iPhone 14 Pro Max Review
Aug 19, 2025 • Onoja • Phones
The iPhone 14 Pro Max was a highly anticipated announcement from Apple, as it marked the company's first introduction to the Dynamic Island. I have tested many iPhones in the past, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max is actually an interesting one, so let's jump right into it.
In this review, we'll be looking at the iPhone 14 Pro Max in depth, the tech, the specs, the price, and if it's a worthy buy.
To begin, we will examine the body.
The body of the iPhone 14 Pro Max is quite impressive, but for a first impression, I'm not fond of how it feels. The aluminum frame gives off a little bit of unreliability, if you ask me.
You know this is a long-term review, and trust me, the iPhone 14 Pro Max does not really stand out in terms of body, as it's not immune to scratches.
I've read a lot of reviews on the internet, and nobody really emphasizes how bad the iPhone 14 Pro Max performs when it comes to withstanding scratches and peels, most especially when it comes to the purple color of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which tends to scratch quite easily and cannot withstand long use of phone cases and is also not very protective when it comes to falls, which puts the screen in a very vulnerable state.
Aside from that, if you ask me, the iPhone 14 Pro Max body is quite okay, but what captures my eye and was actually interesting about the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the fact that Apple started the dynamic Island on this lineup of iPhones
It was the most anticipated feature, especially when the rumors started coming out that Apple is adding the Dynamic Island, so basically, the Dynamic Island was a very much expected addition to the iPhone, and it's just changed how the iPhone looks, to be honest with you.
That's the only thing that actually caught my eye in the iPhone 14 Pro Max, considering it looks very much like the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Except for the additional colors and the fact that Apple added the Dynamic Island, I feel as if you are basically holding a 13 Pro Max.
But the colors look absolutely amazing. I like the purple color, but what stands out to me is that it is not scratch-proof at all; you cannot use your iPhone 14 Pro Max without a case, or you will end up damaging the phone entirely.
So, for a part where I think Apple actually fell off, it is regarding the body of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the aluminum frame combined with the fact that the phone cannot withstand scratches, and I feel as if the phone is even heavier than its predecessors. The body of the iPhone 14 Pro Max is not really anything to write home about
Next, we'll discuss its display.
Personally, I'm not a fan of the iPhone 14 Pro Max's display, which is purely due to the fact that it is very fragile, as if you are not expected to drop your iPhone 14 Pro Max at any instance.
If you frequently drop your phone, the protection offered by the iPhone 14 Pro Max is inadequate and unreliable. If you're an individual who tends to drop their phone frequently, I definitely wouldn't recommend getting the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
You would definitely regret it, as the display was not that strong for me personally. After a long period of use, the display of the iPhone 14 Pro Max is not as encouraging regarding falls, drops, and scratches.
But when it comes to the color output of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the display is perfect. As is its brightness, the display of the iPhone 14 Pro Max is very good, whether you're outside during the day or at night.
Paired with the Dynamic Island, the display of the iPhone 14 Pro Max looks very nice and futuristic for a feature we were actually expecting, and the rumor surrounding the launch of the iPhone 14's Dynamic Island gives the display a step ahead of its competitors, although let's not forget the fact that most Android devices already have the small camera in the screen of the phone.
Apple's introduction of the dynamic display now feels somewhat late to me. Don't get me wrong, it looks fantastic, but it's something that they should have implemented a long time ago. Despite its scratches, fragile base, and susceptibility to breakage, the display of the iPhone 14 Pro Max remains excellent. You should just use a good screen protector.
Next, we'll be looking at the camera of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
To be very honest with you, the camera of the iPhone 14 Pro Max is quite impressive. I like the camera of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but I still prefer the base model of the iPhone 14 camera compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Although the device comes with additional features like Cinematic Mode, ProRes video, and ProRAW support, I still feel as if the iPhone 14 camera is sharper and more detailed than the iPhone 14 Pro Max camera.
Testing the iPhone 14 camera for both images and videos revealed that it was much more impressive than the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Although if you are a mobile photographer, this is actually a step, or let's say an additional advantage, because you can now shoot in raw and also shoot in ProRes, so if you don't know what that means is that your iPhone is a lesser digital camera because normally on most iPhones, let's say its predecessors like the iPhone 13 series, the iPhone 14 can shoot in raw footage. This is a feature you get mostly in digital cameras, and, trust me, it is a very much-needed upgrade.
In conclusion, the camera on the iPhone 14 Pro Max remains a good and decent option.
Next, you'll be looking at the battery of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
When it comes to the battery of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, I don't see a major difference from its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The battery is actually quite smaller than the iPhone 13 Pro Max, about 13mAh mah smaller, but while using the iPhone 14 Pro Max, it tends to last much longer if you ask me, but I had issues with its charging; charging is not as fast as I expected
But when it comes to general usage, it actually lasts me a little bit longer than the iPhone 13 Pro Max. When I was using the iPhone 13 Pro Max, it tended to overheat. I am unsure if the overheating issue with my iPhone 13 Pro Max was due to a battery problem, particularly when I was charging it.
However, as I mentioned, with the update to the 14 Pro Max, the overheating issue tends to subside. Regarding the battery, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is actually a little better, and I can see improvements in the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
I got around 15–18 W charging on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is fast if you ask me. It's a decent charge speed, but it definitely didn't last me a full day of use.
If I get, let's say, I charge to around 90% charge in the morning, it lasts till around 3:00 p.m., and I use my phone a lot, like I use my phone from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., but let's say, decency-wise, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is quite decent when it comes to the battery capabilities.
The next thing to examine is the performance of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The A14 Bionic chip gave the iPhone 14 Pro Max a very significant leap against its competitors. The performance of the iPhone 14 Pro Max actually seems to exceed my expectations, as I play a lot of games.
If you have read some of my reviews, you would know that I play a lot of games, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max handles them seamlessly without overheating or lagging.
Generally, when it comes to handling daily activities, such as using apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok, the iPhone 14 Pro Max tends to perform better compared to the S23 Ultra. I'll actually pick the iPhone 14 Pro Max over its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Pro Max, in terms of general performance.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max actually served me better, but this depends on how you use the phone. Is it a reasonable upgrade? Yes, definitely, it is a reasonable upgrade from the iPhone 13 Pro Max, most especially because it handles heavier apps better than the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
In conclusion, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a fantastic device, provided you are as careful as possible. To me, it feels as though it's a very fragile device, one that is not well protected against scratches and falls.
Therefore, if you decide to purchase the iPhone 14 Pro Max, it is advisable to invest in a high-quality screen protector and a durable case. Aside from that, it's still a fantastic device. The performance, camera, and display output of the iPhone 14 Pro Max are all impressive, so should you consider purchasing it? Yes, it's a worthy buy.