You’re holding it in your hand and your thumb just can't reach the top corner. We’ve all been there. But honestly, despite the hand gymnastics, the demand for the iPhone with the biggest screen has never been higher. People want canvases, not phones. Whether you’re trying to edit a 4K TikTok on the fly or you just want to read a Kindle book without squinting like a detective, size matters.
Currently, the undisputed king of the hill is the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It boasts a massive 6.9-inch display.
It's huge. Like, "barely fits in your jeans" huge.
Apple managed to squeeze that extra screen real estate by shaving the bezels down to almost nothing. If you look at the 15 Pro Max side-by-side with the 16 Pro Max, the footprint isn't drastically different, but that 6.9-inch panel feels significantly more expansive. It uses Grade 5 Titanium to keep the weight down, because if this thing were made of stainless steel like the old 14 Pro Max, it would basically be a brick in your pocket.
The Evolution of the Giant iPhone
Remember the iPhone 6 Plus? That was the first time Apple admitted that maybe, just maybe, Samsung was onto something with the "phablet" trend. It had a 5.5-inch screen. At the time, we thought it was gargantuan. Fast forward to today, and a 5.5-inch screen looks like a toy.
We saw a massive jump with the iPhone XS Max, which moved us into the 6.5-inch territory. Then the 12 Pro Max bumped it to 6.7 inches. That 6.7-inch spec stayed the gold standard for several generations—the 13, 14, and 15 Pro Max models all shared it. But the 16 Pro Max finally broke the ceiling.
Why the 16 Pro Max is the current heavyweight champion
It isn't just about the diagonal measurement. The iPhone with the biggest screen also needs the tech to back it up. Apple is using a Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion. That’s marketing speak for "it’s really bright and really smooth."
The refresh rate scales from 1Hz to 120Hz. If you're looking at a static photo, the screen barely sips power. The moment you start scrolling through a dense Twitter (X) feed or playing Genshin Impact, it cranks up to 120Hz for fluid motion.
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- The peak brightness hits 2,000 nits.
- In direct sunlight, you can actually see what you're doing.
- The resolution is 2868-by-1320 pixels at 460 ppi.
Basically, it's sharper than most laptops. But there’s a catch. If you have smaller hands, the 16 Pro Max is a liability. You’ll find yourself using "Reachability" mode (where the top of the screen slides down) constantly. It’s a trade-off. You get the best battery life in the lineup—because a big body means a big battery—but you lose the ability to use the phone one-handed while drinking a coffee.
Is the iPhone 16 Plus a better "big" value?
Not everyone wants to drop $1,200+ on a Pro Max. This is where the iPhone 16 Plus comes in. It has a 6.7-inch screen, which was the "biggest" size until just recently.
The Plus is weirdly underrated. It’s lighter than the Pro Max because it uses aluminum instead of titanium and lacks the heavy internal cooling and extra camera lenses. If you just want a big screen for Netflix or browsing, the Plus is arguably the smarter buy. You get the size without the "Pro" tax.
However, you lose ProMotion. Once you’ve used a 120Hz screen, going back to the 60Hz screen on the iPhone 16 Plus feels... sluggish. It’s like watching a flipbook compared to a movie. If you don't care about refresh rates, you won't notice. But if you're a tech nerd, it'll drive you crazy.
The Refurbished Route: 15 Pro Max vs 14 Pro Max
If you're hunting for the iPhone with the biggest screen on a budget, don't sleep on the secondary market.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: This was the first one to get Titanium. It has a 6.7-inch screen and the Action Button. It also switched to USB-C. This is a big deal if you want to carry one cable for your iPad, MacBook, and phone.
- iPhone 14 Pro Max: It’s a tank. It’s heavy. But it’s the last one with the physical SIM tray in many regions (though not the US). It still has the Dynamic Island and an incredible 6.7-inch display.
You can find these for significantly less than the 16 series. The screen quality on the 14 Pro Max is still better than 90% of the phones on the market today. Honestly, the difference in display tech between the 14, 15, and 16 is incremental. You're mostly paying for the thinner borders and the slightly larger 6.9-inch diagonal on the newest model.
The Ergonomics Nightmare: Let's get real
Let’s talk about the "Pinky Dent." You know what I’m talking about. When you hold a giant iPhone, your pinky sits at the bottom to support the weight. Over time, it actually hurts.
The 16 Pro Max is 227 grams. That’s roughly half a pound. If you add a heavy-duty Case-Mate or OtterBox, you're carrying a literal weight.
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Experts like Joanna Stern from the Wall Street Journal have often pointed out that while the screen is glorious, the ergonomics of the "Max" line are reaching a breaking point. We are limited by the size of the human hand. Unless Apple starts making phones that fold—which they haven't yet, despite the rumors—6.9 inches might be the absolute limit for a standard slab phone.
Real-world usage: Who is this actually for?
If you are a mobile gamer, the iPhone with the biggest screen is a non-negotiable. Trying to play Call of Duty Mobile or Resident Evil Village on a standard 6.1-inch iPhone is a recipe for frustration. Your thumbs cover half the screen. On the 6.9-inch 16 Pro Max, you actually have room to see the enemies.
Creative professionals also benefit. If you’re using LumaFusion to edit video, those extra fractions of an inch mean more room for the timeline. It sounds small, but over an hour of editing, it’s the difference between a headache and a finished project.
- Pros: Better battery, more immersion, easier typing (bigger keyboard!), better heat dissipation.
- Cons: Heavy, expensive, won't fit in small pockets, requires two hands for most tasks.
Practical Steps for Choosing Your Giant iPhone
Don't just buy the 16 Pro Max because it's the "best." Consider your actual daily life.
First, go to an Apple Store or a Best Buy. Hold the 16 Pro Max and the 16 Plus. Feel the weight difference. The Plus is significantly more comfortable for long-term holding, even if the screen is 0.2 inches smaller.
Second, check your battery needs. The biggest screen always comes with the biggest battery. If you are away from a charger for 16 hours a day, get the Max. It is a marathon runner.
Third, look at your pockets. Seriously. Measure your favorite pair of jeans. Some women's clothing, in particular, cannot accommodate a 6.9-inch device. You might end up needing a bag just to carry your phone.
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If you want the absolute pinnacle, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the answer. It is the largest, brightest, and most powerful screen Apple has ever put on a phone. Just be prepared to buy a PopSocket—your pinky will thank you later.
Final thought: If the 6.9-inch screen still feels too small, you're not looking for a phone anymore. You're looking for an iPad Mini. The jump from 6.7 to 6.9 is noticeable, but it's the end of the road for the "bigger is better" era of traditional iPhones.