Apple is missing an opportunity to make the Pro Max feel like more than a bigger phone.
As screens grow larger and the line between phone and tablet blurs, Apple finds itself holding a device — the iPhone Pro Max — that has outgrown the software meant to run it. The largest iPhone in history shares its operating system with the smallest, a philosophical mismatch that leaves potential untapped. History suggests Apple knows how to tailor its platforms to new form factors; the question is whether it will extend that wisdom to the premium phone it already sells.
- The iPhone Pro Max carries a 6.7-inch screen but runs identical software to every other iPhone, creating a quiet tension between hardware ambition and software stagnation.
- iPad users already enjoy Split View, floating Slide Over panels, and Apple Pencil precision — tools that exist just one product category away from Pro Max owners who paid a premium for more screen.
- Analysts and observers are pushing Apple to bridge this gap, pointing to Samsung's Galaxy Note legacy as proof that stylus-equipped large phones can carve out loyal, high-spending audiences.
- A targeted software update — Slide Over multitasking adapted as widget-like panels, plus a slimmer iPhone-optimized Pencil — could justify higher pricing, open stylus revenue, and sharpen the Pro Max's identity without fracturing iOS.
Apple's iPhone Pro Max occupies an uneasy position: at 6.7 inches it is the largest iPhone ever made, yet it runs the same software as the compact SE. The hardware has grown; the software has not followed.
The contrast with iPad is striking. Apple renamed its tablet platform iPadOS in 2019, recognizing that features like Split View multitasking, floating Slide Over panels, and Apple Pencil support had pushed the software far beyond what the iPhone offered. These are not cosmetic differences — they reshape how a person works with the device.
The case being made is not for a new operating system or a rebranded product. It is simply that iOS should include features designed specifically for the Pro Max's larger canvas. Apple has done this before, tailoring software for the original iPad and Apple Watch. The Pro Max deserves the same treatment.
Multitasking is the most natural starting point. Slide Over — a floating app panel that sits alongside your main screen — translates more sensibly to a phone than full Split View does. Formatted like interactive widgets, such panels could let users glance at Slack or notifications without abandoning whatever they were doing. The building blocks already exist within iOS.
The Apple Pencil argument is equally compelling. Steve Jobs once dismissed styluses, but years of iPad use have proven their value for photo editing, note-taking, and document markup. The Pro Max's audience — buyers willing to pay for the largest screen and best camera — maps naturally onto that use case. Samsung's Galaxy Note and S Ultra lines have already demonstrated real market demand. A smaller, finer-tipped Pencil designed for iPhone would be more practical than the current iPad version.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max was the world's second-best-selling phone in 2021. These additions would not repair a broken product — the Pro Max already performs well. But they would give Apple a clearer way to distinguish its premium device, reward owners with genuine new capability, and open a new revenue stream through stylus sales. It is the kind of move that, once made, tends to feel like it was always obvious.
Apple's iPhone Pro Max sits in an awkward middle ground. At 6.7 inches, it's the largest phone the company has ever made—significantly bigger than the standard iPhone's 6.1-inch screen, yet still dwarfed by any iPad. Yet despite this size advantage, it runs the same software as every other iPhone, from the compact SE to the Mini. The hardware has evolved to match the screen, but the software hasn't caught up.
The iPad, by contrast, has become something else entirely. Apple even renamed its tablet operating system to iPadOS in 2019, acknowledging that the software had diverged so far from the iPhone that calling them both iOS no longer made sense. The iPad's interface is built around features that take advantage of larger screens—multitasking capabilities, floating windows, precision tools. These aren't cosmetic touches. They fundamentally change how you interact with the device.
The argument isn't for Apple to rebrand the Pro Max or create an entirely separate operating system. But there's a case to be made that iOS 16 and beyond should include features specifically designed for the Pro Max's larger display. Apple has done this before. The company tailored software for the original iPad and the Apple Watch, proving it knows how to adapt its operating system to different form factors. The Pro Max deserves the same consideration.
Multitasking would be the most obvious candidate. The iPad offers two approaches: Split View divides the screen between two apps, while Slide Over opens a floating panel that can be positioned on either side. For a phone-size screen, Slide Over makes more sense. Imagine checking Slack messages in a narrow column while dedicating most of your display to email. You'd glance at notifications without constantly switching between apps. Apple could implement this by formatting Slide Over apps like interactive widgets—components already designed to show useful information in a small space. Widget-like panels could be pinned to any corner of the Pro Max's display.
The second feature worth borrowing is the Apple Pencil. Steve Jobs famously dismissed styluses for mobile devices, but the Apple Pencil has proven its value on iPads for years. The Pro Max's audience—people willing to pay premium prices for the largest screen and best camera—seems like a natural fit. Photo editors using apps like Adobe Lightroom or Pixelmator would benefit from the precision a stylus offers over a finger. So would anyone who takes notes or marks up documents on their phone. Samsung's Galaxy Note line, now folded into the Galaxy S Ultra family, demonstrates there's genuine demand for this kind of tool. A smaller, iPhone-optimized Apple Pencil with a finer tip would be more practical than the current iPad version.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max was the world's second-best-selling phone in 2021, according to Counterpoint Research. Rumors suggest Apple will replace the iPhone Mini with another 6.7-inch model this year, signaling confidence in larger phones. These features wouldn't fix any real problems—the Pro Max already works well as it is. But they would give Apple a way to further distinguish its premium device from cheaper models. Owners would get more functionality for their money. Apple would gain another revenue stream through stylus sales. It's the kind of move that feels inevitable in hindsight, a straightforward way to make better use of the space Apple has already built.
Notable Quotes
The iPhone Pro Max's lack of multitasking and Apple Pencil support aren't necessarily shortcomings. But it feels like Apple is missing an opportunity.— CNET commentary
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why hasn't Apple done this already? The Pro Max has been around for years.
Partly because iOS is designed to be consistent across all iPhones. That's a feature, not a bug—it's part of Apple's brand promise. But it also means the company is cautious about fragmenting the experience.
So they're choosing uniformity over utility?
In a way, yes. But they've broken that rule before. The iPhone 6 Plus got landscape mode features in Mail and Messages that smaller phones didn't have. So the precedent exists.
What about the stylus? That seems like it goes against everything Apple has said about phones.
It does, which is why it's the longer shot. But context matters. Jobs was right that forcing a stylus on everyone is bad design. Making it optional for people who want precision editing? That's different.
And this would actually make money for Apple?
Yes. It's both a product differentiation strategy and a new accessory line. The Pro Max owners are already paying premium prices. A smaller Apple Pencil would be a natural add-on.
Do you think they'll do it?
Multitasking seems more likely than the stylus. But honestly, Apple moves slowly on these things. The fact that we're even having this conversation suggests they're missing something obvious.