I sent the iPhone 18 Pro Max back, and the odd part is that I didn’t send back a bad phone.
Far from it. The battery lasted longer than I expected. The camera is excellent, and it did everything I asked of it. What it couldn’t give me was a reason to keep it because my iPhone 17 Pro Max already did almost all of that just as well.
So the question became plain. Why spend this much to swap one phone for a near copy of it, and what finally pushed me to return it?
I bought it on release day, on pre-order, so I had it from Day one. This time I set it up from scratch, like someone moving to a new phone for the first time, because I didn’t want to be the guy going from the 17 to the 18. I put my 17 Pro Max aside and used the 18 Pro Max for about two weeks.
iPhone 18 Pro Max Review: Same Design, Burgundy and Battery Life
I liked the 17 Pro Max design, and the 18 Pro Max doesn’t touch it. The unexpected thing is that the cases and accessories for the 17 Pro Max work with the new phone, even though Apple usually adjusts the lens layout slightly, making us buy new cases. That was a pleasant surprise. I called the Pro design recycling right after the keynote in my article, “Apple Just Showed Us Its Foldable iPhone. I’m Not Sure It Showed Us Anything New.”, and holding the Pro Max didn’t change my mind.
The burgundy is still the best-looking color this year. It feels premium and classy in the hand, and it stands out the most from the lineup. I saw the others too. The black is beautiful but plainer, and the two remaining colors are plainer still.
The battery surprised me. Some people reported issues and bugs, whereas I had no issues from the start, except the bug trend I’ve tried. It held a charge easily for a full day, and often a day and a half. Against phones that now last up to three days, it’s not in the same league, but for an iPhone, it’s good. GSMArena’s lab test points the same way, with an Active Use rating of 19 hours 20 minutes against 17 hours 58 minutes for the 17 Pro Max.
Variable Aperture and Pro Controls: Who Needs Them?
What I enjoyed most was the camera, and above all, the variable aperture. I take photos and videos, so I appreciate them. But it’s niche. The main camera now offers four apertures: f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4.0, along with manual control over shutter speed and more. It brings the pro side to the Pro Max line, and I doubt many people will use it daily beyond photographers and creators. A professional photographer might decide they can leave the camera body at home now and then. I shot a lot of motion blur photos to try it, and the results are beautiful.
What I don’t understand is why none of this came to the 17 Pro Max. The variable aperture is hardware, fine. Everything else can be software, and the 17 Pro Max has nearly the same specs.
Hard to defend, and silly.
The “pro” controls aren’t fully pro, either. Take white balance. Apple gives you five presets, each with its Kelvin value displayed, but no slider, so I couldn’t pick the exact temperature I wanted. I hope an update fixes this issue. It seems illogical to be directed so much on a tool advertised as professional.
So photos and videos move up a level. It’s a step, not a leap. It lets me try more creative things. Was that enough to make me swap phones this year?
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: The Gap Keeps Shrinking
The 18 Pro Max is the best iPhone ever made, and it should be. If you’re coming from a 13 or a 14, you’ll feel a sizeable gap. Going from a 13 to a 16 wasn’t great either. Between one generation and the next, I see less and less difference, and that’s been true for two or three years now. The exception was the 16 Pro Max to the 17 Pro Max, when you could feel Apple shaking things up after falling behind.
As I kept using the 18 Pro Max, the difference seemed to diminish. I put my case on it, so I stopped seeing the colors. So I reinstalled the same apps I always use, Blackmagic Camera included. My habits and daily routine were identical to those with the 17 Pro Max model. After a week, I picked up my old phone to compare, and it didn’t feel like stepping back.
When I bought it, I probably wouldn’t keep it this year unless something surprised me or helped me every day. Like any geek, part of me thought I’d keep it anyway because it’s nice. But I wanted to decide with a clear head.
Do I film differently?
Do I shoot differently?
Do I use the phone differently?
No, except for photos and videos. And in video, where I spend more time than in photos, the new tools matter a little less to me. The novelties are real. They didn’t justify staying on the 18 Pro Max.
Is the iPhone 18 Pro Max Worth €1,629?
Then, the price climbed again. I already find iPhones expensive, and high-end smartphones are, too. The 256 GB iPhone 18 Pro Max is €1,629 in France this year, whereas the 17 Pro Max launched at €1,479. That’s €150 more for a handful of changes that don’t touch my daily life.
For hardened photographers who need that creative control, it’s a real upgrade, and I won’t say otherwise. But I’d guess 90% of people don’t care about aperture or shutter speed. They’ll leave the camera on auto, and that’s where it ends.
My 17 Pro Max still covers my needs. I returned the 18 Pro Max about two weeks ago and haven’t felt a loss. When I switch from my iPhone to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, I notice the difference, and going back, I miss the big inner screen. Between the 18 Pro Max and the 17 Pro Max, nothing is missing. The color was beautiful; the battery was good, and the variable aperture was fun to try. I’d still rather keep my money than pay for an upgrade I don’t need.
Should You Skip the iPhone 18 Pro Max? My Advice.
If you’re coming from a 13 or a 14, you’ll see a big change.
If you’re coming from a 15, the jump is smaller. If you have a 16 or a 17, skip the 18 Pro Max this year. Wait for next year, when the iPhone turns 20, because we might get something new. Maybe you’re waiting for the iPhone Duo, like me. I want to try it, and I’m already almost sure I wouldn’t keep it. At €2,339 in France, I’m not psychologically ready to put that much into a smartphone. Honestly, €1,629 already feels like a lot.
If your photo and video needs are specific, then yes, even a 17 Pro Max owner can justify it. Just know that the Pro controls have limits.
I don’t regret trying it.
Far from it.
It’s an excellent phone. But it reminded me of something. I test phones all year, and you end up wanting the latest model because it’s new, which I say often. With the 18, I realized I could enjoy a new phone without wanting or needing to keep it. Each time I picked my 17 Pro Max back up, I found a phone I was already happy with. I sent the 18 Pro Max back, not because it’s bad, but because the improvements don’t justify the cost.
If the part about skipping a year stuck with you, what I wrote before the launch about why a 10% better flagship costs 100% more goes through who should skip these phones and who shouldn’t, and I wrote it before I held either.
If you’re weighing a €150 jump for a camera, you’d leave on auto, follow Nov Tech, and subscribe for the buy or skip calls I make after real use cases. Don’t forget to support us.
(Originally published on Medium)