Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max review: Get that camera rolling

Apple has launched the iPhone 18 Pro Max, marking its first flagship smartphone under the leadership of new chief executive John Ternus. Externally, the 6.9-inch device largely resembles its predecessor, though it is 16g heavier at 249g and features a camera bump that is about 0.5mm larger. The Dynamic Island is now roughly a third smaller, allowing users to run two live activities simultaneously on either side. Inside, the phone is powered by Apple's new A20 Pro chip, which reportedly delivers up to a 20 per cent faster CPU and 40 per cent faster graphics compared to the 17 Pro Max, alongside a centrally relocated vapour chamber for better thermal distribution. The standout feature of the new flagship is its camera system, highlighted by a physical variable aperture with four f-stops (f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4.0) that gives users mechanical control over light and depth of field. Battery life is rated for up to 45 hours of video playback, and a 60W power brick can charge the device to 50 per cent in 15 minutes. However, Apple has raised prices across the line-up, with the highest-tier model crossing the 10,000 dirham mark for the first time, a shift attributed to rising chip costs and supply chain uncertainties.