The iPhone XS Max was a dream phone in 2018. It was big, beautiful, and powerful. It cost over two lakh rupees. Only a few people could afford it. Now it is 2026 and the iPhone XS Max is eight years old. But many people in Pakistan still want it because it gives you a premium Apple experience at a much lower price.
However, the question remains whether it is still worth your money or if you should get a newer Android phone instead. In this guide, we answer all these questions by looking at the design, display, performance, camera, and battery. We also discussed PTA tax and where to buy it.
iPhone XS max price in Pakistan 2026
The iPhone XS Max price in Pakistan depends on many factors like whether it is new or used, PTA approved or non-PTA, and what the condition and battery health are. A new old stock PTA approved unit costs around Rs 160,000 to 180,000 which is quite high for an eight-year-old phone.
A used PTA approved unit in excellent condition ranges from Rs 89,000 to 110,000 while a used unit in good condition costs between Rs 75,000 to 85,000. Non-PTA phones are much cheaper at Rs 45,000 to 55,000, but you cannot use local SIMs easily on them.
The official PTA tax alone is approximately Rs 45,000 to 50,000 which you must pay if you buy a non-PTA phone and want to use it legally. The original launch price in Pakistan was Rs 167,000 for the 64GB model, so the current used prices offer good value if you find a well-maintained unit.
Design and build quality
The iPhone XS Max has a premium design that still looks modern today. It measures 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.9 mm and weighs 208 grams which makes it a heavy phone, but it feels solid and luxurious in the hand. The front and back use high quality glass while the frame is made of stainless steel, the same material used in expensive watches.
This combination of materials gives it a very premium feel that many new mid-range Android phones cannot match. The phone has IP68 dust and water resistance which means you can put it in 2 meters of water for 30 minutes without damage, offering good protection for daily life accidents.
Available colors are Space Gray, Silver, and Gold, all of which look classy and professional. The build quality is excellent and after eight years, a well-kept iPhone XS Max still feels like a flagship phone that was built to last.
Display: Still one of the best
The display is a major reason to buy the iPhone XS Max even in 2026. It has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1242 x 2688 pixels which gives about 458 pixels per inch. This means the screen is incredibly sharp, and you cannot see individual pixels no matter how closely you look.
Colors are vibrant and blacks are deep because they are OLED technology. The display supports Dolby Vision and HDR10, which makes movies and videos on Netflix and YouTube look amazing, often better than on many new Android phones.
It also has a True Tone display that adjusts the screen color based on your environment, making reading in different lighting conditions easier on the eyes. The 120 Hz touch sensing makes the phone feel very responsive even though the screen refreshes at 60Hz, because the touch response is faster than normal.
For watching videos, browsing social media, or reading, this display is still top class and one of the best reasons to choose this phone.
Performance: The A12 bionic chip
Inside the iPhone XS Max you get the Apple A12 Bionic chip which was the first 7nm processor in the world and was years ahead of its time when launched. The CPU has 6 cores with 2 high performance cores for demanding tasks and 4 efficiency cores for everyday use.
The GPU is a 4 core Apple GPU, and it also has an 8 core Neural Engine for handling AI tasks like photo processing and face recognition. In 2026, the A12 Bionic still performs surprisingly well and is faster than many budget and mid-range Android processors available today.
Daily tasks like WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, and browsing run smoothly without any lag. Games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile run well on high settings with stable frame rates.
However, the phone is eight years old, and it will not get new iOS versions beyond iOS 16 or 17, which means some new apps may not support it in the future. But for now, it still works great for most users.
RAM and storage
The iPhone XS Max comes with 4GB of RAM which is enough for iOS because Apple manages memory very well. Apps stay open in the background and switching between them is smooth without reloading.
Storage options are 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB, and there is no card slot, so you cannot add more storage later. This means you need to choose wisely based on your needs. If you take many photos and videos or download lots of apps and games, the 64GB version may fill up quickly.
The 256GB or 512GB versions are better for heavy users but cost more. For most people, the 256GB version offers a good balance of space and price.
Camera quality
The camera was a big selling point in 2018, and it still takes good photos today. The back has a dual camera setup with a 12 MP wide camera that has an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization, plus a 12 MP telephoto camera with an f/2.4 aperture and optical image stabilization.
The wide camera has 1.4µm pixels for better light capture and both cameras have OIS which helps in low light and for videos by keeping the image steady. The telephoto camera offers 2x optical zoom so you can get closer to subjects without losing quality.
Features include a Quad LED dual tone flash, Smart HDR for better photos, Portrait mode with depth control, and various Portrait Lighting effects. Video recording is excellent with 4K at 24, 30, or 60fps, 1080p at 30, 60, 120, or 240fps for slow motion, and HDR video with stereo sound recording.
The front has a 7 MP True Depth camera with an f/2.2 aperture that records 1080p video at 60fps and supports Portrait mode and Animoji. The photos are still very good in 2026 and in good light they compete with many new phones.
The colors are natural and the details are sharp. Low light performance is decent but not as good as the latest iPhones, though for most users this camera is more than enough.
Battery life
The iPhone XS Max has a 3300 mAh battery which is small by today’s standards, but iOS optimizes battery use very well. With normal use, the battery lasts a full day, but with heavy use you may need to charge by evening.
The phone supports fast charging that gives you 50% charge in 30 minutes with an 18W adapter, though you must buy the fast charger separately as it comes with a standard 5W charger in the box.
It also supports Qi wireless charging, so you can charge it on any wireless pad without plugging in cables. However, remember that this is an old phone, and battery health may be low on used units.
A new battery replacement costs around Rs 8,000 to 12,000, so you should factor this into your buying decision. If you find a unit with battery health above 85%, it will serve you well.
