Ever since I made the switch from Android to iPhone towards the end of 2021, I had a feeling there would come a day I switched back, ditching Apple’s iterative phone for something more interesting from our best Android phones list.
That day almost came… but then it didn’t.
Before I tell you why, let me give you some context. I’ve never dogmatically been in the iOS camp or the Android Army. My first smartphone was the iPhone 4S, which I loved, but it gave way to the Samsung Galaxy S6 with its superior specs and then subsequent Android phones that came across my desk to test as I progressed my career as a consumer tech journalist.
For around seven years, my SIM card was slotted in various Android phones; I had iPads to get a taste of Apple’s mobile operating system. And I found Apple’s slow adoption of 120Hz displays a pain.
Android exodus
That changed with the iPhone 13 Pro, which not only brought in a 120Hz LTPO display, but also featured a second-gen take on Apple’s return to flat phone sides, and some great cameras. So when the opportunity came to try one, I jumped at it.
I was expecting to switch back within a few months but that never happened. I loved the size of the 13 Pro, its cameras produced great shots, and while Apple’s software can be a bit tedious compared to the intricacies and features of Android, it... well… it did ‘just work’.
So while I still carried various Android phones, notably some of the best foldable phones, an iPhone was my primary device.
But more than two years later I’d fully started to get bored of my iPhone 13 Pro, and I felt its battery wasn’t quite holding up as well as I wanted. Yet my colleagues had TechRadar’s allocation of iPhone 15 models, so I was gearing up to move to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy 24 Utra or Google Pixel 8 Pro.
Then an iPhone 15 Pro Max found its way into my hands and gave me cause to pause.
Well, I guess size does matter
I’ve never been convinced by previous Max iPhones. The notch design had me opt for the Pro over the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which I felt looked a bit dumb, as if the phone had been stretched rather than slickly scaled up.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max removed the notch problem by going with the Dynamic Island. But its stainless steel chassis felt a bit too heavy and unwieldy - conversely, I feel the heft of the normal iPhone 14 Pro is spot on.
So I didn’t think I’d like the iPhone 15 Pro Max. But I was wrong.
The titanium edges, which I had thought were more marketing and Apple bluster than a real design change, make the Max iPhone feel a lot smaller despite its larger screen size. It’s still a stretch to use one-handed (my hands aren’t small either) but it feels less likely to drop out of my hand when my thumb reaches for a top display corner.
It also feels great, with the matte back on the iPhone 15 Pro Max feeling softer to touch than my iPhone 13 Pro’s rear. And in 'Natural Titanium' I think it looks good too, with the sides and camera model merging better with the phone’s chassis.
Of course, design is one thing; it needs more to keep my attention from Android.
Core upgrades
And it’s here that the new 5x telephoto camera comes into play. While nothing new in the phone world, this tetraprism periscope camera provides a zoom that feels more useful than 3x for my phone photography. Yet it's not as impractical as a lower resolution 10x optical zoom camera.
That new camera, combined with the already excellent camera performance of the main and ultra-wide lens and my enjoyment of Apple’s image processing and color balance, makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s camera suite almost unbeatable in my opinion; phone photography is very subjective of course. Add in how easy it is to get excellent video with ease from iPhone Pro models, and the camera suite is simply wonderful for point-and-shoot aficionados.
I hate myself for saying this, but Apple finally ditching the proprietary Lightning port for USB-C is mildly transformational for my iPhone experience. It’s dumb, but not having to carry an extra cable or go fishing in my backpack for a Lightning cable is a minor joy. I’m certainly not applauding Apple for adopting USB-C, but I can't deny it’s a definite upgrade to the latest iPhone series.
Oh, and the Action button is rather neat. I use it to turn on the flashlight feature without swiping at the screen, which is actually low-key marvelous.
All the above combined means there’s a little more road for my iPhone journey to keep traveling along.
I’m not mad about that, but I’m not stoked either; rather I’m starting to accept that the usability of iOS, its robust ecosystem, and how I rarely get frustrated at iPhones, even if I get a little bored of them, is a testament to Apple approach of taking its time with adopting new tech and iterating generation to generation to create a device that’s hard not to like. I didn’t think I’d be saying that in 2024.
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Roland Moore-Colyer
Managing Editor, Mobile Computing
Roland Moore-Colyer a Managing Editor at TechRadar with a focus on phones and tablets, but a general interest in all things tech, especially things with a good story behind them. He can also be found writing about games, computers, and cars when the occasion arrives. And he also supports with the day-to-day running of TechRadar. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face and a nose for food markets.
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Introduction
As an expert in public speaking and communication, I can provide insights into the concepts mentioned in the article. Public speaking is the act of delivering a speech or presentation to inform, persuade, or entertain a group of people through words, physical delivery, and visual or audio aids . It involves various elements such as attention-getters, introductions, conclusions, organization, and audience engagement.
Attention-Getters and Introductions
In public speaking, an attention-getter is a strategy used to grab the audience's attention and make them interested in what the speaker has to say . It is crucial to hook the audience in immediately to ensure they listen to the speech. Attention-getters can include statistics, anecdotes, questions, or compelling statements.
Introductions serve the purpose of gaining the audience's attention and providing an overview of what the speech will cover . They often include an attention-getter, a statement of the topic, and a preview of the main points. Introductions can be mirrored in the conclusion to create a cohesive structure for the speech .
Organization and Structure
Organizing a speech is essential for clarity of thought and effective communication It involves structuring the speech in a systematic way to help the audience understand the content and perceive the speaker as reliable and credible . A well-organized speech typically includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. The body contains the main points and supporting evidence, while the conclusion summarizes the key points and may include a call to action or impact statement .
Conclusion
Conclusions in public speaking wrap up the presentation by summarizing what the audience was supposed to have learned or been persuaded to do during the speech . They can include key phrases such as "finally," "let me close by saying," or "in conclusion." A strong conclusion leaves a lasting impact on the audience and may include a call to action for persuasive speeches .
Self-Awareness and Communication
Self-awareness plays a crucial role in effective communication. It involves perceiving and understanding one's own personality, actions, values, beliefs, emotions, and thoughts Being self-aware allows individuals to adapt their communication style, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and make conscious choices in their interactions with others.
Expertise and Deliberate Practice
Becoming an expert in any field, including public speaking, requires deliberate practice and deliberate thinking Genuine experts not only practice their skills but also think deliberately about their performance. They analyze their actions, assess their weaknesses, and continuously work to improve . This deliberate practice and thinking process help experts refine their abilities and become more effective in their chosen field.
Overall, public speaking involves various elements such as attention-getters, introductions, organization, and self-awareness. By understanding and applying these concepts, individuals can enhance their communication skills and deliver impactful speeches or presentations.
