Big phones aren't for everyone. Honestly, when I first held the iPhone 13 Pro Max, I thought I’d made a huge mistake. It felt like holding a small tablet against my face. But here we are, years later, and that 6.7-inch display remains the gold standard for anyone who actually uses their phone as a primary computer.
If you are looking for the raw numbers, the screen size of iPhone 13 Pro Max is officially 6.7 inches diagonally. But that "6.7" number is a bit of a lie. Apple uses rounded corners that follow a curved design, and if you measure it as a standard rectangle, the actual viewable area is closer to 6.68 inches.
Does that 0.02-inch difference matter? Probably not. What matters is the footprint. This thing is a beast. It’s 160.8 mm tall and 78.1 mm wide. To put that in perspective, it’s basically the same width as a standard chocolate bar but twice as heavy.
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What makes the iPhone 13 Pro Max screen size special?
It isn't just about the physical real estate. It’s about what Apple did with the pixels. We are talking about a Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2778-by-1284 pixels. That gives you 458 pixels per inch (ppi). Everything is sharp. Like, "can't see a single pixel even if you squint" sharp.
The real game-changer was ProMotion.
Before this model, iPhones were stuck at 60Hz. The 13 Pro Max was among the first to get the adaptive refresh rate that goes from 10Hz all the way up to 120Hz. If you’re just reading a Kindle book on your phone, it drops the refresh rate to save battery. The second you start scrolling through a fast-paced Twitter thread or playing Genshin Impact, it cranks up to 120Hz.
It’s buttery smooth. Going back to a 60Hz screen after using this feels like watching a slideshow.
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The brightness factor
You’ve probably been outside on a sunny day and struggled to see your screen. The 13 Pro Max handles this better than most older flagships.
- Typical Max Brightness: 1000 nits.
- HDR Peak Brightness: 1200 nits.
For context, 1000 nits is bright enough to clearly read a map while standing in the middle of a park at noon. It’s not quite the 2000+ nits we see on the very newest 2026 models, but let’s be real—it’s more than enough for 99% of people.
The "Notch" and the screen-to-body ratio
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the notch at the top of the room.
The screen size of iPhone 13 Pro Max is slightly interrupted by a notch that is 20% smaller than the one on the iPhone 12. Apple pushed the earpiece speaker up into the bezel to make this happen. It gave us a bit more "ears" at the top for battery icons and clock space.
Is it as clean as the Dynamic Island on the newer 14, 15, or 16 series? No. But you stop noticing it after about three days. The screen-to-body ratio sits at roughly 87.4%. That’s a lot of glass and very little border.
Durability: Ceramic Shield
Apple claims the "Ceramic Shield" front is tougher than any smartphone glass. In my experience, it’s great for drops but weirdly susceptible to those tiny "micro-scratches" from sand or keys.
"Getting sand in a pocket is easy, and therein lies the rub, figuratively and literally." — A sentiment shared by many in the Apple community who decided to go without a screen protector.
If you hate scratches, buy a protector. The Ceramic Shield is meant to keep the screen from shattering, not to keep it looking pristine under a microscope.
Is it too big for one-handed use?
Probably. Unless you have hands like an NBA player, you aren't reaching the top left corner with your thumb while holding the phone from the bottom.
Apple’s "Reachability" feature helps—you swipe down on the bottom edge to bring the top of the screen down—but it’s a workaround. This is a two-handed device. If you're someone who likes to text while walking a dog or carrying groceries, the weight (240 grams) will eventually wear on your pinky finger.
But the trade-off is massive.
Watching Netflix on a 6.7-inch OLED is actually enjoyable. Editing photos in Lightroom feels less cramped. And if you have aging eyes, being able to crank up the font size without losing the entire layout of the app is a godsend.
Comparisons that matter
- Vs iPhone 13 Pro: You’re jumping from 6.1 inches to 6.7 inches. It’s a noticeable leap in weight and width.
- Vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: The screen size is identical, but the 14 Pro Max is slightly thicker and has the Dynamic Island instead of the notch.
- Vs iPhone 13 Mini: It’s a joke. The Pro Max screen is almost two full inches larger. It’s a different universe of usage.
Technical breakdown (The dry stuff)
Basically, the screen uses OLED technology, which means blacks are perfectly black because the pixels actually turn off. The contrast ratio is 2,000,000:1.
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If you are a nerd for color accuracy, it supports the P3 wide color gamut. It also has True Tone, which uses sensors to adjust the white balance of the screen to match the light around you. If you’re in a room with warm yellow lights, the screen shifts slightly yellow so it doesn’t look like a blue flashlight in your face. It's a small touch, but it makes a huge difference for eye strain.
What you should do next
If you are looking at the screen size of iPhone 13 Pro Max because you’re thinking of buying one used or refurbished, do it. The display tech hasn't moved that far forward in the last few years. You still get 120Hz, incredible brightness, and that massive canvas.
Actionable Steps:
- Check your grip: Go to a store and hold a 6.7-inch model (even a newer one like the 16 Plus/Max). If it feels like a brick, look at the 6.1-inch Pro instead.
- Inspect for "Burn-in": If buying used, open a completely white image and look for ghosting or shadows. OLEDs are better now, but they aren't immortal.
- Buy a MagSafe Grip: Seriously. A PopSocket or a MagSafe ring makes the 6.7-inch screen much easier to manage without dropping the phone on your face while lying in bed.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max remains a powerhouse. Its screen isn't just big; it's high-quality enough that you won't feel like you're missing out on the 2026 tech curve.