I tested Apple’s ‘iPhone 18 Pro Max,’ officially released on September 18. Rather than significantly changing the exterior, the product focuses on internal improvements such as the camera, cooling structure, and battery. While the size and basic form remain almost identical to the previous model, the Dynamic Island has been reduced in size, and the iPhone’s first variable aperture and a 2-nanometer process-based A20 Pro chip have been incorporated. The central focus of the changes lies not in design but in fundamentals like photography, gaming, and battery performance.
◇Exterior Remains Unchanged, ‘Island’ Shrinks
The basic form, including the wide camera bump on the rear and aluminum frame, remains the same as the previous model, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The size is identical, to the extent that cases designed for the previous model can be used. Instead, the color tone around the rear camera island and the body has been adjusted to be more similar, reducing the two-tone effect of the previous model. The Burgundy model I used was closer to a deep wine color than a bright red. Indoors, it appears as a calm reddish-brown, but when exposed to light, it emits a purple hue. While not a color that immediately stands out, it gives a relatively calm and luxurious impression.
The Dynamic Island on the display has been reduced in size by approximately 25%. This is the result of moving the infrared camera used for facial recognition to the lower left corner of the screen and leaving only the front-facing camera and infrared dot projector in the center. The reduced black area makes the screen feel less cramped when watching videos or playing games. Real-time information such as timers, calls, music playback, and flight details can now be displayed simultaneously, up to three at a time, compared to the previous maximum of two.
◇Improved Camera
The most significant change is the variable aperture in the main (wide-angle) camera. The aperture is a device that adjusts the amount of light, similar to the human eye’s pupil. While Apple has long adhered to fixed apertures, this is the first time it has incorporated a physically adjustable aperture. It works by opening and closing six blades inside the lens to control the amount of light entering the camera.
The default setting is automatic. The iPhone analyzes the surrounding brightness and subject in real-time to adjust the aperture, so general users only need to press the shutter button as before. If you want to set it manually, you can choose from four stages in the camera app: F1.48, F1.8, F2.8, and F4.0. The smaller the number, the more light is allowed in.
When I alternately shot a nearby subject at F1.48 and F4.0 from the same spot, the difference was relatively clear. At F1.48, the area behind the focused subject blurred softly, and even in dim indoor lighting, the shot was captured quickly, making it easy to take handheld photos. Switching to F4.0 made the previously blurred background objects sharper, proving useful when capturing multiple people, food, and the surrounding space together. However, in ordinary daytime photos, the difference from the previous model was not significant.
A persistent weakness of the iPhone camera remains. The ‘ghosting phenomenon,’ where green dots or light artifacts appear on the opposite side of the screen when capturing bright light sources like streetlights or signs at night, was still observed.
◇Impressive Gaming Performance and Battery
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is equipped with the A20 Pro chip, built on a 2-nanometer process. The previous structure, which stacked the processor and memory vertically, has been changed to a side-by-side arrangement. This allows heat generated by the chip to be directly transferred to the cooling system without passing through the memory. The vapor chamber, which spreads heat, is three times larger in area than the previous model. Even when running high-spec games for extended periods, the frame rate did not drop noticeably.
The most satisfying aspect was the battery. Even when mixing photo and video shooting, messenger use, maps, and video watching from morning until evening, there was rarely a need to look for a charger. On days with lighter usage, it could last until the next day. Apple stated that under real-world usage conditions involving internet, apps, and the camera, a single charge can last up to 29 hours.
◇Burden on Wrist and Wallet
The trade-off for improved battery and cooling performance is weight. The iPhone 18 Pro Max weighs 249g, 18g heavier than the previous model. While the numerical difference seems small, holding it for long periods with one hand or using it while lying down feels burdensome on the wrist. With a protective case, it feels heavier than even foldable phones.
The price is also not light. The domestic starting price for the 256GB model is 2.19 million Korean won, while the 2TB model reaches 3.99 million Korean won. Depending on capacity, prices have increased by 200,000 to 500,000 Korean won compared to the previous model. Even the base model is more expensive than many laptops. Additionally, Apple did not release the base model ‘iPhone 18’ this fall, eliminating the mid-price option among new products. It is regrettable that those wanting the latest generation must start with the iPhone 18 Pro, priced at a minimum of 1.99 million Korean won.
◇Sudden Shutdown Issues
Shortly after release, some users reported that the device suddenly froze, then rebooted, leaving an analysis record called ‘panic-full.’ A panic-full is a diagnostic record generated when the operating system detects a critical error that cannot be recovered, forcing a restart. Cases were reported where repeated Face ID authentication failures or reboots occurred while launching Apple Wallet. It remains unclear whether this is due to a hardware defect or an iOS error.
The model I used did not experience any forced reboots, and no panic-full records were found. Users can check for files starting with ‘panic-full’ in ‘Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvement → Analytics Data.’
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is a product that improves fundamentals like the camera, cooling structure, and battery rather than undergoing drastic design changes. The smaller Dynamic Island, variable aperture, stable gaming performance, and long battery life are certainly appealing. On the other hand, the 249g weight and 2.19 million Korean won price are factors that may make potential buyers hesitate.
