I was an Android user for many years, having transitioned from a venerable iPhone 4S to a Samsung Galaxy S6 in 2015. Since then, I've used some of the best Android phones.
So what I thought would be a brief flirtation with iOS and an iPhone 13 Pro in late 2021 actually led to a committed relationship with an Apple smartphone. Sure, I still have access to devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but my SIM card (we still use them in the UK) is in an iPhone.
Lately, the variation of Android and the general boredom of iPhones almost made me return to Google's smartphone platform, but just when I thought I was out, the iPhone 15 Pro Max lured me back.
And I agree with that as it is a fantastic flagship smartphone. However, it may be too good, to the point that I have no clear idea of where the phones can go next to be anything more than simple iterative upgrades over their predecessors.
But first let me tell you why the iPhone 15 Pro Max catches my attention, even though I've never liked Max phones.
The sum of his touches
First, the titanium construction is a game-changer, turning what could be a heavy, unwieldy phone with a 6.7-inch screen into a device I can use practically with one hand. And subtle tweaks to the sides, adding a degree of curvature to the edges, mean the iPhone 15 Pro Max still sports the sleek flat edges that Apple brought with the iPhone 12 series, but makes them a little more comfortable to hold. The matte finish on the back of the phone and the way the colors blend with the titanium chassis is also very stylish.
While Dynamic Island isn't perfect, it's a welcome departure from the notch I reluctantly got used to on the iPhone 13 Pro. And I don't think it's much more intrusive than the hole-punch cameras on Android rivals like the Google Pixel 8 Pro. ; Additionally, the added functionality is appreciated if it is not always used to its full potential.
I also like the new Action button, which I use to quickly activate the 'flashlight', also known as the rear camera flash. USB-C connectivity is very welcome. And I still love Apple's take on a 1Hz to 120Hz display with its ProMotion display. Combined with slick software, the iPhone 15 Pro Max feels very fast.
Of course, it's ridiculously fast with its A17 Pro chip, which can run console-quality games on a device that's much more portable than an Xbox Series . But with everything Apple Arcade has to offer, you'll never be stuck looking for an interesting little game to play while surviving a tedious commute.
Finally, the iPhone 15 Pro Max's camera array is fantastic. The move to a telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom adds a much-appreciated degree of flexibility to the camera system, while the main and ultra-wide cameras can produce consistently great photos time and time again. I stand by my decision to place the Galaxy S24 Ultra at the top of TechRadar's list of best camera phones, but I prefer Apple's computational photography and image signal processing over Samsung's.
The video is simply class-leading and it's very easy to record usable footage, even if you have all the photography skills of a dumb dog.
I've always spoken out against what can be a fawning love for Apple and its devices, feeling that Cupertino has a pass for things that people would crucify an Android phone for losing; I'm talking about a 60Hz display on the standard iPhone 15 and the very slow adoption of USB-C. But while I can't defend the standard or the iPhone 15 Plus, I do think the iPhone 15 Pro Max is pretty much the pinnacle of smartphones right now.
Where do we go from here?
The thing is, all of this has me worried that Apple doesn't have much left in the tank to innovate further. Sure, Tim Cook's team will surely follow in the footsteps of Google and Samsung and adopt generative artificial intelligence tools. And it's not hard to predict that devices like the iPhone 16 will be faster and have better battery life than before, perhaps with proper fast charging added to the mix as well.
But in terms of a big change for iPhones, and indeed for Samsung's Galaxy series, we seem to have reached a plateau in smartphone evolution and innovation, at least in terms of hardware.
I'm old enough to remember the days when every new smartphone seemed like a real step up from what came before, with cameras getting better and better, performance really mattering from generation to generation, and all sorts of new features being added. Today, one generation of phones is very similar to the previous one.
Of course, a host of small changes to the iPhone 15 Pro Max have made it my phone of choice and one worth upgrading. But now I feel like Apple has hit the nail on the head, I don't see the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 being much better: that is unless someone comes up with wildly different screen technology or battery materials.
So am I bored of phones? Well, not entirely. I think my hope for exciting iPhones will be based on the promise of a foldable iPhone, as I believe Apple has the scope and intelligence to make a great foldable phone experience. Likewise, I am willing to embrace the software side of innovation, in which AI will surely play a role.
But for now, I'll have to console myself with the idea that I have a near-perfect phone for me right now. And in a time when everything seems bleak, that's not a bad thing.
