iPhone 16 Pro Max Review - A Gamer Perspective
This is a progressive review of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, with ongoing updates on gaming performance, hardware, and software throughout the year. Stay tuned for more insights!
Please Note: This review is for gamers. While some aspects can benefit regular users, the focus is primarily on gaming hardware and software.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has finally made it to the studio, this time from the correct Apple Store, and is now restored from backup. If you know, you know. Let’s get to testing and opinionating!
HUGE CAVEAT: Since I’m running iOS 18.1 Beta 4 on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, this iPhone 16 Pro Max will also be running it. To restore from the backup, I had to install the beta on the new phone, too. Is it ideal? No, but ¯(ツ)/¯. All the testing will happen in the 1-month update.
Unboxing and First Impressions.
Here are my first impressions of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It feels almost the same as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, just a smidge heavier, and the screen is low-key noticeably bigger.
The sound quality, though, is noticeably different. The speakers are louder and clearer, especially when playing "Crab Rave." There's better separation between the left and right channels, and side by side with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the 16 Pro Max is noticeably louder and has more bass.
One cool thing is the camera control—it has this clicky click when you press the button, I didn't expect that, but it's pretty satisfying. On the downside, the screen protector I got sucks. And I don't recommend it. It cuts off right at the pixel line, making the Camera Control UI look weird.
I have also yet to test the battery life, gaming experience, camera, or heat management. Those will come later once the phone is out of beta.
Benchmarks, Speedtest and Gaming
Before testing begins, we’ll give developers one week to update their apps with the latest software to ensure optimization.
But first, let’s talk spec-ie talk. Here’s what’s powering the iPhone 16 Pro Max: the A18 Pro SoC with 8 GB of RAM, built on TSMC’s 3nm (N3E) process with Apple’s ARMv9.2-A design. It features a 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores reaching speeds up to 4.04GHz, alongside a 6-core GPU that boasts two times faster hardware-accelerated ray tracing for impressive graphics. The NPU has a 16-core Neural Engine with up to 35 trillion operations per second for advanced AI processing. Connectivity is managed by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X71 5G modem and a likely USI 339S01464 module for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Benchmarks:
Here’s how they’ll be run: The Phone will be charged 100%, and and then benchmarks will be run 10 times in a row. Background App Refresh and other background tasks will remain active, with no other apps running in the background. The phone case will also stay on throughout the testing. We’ll average the results for a clear view of performance while also tracking how much battery is used during the tests.
3D Mark
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is built for serious gaming. In 3DMark benchmark tests, it scored 6459.2 overall, making it one of the top gaming phones. This means it can handle high-quality graphics and smooth gameplay, even during long sessions.
Here’s what the tests show:
Steel Nomad Light: The phone scored an average of 1539.3 with an average of 11.3 fps. Though low, this fps reflects a focus on steady performance under a moderate load, showing the phone’s ability to handle extended gaming sessions without overheating or slowing down.
Solar Bay Stress Test: Scoring an average of 6459.2 with an average frame rate of 24.6 fps, this Test checks how well the phone manages heat over time. The consistent fps show it can handle longer, demanding sessions without losing performance, making it great for extended play.
Wild Life Extreme Stress Test: With an average score of 3738.0 and an average of 22.4 fps, this Test simulates intense, graphics-heavy gaming. The steady fps under extreme load means the phone keeps gameplay smooth and responsive, even during the most challenging games.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max manages heat well, so you can game without worrying about slowdowns or overheating. Battery life also held up, dropping only slightly to 96.6%, so you won’t need to reach for a charger mid-game.
Geekbench 6
The iPhone 16 Pro Max’s Geekbench scores show it’s built for both everyday tasks and serious gaming. In the CPU tests, single-core scores (3310-3410) mean that simple games and quick tasks run smoothly. Meanwhile, its strong multi-core scores (8316-8505) suggest it can handle more demanding games that need more processing power.
