My 12 months with the iPhone 15 Pro Max is sort of up, and as I put together to ship it away as a trade-in for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, I believed I’d collect up my favourite photographs taken with the highest iPhone, present them off right here, and usually sing its praises.
However as I went by my gallery, I used to be stunned to search out that, not like different years, I hadn’t taken all that many photographs with the iPhone. I started to query why and whether or not that might change with my incoming iPhone 16.
Not many photographs?
Earlier than going any additional, I ought to make clear that I’ve nonetheless taken a whole lot of photographs with the iPhone 15 Professional Max, however that is fewer than in different years. A part of the reason being that, attributable to private circumstances, I’ve not been within the place to take all that many photographs throughout 2024, so lots of the ones I’ve taken have been for work functions — reminiscent of comparisons between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 15 Plus.
Nevertheless, not like my experience with the iPhone 14 Pro, my relative lack of photographs isn’t as a result of I don’t just like the 15 Professional Max’s digital camera. When I’ve used it, I’ve been happy with the outcomes, particularly when utilizing the 5x optical zoom. And I’ve not seen as many issues with distinction or publicity as I’ve with the previous few iPhone cameras. The iPhone’s enhancing suite can be top-of-the-line accessible outdoors of Google Images, regardless of the format being a bit messy.
Andy Boxall / Digital Tendencies
It’s an excellent factor the iPhone’s enhancing suite is highly effective, because it’s wanted to get the perfect from the 15 Professional Max’s photographs, however I don’t imply this in a detrimental manner. I edited photographs taken with the iPhone 14 Professional to repair the problems I didn’t like concerning the photographs, however with the iPhone 15 Professional Max, I edited them to convey them nearer to my private preferences. The iPhone 15 Professional Max’s photographs don’t have a very impartial look, however they’re not fairly as punchy or heat as I like. For reference, I largely use the Wealthy Distinction Photographic Style.
A few of my favourite photographs
Andy Boxall / Digital Tendencies
I could not have at all times used the iPhone 15 Professional Max to take photographs, however going by my gallery, I discovered many who I actually appreciated as a result of, with a bit little bit of enhancing, they took on precisely the tone I like. The bridge and its reflection is a good instance. Shot utilizing the 5x telephoto and edited a bit, it completely captures the autumn colours and temperature after which balances them with the menace of the darkish clouds for an evocative picture.
It’s the identical with the {photograph} of the Porsche Boxster, set towards golden leaves and a darkening sky, the iPhone nonetheless captured the reflections within the paintwork, simply because it did with the water within the photograph of the bridge. The edits have been minor on each, and I like how they got here out. The photographs of the rainbow and the stag have been taken hurriedly in order to not miss the second, and the 5x zoom was used for the stag. I didn’t take a number of photographs in both circumstance and don’t keep in mind checking to see how the photographs appeared, however the dependable iPhone returned exactly the photographs I wished.
I get pleasure from enjoying round with black-and-white filters, particularly for portraits, and the quantity of element captured and the accuracy of the Portrait mode impact are beautiful. I additionally just like the black-and-white {photograph} of the clouds taken from a aircraft for its glorious sharpness. I like the colours within the different two portrait orientation photographs, and each have been once more taken with the 5x optical zoom. If the iPhone 15 Professional Max took photographs that I actually like, why didn’t I take advantage of it as a lot as I ought to have?
Why haven’t I used it as a lot?
Xiaomi 14 Extremely Andy Boxall / Digital Tendencies
Whereas I haven’t had as many alternatives to take photographs in 2024 as I’ve in earlier years, in these instances when I’ve, I’ve reached for different telephones somewhat than the iPhone. I at all times have my iPhone with me, so it’s not prefer it hasn’t been accessible, and as I’ve mentioned, it could actually take stunning photographs, however even in comparison with 2023, there have been so many different digital camera telephones launched that excite me creatively greater than the iPhone.
High of the record is the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which has the very best digital camera I’ve used on a smartphone in a very long time. Mix it with the Photography Kit — which provides a battery pack, bodily buttons, and an adapter for lens filters — and it will get even higher. It’s a one-stop store for good photographs and a lot enjoyable to make use of. It’s not a good comparability between it and the iPhone, although, because it was constructed particularly for images with the assistance of business veteran Leica. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is one other versatile digital camera cellphone I’ve loved utilizing, however just like the iPhone, it has not been my go-to this 12 months.
Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold Andy Boxall / Digital Tendencies
Earlier within the 12 months, the Pixel 8 Pro took priority, and extra not too long ago, each the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold have taken its place. Google’s cameras are at all times broadly praised, however this 12 months, it appears to have gotten the fashion proper, at the least to my eyes. I liked the photographs the Pixel 9 Professional Fold took during a recent trip to Berlin, and it confirmed me the digital camera doesn’t at all times need to be the “greatest” to ensure that me to heat to it. Once I’ve wished to take memorable photographs, invariably it has been one in every of these telephones I’ve chosen to make use of.
Will I keep in mind the iPhone 16?
The Digital camera Management button on the iPhone 16 Professional Max Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies
If I’ve been utilizing these cameras as a substitute of the iPhone 15 Professional Max, however nonetheless just like the photographs it took once I used it, what has been the issue? I believe the previous few years of rather uninspiring iPhone cameras have put it additional again in my thoughts. It’s an issue that’s compounded by the competitors being so stellar, and I’ve gotten out of the behavior of reaching for the iPhone to take a photograph.
If I’m not being drawn to the iPhone 15 Professional Max regardless of its skill, it means the digital camera isn’t particularly memorable or attractive, so what does it imply for the iPhone 16 Professional Max that can arrive instead? I’ve truly received excessive hopes for it, as Apple’s determination so as to add the bodily Camera Control could also be exactly the factor it must up its character and attraction. In any case, the bodily controls are a big a part of the Xiaomi 14 Extremely’s attraction, and it might be the spice the iPhone must seize my consideration once more. I additionally wish to play with the new Photographic Styles and wide-angle digital camera. There’s a lot to stay up for with the newest cellphone.
The Apple iPhone 14 Professional (left) and iPhone 15 Professional Max Andy Boxall / Digital Tendencies
Whereas I wasn’t that bothered about seeing the iPhone 14 Professional go, I’m a bit unhappy I didn’t use the iPhone 15 Professional Max only a bit greater than I did. Nevertheless it goes to indicate the brilliance of the competitors, whether or not it’s the Galaxy S24 Extremely or the Pixel 9 Professional, and the place Apple wants to extend the attraction of its digital camera sooner or later. I gained’t know if it has achieved sufficient with the iPhone 16 Professional Max for some time, however I’m excited to see if it’s a return to the times when the iPhone was the one digital camera I ever wanted.