When it comes to Apple’s most iconic smartphones ever made, the iPhone XS Max was a pinnacle, but has since been left behind in the dust, and exists as one of its tallest. It launched in 2018, and it was the giant of its time, featuring what Apple had considered the largest screen the company had ever created. Flash forward to 2024, and one needs to ask: Is the megastack still one match head above the fast-moving tech giants?
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This iPhone XS Max journey is comprehensive, drilling down not just in the core area of its features, but as to why it remains a good option for those who prefer value over shiny newness. We are going to stick around to see if pulling back the layers of this massive phone is a fit for you.
The iPhone XS Max Legacy
Bigger than its grand sibling, the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max quickly became clear as it put a stunningly large 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED display in front of you. This phone redefined ‘big’ in the smartphone space; back in 2018, this was a phone. The XS Max had a solid feel in hand because of its Corning-made glass body, sleek rounded edges, and because it weighed something.
As the years march on, however, you may be asking yourself now, but how does this aging flagship hold up? It is time to take a look at what this phone is still a force to be reckoned with to.
The Big Screen That Captured Eyes
The display was the big deal with the iPhone XS Max when it came out. In a sea of newer, wider phones, this 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED is still much to respect today. Colors pop, details shine, with a 1242 x 2688 resolution, making it ideal for watching videos, gaming, and getting the full experience out of technology daily. If you want a big display without paying $1,000 or more on a newer model, the XS Max still provides a cinematic experience that feels substantial in your hand.
Yes, size matters, but not in the way you may assume. If you are streaming a show or cracking open an image for Instagram, you will be immersed in the display on the iPhone XS Max, with clarity, brightness, and color accuracy that retains sharpness even in 2024. Despite some observation that newer iPhones have better screen tech by some elements, this phone’s display is hardly antiquated.
Power Beneath the Surface
The iPhone XS Max is the engine that powers the experience of using any smartphone and it does not fail to deliver. Even with an old A12 Bionic chip now several generations old, this processor still packs a punch. Whether it’s switching apps, playing graphically intensive games, or running the latest iOS 16 software, the iPhone XS Max handles daily tasks with ease, without the occasional drop-off you might experience with other older devices.
It has a charm running a device, which is obviously years old, and still works with the latest operating system. If you have an iPhone XS Max with 4GB of RAM, you do not need to worry at all about upgrading to iOS 16 as it is super comfortable. With Apple’s dedication of continuing to support its devices for a long time, the XS Max will likely see the lights until 2025 when hardware updates take precedence over software updates.
A Camera That Survived the Test of Time
The camera on the iPhone XS Max remains one area where the phone still surprises. The phone has a dual 12MP system with a wide-angle lens and telephoto capabilities, which allows to capture crisp and detailed photos for everyday use. While not all the advanced AI-driven features you might find in the newest iPhones, Portrait Mode, and 4K video recording are going to be more than enough for most users.
Still sold on the iPhone XS Max is the ability to capture professional-looking photos that have depth-of-field effects. This camera system can more than easily snap some beautiful portraits or landscapes ahead of sharing with your social media buddies.
Design That Still Turns Heads
Due to the times, when the design of the smartphones is flowing into one another like sand on one beach, so there is a number of phones that come with the aesthetic which is so iconic. Also six years after its launch, the XS Max has a sleek stainless steel frame, glass back, and a design language that was a precursor to future iPhones making it feel premium. It has IP68 water and dust resistant which is a great feature for when you are living life on the go, the device offers durability.
One word of caution, however, is that it is challenging to use with only one hand as you have a large form factor. This is likely to be a little hurdle if you want portability, but if you are going to go for something that feels substantial in hand the extreme size of the XS Max is still a good fit.
Battery Life That Keeps You Going
Despite the iPhone XS Max’s still respectable battery capacity of 3,174mAh, the phone definitely does not match the enduring power of today’s powerhouse phones. You can expect it to last around a full day of regular usage, or much more for users that do not require heavy, constant use. Put that pair of optimized iOS software and a dependable battery life stays around within the range of delivering day-to-day tasks.
Is the iPhone XS Max Still a Good Buy?
Moving on, is the iPhone XS Max worth buying in 2024? The short answer is: this is definitely but with some stipulations. If you are one for speedy, bleeding-edge features and the fastest processor, then this is not the phone for you. But if you care most about their large display size, solid performance and the fact that iPhone XS Max lacks features like 3.5mm headphone jack all the way, it still makes a very decent phone.
For folks trying to keep to a budget, because they do not want to splurge on newer models, it is a budget-friendly option for now in 2024. Getting your hands on this flagship should be fairly easy with refurbished deals and pay monthly plans around, and for the right user, it is a decent buy.
End Note
As with any new technology being just around the corner, it is easy to not pay enough attention to the gems of the past. Among such a gem is the iPhone XS Max with its large screen, good camera, and powerful performance. Although it does not have the bells and whistles of new iPhones, it offers up an awesome user experience, especially for folks who value terrific display and audio to holler about.
Still going strong for those users who are interested in a big-screen iPhone, without the big price tag, the iPhone XS Max is a strong contender. It is a graceful passing into its latter stages of life, proving that not all of the best Tech is the newest.