Whenever I travel, my phone’s camera probably gets more attention than anything else. I’m always stopping to take photos of interesting buildings, food or even random corners that happen to catch my eye. Bangkok, with its colourful streets, bustling neighbourhoods and endless food options, was the perfect place to put the new iPhone 18 Pro Max to the test.
I brought along the Burgundy version, which I personally think is one of Apple’s more interesting colour choices in recent years. It’s a deep, wine-red shade that looks quite sophisticated without being too loud. I usually gravitate towards more neutral phone colours, but this was a refreshing change.
Under the hood, the iPhone 18 Pro Max comes with Apple’s A20 Pro chip, a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display and a new triple 48MP camera system. One of the biggest changes is the variable aperture on the main camera, which offers more flexibility when shooting in different conditions.
Getting Lost in the Streets of Song Wat
One of the places I explored was Song Wat Road, a neighbourhood that has become increasingly popular for its mix of old-school charm and trendy cafés.
I particularly enjoyed wandering through the smaller alleyways, where colourful walls, old shophouses and interesting architectural details made for some lovely photo opportunities.
It’s the sort of neighbourhood where you set out to photograph one thing, only to get distracted by something else just around the corner.
And I think that’s where a phone camera really comes in handy. You don’t always know what you’ll come across, so being able to quickly take out your phone and capture a moment makes all the difference.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a versatile camera setup, with Main, Ultra Wide and Telephoto cameras. I liked having the option to switch between different perspectives depending on what I wanted to capture, whether it was a wider street scene or a smaller architectural detail.
The new variable aperture also gives photography enthusiasts more control over how their images turn out. For me, the fun of street photography is being spontaneous. Sometimes the best shots aren’t the ones you planned.
Apple Intelligence Magic
Of course, taking the photo is only half the fun. I also spent some time playing around with Apple’s photo-editing tools, particularly Clean Up, Extend and Reframe, which are powered by Apple Intelligence.
If you’ve ever tried taking photos along a busy street, you’ll know how difficult it can be to get a clean shot without someone or something getting in the way. That’s where Clean Up comes in, allowing you to remove unwanted distractions from an image. I was impressed with how clean the photo turned out.
I also gave Extend a try. As the name suggests, it lets you expand a photo beyond its original boundaries, generating more of the surrounding scene. This comes in handy when I have framed a shot a little too tightly!
Reframe was another interesting one to experiment with. Unlike simply cropping an image, it lets you change the perspective after taking the photo, almost as though you’re shifting your camera angle. It is subtle, but gives me more freedom compared to just cropping, straightening or rotating an image.
What I like about these tools is having the freedom to revisit a photo and try something different without needing to retake it. It’s nice to have these extra options, especially when travelling, when you might not get a second chance to capture the same moment.
Of course, no Bangkok trip would be complete without some good food.
During one of my traditional Thai breakfasts, I decided to try something a little different with my photos. Instead of the usual bright and colourful food shots, I experimented with filters to give them a more nostalgic, vintage feel. I wanted the pictures to have that slightly old-fashioned charm, almost as though they had been taken on a film camera years ago.
I actually enjoyed playing around with the different looks. It’s easy to get into the habit of taking the same sort of photos whenever you travel, so this was a nice way to switch things up.
Apple’s Photo Styles are also worth exploring if you enjoy this sort of creative photography. It offers more control over colours, tones and film-like effects, including texture and grain. What I like about having these creative options is that not every photo needs to look super sharp, bright or perfectly edited. Sometimes, a warmer tone or a slightly muted look captures the mood of a place much better.
Trying My Hand at Thai Cooking
Another memorable part of the trip was attending a Thai cooking class.
Besides learning how to prepare Thai dishes, I thought it would be fun to document the experience in a vlog. After all, it’s one thing to take a few photos of the finished food, but quite another to capture the process of making it. This was a good opportunity to explore the video capabilities of the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Check out the vlog below!
The phone supports 4K Dolby Vision video recording, while its upgraded 18MP Centre Stage front camera is designed to make filming yourself more convenient. There’s also Dual Capture, which lets you record using the front and rear cameras simultaneously.
What I enjoy about vlogging while travelling is that it gives me something more personal to look back on. Photos are great, but videos and live photos capture a different side of an experience.
The Little Things That Matter
Apart from the cameras, there are a few things worth mentioning about the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The 6.9-inch display makes reviewing content on the go more convenient, especially when I’m travelling. The A20 Pro chip provides the processing power for more demanding tasks, including video editing and Apple’s computational photography features.
Battery life is another consideration, especially on trips when you’re constantly using maps, taking photos, recording videos and looking up places to visit. Apple claims up to 43 hours of video playback, and personally, throughout a whole day of snapping pictures and videoing, I still had a decent amount of battery left.
Final Thoughts
Looking back at my Bangkok trip, I think what I enjoyed most about using the iPhone 18 Pro Max was having so many ways to capture the experience. I found myself exploring more than just the usual point-and-shoot features.
I also like that Apple is giving users more creative control over their photos and videos. You can keep things simple and just point and shoot, or spend more time experimenting with different settings and styles.
For someone like me who loves taking photos, making little travel videos and documenting experiences, I appreciate the versatility. At the end of the day, the photos I treasure most from a holiday aren’t always the most technically impressive ones. They’re the ones that remind me of where I went, what I ate and the little things I experienced along the way.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is available in Burgundy, Glacier, Silver and Black, starting at S$2,099 in Singapore.
The iPhone 18 Pro TechWoven Case with MagSafe – Taupe retails at S$89 and comes in six colours.