Software and features
The iPhone XS Max launched with iOS 12 and can update to iOS 16 or 17 depending on Apple’s support. In 2026 it may not get the latest iOS 18 or 19, but iOS is known for long term support and even older versions of apps work for many years.
Key software features include Face ID for secure unlocking which works very well in the dark and with glasses, Siri voice assistant, iMessage and FaceTime for Apple users, and iCloud backup and sync.
Apple Pay is also present but not widely used in Pakistan. Face ID is fast and secure and remains one of the best faces to unlock systems even today.
Connectivity
The iPhone XS Max supports all major 4G bands used in Pakistan so you will get good signals on Jazz, Zong, Telenor, and Ufone.
Connectivity options include Wi Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with dual band support, Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP and LE, GPS with A GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and QZSS, and NFC for Apple Pay.
It uses a Lightning port for charging and data transfer. It does not have a headphone jack, but you get a Lightning 3.5mm adapter in the box, or you can use Bluetooth headphones.
PTA tax and approval
This is very important for Pakistani buyers. The iPhone XS Max is not a recent model, but it still needs PTA approval for full network support.
PTA tax on iPhone XS Max is around Rs 45,000 to 50,000 depending on the exact model and import date.
Non-PTA phones are cheaper but have problems like SIMs stopping after 2 months, having to pay DIRBS fees to use them, and lower resale value. Always buy a PTA approved phone if you can afford it because it saves trouble later.
Pros and cons
The iPhone XS Max has many advantages that make it appealing in 2026. It has a premium stainless steel and glass build that feels luxurious and durable. The 6.5-inch OLED display is beautiful with HDR support and deep blacks.
The camera system with dual lenses and optical zoom still takes excellent photos and videos. Performance for daily tasks is smooth and gaming is good. Face ID works great, and wireless charging is convenient. IP68 water resistance offers peace of mind.
However, there are also some disadvantages to consider. The software is old with no future updates beyond iOS 16 or 17. Battery life is averaged by 2026 standards, and used units may have degraded batteries.
There is no headphone jack and no 5G support. The PTA tax is high for an eight-year-old phone, and the used markets have variable quality with some units having hidden problems.
Should you buy an iPhone XS max in 2026?
The iPhone XS Max is not for everyone, and you should buy it only if it matches your needs. You should buy it if you want a premium iPhone on a budget, and you love big OLED displays for watching videos. It is also a good choice if you take photos and videos seriously and you don’t need the latest iOS features. Finding a good PTA approved unit with high battery health is important.
You should not buy it if you want the latest software updates or need 5G support. It is also not for you if you prefer a new phone with warranty, want long battery life, or don’t want to pay high PTA tax on an old phone.
If you decide the iPhone XS Max is not for you, consider alternatives like the iPhone 11 which is newer with better battery and similar price, the iPhone XR which is cheaper with similar performance, the iPhone 12 which has 5G support and newer design, or the Samsung Galaxy S21 as an Android alternative with 120Hz display.
Where to buy in Pakistan
You can find iPhone XS Max in several places across Pakistan. OLX has many listings but be careful with scams and always meet in person. Hafeez Centre in Lahore has many mobile shops with used phones, and you can inspect before buying.
Saddar in Karachi is a popular market for imported phones. Facebook groups for iPhone buy and sell in Pakistan are also active. Local mobile shops in your city may have units available.
Always check these things before buying them. Battery health should be above 85% for good daily use. Confirm PTA approval status to avoid network problems later. Make sure Face ID works properly.
Check for any water damage signs by looking at the liquid contact indicators. Ensure the phone has original parts and has not been repaired with cheap replacements.
iPhone XS max full specifications
The iPhone XS Max has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 1242 x 2688-pixel resolution. It runs on the Apple A12 Bionic processor built on 7nm technology with a hexa core CPU and 4 core Apple GPU with Neural Engine.
It has 4GB of RAM and storage options of 64GB, 256GB, or 512GB with no card slot. The rear camera is a dual 12MP with wide telephoto lenses, both with OIS and 2x optical zoom. The front camera is a 7MP True Depth with 1080p video recording.
The battery is 3300 mAh with 18W fast charging and wireless charging support. It runs iOS 12 upgradable to iOS 16 or 17. It weighs 208 grams and measures 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.9 mm.
The build is glass front and back with stainless steel frame and it has IP68 water resistance. Colors available are Space Gray, Silver, and Gold. Used PTA approved units cost between Rs 89,000 to 110,000.
Final verdict
The iPhone XS Max is a classic that represents the best of Apple from the 2018 era. The design is timeless and the display is still beautiful. The camera continues to take great photos, and the performance is enough for daily tasks.
However, it is an old phone that will not get new iOS versions, battery life is average, and you must pay high PTA tax. If you find a well-maintained PTA approved unit with good battery health, it can still serve you well for 2 to 3 years.
Just go in with realistic expectations about its age and limitations. For the right price, the iPhone XS Max is still worth buying in 2016. For the latest updates on your phone, read our full review of the Infinix Hot 11 to see if it’s the right budget device for you.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the iPhone XS Max price in Pakistan 2026?
Used PTA approved iPhone XS Max costs between Rs 89,000 to 110,000 depending on condition and battery health.
2. Is iPhone XS Max still good in 2026?
Yes, for daily tasks and photography, it has old software and no 5G. Battery life is average.
3. How much is PTA tax on iPhone XS Max?
PTA tax is around Rs 45,000 to 50,000. Total cost with phone is about Rs 135,000 to 160,000.
4. Does iPhone XS Max support 5G in Pakistan?
No iPhone XS Max supports 4G LTE. It does not have a 5G modem.
5. What is the battery capacity of iPhone XS Max?
It has a 3300 mAh battery. Used units may have lower battery health, so check before buying.
