With a 6.7-inch screen, the iPhone 13 Pro Max and 12 Pro Max are the largest phones Apple has released. The rumored iPhone 14 Pro Max, which we may learn on September 7, is expected to keep the same big screen. Although Apple’s “Pro Max” devices are significantly larger than the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 13, 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini and 4.7-inch iPhone SE, they still run the same software as Apple’s smaller phones.
If only there were more ways to take advantage of the Pro Max’s big screen. Fortunately, there is. Apple should take inspiration from the iPhone‘s big brother, the iPad. Apple’s tablets are loaded with extra features that make apps easier to use on larger screens. The company even rebranded the iPad’s operating system as iPadOS in 2019 to differentiate it from the iPhone’s iOS. By then, the iPad’s interface had evolved so much that it no longer made sense to conflate the two sets of software. Here are the iPad features that I think translate well to the iPhone Pro Max.
Multitasking
The large screen of the iPhone Pro Max is great for focusing on a single app. But I’d also love to see a version of the iPad’s multitasking capabilities on the iPhone Pro Max. Being able to view multiple apps at once prevents me from needing to switch between apps frequently.
Apple provides two main options for running multiple applications on the iPad‘s display: Split View and Slide Over. The first is self-explanatory; it lets you divide the screen between two apps. Slide Over is a little different. Instead of splitting the screen, you can open apps in a floating panel, which can be on either side of the screen.
If Apple were to bring any of these features to the iPhone Pro Max, I think Slide Over would be the most useful. It’s a better way to take advantage of a smartphone-sized screen than split view mode. You can dedicate most of the screen to one app while quickly checking another.
This is an example of what the iPad can do, and Apple may have to make a major tweak for the iPhone rather than bring in the current version.
One way Apple can do this is by formatting a Slide Over app, such as an interactive widget that you can view while running another app. Widgets have been designed to display a large amount of information in a small space on a phone’s screen. So it’s easy to imagine a widget-like Slide Over app that you can pin to any corner of the iPhone Pro Max’s display.
Still, getting the iPad’s multitasking capabilities on the iPhone Pro Max is a long way off. Part of the appeal of the iPhone is that the software is consistent no matter which model you have, so I doubt Apple will jeopardize that.
We won’t get any of the new iPhone Pro Max-specific multitasking features in iOS 16, Apple’s new iPhone software update this fall. But the update will introduce an improved lock screen with widgets to see more information at a glance. While the new lock screen is available on all supported models, I imagine it will add some extra utility to the Pro Max’s larger display.
A mini apple pencil
Over the past few years, the Apple Pencil has proven itself to be a worthy iPad companion. Now, it’s time to bring it to the iPhone Pro Max as an optional accessory.
I’m not the only one wishing to have an iPhone-compatible Apple Pencil. First, consider the audience for the iPhone Pro Max. It’s for those who are willing to pay a premium for the biggest screen and best camera on an iPhone. For photographers and those who just want a big screen, the Apple Pencil seems like a natural complement to the Pro Max.
I imagine those who regularly touch up photos on their phones would benefit from using a more precise stylus for editing than a finger, especially since popular apps like Adobe Lightroom and Pixelmator support the Apple Pencil. The Apple Pencil for iPhone could also appeal to those who regularly use their phone to take notes or mark up documents. The rumored iPhone 14 Max will be a 6.7-inch version of the standard iPhone and will also benefit from an optional pencil accessory.
The success of the Samsung Galaxy Note series also shows that the stylus has a certain audience. I have to admit that I don’t find myself using the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s S Pen very often. But it comes in handy when taking notes during a meeting or capturing ideas quickly when I’m writing a review and happen to be away from my computer.
Likewise, it doesn’t make sense to extend the compatibility of the current Apple Pencil to the iPhone Pro Max. Instead, Apple should design a smaller version of the Pencil with a smaller tip that fits better on a phone-sized screen.
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