—after almost 3 years and 980 cycles, my iPhone 13 Pro Max battery was reporting 84% condition, but it was dying by 2 PM with normal use. I replaced the battery at an Apple Service 4 days ago, and yesterday, after 9.5 hours of screen time, I still had 30% left by 1 AM.
I really doubt that a 16% difference in battery condition can result in more than twice the actual battery performance. The entire “battery condition” metric is misleading and inaccurate.
Lamdus
macrumors newbie
It's been almost a year since the iPhone 15 models were released, so MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera decided to do a one-year check-in review on the iPhone 15 Pro Max to see how it's performed over the last 12 months.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Unsurprisingly, Dan has seen some iPhone battery degradation, and it's dropped to 89 percent. That's with regular CarPlay usage, running betas, and standard day-to-day use. Even at 89 percent, the battery can still last for a full day without needing a charge.
As for the titanium chassis, it's held up well. There are a few nicks due to minor drops, but the display has seen a lot more damage with several scratches, some of which are deep.
The transition to USB-C has been a little tough just because there are still people with Lightning iPhones. If someone wants to borrow your charger, you may not have the right cable if you've switched to USB-C and they're still on Lightning.
Dan uses the Action Button for opening up the Camera app, but there's so much more that the Action Button can do in iOS 18, and it's going to get a lot more useful in the future. You can set Control Center controls to the Action Button, and developers can make new controls for apps that you can use.
There's not too much to say about the triple-lens camera setup, which is great. The 5x zoom lens is excellent for taking portrait pictures of people, and it's been a solid improvement. Otherwise, the cameras are fantastic with a lot of focal length versatility thanks to the new zoom option.
Overall, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has held up well, and if you have one (or a Pro), there's no real need to upgrade to the iPhone 16 models. The A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro is incredibly fast and there's no way most people are even reaching the limits of its capabilities at this time, and Apple isn't adding too much more than an extra Capture Button and a slightly larger display in 2024. You can already use Apple Intelligence if you have an iPhone 15 Pro model, so there's not a lot to get out of a year-over-year upgrade.
If you have an older iPhone, it's worth looking at the iPhone 16 models, or even an iPhone 15 Pro when prices drop and they're discontinued. All of the iPhone 16 models will have a chip compatible with Apple Intelligence, a Capture Button, and an Action Button, so there's a lot to gain coming from an iPhone 14 or earlier.
How has your iPhone 15 held up if you have one? Let us know in the comments below.
Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro Max: One Year Review
My launch day iPhone 15 Pro Max held up quite well. Still practically flawless despite using it caseless with only a screen protector. Battery still at 100% after 205 cycles
Only complaint I have is that still gets quite hot on basic tasks, which is VERY notable if you're using it caseless
Only complaint I have is that still gets quite hot on basic tasks, which is VERY notable if you're using it caseless
I love the 15 Pro Max! I’m tempted to update to the 16 when it launches but honestly I have no reason to do so. The camera takes amazing photos and the battery is amazing. Best investment I made recently.
It's been almost a year since the iPhone 15 models were released, so MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera decided to do a one-year check-in review on the iPhone 15 Pro Max to see how it's performed over the last 12 months.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Unsurprisingly, Dan has seen some iPhone battery degradation, and it's dropped to 89 percent. That's with regular CarPlay usage, running betas, and standard day-to-day use. Even at 89 percent, the battery can still last for a full day without needing a charge.
As for the titanium chassis, it's held up well. There are a few nicks due to minor drops, but the display has seen a lot more damage with several scratches, some of which are deep.
The transition to USB-C has been a little tough just because there are still people with Lightning iPhones. If someone wants to borrow your charger, you may not have the right cable if you've switched to USB-C and they're still on Lightning.
Dan uses the Action Button for opening up the Camera app, but there's so much more that the Action Button can do in iOS 18, and it's going to get a lot more useful in the future. You can set Control Center controls to the Action Button, and developers can make new controls for apps that you can use.
There's not too much to say about the triple-lens camera setup, which is great. The 5x zoom lens is excellent for taking portrait pictures of people, and it's been a solid improvement. Otherwise, the cameras are fantastic with a lot of focal length versatility thanks to the new zoom option.
Overall, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has held up well, and if you have one (or a Pro), there's no real need to upgrade to the iPhone 16 models. The A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro is incredibly fast and there's no way most people are even reaching the limits of its capabilities at this time, and Apple isn't adding too much more than an extra Capture Button and a slightly larger display in 2024. You can already use Apple Intelligence if you have an iPhone 15 Pro model, so there's not a lot to get out of a year-over-year upgrade.
If you have an older iPhone, it's worth looking at the iPhone 16 models, or even an iPhone 15 Pro when prices drop and they're discontinued. All of the iPhone 16 models will have a chip compatible with Apple Intelligence, a Capture Button, and an Action Button, so there's a lot to gain coming from an iPhone 14 or earlier.
How has your iPhone 15 held up if you have one? Let us know in the comments below.
Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro Max: One Year Review
SactoGuy18
macrumors 603
Personally, I would still hold out for the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max because of its rumored new battery design that is supposedly much better tolerant of high temperatures.
10 month old 15 Pro. Pristine phone (in a case since day one). Battery at 100% with 131 cycles (charge 80-85% rule) since I go back and forth between a Pixel 8 and 15Pro. It serves me well and performance wise has been as expected: great. No intention of upgrading until another year or 2.
jayducharme
macrumors 601
My 13 mini (which I got new) is currently at 88%, which seems fine to me. We've been going on a lot of long trips, and my phone has been plugged in for CarPlay. I think the battery has taken a bit of a hit from that. Otherwise I've rarely charged it to 100%.
Launch day 15 Pro Max 92% 424 cycles
I only turn off optimize battery charging if I want to get to 100% if working and going to a concert.
I only turn off optimize battery charging if I want to get to 100% if working and going to a concert.
BelgianChoklit
Suspended
I'm super satisfied with the reduced weight comparing to the 13 Pro and 14 Pro. I got the regular iPhone 13 in 2021 over the flagship for the very first time because the 13 Pro was too heavy.
Very satisfied with the battery life. Battery health at 93% with 330 cycles, got it on launch day.
When it comes to the Action Button, it's a gimmick, never seen anything as gimmicky from Apple's part as the Action Button. It's very clear they put it on there for the simple reason there's just too little difference between the 14 Pro and 15 Pro.
Very satisfied with the battery life. Battery health at 93% with 330 cycles, got it on launch day.
When it comes to the Action Button, it's a gimmick, never seen anything as gimmicky from Apple's part as the Action Button. It's very clear they put it on there for the simple reason there's just too little difference between the 14 Pro and 15 Pro.
Hands down my least favorite iPhone. I’ve had virtually every single top tier model since inception and this one has driven me bonkers with screen responsiveness and battery longevity. I’m waiting to see what the next model promises but I’m strongly considering the new Google Fold. I may be shocked at how bad it is and go back to iPhone but it can’t hurt to try….PS I’m SUPER engulfed in Apple product so it’s a bit nerve racking thinking of making the change.
centauratlas
macrumors 68020
That's a good question. I never use a wireless charger, but it is plugged into one of the Apple fast chargers at night, plus CarPlay. I have the optimized battery charging set and it usually does that although sometimes it goes right to 100% instead of waiting. (and as above, I have 353 cycles, 90%, Manufacture date Aug 2023, first use Sept 2023).
I am happy with it. I thought the Max might be too large coming from the 14 Pro, but it has been nice.