In a comprehensive camera evaluation by DXOMARK, a recognized authority in camera reviews, iPhone 15 Pro Max He showed off his skills in photography. Apple‘s latest flagship smartphone managed to achieve top scores in several categories, particularly excelling in video capabilities, color accuracy and stabilization. However, due to some limitations, such as the significant difference in field of view between its primary and telephoto lenses, it took second place overall with 154 points.
Video Performance: iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out in video performance, ranking at the top in almost every subcategory except textures and artifacts. It offers outstanding Dolby Vision HDR recording at 4K60fps, which meets the needs of most users. DXOMARK’s tests revealed that video exposure and color rendering remained consistent across a variety of conditions. The autofocus system performed admirably even in low-light environments, and video stabilization was among the best on the market. It’s important to note that DXOMARK’s evaluation is based on Dolby Vision recording, which is standard for most consumers, but does not evaluate some of the key video upgrades offered in this generation, such as LOG recording and 4K60FPS ProRes recording to an external SSD.
Photo Performance: iPhone excels in photo performance, leading in terms of exposure, color accuracy and texture. However, in DXOMARK’s evaluation, it was stated that there were deficiencies in autofocus performance and noise levels. Improved features such as portrait mode options, depth capture and precise skin tone rendering make it stand out in the “Friends & Family” category. Additionally, the new 24MP output from the 48MP sensor provides more detail in standard shooting scenarios.
Telephoto Swap: Despite its impressive camera features, the iPhone 15 Pro Max falls a little short of taking the overall top spot held by the Huawei P60 Pro. One factor contributing to this is telephoto performance. While the iPhone offers 3.5x optical zoom on its primary camera, the P60 Pro’s 90mm telephoto lens exceeds the Pro Max’s capabilities by allowing it to capture more detail in the mid-telephoto range. Once the zoom exceeds 120mm, the Pro Max switches to a tetraprism telephoto lens, offering superior detail and low-light telephoto performance compared to both the P60 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro.
Final Thoughts: DXOMARK’s comprehensive review confirms what many reviewers have already noted: the iPhone 15 Pro Max has an outstanding camera system. The choice between a 3X and 5X telephoto lens may depend on individual preferences and specific shooting scenarios. For those who value extra reach, the 5X lens is a valuable addition, but there may be cases where the 3X camera on the iPhone 15 Pro offers a more versatile camera system. For a full breakdown of the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s camera performance, check out DXOMARK’s in-depth review.
Pros and cons of Dxomark with its outputs
- Vibrant brightness and contrast when photos are viewed on an HDR screen
- Accurate exposure even in night shots
- Beautiful and natural color rendering and skin tones
- Excellent details in bright light
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Effective video stabilization
- Standard-setting video experience that’s consistently ahead of the competition
- Zero shutter lag allows capturing the decisive moment in most situations
- Significantly improved zoom capabilities for long distances over previous iPhone models
- Excellent and improved background blur in portraits that can be added even after the photo has been taken
- Noise in low light photos
- Unwanted artifacts including flare, ghosting and aliasing
- Slightly limited dynamic range in photos
- Limited zoom quality before telecam kicks in