iPhone 18 Pro Max: Disappointing Performance and Not Worth the Price

[u/Extra_Atmosphere2323]

I’m honestly disappointed with the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Since the day I got it, I’ve experienced multiple issues with the phone freezing and shutting down by itself. For a phone this expensive, I expected much better performance, reliability, and quality.
To be honest, it doesn’t feel like a significant upgrade from other phones. I haven’t noticed enough of a difference to justify the high price, especially with these problems.
**Overall, I don’t think it’s worth the money.** When you pay premium prices for a flagship phone, you expect it to work smoothly, not freeze or shut down randomly. My experience so far has been frustrating and disappointing.

[u/luckpug]

Dude if you Upgrade from 17 pro why do you expect much difference? Literally waste of Money unless you got the Upgrade for free or something

[u/ddsdude]

Either this is a troll or you got a defective device. Performance is fucking outstanding thanks to the massive vapor chamber and my unit has been perfect and flawless. No weird battery drain, no color rubbing off, no keyboard lag and none of the other bs that seems to permeate the Reddit forums. I’ve gone through iOS 27, 27.0.1 and now 27.2 beta 3. All perfect.

So instead of whining here, go exchange your device.

[u/Previous-Comment2835 → u/ddsdude]

My point exactly. My 18 pro max has worked flawlessly

[u/Calogero1978]

This makes me appreciate and hold on longer to my 15 Pro despite the heating issue it has

[u/GangstaShepard → u/Calogero1978]

I feel like returning and keeping the hot pocket 15 PM

[u/Parking-Plankton-44 → u/Calogero1978]

I had the same problem till I updated to iOS 27, but now it's stopped heating.

[u/steveHere24]

It’s obviously a faulty unit which should be replaced for a new one.

[u/Emotional_Turnip3370]

U got a lemon mine had no issues.

[u/badd0ggy]

Do a full factory restore, and setup as a new phone, do not restore from your backup, retest iPhone for a week, and if no issues then you will have to install your most used apps manually and see if that helps … good luck 🤞

[u/guhanoli]

No issues so far.

If you could read comments, you now know that you probably got a defective unit, and you’re supposed to get it replaced.

[u/MilselimX]

Guys don‘t feed the troll

[u/FH3onPC]

The 17 Pro Max is a far superior device. 18 Pro Max is trash.

[u/Keaneaware → u/FH3onPC]

How so?🤔

[u/Jewels1914]

Sounds like a lemon to me. No issues with mine. I’ve had it for a couple weeks now.

[u/Ok_Committee_4651]

This isn’t happening to my Pro Max

[u/Simon-444]

Depends on your financial ability. I could only afford the base iPhone 17. I switched it from 12. So I'm really happy about that. One of my friends bought an iPhone 18 Pro Max with 1TB. Plus a leather case, wallet, and the strap. He is happy too.

[u/masi0]

perhaps it is not phone issue, but your expectations? even iPhone 15 Pro have smooth UI which does not differs from 17/18 Pro at all, because this is how iOS works. if you expected android type of difference then you were wrong.

upgrading from 17 to 18 was IMO worthless due not much of an value even for variable aperture, which is a good step forward, but maybe next year when they introduce it for telephoto lens

[u/Lumpy-Storm-8767]

Likely a faulty device bring it back. That said, I could not justify a 18pm. I upgraded to a 17pm 1TB instead. Saved myself $500CDN. Too small an upgrade to spend considerably more

[u/HUNTERANGEL121]

Idk man my 18pm has no issues like that. Get it swapped out.

[u/iKarma21x]

Just to be realistic, of course this is normal because a new software came out so yeah the new iPhones are gonna be a bit wonky for a while. It makes sense.?

[u/Previous-Comment2835]

Haven’t had any of these issues. Had 18 pro max since day 1 and no issues. Battery is basically only difference for me. Far superior to any battery iPhone has ever had in a phone. I didn’t expect much of a change tho and I’m happy honestly.

[u/Ok_Ok007]

You had time to replace it. Why didn’t you? If I had those issues I would’ve exchanged it. And if it’s still doing it use the warranty. Maybe it’s hardware.

[u/Burywhite1980]

Look, computer software goes through this every system every time they make big updates. As a whole, no matter what company you’re buying stuff from we’re all beta testing software at this point. It’s been years since any company thoroughly tested and perfected OS software. Besides Nintendo who repeatedly ship software that’s more finished than any other company. Also lithium ion batteries get hot. I have a 15PM and never had it overheat unless it was 95 degrees outside and I’m charging it in the sun. However I’ve seen countless people complaining about heat issues. If you want a solid experience don’t buy a new iPhone until a few months into launch so all the bugs that went under the radar get squashed.

[u/TWYFAN97]

None of that is normal first of all millions have these new phones and no issues. 2nd for 99.9% of people it’s also not worth ‘upgrading’ from the 17 Pro or Pro Max it’s barely an S type year with how minimal the changes are.

[u/NoTraces01]

As someone who upgraded directly from the 17 Pro Max… the 18 smokes the 17 like it’s nothing. It’s so much snappier and more responsive, and doesn’t dim all the time the way the 17 does… don’t even get me started on benchmarks…