iPhone 14 Pro Max review: similar to the 13, and similarly great too

Are updates like Apple's Dynamic Island and Always-on Display enough to make the iPhone 14 Pro Max your next iPhone?

A photo of the iPhone 14 Pro Max
(Image: © Basil Kronfli)

Our Verdict

The new iPhone 14 Pro Max is everything most people will need from their top-tier Apple phone. It looks expensive, has a defining visual feature – that Dynamic Island, and everything from the screen to the camera, its interface, battery life, and performance all do a great job. The phone does have some quirks; not everyone will love Apple's take on the always-on display and we're not sure why the Lightning connector is back, but it's still an excellent package – albeit an expensive one.

For

  • Premium glass and metal design
  • Dynamic Island is a novel UX highlight
  • Best-in-class performance
  • Camera improved over 13 Pro

Against

  • Too large for some
  • Battery life could be better
  • All or nothing Always-on Display
  • It's a very expensive phone

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The first question we asked ourselves when reviewing the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max was, what does it have that the iPhone 13 Pro Max doesn't? Especially given the fact both phones look so similar. 

With its predecessor already among the best smartphones of 2022, it would take quite something to outdo it. The most obvious upgrade in the 14 Pro Max is that Dynamic Island, a novel take on the punch hole and pill-shaped selfie camera cutout we've seen in Android phones for a few years. Then there's the new, improved camera system, with its bigger sensors and higher resolution that should make the 14 Pro and Pro Max the best iPhones for photography. Day-in-day-out, you'll also notice the new 14 Pro Max's Always-on Display – how can you not, the screen never turns off!

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