Apple’s nailed the smartphone formula but that could be bad for future innovation
I was an Android user for many years, having transitioned from a venerable iPhone 4S to a Samsung Galaxy S6 in 2015. Since then, I’ve used some of the best Android phones.
So, what I thought would be a brief flirtation with iOS and an iPhone 13 Pro at the end of 2021 actually led to a committed relationship with an Apple smartphone. Sure, I still have access to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but my SIM card (we still use them in the UK) sits in an iPhone.
Lately, the variation of Android and general boredom with iPhones nearly saw me swap back to Google’s smartphone platform, but just when I thought I was out, the iPhone 15 Pro Max pulled me back in.
And I’m ok with that, as it’s a fantastic flagship-grade smartphone. However, it might be a little too good – to the extent that I have no clear idea of where phones can go next to be more than just iterative upgrades over their predecessors.
But let me first tell you why the iPhone 15 Pro Max has my attention, despite me never really being into the Max phones. The sum of its tweaks
First off, the titanium construction is a game changer, taking what could be a heavy and unwieldy 6.7-inch-display-equipped phone into a device that I can just about use one-handed. And subtle tweaks to the sides, adding a degree of curvature at the edges means the iPhone 15 Pro Max still rocks the slick flat-edges Apple brought back with the iPhone 12 series but makes them a little more comfortable to hold. The matte finish of the phone’s rear and the way the colors are blended with the titanium chassis is also very neat.
While the Dynamic Island isn’t perfect, it’s a welcome departure from the notch I begrudgingly got used to on the iPhone 13 Pro.
