Apple wasn't kidding when it called this phone the iPhone XS Max. When you see it in person, there's no question that this hulking behemoth deserves its name. It looks strikingly similar to an iPhone 8 Plus -- already a big phone -- that grew an even larger, better screen.

How large? We're talking about a 6.5-inch OLED display that's a hair bigger than the Galaxy Note 9's 6.4-inch screen. The XS Max (that's "10-S," not "excess") isn't just Apple's largest iPhone ever. It's also its most expensive -- by a long shot -- and has the highest-capacity battery on any iPhone. With such a massive, power-sucking display, it has to.

The iPhone XS Max starts at $1,099 for the 64GB version and climbs from there. That price tag is already $100 steeper than last year's iPhone X and the brand-new 5.8-inch iPhone XS.

While the iPhone XS Max contrasts most starkly with the lower-rent iPhone XR, all three new iPhones for 2018 have the basics in common: iOS 12 software running the show, Apple's new A12 Bionic chipset within, at least one 12-megapixel camera with a few new camera tricks and a 7-megapixel front-facing camera with Face ID to unlock the phone. (See below for all the specs and prices.)

Preorders start Friday and the XS Max goes on sale Sept. 21.

How the iPhone XS Max differs from the iPhone XS

Size: The iPhone XS Max is physically larger, standing at over 6.2 inches tall with a 6.5-inch screen. The Max XS literally hulks over the iPhone XS -- see for yourself in the video above.

Display resolution: The XS Max has a whopping 2,688x1,242-pixel resolution for its OLED display, versus the iPhone XS' 2,436x1,125 resolution screen. Don't be fooled, though. Both phones have the same pixel density of 458 pixels per inch. That means whatever you watch on either screen will look sharp.

Weight: Larger phones are heavier phones. The Max weighs 7.3 ounces (nearing half a pound!), compared to the iPhone XS' 6.2-ounce weight.

Battery life: Apple says that the XS Max will last an hour and a half longer than the iPhone X did. The XS, however, promises 30 more minutes of battery life.

For more details: iPhone XS vs. iPhone XS Max vs. iPhone XR: What's the difference?

Also read: iPhone XR, XS, XS Max: Everything you need to know about Apple's three new iPhones

iPhone XR, XS, XS Max specs

	iPhone XS	iPhone XS Max	iPhone XR
Display size, resolution	5.8-inch Super Retina OLED; 2,436x1,125 pixels	6.5-inch Super Retina OLED; 2,688x1,242 pixels	6.1-inch LCD Retina Display; 1,792x828 pixels
Pixel density	458 ppi	458 ppi	326ppi
Dimensions (Inches)	5.7x2.8x0.3 in	6.2x3.0x.3 in	5.9x3.0x0.33 in
Dimensions (Millimeters)	143.6x70.9x7.7 mm	157.5x77.4x7.7 mm	150.9x75.7x8.3 mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams)	6.24 oz; 177g	7.3oz; 208g	6.8oz; 194g
Mobile software	iOS 12	iOS 12	iOS 12
Camera	Dual 12-megapixel	Dual 12-megapixel	Single 12-megapixel
Front-facing camera	7-megapixel with Face ID	7-megapixel with Face ID	7-megapixel with Face ID
Video capture	4K	4K	4K
Processor	Apple A12 Bionic	Apple A12 Bionic	Apple A12 Bionic
Storage	64GB, 256GB, 512GB	64GB, 256GB, 512GB	64GB, 128GB, 256GB
RAM	N/A	N/A	N/A
Expandable storage	None	None	None
Battery	N/A, but Apple claims it will last 30 min longer than iPhone X	N/A, but Apple claims it will last 90 min longer than iPhone X	N/A, but Apple claims it will last 90 min longer than iPhone 8 Plus
Fingerprint sensor	None (Face ID)	None (Face ID)	None (Face ID)
Connector	Lightning	Lightning	Lightning
Headphone jack	No	No	No
Special features	Water-resistant (IP68); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging; Face ID, Animoji	Water-resistant (IP68); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging; Face ID, Animoji	Water-resistant: IP67, dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging; Face ID, Animoji
Price off-contract (USD)	$999 (64GB), $1,149 (256GB), $1,349 (512GB)	$1,099 (64GB), $1,249 (256GB), $1,449 (512GB)	$749 (64GB), $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB)
Price (GBP)	£999 (64GB), £1,149 (256GB), £1,349 (512GB)	$1,099 (64GB), $1,249 (256GB), $1,449 (512GB)	£749 (64GB), £799 (128GB), £899 (256GB)
Price (AUD)	AU$1,629 (64GB), AU$1,879 (256GB), AU$2,199 (512GB)	AU$1,799 (64GB), AU$2,049 (256GB), AU$2,369 (512GB)	AU$1,229 (64GB), AU$1,299 (128GB), AU$1,479 (256GB)