iPhone 18 Pro Max Gains 44% Speed Boost as Siri and Camera Get Targeted Upgrades
Updated
Updated · IGN · Oct 29
iPhone 18 Pro Max Gains 44% Speed Boost as Siri and Camera Get Targeted Upgrades
3 articles · Updated · IGN · Oct 29
Summary
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max delivers its biggest advance in performance, with the A20 Pro lifting Geekbench multi-core scores 44% over the 17 Pro Max and 24% above Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Siri is the most practical day-to-day improvement: iOS 27’s updated Apple Intelligence makes basic commands more reliable again, while adding message and photo scanning for tasks like planning and search.
The camera hardware changes little beyond a new variable aperture and Pro controls, giving photographers more manual light control without materially changing the overall imaging experience.
Design remains nearly unchanged at 0.34 inches thick, though Apple trimmed the Dynamic Island and raised battery capacity to 5,567mAh from 5,088mAh for a claimed 30 hours of use.
The review’s bottom line is restrained: owners of last year’s iPhone 17 Pro Max have little reason to upgrade, but older iPhone users get a polished, fast flagship with useful refinements.