The iPhone XS Max was a weird turning point for Apple. Honestly, looking back at 2018, it felt like a massive gamble. It was the first time they really committed to the "bigger is better" philosophy with a screen that felt like holding a small television in your hand. Most people think it was just a bigger version of the iPhone X, but that’s not really the whole story. It was the moment Apple decided that a phone could comfortably cost over a thousand dollars and people would actually say "thank you" while handing over their credit cards.
It was huge. It was heavy. It was expensive.
I remember the first time I held one at the Apple Store. It felt dense. If you’ve spent any time with the modern iPhone 15 or 16 Pro Max, you might forget how revolutionary that 6.5-inch OLED panel felt compared to the cramped 5.8-inch screen of the standard XS. It wasn't just about the size; it was about the shift in how we used our phones. We stopped just "checking" them and started living in them.
Why the iPhone XS Max was actually a milestone
A lot of tech reviewers at the time, like Marques Brownlee, pointed out that the XS Max was more of an "S" year refinement than a total overhaul. But that ignores the engineering jump. Inside, it packed the A12 Bionic chip. This was the first 7-nanometer chip in a smartphone. That matters because it wasn't just faster; it was efficient in a way that previous iPhones couldn't touch.
The hardware was peak Apple "jewelry" design. Surgical-grade stainless steel. Gold finish that actually looked like real gold, not some weird rose-colored alloy. It had this heft that made it feel like a tool that would last a decade. And for many people, it basically has. You still see these things in the wild all the time.
The Screen that Changed Everything
The Super Retina display was a monster. We’re talking 2688-by-1242 resolution. It supported Dolby Vision and HDR10. If you were a Netflix junkie in 2018, this was the peak of mobile entertainment.
What people forget is how much 3D Touch mattered back then. The iPhone XS Max was one of the last "great" phones to have it. Nowadays, we have Haptic Touch, which is just a long press. But 3D Touch was pressure-sensitive. You could press harder on the screen to trigger different actions. It felt physical. It felt premium. Apple eventually killed it to save space for bigger batteries, but the XS Max was the pinnacle of that tactile feedback technology.
The Camera Controversy: BeautyGate and Smart HDR
When the iPhone XS Max launched, people were mad. Specifically, they were mad about their faces.
Users on Reddit and forums started complaining about "BeautyGate." Basically, the new Smart HDR system was so aggressive at combining multiple exposures to preserve highlights that it smoothed out skin tones. People looked like they were wearing digital makeup. Sebastien Marineau-Mes, an Apple VP at the time, eventually had to explain that the system was picking the wrong base frame for HDR processing.
They fixed it with iOS 12.1, but it showed how much Apple was starting to rely on "computational photography" rather than just the lens. The dual 12MP sensors (wide and telephoto) were good, but the software was doing the heavy lifting. It was the beginning of the era where the phone decided what the "best" version of reality looked like.
Longevity in 2026: Can you still use it?
It’s been years. Most batteries are probably sitting at 75% health by now. But the A12 Bionic still holds its own.
- Performance: You’ll notice some stutters in heavy games like Genshin Impact, but for Instagram, TikTok, and iMessage? It's fine.
- Software Support: Apple is legendary for long-term support. While the XS Max is nearing the end of its life cycle for major iOS updates, it’s still getting critical security patches.
- The Notch: It’s big. It’s ugly. Compared to the Dynamic Island on the newer 14, 15, or 16 Pro models, the XS Max notch looks like a relic. But you stop seeing it after five minutes of use.
The Battery Reality
Apple claimed the iPhone XS Max lasted 90 minutes longer than the original iPhone X. That was a bit of a "marketing" statistic. In the real world, it was the first iPhone that could actually get through a heavy workday without a midday charge for most users.
However, compared to the current "Max" models, it's a joke. A modern 15 Plus or 16 Pro Max will run circles around it. The XS Max battery was 3,174 mAh. That’s tiny by today’s standards where 4,000+ is the norm. If you're buying one used today, you absolutely must factor in the cost of a battery replacement. Otherwise, you’re going to be tethered to a wall outlet by 2:00 PM.
Is it a "Classic" or just Old?
There’s a segment of the tech community that considers the XS Max the "last beautiful iPhone."
