Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Last year's flagship still looks and feels premium, with a 6.9-inch OLED that runs at 120Hz and a titanium-grade build. Peak brightness of 2,000 nits is lower than the 17 series but remains perfectly usable outdoors.

At 227 grams it is a large phone, and the 2868 by 1320 panel is sharp and colour accurate. If you want a big-screen iPhone at a lower price now that a newer model exists, this remains a compelling option that still feels thoroughly modern.

The A18 Pro chip with 8GB of RAM is a generation behind the latest silicon but still extremely fast, posting an AnTuTu score around 1.75 million. Everyday tasks, photography and gaming all run smoothly with plenty of speed in reserve.

You give up some raw benchmark numbers against the A19 Pro, but in real use the difference is small, and this chip will keep pace with new apps and iOS features for years to come.

A 48MP main camera sits alongside a 48MP ultrawide and a 5x optical telephoto, giving it slightly longer reach than the 17 Pro at the far end. The 12MP front camera handles selfies and calls well.

Video tops out at 4K120, and the overall image quality remains among the best available, which is why this model is still a strong pick for photographers who want flagship results on a tighter budget.

The 4,685mAh battery delivers dependable all-day life, helped by the efficiency of the A18 Pro. Wireless charging supports up to 25W over MagSafe for convenient top-ups.

Stamina is not quite at the level of the 17 Pro Max and its record-setting cell, but it is more than enough for a full day of typical use, and most people will rarely feel short of power.

Because it runs the same current iOS as the newest iPhones and will receive updates for years, the 16 Pro Max is a smart way to get a flagship experience for less. Its value score is helped considerably by post-launch discounts.

Buy it if you want a large, capable iPhone and do not need the very latest chip or the biggest battery. If long-term future-proofing and peak performance matter most, the newer 17 Pro Max is the better investment. As a resale-conscious buy it also holds its value well, and accessories are plentiful, so it is an easy phone to live with day to day for a long time.