By Shawn Gallagher
I’ve had the iPhone 15 Pro Max for about 3 months now, and it’s safe to say that it feels like peak iPhone. It has been a big upgrade from my previous iPhone 12, and I’m sure that it will be hard to go back if I had to. It also has several features that have been helpful during traveling. Keep reading for my 5 favorite additions on the 15 Pro Max!
The Action Button
Personally, this feature has been very useful to me. With the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max models, Apple got rid of the silent switch and opted for a customizable action button, where users can choose whatever function that is convenient for them. This gives us many different options for what the button can do.
Ever since I bought the phone, I had it set so that the action button opens the camera. This allows me to quickly take a photo without turning my phone on and shuffling through my apps. Some have discussed how this isn’t as useful as Apple intended it to be, but as someone who likes to take a lot of pictures on the go, this has been a helpful feature.
In addition to the camera, there are several other convenient options as well. For example, Shortcuts allows you to create the function yourself, such as opening an app you use often. The flashlight and focus options are popular too. Of course, you can keep it the default ring/silent function as well.
The 5x Telephoto Camera
With my previous iPhone 12, pictures I took using the zoom function often came back grainy, weren’t sharp, and you could tell there was a computerized intervention. Because of this, I never really used the zoom quite often with the 12. However, with the 15 Pro Max, this is the most I’ve ever used the zoom function when taking photos. This phone has a 5x telephoto lens, allowing for sharp results at 120mm. Here a few pictures I was able to take with the 5x zoom.
Night Photography
Compared to my old iPhone 12, I’ve found that the 15 Pro Max performs very well at night. Here are a few pictures I’ve taken with this phone over the past few months.
I notice that photos are sharper and feel less artificial compared to my previous phone.
Titanium Durability and Weight
The 15 Pro and Pro Max is the first model made out of titanium. This means the phones are more durable compared to previous models. I recently had a close call at the British Airways Lounge in Boston, but the phone stayed clean. Many who frequently travel may understand the significance of a more durable phone.
The titanium build also reduces the weight of the phone. According to Apple, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are 9% and 8% lighter than its previous models, respectively. In addition, the weight distribution on these phones has changed, spreading the weight across the body. This makes it feel lighter compared to previous models.
USB-C
Apple couldn’t go wrong with this addition. With the iPhone 15, they ditched lightning and finally began using USB-C. With this, my lineup of my 15 Pro Max, AirPods Pro 2, and MacBook all use USB-C to charge. This means I only have to carry one adapter and one USB-C cable when traveling. As always, the less stuff I have, the better.
Bottom Line
As I said earlier, this model does feel like as good as an iPhone gets. The camera feels top notch for a phone, and the new features make it a very useful tool on the road. The way the phone feels in my hand feels nice and premium as well. I can definitely recommend the iPhone 15 Pro series for people who are frequently traveling, especially those with an older model iPhone.
All photos taken by the author.