Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: New features, price, specs, and release date predictions

• Probable announcement: September 10, 2024 (Tuesday)
• Probable pre-orders start date: September 13, 2023 (Friday)
• Probable market release: September 20, 2024 (Friday)

• Expected Timeline and Probable Dates: The iPhone 16 Pro Max would most likely be announced on September 10, 2024, which happens to be the second Tuesday of September, Apple's favorite day to announce its new iPhones.
  
  
• A couple of days after the official iPhone 16 Pro Max announcement, Apple will kick off the pre-orders for its upcoming phones. This will likely happen on Friday, September 13, 2024. Some ten days after the phone's announcement and a week after the pre-orders have kicked off, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will officially hit the shelves, most probably on September 20, 2024.

• Typical Release Schedule:Historically, most iPhone announcements have taken place on the second Tuesday of September. It's not a rule set in stone, so some slight changes are always possible. 

• Significance of Release: This launch weekend is not just a major event for Apple; it's also a key indicator of consumer interest and market trends for the holiday season. Based on an opening weekend, one can make a fairly accurate prediction about the lifetime sales of a given iPhone family.

• Why This Matters: Understanding Apple's release cycle can help you plan your purchase, especially if you're looking to upgrade to the latest model as soon as it hits the shelves.

• Current Expectations: There are two possibilities with the iPhone 16 Pro Max: it will either stay on the same pricing as its predecessor or score a price hike. As a reminder, the entry-level variation of the current iPhone Pro Max flagship starts at $1,199.

• Possible Price Increase: With each passing year, we've always heard rumors that Apple will be jacking up prices of its iPhone Pro Max, and despite those, Cupertino has generally kept the $1,199 price tag largely unchanged. That was especially true last year, when just about everyone was convinced that Apple will surely increase the prices of the Pro models. There's always that possibility. However, there's also the outlook of a slight price increase, and the more time passes, the more probable that one is. There could potentially be a $50-$100 price increase to all storage tiers on the iPhone 16 Pro Max in the worst-case scenario. 

• What This Means For You: If the iPhone 16 Pro Max gets pricier, it will have repercussions for the whole industry, potentially leading to higher prices for other rival flagships as well. But it could also mean that you might not be able to afford the new device.

• No Surprises Expected: We anticipate that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will retain its name. Despite last year's rumors that Apple might actually be working on a so-called iPhone 15 Ultra. However, this rumor didn't come to fruition. On a similar note, there haven't been any credible rumors about a potential iPhone 16 Ultra this year, so the possibility of an iPhone with such a name is rather slim. Perhaps the foldable iPhone could be called that, who knows. 
  
  
• What This Means For You: Apple will be avoiding consumer confusion this way, which is a crucial aspect. Although an iPhone 16 Ultra might sound exciting, long-time users that are familiar with the Pro Max nomenclature would feel more "at home" if Apple doesn't change the name. 
  
  

iPhone 16 Pro Max camera

• 256 GB
• 512 GB
• 1 TB
• 2TB* (rumored)

• Current Status: Last year, Apple ditched the 128GB entry-level storage version on its largest iPhone, so the device featured 256GB in its base version. On the other end of the spectrum, the device was still available with up to a terabyte of on-board storage. 

• Storage Expectations: We are mostly certain that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will come in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB versions as well, mirroring its predecessor for the most part. Apple usually sticks with a new storage tier scheme for a couple of generations after a major change, so we can safely expect that the 128GB version won't be back on a Pro Max device. 

• Possible 2TB version: There is the possibility that a 2TB storage version of the iPhone 16 Pro Max could get released. Surely, it will be geared towards the most demanding professional users out there, giving them more native storage than an average user requires. Have in mind that 

iPhone 16 Pro Max Design Upgrades

What could the iPhone 16 Pro Max look like?

iPhone 16 Pro Max display

iPhone 16 Pro Max battery

Expected Battery Size

Charging Speed Evolution

• Guaranteed update: The iPhone 16 Pro Max will arrive with iOS 18 on board. Aside from iOS 18, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will receive iOS 19, iOS 20, iOS 21, iOS 22, and iOS 23 as well. So far, little is known about the upcoming iOS 18 in particular, but we have some ideas and speculation as to what it might bring to the table.  

• What's exciting about it: Numerous generative AI features might make the majority of iOS updates. iOS 18 will likely deliver a revamp regarding AI and LLMs (Large Language Models), which are direly needed as far as the company's Siri assistant is considered. As far as AI features come and go, Apple's iOS is objectively behind the competition, so it's only natural to expect Cupertino to boost the AI features of its software product in 2024. 

• Event spotlight: The next major software version will be officially revealed at the Apple WWDC'24 developer summit. We suppose that this one will take place in early June 2024. Apple usually hosts its software events at this part of the year. 

• Why It Matters: Word on the street is that generative AI features will seemingly play a large part of iOS 18's feature list, with Apple reportedly investing heavily into AI servers. The company's in-house AJAX LLM (Large Language Model) is reportedly as capable as ChatGPT3.5. This one would probably be used to super-charge the AI capabilities of Siri, which lags behind the general competition when it comes to intelligence, capabilities, and overall utility. Reportedly, a so-called Apple GPT also exists for internal use in Cupertino. 

• Extended Update Cycle: The iPhone 16 Pro Max should receive at least 5 years of software support, so the device will receive all major and minor iOS updates well until the end of the decade, and likely further than that. 

• Current Anticipation: The iPhone 16 Pro Max will most certainly arrive with the Apple A18 chip, which will reportedly be built on TSMC's second-gen 3nm manufacturing process, dubbed N3E. This one will allow for better yield and less defective chipset dies. Hopefully, this will boost the performance and battery life of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. 

• Better Thermal Management: Additionally, Apple is also said to be looking into ways to further improve the internal thermal management system on its next iPhone, possibly through the use of graphene. This would allow it to better dissipate the heat accumulated by Apple's latest 3nm Apple Pro chips, which tend to run hotter for some in select situations. 
  
  
• What's In For You: It could also deliver better power efficiency and therefore better battery life, two always welcome improvements to any iPhone generation. The iPhone 15 Pro Max was one of the most adept devices released in 2023 as far as performance goes, so Apple already has a pretty strong foundation on which to build upon. 

• Memory Outlook: As far as RAM and other hardware features of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, we are likely looking at 8GB of RAM at least on the upcoming flagship. iOS uses RAM differently than Android, so even with such a lowly amount of RAM, the iPhone 16 Pro Max would be competitive against its Android rivals. Storage-wise, we already mentioned that the phone will likely come with 256G, 512GB, and 1TB of available storage. 

• For Those with Older Models: You should wait for the iPhone 16 Pro Max if you've held up on upgrading to a newer iPhone in the past few years and are using a device that's nearing the end of its life. These include the iPhone 8 series, iPhone Xs series, and to some extent the iPhone 11 series. 
  
  
• Why It Makes Sense: Upgrading from any of those to the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max will be more than a major improvement in terms of overall features and general value. Of course, if you're using an older regular iPhone, then the next top Apple flagship might entice you. 

When It's Better Not to Wait for the iPhone 16 Pro Max

• For Recent Upgraders: you've recently upgraded to or purchased a fairly recent iPhone, especially of the Pro Max flavor. Those with iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro Max, and even iPhone 13 Pro Max devices will likely be hardly swayed to upgrade to the 2024 iteration of the flagship. 

• Reasoning Behind This: Those devices will be more than capable and adequate for years to come, so if you're willing to maximize the value of your existing device, you should stick with your existing device for another year or so.