I tested the iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max side-by-side: Should you upgrade?

tomsguide.com Oct 2, 2026

I tested the iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max side-by-side: Should you upgrade?

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 2, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Tom’s Guide compared the iPhone 18 Pro Max with the iPhone 16 Pro Max to determine whether a two‑year upgrade is justified. Both devices share a 6.9‑inch Super Retina XDR display with 1‑120 Hz ProMotion, 12 GB of RAM, and identical storage options. The 18 Pro Max introduces Apple’s A20 Pro 2 nm silicon, a variable‑aperture 48 MP main camera (f/1.48‑f/4) with 4× optical zoom, and a larger 5,391 mAh battery that supports 60 W wired charging. The 16 Pro Max retains a 48 MP main sensor at f/1.78, a 5× telephoto lens, and a 4,685 mAh battery with 30 W wired charging. Prices start at $1,299 for the newer model versus $1,199 for the older, with modest weight and size differences. The review weighs performance gains against the cost of replacing a still‑capable flagship.

💡 Why It Matters

· The 18 Pro Max’s new silicon and camera system deliver a measurable leap in speed and low‑light versatility, making it the first iPhone generation where the upgrade gap narrows enough to sway power users.

Read full article on tomsguide.com

Using an iPad mini to preview the iPhone Duo experience

Ben Lovejoy used an iPad mini to simulate the upcoming iPhone Duo’s large‑screen experience while awaiting its launch. He mirrored his iPhone 18 Pro setup on the mini, noting the 8.3‑inch display versus the Duo’s 7.6‑inch interior screen. The iPad’s iPadOS offered flexible multitasking, though the author preferred full‑screen or split‑screen modes. The experiment highlighted the Duo’s pocketability trade‑off and confirmed the author’s enthusiasm for the new device.

💡 The test underscores how screen size and operating system differences shape user experience, informing expectations for the Duo’s market reception.

appleinsider.com · Oct 2

Apple plans fix as Microsoft’s Exchange shutdown disrupts Mac email

Apple is developing a fix for its Mac Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Notes, and Reminders apps after Microsoft began disabling Exchange Web Services (EWS) in October 2026. The EWS shutdown will fully take effect in April 2027, disrupting work and school accounts that rely on this older connection. Administrators can temporarily keep approved apps connected, but Apple plans to shift all affected Mac apps to Microsoft’s newer connection method in a future macOS 27 update, though a release date remains unknown.

💡 The transition forces organizations to adopt new authentication protocols, potentially accelerating the migration to modern email standards and reshaping how Mac users manage corporate accounts.

9to5mac.com · Oct 2

Apple among biggest corporate lobbyists in Brussels, per report

A Financial Times analysis revealed that Apple has met with EU policymakers 257 times since June 2024 and spends €8‑9 million annually on lobbying in Brussels. The report, sourced from the EU transparency register, ranks Apple second only to Google among U.S. tech firms, with Google holding 302 meetings. Apple’s lobbying outpaces European giants Total, Volkswagen, and Airbus combined, while Meta spends over €10 million. The data underscore American tech companies’ active engagement in shaping European digital policy.

💡 The findings illustrate the growing influence of U.S. tech firms on EU regulatory outcomes, potentially shaping the continent’s digital sovereignty agenda.

9to5mac.com · Oct 2

Apple commissions photographers for new ‘Shot on iPhone Duo’ campaign

Apple today posted a six‑image carousel on Instagram featuring work by photographers Jake Michaels and Jason Nocito to showcase the iPhone Duo’s camera system. The images illustrate the device’s 48‑megapixel rear sensors, 12‑megapixel front lens, and a hidden FaceTime camera beneath the inner display, emphasizing new shooting modes and versatility. The rollout continues Apple’s decade‑long “Shot on iPhone” program, which has earned multiple Cannes Lions and two Emmy nominations for its advertising. Pre‑orders for the iPhone Duo begin on October 16, with shipments and in‑store sales slated for October 23. Apple highlighted the campaign as a visual proof point for the phone’s upgraded hardware and software capabilities. The showcase aims to inspire both consumers and creators to explore photography features.

💡 By pairing the Duo with acclaimed photographers, Apple turns a product launch into a cultural moment, reinforcing its brand as a leader in mobile imaging.

appleinsider.com · Oct 2

Optimistic AT&T tells iPhone 18 Pro Max iOS 27.0.1 update will fix…

AT&T sent a text alert to iPhone 18 Pro Max owners on its network, urging an immediate upgrade to iOS 27.0.1 to resolve reported cellular failures. The issue, affecting a limited subset of users, prevents the device from making or receiving calls and intermittently blocks texts and data, including emergency calls. Apple has released iOS 27.0.1 but has not publicly confirmed that it fixes the problem, and some customers say the update only addresses Face ID and touchscreen glitches. One user, Rod Santiano, reported that his phone was tested, found functional, yet replaced, and the replacement still exhibits the same symptoms. Apple has not acknowledged the call defect, leaving AT&T and Apple support as the only recourse for affected customers to resolve issues.

💡 With emergency calls at stake, the disconnect between carrier directives and Apple's silence forces users into a support maze, exposing how fragmented accountability can jeopardize critical communication.

9to5mac.com · Oct 2

Apple TV’s acclaimed ‘The Last First: Winter K2’ documentary now streaming

Apple TV has released the documentary “The Last First: Winter K2,” which has earned a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Directed by Amir Bar‑Lev, the film chronicles a 2021 winter expedition to Mount Godwin‑Austen (K2), following Icelander John Snorri Sigurjónsson and Pakistani climbers Ali and Sajid Sadpara. It explores the clash between traditional mountaineering teams, influencer climbers, commercial clients, and local Nepali guides, highlighting class, caste, and power dynamics amid life‑and‑death conditions. The documentary premiered in select theaters before streaming on Apple TV.

💡 The film exposes how commercial interests and social hierarchies shape modern high‑altitude climbing, offering a rare insider view that could influence future expedition ethics and policies.