▷iPhone 11 Pro Max: New Features, Great Performance 🥇

iPhone 11 Pro Max is the first smartphone ever of Apple to add the voice "Pro", voice that we have usually always found in MacBooks, in Macs, in iMacs and recently also in iPads (for about three years now). Will it really be right to call this device "Pro"? Are there any additions for professionals and different performances from the past? Let's find out in this review of the new iPhone 11 Pro Max

iPhone 11 Pro Max: a different name for a different product

For Apple, usually, the "Pro" nomenclature includes a series of aspects that define the device as such and make it suitable for professional, prolonged use, more suitable for those who work with the device and not just browse social media or play. iPhone 11 Pro has the same processor as iPhone 11, the "basic" version presented this year by the Californian company. Yes, because this time the iPhones are three and are divided into 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, the latter, subject of the review, is the largest of all and is the one that should allow the best performance in terms of battery and screen.

Certainly, going back to talking about nomenclature, "iPhone 11 Pro Max" is still challenging and long, but definitely more understandable and easier than "XR" or "XS", which then actually had to be pronounced as "ten-ar" and " ten-ess ". The nomenclature therefore becomes important, because those who buy this product must legitimately expect higher performance in many cases, both in terms of storage, overall speed, autonomy and photography, aspects that I will discuss in the course of the review.

iPhone 11 Pro Max: design and materials that make you dream

The design of the iPhone 11 Pro Max maintains, for some cases, the features of the iPhone X, a device that marked an important generational change, thanks above all to the disappearance of the home button and the appearance of the much-discussed notch. It notch, which for the uninitiated is that upper black notch that includes the thousands of sensors for the Face ID (unlock with the face, ed) and the front camera, is also present in this device as in the previous generation.

If you have had an iPhone at least once in your life, then you will easily find yourself with the layout of the side buttons. In fact, on the left side we find the physical switch to switch from the "Ringtone" mode to the "silent" mode, which unfortunately is missing in many Android smartphones, and the buttons to adjust the volume (whether of the call, the ringtone or the multimedia department in use ). However, if you have never had an iPhone or have not had one recently (e.g. you stopped at the iPhone 8), then you will find some important news in the button on the right of the screen. This type of button has always been there in almost all iPhones (starting from 6 onwards), only before it was used to turn on, turn off and lock the device, but starting from the iPhone X it takes on a different use. In fact, it is no longer possible to turn off the smartphone with a long press, because in this case you would activate Siri, Apple's voice assistant. To turn off the iPhone now you need to go to the settings, in the general item, or, trivially, hold down the shutdown key and "volume up", in order to see the classic shutdown slider and the medical record.

At the front you can't ignore the beautiful 6.5 "display which includes an 83,7%" screen-to-body "factor”(Actual size of the display compared to the frame itself, ed) and which, from this year, is a Super Retina XDR OLED with 16 million colors. XDR is the new abbreviation used by Apple (also in the new display dedicated to Macs) which defines a very high resolution panel with high HDR10 capabilities that also include a higher gamut compared to the past, a feature that allows you to enjoy movies, photos and various visual content to the fullest.

The interesting feature that I immediately appreciated, concerns the display nits, which now peak at 1200 in the "brightest" moments around you, a feature that allows you to have excellent sharpness even under the sun. The resolution is 1242 × 2688 pixels with an aspect ratio of 19: 5: 9 and a density of 458ppiSo yes, this is the best display Apple has ever created on a smartphone. There is no shortage of systems True-tone, a 120Hz refresh rate and scratch resistance thanks to the usual oleophobic coverage, yes, the one that disappears most quickly if you apply film or glass.

Watched from behind it becomes even more interesting

I'm not describing a human body but the rear beauty of the new iPhone 11 Pro Max. Certainly the eye is immediately captured by the three cameras, an absolute novelty for the Cupertino house, but personally I focused on another aspect: the materials. The back shell is made of glass, just like the part tightly around the cameras (and which forms a square). The important difference is that in the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max the largest part is in frosted glass and that of the camera in opaque resistant glass, a "base" iPhone 11 is the exact opposite. Touching iPhone 11 Pro Max on the back with your hand, you immediately realize the great quality of the materials and the great overall resistance. It is a well-designed and thought-out monocoque that makes the device a unique design object which, however, does not renounce resistance as well. Yes. Because, as announced by Apple itself, this glass is incredibly resistant and reliable in the worst falls. Certainly, non-breaking cannot be guaranteed and I certainly won't be the one to experience it, but in fact, already touching the device, there is a great perception of resistance and great construction.

