Since the launch of the iPhone XS Max in 2018, Apple’s large-screen flagship phone has undergone a significant evolution. This article will compare the iPhone XS Max and the latest iPhone 14 Pro Max in depth, exploring the progress Apple has made on its top devices in the past four years.
Display technology: from wide bangs to dynamic islands
The iPhone XS Max is equipped with a 6.5-inch Super Retina HD OLED display with a resolution of 2688×1242 and a pixel density of 458 PPI. Although impressive at the time, its wide bangs design still took up a lot of screen space.
In contrast, the iPhone 14 Pro Max uses a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2796×1290 and a pixel density of 460 PPI. The most eye-catching is the newly introduced “dynamic island” design, which cleverly turns the original bangs into an interactive functional area, greatly improving the practicality and beauty of the screen.
In addition, the 14 Pro Max also introduced the always-on display function and the peak brightness increased to 2000 nits, which is a qualitative leap compared to the 625 nits of the XS Max. The addition of ProMotion adaptive refresh rate technology (up to 120Hz) further optimizes the display effect and user experience.
Performance: From A12 to A16 Bionic Chip
The XS Max is equipped with the then industry-leading A12 Bionic chip, which uses a 7nm process. The 14 Pro Max is equipped with the latest A16 Bionic chip, based on a more advanced 4nm process. This progress not only brings significant performance improvements, but also achieves higher energy efficiency.
In the GeekBench 5 test, the single-core and multi-core performance of the A16 are about 60% and 70% higher than that of the A12, respectively. This performance leap is reflected in daily use as smoother multitasking, faster application startup speed, and outstanding performance in complex AR applications and high-end games.
Camera system: A leap forward in computational photography
The XS Max is equipped with dual 12MP rear cameras, supporting 2x optical zoom and portrait mode. The 14 Pro Max has been significantly upgraded to a 48MP main camera, supplemented by 12MP ultra-wide-angle and telephoto lenses, achieving a 4x optical zoom range.
More noteworthy is the improvement in computational photography capabilities. The 14 Pro Max introduced the Photonic Engine, which greatly improved the shooting effect in low-light environments. The newly added 48MP ProRAW mode provides professional users with more room for post-production adjustments. In terms of video, the 14 Pro Max supports Dolby Vision HDR recording at 4K 60fps, while the XS Max only supports standard 4K 60fps recording.
Battery life and charging
Although the XS Max’s 3174mAh battery was already good at the time, the 14 Pro Max’s 4323mAh battery capacity brought a significant improvement in battery life. According to Apple’s official data, the video playback time of the 14 Pro Max can reach 29 hours, while the XS Max is only 15 hours.
In terms of charging, both devices support wireless charging, but the 14 Pro Max supports faster 20W wired fast charging and 15W MagSafe wireless charging, which is a significant improvement over the 7.5W wireless charging of the XS Max.
Software and User Experience
The XS Max comes with iOS 12, while the 14 Pro Max is pre-installed with iOS 16. The new system brings many new features, such as customizable lock screens, real-time activities, and improved focus mode. The introduction of dynamic islands has brought revolutionary changes to notifications and system status displays, greatly enhancing the user interaction experience.
Face ID has also been optimized on the 14 Pro Max, providing faster unlocking speeds and wider recognition angles. In addition, the 14 Pro Max has added safety features such as car accident detection, further reflecting Apple’s continued innovation in user experience and security.
Conclusion: Significant progress in four years
From iPhone XS Max to iPhone 14 Pro Max, we have seen significant progress in Apple’s large-screen flagship mobile phone field. The innovation of display technology, the significant improvement of performance, the comprehensive upgrade of the camera system, and the continuous optimization of the software experience all reflect Apple’s unremitting efforts in the pursuit of excellent products.
Although the starting price of 14 Pro Max ($1099) is the same as when XS Max was launched, it offers a higher cost-effectiveness considering inflation and technological progress. For users who pursue the best iPhone experience, 14 Pro Max is undoubtedly an upgrade option worth considering. However, for users with limited budgets or low demand for the latest features, XS Max is still an excellent device that can meet the needs of daily use.
The evolution of these four years clearly demonstrates the rapid development of smartphone technology and makes us look forward to the innovation of future iPhones. With the continuous advancement of technology, we can foresee that future iPhones will bring more breakthrough innovations in performance, camera, display technology, and user experience.
