iPhone 18 Pro Max icons and text smaller, display adjustment issues

Expressing or conveying visual experiences effectively through these forums may be challenging. The underlying visual issue on your iPhone cannot be accurately diagnosed online. Factors such as your iPhone's specific settings, visual defects, and potential hardware problems cannot be assessed through this method. For more personalized and in-depth assistance, I recommend securing a Genius Bar Reservation and exploring the various support options provided by Apple.

Get a Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

When you encounter issues with your Apple devices, the Genius Bar at Apple Retail Stores is the go-to place for expert assistance. The Genius Bar is staffed by knowledgeable Apple employees, often referred to as "Geniuses," who can diagnose and resolve a wide range of hardware and software-related problems. To ensure personalized attention and a convenient visit, Apple provides the option to schedule a Genius Bar Reservation.

Contact Genius Bar.

Manage Reservations - My Reservations - Apple

Take your device to an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider, or contact Apple Support:

1. If you prefer face-to-face assistance, you can visit an Apple Retail Store. Apple Retail Stores are designed to provide a hands-on experience with Apple products and offer support services. You can speak with Apple specialists, known as "Creative Pros" in some locations, who can assist you with product-related inquiries or minor troubleshooting.
2. In addition to Apple Retail Stores, there are Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs) that are authorized to perform repairs on Apple products. AASPs are independent businesses certified by Apple to offer service and repairs for various Apple devices.
3. If visiting a physical location is not possible or convenient, you can seek support by contacting Apple Support. Apple offers various channels for support, including phone support, live chat, and email. The official Apple Support website provides information on how to reach out to Apple for assistance.

Finally, you can also start a repair log or track the status of existing repair --> Apple Repair and Repair Status Check - Official Apple Support

In summary, Apple provides customers with a range of support options, including the Genius Bar Reservation system, visits to Apple Retail Stores or Authorized Service Providers, and various channels to contact Apple Support for assistance with their products. These services aim to ensure that Apple users receive the necessary help and support whenever they encounter issues with their devices.

If you find that the icons on the iPhone 18 Pro Max appear about 10% smaller than on your iPhone 16 Pro Max, and the text also appears roughly 10% smaller, there is another possibility to consider before changing the overall Display & Text Size.

If increasing the text size on the iPhone 18 Pro Max makes everything too large—for example, email addresses that previously fitted on a single line now wrap onto two lines—then the issue may not actually be the text size.

It is possible that your iPhone 16 Pro Max was already using a Zoom setting greater than 1.2×, which made the icons and text appear larger without making individual text elements excessively large.

Check this on both iPhones

Keep the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro Max side by side and check:

Settings → Accessibility → Zoom

Look at the Zoom level on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. If it is set to something higher than 1.2×, such as:

1.5× → 1.8× → 2.0× → 2.2× → 2.5× → 2.8×, etc., that could explain why the older iPhone appears to have larger icons and text.

You can then adjust the Zoom setting on the iPhone 18 Pro Max to the level that gives you the most comfortable and comparable appearance.

So, before increasing the normal text size, check the Zoom setting on your iPhone 16 Pro Max first. This is particularly important because Display & Text Size and Zoom affect the overall appearance differently.

The easiest way to determine the correct setting is to keep both phones next to each other and gradually adjust the Zoom level on the iPhone 18 Pro Max until the icons, text and overall screen layout look similar to your iPhone 16 Pro Max.