The body is water resistant and the smartphone measures 158 77.8 × × 8.1mm with a total weight of 226 grams.

[amazon_link asins=’B07XS3ZX16,B07XS52RNN,B07XS47PVF’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’gamspri02-21′ marketplace=’IT’ link_id=’d3bdc524-020e-4ee4-a4ba-25b95b4eedab’]

iPhone 11 Pro Max: cutting edge specifications

Inside the iPhone 11 Pro Max we find the processor Apple A13 Bionic, now more powerful than in the past and with 7 nanometers Hexa-Core. The graphics processor, on the other hand, is a Apple 4-core GPU dedicated only to graphics, to ensure maximum performance with all types of playful and non-playful content. The cuts available, again this year, are three: 64GB, 256GB and 512GB, always with 4GB of RAM. The presence of the 64GB cut for the Pro version seemed strange to me, which I would have avoided in favor of a 128GB base (therefore double), always counting that we are talking about a higher-end audience than the "base" iPhone 11.

There are three cameras, four actually counting also the front one. In the back we find the three cameras that share the same megapixels (always 12) but have a dedicated processor (for the three cases) and above all different optics that allow shots with variable zoom and different field area but with the same perception of framing. The design of the three cameras was in fact designed to offer the same type of framing but varying the angle of view. In this case, therefore, if you “vulgarly” zoom in, the visual perception will be the same. You will then have one fotocamera ultrawide da 13mm f/2.4, a fotocamera wide standard da 26mm f/1.8 and a camera telephoto da 52mm f/2.0. In the case of the telephoto camera you will have a 2x PDAF OIS optical zoom, in the case of the standard it remains PDAF but with dual pixel OIS. Basically, the optical stabilization of the sensor is not present in the ultra wide, which also loses the PDAF.

La front camera is always 12 megapixel but f / 2.2 from 23mm wide, with the possibility of making two shots: one wide and one ultra wide.

Then present stereo speakers, WiFi 802.11 1/b/g/n/ac/ax dual band, Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, GPS with GLONASS, A-GPS, GALILEO and QZSS, NFC, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer and classic lightning connector. Unlike the latest generation (and penultimate) iPad Pro, the USB-C connector is therefore missing, long awaited and hoped for by the Apple fanbase.

The real novelty this year, in addition to the camera and the design finishes, is definitely the battery: now from Mah 3969 with fast charging thanks to the 18W charger included in the package that allows you to charge 50% in just 30 minutes. Obviously, there is also support for the Qi wireless charging, which, however, in the case of iPhones, is limited to an input of 7.5 watts, unlike Samsung which offers 10W.

iPhone 11 Pro Max: performance and everyday use

It would not be possible to do a software review of the iPhone 11 Pro Max, because personally I think that with iOS you can be fine or not; you can hate it or love it, you can like it or criticize it, just like with Android. What is certain is that if you have multiple Apple devices, such as a MacBook and perhaps an iPad, you will be able to fully appreciate all the additional features that Apple's mobile system offers. On the other hand, it is difficult, in my opinion, to appreciate and make the most of iOS if you use a Windows PC, a Samsung tablet and maybe any smartwatch (which could still be compatible with iOS). This is because Apple has always made its ecosystem an unrivaled strength for all the other companies that still, with difficulty, continue to try. Producing software and hardware in-house makes a huge difference in everyday use, characteristics that actually change working life and beyond. For heaven's sake, the synchronization of calendars or photos is also feasible on Android with Google Calendar and Google Photos, but other features are unattainable. Just if you have a Mac and an iPad (or maybe two Macs and so on), you will find incredible synchronization functions of messages, notes, various memos, reminders, ToDo lists and even the clipboard. If on macOS you select a text and make a “copy”, pressing “paste” on the iPhone you will find it immediately in front of you in an instant. Paradoxically, the same thing happened to me with the use of two Macs: I pressed "copy" on three files of 10 mb total on a Mac Pro and then I pressed "paste" on the MacBook and voilà, the files were there. Likewise, if they call you, your iPhone and Mac (or iPad) will ring and you decide where to answer or transfer the call. Browsing on Safari or Chrome or on other supported applications via iPhone you can resume viewing in real time on Mac by pressing the dedicated icon and so on.