Before the cameras became massive stove-top burners on the back of the Pro models, the XS Max had a slim, vertical pill-shaped camera bump. It was elegant. It didn't wobble as much on a table. The curves were softer than the sharp, flat edges of the iPhone 12 through 16 series.
It’s also surprisingly thin. Only 7.7mm. For a phone with a screen that big, it was incredibly svelte. Holding it feels more "lifestyle" and less "industrial equipment" than the current titanium models.
The Hidden Value: Why People Still Buy Them
On the used market, the iPhone XS Max is a steal for certain people. If you want a massive OLED screen for watching videos but don't care about having three camera lenses or 120Hz ProMotion, it’s hard to beat.
The OLED technology Apple used here was top-tier. Even years later, the contrast ratios and color accuracy beat out brand-new budget Android phones. You’re getting a flagship-level display for the price of a cheap burner phone.
But you have to be careful. The XS Max was the first to use the "PVD" coating on the stainless steel. On the Silver model, you can polish out scratches. On the Space Gray and Gold versions, if you scratch that steel, it’s permanent. Most used ones you see on eBay look like they’ve been through a rock tumbler.
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Technical Specifications (The Real Talk)
- Chipset: A12 Bionic (Neural Engine is surprisingly capable for basic AI tasks today).
- RAM: 4GB. This is the bottleneck. Modern apps are memory hogs. You’ll notice the phone closing background apps more often than a newer model with 8GB.
- Storage: 64GB, 256GB, or 512GB. Avoid the 64GB like the plague. System files take up half of that now.
- Water Resistance: IP68. It can handle a dunk, but don't trust the seals on a 6-year-old phone. Glue degrades.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that the XS Max camera is "bad." It’s not. It just lacks "Night Mode."
When the lights go down, the XS Max struggles. It gets grainy. It gets blurry. But in broad daylight? The colors are often more natural than the over-processed, hyper-sharpened images we get from the iPhone 15 Pro. There’s a certain "film-like" quality to the A12’s image processing that some photographers actually prefer. It doesn't try as hard. It just takes a photo.
Also, people think it’s "too big." But interestingly, it’s almost exactly the same dimensions as the newer Pro Max models. It’s actually a few grams lighter than the 14 Pro Max. If you can handle a modern big phone, you can handle this.
Buying Guide: What to Look For
If you’re hunting for an iPhone XS Max in 2026, don't just buy the first one you see.
First, check the screen for "burn-in." Since it's an older OLED, if the previous owner left the screen on at full brightness for hours, you might see ghost images of the home bar or clock. Put a solid white image on the screen and look closely.
Second, the Face ID sensor. It’s fragile. If the phone has ever had a screen replacement by a non-Apple technician, Face ID might be disabled. Test it. A phone without Face ID is basically a brick in terms of convenience.
Third, the speakers. The XS Max was the first iPhone to really push "stereo" sound with a wider soundstage. Over time, the bottom speaker grille gets clogged with pocket lint and skin oils (gross, but true). If it sounds muffled, it might just need a deep clean with a soft toothbrush and some isopropyl alcohol.
Actionable Steps for XS Max Owners
If you're still holding onto one of these, or you just picked one up, here is how you make it feel modern:
- Replace the Battery: It’s roughly $89 at an Apple Store. It will literally make the phone feel twice as fast because the processor won't be throttled to save power.
- Turn off Transparency: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Reduce Transparency. This takes a massive load off the GPU and makes the UI feel snappy again.
- Use HEIF Format: The XS Max supports the High Efficiency image format. Use it to save space since 256GB fills up faster than you’d think with 4K video.
- Manage System Data: If your "Other" storage is huge, back up to iCloud and do a factory reset. It clears out years of junk and makes the A12 chip breathe easier.
The iPhone XS Max isn't the king of the hill anymore, but it's far from obsolete. It was the first "true" luxury iPhone of the modern era, and its influence is still felt in every giant screen we carry in our pockets today. It proved that we were willing to pay for more space, more pixels, and more presence.
If you find one in good condition with a fresh battery, it’s a testament to the fact that Apple’s "peak design" era wasn't just about looks—it was about building something that could survive the rapid pace of the 2020s. Just don't expect it to take great photos at a candlelit dinner. For everything else, it’s still remarkably solid.