Video Review: 72 Hours Using the iPhone 15 Pro Max

MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera picked up a new iPhone 15 Pro Max on launch day, and he spent the last four days using it non-stop to give MacRumors readers an idea of how the new iPhone experience is going and his first thoughts on the features Apple added this year.


There have been complaints about the new ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models getting too hot, but other than a heat issue when using an uncertified USB-C cable to connect to CarPlay, Dan hasn't run into trouble and he hasn't seen overheating problems. The same is true for the rest of us at MacRumors - our iPhones appear to be functioning as intended and running cool following the initial setup and syncing period.

With the switch to titanium, Apple lowered the weight of the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models, plus added contoured edges that are much more comfortable to hold. Dan says that this is one of the most notable changes for him, and it makes picking up an ‌iPhone‌ 14 or ‌iPhone‌ 13 downright uncomfortable.

Battery life has been solid, but the Action Button is a work in progress and it can take some time to figure out what's most useful. We'll have a dedicated Action Button video coming sometime in the near future.

As for the camera, it's unsurprisingly pretty great. 24-megapixel photos make a difference, and the 5x Telephoto lens is an improvement over the prior 3x version. We're also planning an in-depth camera comparison, so stay tuned for that.

Make sure to watch Dan's full video, and if you have one of the new ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models, let us know what you think in the comments below.

Popular Stories

Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Saturday August 16, 2025 6:45 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system codenamed "Charismatic," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple smart home hub concept This is likely Apple's long-rumored "homeOS" operating system. In a report this week, Gurman said both Apple's rumored smart home hub in 2026 and tabletop robot in 2027 will run the new operating system. He said the software platform will blend...
apple beta 26 lineup

Mark Gurman Responds to Last Week's Apple Device Leaks

Sunday August 17, 2025 7:03 am PDT by
Last week, Apple released and then pulled a software tool that accidentally contained identifiers for many unreleased devices and chips, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. His findings included new models of the Studio Display, Apple TV, Apple Watches, Apple Vision Pro, iPad mini, HomePod mini, and more. Here is what was uncovered in the file, according to MacRumors contributor ...
iOS 26 Feature

Here's Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 7

Monday August 18, 2025 11:59 am PDT by
The seventh developer beta of iOS 26 is now available. While we are now in the later stages of the iOS 26 beta cycle, there are still some changes. Below, we outline everything new that we have found in iOS 26 beta 7 so far. Redesigned Blood Oxygen Feature The seventh developer betas of iOS 26 and watchOS 26 include a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Max's Internal Design With Metal Battery Allegedly Leaks

Friday August 15, 2025 9:13 am PDT by
Alleged images of the iPhone 17 Pro Max's internal design have surfaced, offering a potential look inside the device before it is announced by Apple next month. The images were shared by the account "yeux1122" this week, in a blog post on the Korean platform Naver. The account aggregates Apple rumors and leaks, so it is likely not the original source of the images, and it is unclear if they...
iPhone 16

No iPhone 18 in 2026, Another Report Claims

Monday August 18, 2025 7:34 am PDT by
Apple is expected to delay the launch of its base iPhone 18 model until spring 2027, marking a major shift in the company's long-established release cycle, according to South Korea's ETNews. The report claims that Apple has informed some of its suppliers that the iPhone 18 will not be part of the September 2026 iPhone lineup. Instead, the company will unveil only higher-end models in the...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Reportedly Set to Receive 'Significant Redesign' Next Year

Friday August 15, 2025 1:31 pm PDT by
At least one new Apple Watch model launching next year will feature a "significant redesign," according to Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes. In a paywalled report this week, citing supply chain insiders, DigiTimes claimed that a high-end 2026 Apple Watch model will feature "exterior design" changes, including but not limited to "eight sensors arranged in a ring pattern visible...
apple design award 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Design Award Winners Ahead of WWDC 2025

Tuesday June 3, 2025 10:14 am PDT by
As we wait for WWDC to kick off next Monday, Apple today announced the winners of its annual Apple Design Awards, recognizing apps and games for their innovation, ingenuity, and technical achievement. The 2025 Apple Design Award winners are listed below, with one app and one game selected per category: Delight and Fun - CapWords (App) and Balatro (Game) Innovation - Play (App) and PBJ -...

Top Rated Comments

arkitect Avatar
25 months ago
Well that made my old heart skip a beat or two!



But alas!
Carry on as before…

Attachment Image
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jbachandouris Avatar
25 months ago
I’ve had zero issues on my launch day Pro Max. Not sure why others do.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roland.g Avatar
25 months ago
Seems like a lackluster endorsement at best.

"It doesn't really get hot."
"The camera really is better."
"It's lighter and more comfortable to hold."

Ok.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
25 months ago
Based on the great wall of sentiment of "USB-C is a lint magnet" and "will quickly become wobbly and/or broken in use" BEFORE the launch, I thought the whole review would be about digging lint out, lint removal tips & tricks, and regularly repairing the USB-C port at "insanely expensive repair prices." What happened?

And wow! How lucky have I (and now Dan) been, using USB-C in the rest of Apple's product lineup for years now with nary a single lint incident, nor a wobble, nor broken port. I feel sorry for all you other Apple product owners who have scant time to enjoy the tech for having to deal with all of that "forced upon us" misery.

Maybe the heat is a feature??? Incinerating the lint as it accumulates? Only Apple can innovate lint incineration!

;)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cocky jeremy Avatar
25 months ago

This seems a little too much like a press release from Apple's marketing department...
Or more likely, most people aren't having any issues with their phones. I know mine has been perfect so far.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DesignTime Avatar
25 months ago
This seems a little too much like a press release from Apple's marketing department...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)