All these functions and these examples to make you understand that iOS thrives on integration between devices, which is not only a brilliant way to sell products (Apple's marketing is always brilliant) but also to offer real convenience to the people who use them, a feature that I personally have not found (done so well) on any other product.

In any case, using an iPhone 11 Pro Max is extremely pleasant, unless you have a very small hand (in that case, perhaps it would be better to go for an iPhone 11 Pro, which is still smaller than the "base" iPhone 11).

The 6.5 ″ display is large, vast, bright, crisp and extremely beautiful to watch continuously for any content. I loved the brilliance of this OLED right from the start, even playing various games offered by the new Apple Arcade service. The new Super Retina XDR display offers greater brightness than ever before, faithful colors, extreme dynamic range and excellent resolution. I had no problem watching content with darker areas in the sun, such as Dark on Netflix, because the display now offers 800 nits in "standard" mode and peaks up to 1200 for borderline situations such as watching dark content in presence of a lot of light. Do you think that the standard of nits in the global smartphone market is, on average, around 700.

Comparing iPhone 11 Pro Max with other top-of-the-range smartphones, such as Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus when watching content on Netflix, I noticed how brightness in dark areas and dynamic range are unique advantages of iPhone 11 Pro Max. Note 10 Plus tends to cool colors a bit, while iPhone 11 Pro Max compensates and makes everything a little warmer (sometimes maybe too much in reality, depending on whether you love cold or warm tones). The listening experience, especially in the case of multimedia content, is also positive: the stereo surround speakers support Dolby Atmos, for a truly rich and unexpected experience for a smartphone (I made the same positive and surprised leap with the first iPad Pro, which offered stereo surround speakers with Dolby Atmos included).

iPhone 11 Pro Max: a battery never seen before

I have often talked to friends about iPhones and various smartphones, hearing bad feedback on the battery. Personally, too, I have always lived through difficult times with the battery of previous iPhones: not only did you not get to the end of the day, but often not even halfway. Although all smartphones seem to be performing when new, the moment comes when you install apps, configure notifications, start making your smartphone do many background activities and, inevitably, you end up having to charge your device even two. times a day. This happens in a situation of dynamic use, be it for work or leisure, be it for photos, videos, films, TV series, games and so on. Personally, I use my smartphone a lot: messages, calls, appointments, video calls, games waiting for events, films or TV series in queue or on the road and so on. With iPhone 11 Pro Max and its big screen then I decided to spend some time reading books or simply watching a lot of content on YouTube, which usually consumes a lot of battery. Speaking of games, this year Apple Arcade has also arrived, the new service that offers thousands of fantastic games that take advantage of the features of the new device, how can we not try all the various titles?

In short, I put a strain on the battery of iPhone 11 Pro Max, I pushed it, I played various types of content, played all kinds of games, wrote messages, made video calls and much more, yet, I have not found a way to completely drain the battery in a single day. In some cases, I even managed to do two full days of use (not playing in this case) with this device, an experience and autonomy never seen before on an iPhone, and perhaps not even on most smartphones today. (ok, let's remove the maybe). The battery of the iPhone 11 Pro Max amazes, and continues to amaze even after a month and a half of use, because when you think you have almost managed to drain the battery, the power saving mode comes into play, which deactivates all the various processes in the background and saves you even more energy, allowing you to go beyond all kinds of expectations.

[amazon_link asins=’B07XS3ZX16,B07XS52RNN,B07XS47PVF’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’gamspri02-21′ marketplace=’IT’ link_id=’d3bdc524-020e-4ee4-a4ba-25b95b4eedab’]

A camera that gives emotions

As you may have guessed, there are three cameras this year, and they perform very well indeed.

Let's start with the design of this camera, note that it can be positive or painful.
The positive part obviously concerns the addition of a third camera, reserved for the "Pro" range and which allows you to have a much greater angle of view and "ultra wide”, Ie wide angle. Of course, the ultra-wide camera on a phone isn't a big news, and this is a little sorry. It is more like an added convenience that, when in doubt, is always pleasantly accepted.
If you look at the iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max from behind, it is impossible not to notice the arrangement of the three cameras, already the result of thousands of online memes, some of which are really hilarious.

