The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a welcome innovation compared to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Yet Apple looks away from features that really make the smartphone shine.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Price from € 1259,-
Colors Grey, Blue, Silver, Gold
OS iOS 15
Screen 6.7 inch amoled (2778×1284, 120 hertz)
Processor hexacore (Apple A15 Bionic)
RAM 6GB
Storage 128, 256, 512GB, 1TB
Battery 4,373 mAh
Camera 12 megapixel triple cam (rear), 12 megapixel (front)
Connectivity 5G, Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC
Format 16.1 x 7.8 x 0.8 cm
Weight 240 grams
Other Lightning, esim
Website www.apple.com/nl
8 Score 80 
- Pros
- Screen quality
- insane camera
- Battery life
- Update Support
- Negatives
- Price
- no usb-c
- No audio port
- Innovation is missing
Last year’s iPhone 12 made a deep impression in our review. The smartphone was actually so good that the foundation was hammered under the Pro and Pro Max versions. In fact. The iPhone 12 is so good that the iPhone 13 is already difficult to sell. Apple solves that by aligning prices.
The iPhone 13 Pro and this Pro Max are trying to make a difference with the cameras and image quality. For example, Apple has finally provided the iPhone 13 Pro Max with a display with a dynamic refresh rate and the company has gone out of its way to equip the smartphone with the most impressive mobile cameras.
If you put the Pro Max versions of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 next to each other, you will see virtually no difference. Only the screen notch is slightly less wide because the speaker grill is placed against the top edge of the screen.
iPad Pro as an example
What makes a smartphone ‘pro’ and how Apple interprets that is not a coherent story. The big criticism of last year’s iPhone 12 Pro (Max) was that it hardly distinguished itself from the regular iPhone 12, but it did have a sky-high price. While Apple doesn’t even have to look far for distinctive features: the iPad Pro. The iPhone 13 Pro has taken an important step with its dynamic screen refresh rate on a beautiful OLED screen panel. A larger battery is a welcome addition.
But where is the usb-c port? The universal connection also allows faster data transfer than that outdated Lightning connection. No superfluous luxury for your high-quality photo and video projects, for example. With the modern connection you can also connect peripherals (such as storage media and screens) and apply fast charging techniques. Valuable for the advanced audience that Apple provides. On the other hand, Apple doesn’t seem ready to retire that very elderly cash cow. Fortunately, legislation is coming that will enforce this, but it is unnecessarily unfortunate that it has to get this far and (still) take so long. Because usb-c has been a better option than Lightning since 2015.
grand
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is a whopper of a smartphone (about 16 by 8 centimeters). So before you get excited about the possibilities and the specifications: check whether you can handle it. And whether your pocket or bag can do that too. If that is the case, then the image quality is to die for. I already mentioned the higher image refresh rate, which is automatically switched on dynamically between 1 and 120 hertz. With the previous iPhone Pro Max, this was fixed at 60 hertz. This makes images and image transitions smoother, especially in Apple menus and apps. It doesn’t work with other apps yet.
Because the image refresh is dynamic, the impact on the battery is quite manageable. That is different with many Android smartphones, where the image refresh is fixed at higher speeds. With those smartphones you extend the battery life enormously by scaling it back to 60 hertz. That is also possible with the iPhone 13 Pro Max, but you hardly notice a difference in battery life. Maybe that’s also why Apple has hidden it in the settings, because you won’t find anything about the screen refresh rate in the display settings. For this you have to Settings / Accessibility / Motion to be.
The image quality of the iPhone 13 Pro Max is also impressive, especially the brightness when you place it next to the regular iPhone 13. In short, a perfect screen in combination with the impressive camera setup.
Cameras
Despite the fact that the iPhone 13 series is by no means exciting and innovative compared to the iPhone 12 series, significant steps have been made in the field of camera. Despite the fact that iPhone 12 series also has impressive cameras. The iPhone 13 has two lenses, with the regular lens in particular being very good and the wide-angle lens lagging behind a bit here. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a better regular and wide-angle camera and has a third lens for zoom photos. In the camera app, this means three options: 0.5x, 1x, or 3x zoom. Incidentally, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have the same cameras, unlike the iPhone 12 Pro versions.