The GPU scores (31366-32684) support great visuals, making it a good choice for graphics-heavy games. What’s impressive is the battery efficiency in these tests; after the GPU test, the battery was still at 100%, showing it can handle graphics without draining fast. However, the CPU tests were a bit more demanding, causing the battery to drop from 100% to 92%, which means longer CPU-heavy gaming might use up the battery faster.
Overall, these results show that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is powerful for gaming, with strong visuals and good battery life for most sessions.
Quick Breakdown:
CPU Single-Core: Scores 3310-3410, meaning smooth performance for simple tasks.
CPU Multi-Core: Scores 8316-8505, handling demanding games and tasks with ease.
GPU: Scores 31366-32684, providing clear and immersive visuals for graphics-heavy games.
Battery Impact: The CPU test dropped the battery to 92%, but the GPU test kept it at 100%.
These Geekbench results highlight the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s high performance and battery efficiency for gaming. However, real-life use may vary, and software updates could improve things even further.
Antutu
Antutu is a popular tool that measures a phone's performance, especially for gaming. It tests four main areas: CPU to see how fast it processes tasks, GPU to check graphics quality for smooth visuals, MEM for memory speed and multitasking, and UX for overall user experience, including how responsive and fluid the interface feels. High scores in these areas mean a phone can handle demanding apps, multitask without lag, and deliver a smooth, enjoyable experience for gaming and everyday use.
However, gaming can drain the battery quickly—42% was used during testing—so a charger might be needed for long play. The phone also warmed up during testing, which could affect performance over extended sessions. Overall, it’s built for gaming, and future updates might improve battery and heat management.
Breakdown of Individual Scores:
CPU (Average Score 619,006.4): Measures processing power, including calculations, app loading, and background tasks. Higher scores mean better performance in complex games.
GPU (Average Score 857,247.4): Tests graphics performance, indicating how smoothly visuals load in intense games. A high score here means detailed graphics and effects play without lag.
MEM (Average Score 244,460.4): Tests memory performance, covering data access speed and multitasking. This score reflects quick load times and smooth app switching.
UX (Average Score 366,070.8): Measures the user experience, focusing on interface feel, animations, and response time. A high UX score ensures a smooth, seamless experience in games and daily tasks.
The TL;DR is that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a great pick for gaming and everyday use. It handles intense games smoothly without lag and keeps graphics looking sharp. The phone manages heat well, so you don’t have to worry about overheating, and battery life holds up pretty well, even during long sessions. Overall, suppose you’re looking for a phone that can handle everything from heavy gaming to daily tasks. In that case, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a solid choice.
Speed Test:
Wi-Fi Performance (One Day of Testing):
Wi-Fi testing on the iPhone 16 Pro Max showed how well it handles both Wi-Fi 6 and 6E. The tests were run using Xfinity’s 200 Mbps plan and an Eero 6E router, measuring performance at different distances to see how proximity affected speeds. Each test was also done with and without NordVPN to see how the VPN impacted performance.
Wi-Fi 6E performed incredibly well at close range, making it great for high-speed tasks like streaming or downloading. However, it struggled to maintain a connection beyond 25 feet. Wi-Fi 6 offered better range, staying connected up to 75 feet, though speeds dropped as the distance increased. Using a VPN reduced speeds by 21.7% on Wi-Fi 6 and by 8.3% on Wi-Fi 6E. Overall, Wi-Fi 6E is ideal for close-range speed, while Wi-Fi 6 is more reliable for covering larger areas.
Cellular Performance (One Week of Testing):
Cellular testing on the iPhone 16 Pro Max used T-Mobile’s LTE and 5GUC networks in various cities across Florida. Peak download speeds reached over 1Gbps but settled at 911.5 Mbps, and upload speeds maxed out at 104.8 Mbps. On the lower end, downloads dropped to 40.1 Mbps, and uploads hit a low of 7.8 Mbps. Over the week, the phone averaged an upload speed of 32.5 Mbps with a steady ping of 44ms and jitter at 2.27ms, providing reliable and consistent performance.
The testing covered urban and suburban areas, showing how the phone handles different network conditions. Whether gaming, streaming, or downloading, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will deliver solid and fast performance, making it a great option for those who rely on cellular data for heavy gaming usage.
