Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max 5G Gold 128GB

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is still a great big-screen iPhone in 2025, with a stunning 120Hz OLED display and the A16 Bionic holding up well at the 71st percentile for performance. At $980 unlocked, it's a solid value for iOS users who don't need the latest model. The main downsides are average battery life, slow 15W charging, and a hefty 240g weight. If you're in the Apple ecosystem and want a Pro Max experience without current-gen pricing, this is a smart buy.

The A16 Bionic paired with 6GB of RAM puts this phone at the 71st percentile for performance in our database. That's solid, middle-of-the-pack territory for current flagships, but remember this chip is from 2022. It still handles everything from 4K video editing to heavy gaming without breaking a sweat. The 6GB of RAM is the one spec that feels a little tight by today's standards, especially if you're a heavy multitasker who likes keeping dozens of apps alive in the background.

Real-world implications? Apps open fast, the 120Hz display makes everything feel fluid, and iOS is optimized so well that the raw numbers don't tell the whole story. You won't notice the difference between this and a newer iPhone in day-to-day use unless you're doing something extreme like exporting long 4K videos back to back. The 128GB base storage is fine for most people, but if you shoot a lot of 48MP ProRAW photos or 4K video, you'll fill that up faster than you'd expect.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the most direct competitor here. It has a bigger battery, faster charging, an S Pen, and a more versatile camera system with that 200MP main sensor. But it runs Android, and if you're an iPhone person, that's a non-starter. The S26 Ultra also tends to cost more new, though used prices have come down. The OnePlus 15 is another strong option with insanely fast charging and a great display, but again, Android.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro is worth mentioning for camera enthusiasts. Google's computational photography is still the best in the business for point-and-shoot shots, and the Pixel gets updates just as long as iPhones do. The Apple iPhone 17 is the obvious choice if you want to stay in the Apple ecosystem but need the latest and greatest, though you'll pay a premium for it. If you're considering the 14 Pro Max, you probably want a traditional slab phone at a lower price, and this is one of the more affordable ways to get a big-screen Pro iPhone without paying current-gen prices.

At $980 unlocked, the iPhone 14 Pro Max sits in a weird spot. It's cheaper than the current Pro Max models by a wide margin, but it's also not exactly budget territory. You're paying a premium for the Apple ecosystem, the display quality, and the long-term software support. The 128GB storage at this price feels a little stingy when Android flagships in the same range often ship with 256GB or more.

Compared to the competition, the value proposition depends entirely on how much you care about iOS. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and OnePlus 13 offer faster charging, bigger batteries, and more RAM at similar or lower prices. But if you're locked into iMessage, FaceTime, and the Apple ecosystem, this is one of the more affordable ways to get a big-screen Pro iPhone without paying current-gen prices.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is Apple's big-screen flagship from a couple of generations back, and it still holds up surprisingly well in a lot of ways. You're getting that 6.7-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, the A16 Bionic chip, and the first 48MP main camera Apple ever shipped. It's a phone that was built to be the best of its era, and even now it's sitting at the 71st percentile for performance in our database, which tells you how far ahead Apple's silicon was at launch.

Who's this for? Someone who wants a large iPhone with a killer display and doesn't need the absolute latest camera tricks. The 14 Pro Max introduced the Dynamic Island, always-on display, and that 48MP sensor that changed how iPhone photos look. If you're coming from an iPhone 11 or 12, this feels like a massive leap. If you're on a 13 Pro Max, the jump is smaller but still noticeable, especially with the camera and display.

What makes it interesting in 2025 is the price. At $980 unlocked, it's a lot cheaper than the current Pro Max models while still delivering most of the flagship experience. The A16 Bionic is no slouch, the display is still gorgeous, and iOS updates will keep this thing relevant for years. But there are trade-offs, and we'll get into those below.

If battery life is your number one priority, skip this phone. The 4323mAh battery at the 53rd percentile means you'll be reaching for a charger more often than you'd like, and the 15W wired charging makes topping up feel like a chore. Look at the OnePlus 13 or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra instead, both of which offer significantly larger batteries and much faster charging.

Also skip this if you're not already invested in the Apple ecosystem. At $980, you can get an Android flagship with more RAM, faster charging, and a better battery for the same or less money. The ruggedness score of 39.6 out of 100 is another red flag if you're hard on your phones. This is a premium glass sandwich, not a durable workhorse. If you need something that can survive drops and rough conditions, look at rugged Android options or invest in a serious case.

If you're an iPhone user who wants a big screen and a great camera without paying current Pro Max prices, the 14 Pro Max is a solid buy. The display is still one of the best you can get, the A16 Bionic has plenty of life left, and the 48MP camera produces photos that hold up against much newer phones. The $980 price tag is reasonable for what you're getting, especially if you plan to keep it for three or four years.

But if battery life is your top priority, look elsewhere. The 4323mAh battery lands at the 53rd percentile, which means it's average at best, and the 15W wired charging is painfully slow by 2025 standards. Heavy users will need to top up during the day. And if you're not tied to iOS, the Android flagships in this price range offer better batteries, faster charging, and more RAM for the same or less money.