There is a very specific reason that prompted Apple to create this design: it is not advertising issues or clever marketing efforts, in reality it is all a matter of perception and perspective.
Given the presence of three optics with different focal lengths, the particular arrangement on the back allows those who take the photo to have the same field, the same perspective and the same perception of the scene. It is not the only device that allows this type of perception, but it is certainly one of the ones that does it best.
This makes you understand, regardless of everything, the attention to detail and attention to what for many could be a "little thing".

For the rest, in this sort of rounded square that many have to get used to, we find a fairly powerful flash and a small hole, that is a microphone with which you can, as in previous models, have a more directional audio for videos.
Let's analyze the various cameras starting from the absolute novelty, that is the ultra-wide: it is a camera with a focal length of 13mm (in 35mm equivalent format), a fixed aperture of f / 2.4, ISO up to 2000 maximum and 20 minimum, 12 megapixel sensor, phase detection AF and electronic stabilization.

The second camera is the wide-angle, that is the “standard wide angle” as we could also define it. It has a focal length of 26 mm, aperture f / 1.8, ISO up to 3000 maximum and 32 minimum, 12 megapixel sensor, phase detection and contrast focus and both electronic and optical stabilizer.

The latest is the zoom camera, which offers a focal length of 52mm, a fixed aperture at f / 2.0, ISO up to 2000 maximum and 20 minimum, 12 megapixel sensor, phase and contrast detection AF and both optical and electronic stabilizer.

From this technical analysis it is clear that yes, there is an ultra wide camera but it has shortcomings compared to the other two, starting from the type of stabilizer and arriving at the type of focus. Of course, we could avoid defining all this as a "huge lack", because on balance, since it is an ultra wide-angle lens, there is no need for who knows what particular technology compared to the other two (especially the zoom) that could be used. for some more “action” or dynamic photos.

On the software side, at the photographic level, this year there are no particular "PRO" or advanced settings: you will not be able to manage the aperture, ISO or exposure time manually, as has been happening for some time on Android devices, but you could always consider downloading an app that allows you to.

What I regret a little is that Apple would absolutely be able to add an advanced part to the handling of this camera, especially in a device called "PRO", but, probably, if it hasn't done so yet it's for some particular reason, such as the fact that many would not know how to handle this part but… well… what's the problem? They can continue to shoot automatically as it already happens with those who have an S10 and do not know anything about photography.

Among the innovations announced by Apple during the Keynote there is also the "Slofie”, That is a sort of selfie in Slow Motion that could conquer the trends of the coming months. Honestly it's not a feature that got me particularly excited because, in fact, it's a simple slow motion video with the front camera. To make you understand, however, I have read about complaints from people who could not find the "Slofie" app or the "Slofie" mode: to use this type of function, simply open the camera, select the front one and move to "Slo-mo" then press the red button and record the video.

Now I understand why Apple hasn't put Pro mode yet, I realize that.

Despite my little pain from the lack of PRO mode, I have absolutely nothing to complain about for the general management of the software regarding the camera: it's all easy, fast, clear and above all working. iOS is not free from bugs, God forbid, no software is, but surely I am not tempted to change the camera apk, put that Google stock or other various changes that in the past, certainly my fault, have done in order to make me block the various Android smartphones several times.

In this case I was extremely happy to see a new redesign of the part dedicated to the post-production of the photos, also called more simply "edit".
First of all, there is a bar with circular buttons that can be adjusted according to what you want to do, and this thing may seem uncomfortable or disorienting, but it is not: after a bit of getting used to it you will really be able to transform a shot. . It starts with the "AUTO" edit mode, translated as "if you don't know how to post-produce or don't feel like it, press this button" - it works fine, I swear.
For geeks and / or budding photographers, scrolling to the left you can access all the other various manual settings for managing exposure, brightness, highlights, shadows, contrast, brightness, and much more.
Obviously, be careful not to overdo it with exposure, shadows and brightness, because doing so you will see a lot of noise in the shot (under certain conditions) and I'm sorry, but that's perfectly normal in this case.

