The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus share the same features, but they differ in their physical size and battery capacities, and the same applies to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
With the Pro models offering a refreshed design and more powerful hardware than their standard siblings this year though, is the iPhone 14 Pro Max the biggest and best iPhone the company has ever made? Here is our review.
Our quick take
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is not just big in form, it's big in character. There's a refreshed design that's really striking, especially in this larger format, coupled with performance enhancements, battery improvements, camera improvements, the Always-On Display and the Dynamic Island feature.
Sure, it's pretty heavy, it's very expensive, and it offers all the same features as its smaller sibling, but it's a stunning device for those who want a larger screen or more battery life.
It will be too big for some, but if you're looking for the best iPhone Apple has made to date in the biggest possible format, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is definitely the one - it is excellent.
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max features a surgical-grade stainless steel frame, glass rear and it delivers a solid and super-premium build quality. There's also a refreshed design, just like its smaller sibling, the iPhone 14 Pro.
It's a heavy device - heavier than the iPhone 14 Plus that opts for an aluminium frame and is therefore lighter - but the Max's weight is something you get used to over time. We found the same with the iPhone 13 Pro Max, so while you might feel the heft when you first get it out of the box, it's something that quickly becomes normal.
The flat edges - first reintroduced in the iPhone 12 - remain and while the glossy finish of the 14 Pro Max's frame is a fingerprint fiend, it adds to the premium appeal of this device. The left edge houses the silence toggle and volume buttons, while the right edge has the power button. The SIM tray remains on the left for all models except those in the US, where a frosted section on the right edge highlights the switch to eSIM only.
On the bottom, you'll find - perhaps disappointingly - the Lightning port and not a USB-C port, while speakers are positioned either side. There's also a speaker at the top of the display but it's not on top of the notch anymore. That's because the iPhone 14 Pro Max has said bye bye to the trusty notch we've seen grace the front of Face ID iPhones since the iPhone X in 2017.
In place of it is a wide pill-shaped cutout for Face ID and the front camera, which Apple calls Dynamic Island. It pulls in information from certain apps, like the Apple Music app and Clock, making use of what would otherwise be redundant space.
The Dynamic Island adapts based on the app or notification being shown. For example, when using Apple Pay, the Dynamic Island turns into a square, while when you switch the silence toggle, it widens to acknowledge the change. It's an excellent blend of hardware and software that makes subtle but useful differences to the way you use and interact with your phone. You can tap on the Dynamic Island once to expand the information, and tap it again will open the app in its entirety. Dynamic Island also splits into two if you open two apps, like Apple Music and a timer for example.
It will also cleverly switch between apps and alerts, so if you're on a phone call and running a navigation app, it will show the phone call in Dynamic Island when you have the navigation app open and vice versa. It's very cool in action and makes multi-tasking on the iPhone an absolute dream
While the front of the iPhone 14 Pro Max is clearly quite different from its predecessor thanks to Dynamic Island, the rear sticks to its roots. The frosted glass panel features a large and prominent camera housing in the top left corner, with three lenses and the LiDAR sensor. The edges of the housing blend into the rear too, making for a smooth and seamless transition.
There are four colour options available comprising Deep Purple (which is beautiful(, Space Black (which is also lovely in the flesh), Silver and Gold