Gaming:
Now, let's move on to what you came here for the gaming portion of the review. I’ve set up a Siri shortcut automation to log the time, date, battery life, and network type (cellular or Wi-Fi) each time I open a game. From now on, for the rest of the review, I’ll be including Total Time Spent Gaming, Average Battery Drain While Gaming, and Network Usage During Gaming in each update.
Here's the current time gaming (As of November 5th, 2024)
Total Time Spent Gaming: 2 hours 12 minutes 32 seconds
Average Battery Drain While Gaming: 37%
Network Usage During Gaming: 63% on Wi-Fi, 37% on Cellular
The games I’ll be testing include Genshin Impact, Sonic Dream Team, Sonic Racing, Totm+, Asphalt 8+ (mostly Apple Arcade Games, as you can see), and others. I’ll play these games casually, on battery, noting any lag spikes, stutters, or excessive heat—especially if it’s noticeable through my thick phone case (check the EDC page for details on the case I’m using). Occasionally, I’ll also use my Backbone 1 Controller, though its impact on battery life should be minimal. I'll let you know if I notice any stutters and lags spikes when the monthly updates are posted.
Now, you may be asking why I’m not playing AAA iOS games like Assassin’s Creed or Resident Evil… Honestly, none of those games look fun to me; they are not my style of games. Not to mention, they cost lots of money. At those price points, it is better to get the full console or PC versions. This review is looking specifically at mobile-first games, not ports, besides Genshin, of course.
2 Days
The phone feels great; Mom, who had the iPhone 15 Pro Max, said it feels a little bigger. The battery, despite being on a buggy beta, is OUTSTANDING! I guess it’s because the battery is new and at 100% capacity. It’s like it just doesn’t die!
The camera action button is cool and useful, but it still feels redundant. If anything, it’s great for launching the camera, and I see no issue with that. As for the camera itself, I haven’t noticed a big difference. Sure, it can read out images twice as fast, but I don’t think I’m ever in a situation where I need to take photos at that speed. Recording in 4K at 120fps isn’t something I’ll do often—the files are too big. As the family photographer, airdropping something that large doesn’t make sense to me.
7 Days
It’s been a week since unboxing the phone, and honestly, not much has changed since day two. The battery is still incredibly hard to drain, lasting well past midnight after taking it off the charger around 8 am, with some intermittent charging while in the car. The cameras are fantastic, and the Spatial photos and videos are amazing to watch on the Vision Pro. (Fun fact: these are just regular 3D files, so you can view them on other VR headsets, too—it’s not exclusive to the Apple Vision Pro, despite what some might suggest.) The audio quality is still top-notch.
I’ve been using the camera control button more, but it still feels a bit redundant. I’m really looking forward to iOS 18.1 coming out of beta—it’s a bit buggy at the moment—so I can dive deeper into testing. I’ve played a few games, like Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and Sonic Dream Team. While they look great, I suspect the software and hardware aren’t fully optimized yet, so I’ll give it a little more time.
2 Weeks
During this time, we had a birthday party for my cousin. As the family photographer, I took about 98% of the photos. I want to remind you that the phone is still in beta, and I’ll be fully reviewing the camera once it’s out. That said, I do have some thoughts on the current experience.
Obviously, the photos turned out outstanding, but Camera Control could be a lot more work. It keeps changing settings unexpectedly. I often had to use the screen to zoom in or out and adjust the exposure back to where I wanted it. Apple really needs to rethink how this button works—it’s too easily activated and gets in the way when all I want to do is capture the moment. I think a double press to bring up the slider and another double press to change settings would be a much better approach.
Another issue was the heat. The phone got so hot it became uncomfortable to hold. I actually had to dip it in a cold pool to cool it down before I could continue taking photos. Again, this could be a beta issue, and I’m hoping it gets resolved in the official
1 Month
Today marks 1 month (30 Days) of owning and operating the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Here’s what’s changed
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I'm still running Bata, so I can’t test the phone. Hopefully, it will come out soon. The tests will be published as soon as they are done, not in the 3-month Update.