However, if you are not satisfied with the various settings, you want something more or you have just closed Instagram, in the icon on the side you can choose various "filters" which I prefer to call Preset. Nothing particularly new in this case, they are practically the same as in previous years with some slight differences in some cases. It is then possible to straighten the shot manually or automatically, change the perspective and in general manage the shot, this part is also done very well.
Similarly, from the menu with the three dots at the top it is possible to switch to other applications, such as PS Express (and that's it, because Lightroom mobile is not supported by this menu, you will have to import the photo manually from the program itself) or edit it with the adding signs, scribbles, drawings, text, signature or magnifying glass.
I have to say that I really loved this last part, because it is one less step to do with other apps. I am happy that Apple has "woken up" from this point of view, just as I will be happy when Adobe wakes up to add graphic watermarks in Lightroom Mobile and CC in Desktop version.

How does this camera shoot? Is it worth it?

I seemed to notice, to my regret, that iPhone 11 Pro Max tends to shoot in basically warm tones, and for a lover of cold temperatures like me (not only in photography) sometimes it bothers me, because then I want everyone the costs cool the scene. This is a subjective opinion, God forbid.

On board the iPhone 11 Pro Max there is the new A13 Bioni processorc which, in addition to a disarming speed and an extraordinary management of energy consumption, also allows some advantages to the photographic part. Like?

Thanks to Deep Fusion, a new image processing system, available with iOS 13.2, which uses machine learning to optimize textures, details and reduce noise in every part of the photo. I noticed that this feature works very well if we leave everything to the iPhone, then, rightly, in case we do a personal post, things obviously change.

I feel that Apple is taking steps in the right direction, because on balance this product really represents a turning point in many cases, not just on the photography front.
We therefore speak of simple photography, because this is what Apple, at least for now, wants: an accessible photography, suitable for everyone, immediate and without too many frills. To agree or disagree, only your opinion can count.
I am sure that Apple in the future can do more, even just on the software side, for this camera (just think of the Google Pixel to understand where you can get, if you want), but, in any case, I am definitely satisfied with the results obtained.

Among the three rear cameras, perhaps the one that convinces me least is the ultra wide one: although I love this focal length and now use it for everything, I see a small degradation of quality compared to the other two cameras. An example is in night mode.

Night mode: finally also on the iPhone

The night mode is a big news of the iPhone 11 and manages to better manage the shadow points and dark parts. Basically, a long variable exposure is taken, from 1 to three seconds, calculated as a function of the type of light scarcity. In this phase of shooting you will obviously have to remain motionless, because if you move there is a risk that the photo will be moved. Don't worry, for small movements there is stabilizer compensation and function Deep Fusion which will intervene automatically.

The question, however, about the night mode, arises spontaneously: why is it not available for the ultra wide camera?
Here I must admit that I was disappointed: I already dreamed of trying it with a starry sky for the sole curiosity to see the result. The answer, in my point of view, is easy to say: the ultra wide-angle lens is not equipped with an optical stabilizer and for this reason the night mode has not been added. A real shame.

In conclusion, apart from some cases of too hot temperature and other small problems that I have reported to you, it seems to me that with great light the camera of this device behaves really in a fantastic way, unlike many competitors. In my opinion it suffers a bit in some night shots and on the ultra wide-angle camera, again compared to the competition.

iPhone 11 Pro Max: news also for the video part

Important improvements also with regard to the video part, where we now find a 4K recording at 60fps with the possibility of changing lenses at will and really zoom "smooth". Excellent stabilization in the movies and the overall quality, as well as the possibility of being able to make some small changes even to the videos themselves (such as cropping). In my opinion, there is no possibility to put some presets a bit "cine style" that would have improved mobile editing, but even in this case we all know that it is feasible with third-party apps.

All, both photos and videos, manage to have an excellent dynamic range thanks to a reinvented Smart HDR which manages everything beautifully together with the new processor and also together with the new Pro XDR display.

With an iPhone 11 Pro Max you will have neither a phone nor a camera but a sort of "package" complete with many parts that manage to work well with each other, talk to each other and allow you to easily get a result. This is Apple's core philosophy, although it's not obvious that everyone understands or shares it.

iPhone 11 Pro Max: price and final evaluation

iPhone 11 Pro Max is a convincing device, which offers many improvements and above all manages to amaze. It manages to amaze for the excellent display, for the fantastic camera, for the extremely fast and powerful chip and above all for a battery that can easily establish itself on the market as the best performance-duration ratio.

iPhone 11 Pro Max is already available for purchase and starts at a price of 1.289€ for the 64 GB version then moving on to 1459,00€ for the 256GB version and ending with 1.689,00€ for the 512 GB version, none, of course, with expandable memory.