The zoom camera is a special addition. In addition to zoom photos, this also enables macro photos, capturing more detail and blurring the background like a portrait photo. You notice that this macro mode is used when the image jumps. Because unfortunately, just like the night mode, it is not possible to activate this function manually. It is difficult to take a macro photo, because it has to turn on itself and the camera is very sensitive to movement and light. But the end result is very nice and detailed. Especially outside in nature. Keep in mind that the zoom lens has quite a lot of trouble with low light or backlighting. For the best results, photograph the subject outside in sunlight.
Zoom lens, regular lens and wide angle lens: photo taken from the same point.
The wide-angle and regular lens are all-round good. So it doesn’t matter much which camera you use and in what circumstances. Indoors, outdoors, dark, light or artificial light. It doesn’t matter that much. However, if you use night photography or end up in other situations with virtually no light, then the regular camera (in combination with the night mode) is the best option.
Despite the fact that Apple liked to draw attention to new gimmicky video recording options during the presentation of the iPhone 13 series, where the focus can be automatically shifted when you capture dialogue, for example, it is unnecessarily distracting. Because the basic tasks of capturing good photos and videos regardless of the conditions, the iPhone 13 Pro Max does really great. Apple is raising the bar a lot higher for Samsung and Google, for example, to join in with their next smartphones. In particular, the amount of color and detail captured with low noise in low-light situations is by far better than any smartphone. In backlit conditions, the camera is also well able to capture detail in dark areas and the illuminated areas. Just not always without lens flare.
Twice regular photo, macro photo, portrait photo and night mode.
Battery life
The iPhone 13 Pro has a new chipset, the A15 Bionic. As expected, this brings a bit more computing power, which you actually don’t notice in practice. The A14 chip from the previous iPhone is still one of the fastest chipsets. What you do notice is that the chipset does its job more economically and is accompanied by a larger battery, with a capacity of 4,373 mAh. That is quite a bit more capacity than the 3,687 mAh of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. You will notice the difference! Of course, the battery life depends on your use and whether the screen often uses 120 hertz. But your battery will last for a day and a half. If you use your device sparingly, two days should also work. That didn’t make it to previous generations of the iPhone.
The higher battery capacity is the nicest innovation of the iPhone 13 series
Dear smartphone, now a better world
The innovations of the iPhone 13 Pro Max make it the best smartphone money can buy. But of course you pay a disproportionate price for that. You know that at Apple. Fortunately, you can also go for less money with the regular iPhone 13 or other (older) generations of the iPhone, which you can use for years thanks to the years of update support that Apple offers.
Yet a revolution in the smartphone world that Apple is unable to initiate itself is needed to improve iPhones (and the smartphone world in general). I already mentioned the lack of the USB-C connection. But the call for a fairer playing field for consumers, repairers and developers is now loud enough to appear on political agendas. Think of repair law: the iPhone 13 goes even further in cryptographically linking parts to the system, so that parts cannot simply be replaced. Similar to the T2 chip in Macbooks. But also think about the policy of the App Store, the only store where you can go for apps and where strict rules apply and sky-high commissions. Monopolistic allegations are now under scrutiny in many countries, including the EU. The next few years are going to be interesting, and with a bit of luck bring changes that may not be so favorable for Apple. But for you. Unfortunately, it is still too early for this iPhone 13 Pro Max.
iPhone 13 Pro Max Alternatives
What do you look for in alternatives to the best smartphone of the moment? Especially in the camera area, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is master of photo and video quality and functionality. However, if you do not want to dig deep into your pocket for an excellent camera phone, you can also choose the iPhone 13 or the Samsung Galaxy S21. Or of course the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The differences between these two smartphones are small. Visually, the devices are indistinguishable from each other. Although the better battery life and screen are welcome additions. Apple currently does not offer the iPhone 12 Pro Max itself, so there is a chance that it will become difficult to obtain in the long term.
In comparable price ranges you will find the foldable smartphones from Samsung: the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Galaxy Z Fold3. The shorter update support and too small battery of the former makes these alternatives more innovative, but may not be the best choice for those who want to use their smartphone for a long time.
Conclusion: buy iPhone 13 Pro Max?
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is once again the best smartphone you can buy, with the camera in particular making a deep impression and the variable screen refresh rate and better battery life are very welcome additions. Of course you have to dig deep for it and Apple seems unable to provide the device with a modern connection, as it can with the iPad.
.