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Apple Editor's Choice 2018

iPhone XS Max

Q: What are the cons of Apple iPhone XS Max — 6.5" Super Retina OLED, Apple A12 Bionic & Face ID Review?

Lacks modern 5G network connectivity support , Charging speed capped at 15W wired (charger adapter not included in modern standards) , Lightning port connector instead of universal USB Type-C

Q: How much does Apple iPhone XS Max — 6.5" Super Retina OLED, Apple A12 Bionic & Face ID Review cost?

The Apple iPhone XS Max — 6.5" Super Retina OLED, Apple A12 Bionic & Face ID Review is priced at $110 – $220.

Apple iPhone XS Max — 6.5" Super Retina OLED, Apple A12 Bionic & Face ID Review

Display 1242 × 2688 pixels (~458 ppi den...

Performance Apple A12 Bionic (7 nm)

Size 6.5 inches

Type Super Retina OLED HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits

Expert Score

4.2

92% Confidence

Community Score

3.6

0% Confidence

AI Score

4.2

91% Confidence

Final Score

4.1

91% Confidence

Storage

RAM

Color

Regional

-87% In Stock

$140 – $220 $1,099

Lowest $110 Save $959 Best: Amazon Refurbished

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Category Scores

Overall hardware score: 82/100 — gorgeous 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED display, smooth Apple A12 Bionic execution, premium stainless steel build, and reliable Face ID security.

Performance Great

Apple A12 Bionic (7nm) processor handles daily a...

Display Great

6.5-inch Super Retina OLED screen featuring HDR1...

Camera Great

Dual 12MP rear cameras with OIS and Smart HDR ca...

Battery Great

3174 mAh battery manages standard daily routines...

Gaming Great

Apple 4-core graphics handle older 3D games capa...

AI Great

Apple Neural Engine handles Face ID biometrics a...

Security Excellent

Industry-leading secure TrueDepth camera system...

Value for Money Excellent

Great budget value on the used and refurbished m...

Design Excellent

Luxury unibody styling combining a polished surg...

Repairability Good

Standard Apple assembly requiring professional s...

Software Support Great

Legacy iOS device lifecycle with long-term secur...

Connectivity Great

4G LTE network support, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0,...

Audio Great

Rich stereo loudspeaker configuration with wide...

Durability Great

IP68 dust and water resistance certified up to 2...

Charging Good

15W wired fast charging and standard Qi wireless...

Specifications

Display 4

Size 6.5 inches

Type Super Retina OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits

Resolution 1242 × 2688 pixels (~458 ppi density)

Protection Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating

Processor 3

Chipset Key Apple A12 Bionic (7 nm)

CPU Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz Vortex + 4x1.6 GHz Tempest)

GPU Key Apple GPU (4-core graphics)

Memory 2

RAM Key 4GB

Type LPDDR4X

Storage 3

Internal 64GB / 256GB / 512GB

Expandable No

Standard NVMe

Battery 2

Capacity 3174 mAh non-removable

Endurance All-day standard usage

Charging 2

Wired 15W fast charging, 50% in 30 min (USB Power Delivery 2.0)

Wireless Qi wireless charging

Camera 2

Main 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, wide, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, PDAF, OIS

Telephoto 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm, telephoto, 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom

Front Camera 1

Sensor 7 MP, f/2.2, 32mm + SL 3D biometrics sensor

Connectivity 4

Network 4G LTE, Nano-SIM and eSIM

Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band

Bluetooth 5.0

NFC Yes

Sensors 4

Face ID Enabled by TrueDepth camera

Accelerometer Yes

Gyroscope Yes

Barometer Yes

Dimensions 3

Height 157.5 mm

Width 77.4 mm

Depth 7.7 mm

Weight 1

Weight 208 g

Operating System 1

OS iOS 12, upgradable to modern iOS security versions

Expert Review

By Dickens, Charles

Design

The Apple iPhone XS Max features a premium unibody design combining a polished surgical-grade stainless steel band with durable glass panels, measuring 7.7mm thick and weighing 208g.

Display

The 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED screen delivers deep blacks, vibrant contrast, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and 625 nits peak brightness.

Performance

Gaming

Handles casual mobile games capably via Apple's 4-core GPU architecture.

Camera

The dual camera system features a 12MP wide main sensor with OIS and a 12MP telephoto portrait lens supporting 2x optical zoom.

Battery

The 3174 mAh battery manages standard daily routines, supporting 15W wired charging and Qi wireless charging.

Software

Runs iOS, offering a streamlined interface, fluid gesture controls, and Apple ecosystem continuity.

Ai

Utilizes the Apple Neural Engine for real-time Face ID facial mapping, Smart HDR merging, and portrait depth bokeh calculations.

Connectivity

Supports 4G LTE networks, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and dual-SIM (Nano-SIM + eSIM).

Pros

Immersive 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED display with HDR10 and Dolby Vision playback
Premium luxury build featuring a polished surgical-grade stainless steel frame and glass panels
Reliable Apple A12 Bionic 7nm processing performance for smooth iOS navigation
Secure and fast Face ID biometric authentication via the TrueDepth camera system
IP68 dust and water resistance certification

Cons

Lacks modern 5G network connectivity support
Charging speed capped at 15W wired (charger adapter not included in modern standards)
Lightning port connector instead of universal USB Type-C

The Apple iPhone XS Max introduced the expansive 'Max' form factor to Apple's smartphone lineup, pairing an immersive 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED HDR display with luxury surgical-grade stainless steel construction. Powered by the 7nm Apple A12 Bionic processor with a next-gen Neural Engine, it features dual 12MP rear cameras with Smart HDR and OIS, a 7MP TrueDepth front camera supporting Face ID, stereo speakers, wireless charging, and a 3174 mAh battery.

Verdict

A classic luxury flagship that delivers a sprawling 6.5-inch OLED display, premium stainless steel build, and reliable Face ID at an affordable budget price.

Final: 4.1/10 Best for: Value seekers Segment: Budget

Product Intelligence

Immersive 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED display supporting HDR10 and Dolby Vision playback Luxury surgical-grade stainless steel frame paired with durable front and back glass Apple A12 Bionic 7nm chip providing smooth execution for everyday iOS tasks Dual 12MP rear cameras with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Smart HDR IP68 dust and water resistance construction and secure Face ID biometrics

Who Should Buy

Users looking for an affordable entry-level iOS device with a large 6.5-inch OLED screen, premium stainless steel build, and reliable Face ID.

Who Should Avoid

Users who require modern 5G network speeds, long-term iOS software updates, or high-end multi-lens camera versatility.

Key Takeaways

Established the large-screen 'Max' tier in Apple's flagship smartphone ecosystem
Offers exceptional secondhand market value for budget buyers wanting a large iOS media consumption device