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iPhone 12 Pro Max 11 Pro Max to 12 Pro Max Upgraders - what it worth it?

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Adelphos33

macrumors 68000
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Mar 13, 2012
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I usually buy my new phones in January/February, and I’ve had a year with my Midnight Green 11 Pro Max. I’ve now gotten some real world reviews from friends who all love their 12 Pro Max - I am thinking of upgrading and then holding for a few years. A couple of considerations

1) I want a phone with a lightning port - I want to avoid portless phones for a couple of years (so I may want to get a 12PM now)
2) In display Touch ID would be interesting, but not necessary (could be an argument for waiting)

My main question is the bigger screen, better camera of the 12 Pro Max noticeable over the 11 Pro Max? If so I may just go ahead and buy a maxed out 12 Pro Max now...
 
I'd vote no. I've still got my 11 Pro Max I got in January of last year. I had two 11 PM that had yellow screens. I settled on the second one. I saw the demo models at Best Buy and they are more yellow this year to me. I also feel that no form of Touch ID in this mask environment is not an upgrade to my current device. I also don't like the square design but that's just nitpicking.
 
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I guess it depends on what features are important to you. Each person has their reasons why the upgrade from the 11PM to the 12PM is worth it to them... battery, improved camera, better screen, snappier, MagSafe, etc, etc. If the rumors about the upcoming iPhones don't interest you enough and you intend to hang onto the phone for a few years, then why not upgrade.
 
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Wasting your money upgrading from a 11 pro max, you won’t notice the bigger screen, battery life in the 11 pro max is on par with 12 pro max. You won’t notice much difference in the camera as well, my honest opinion you’ll be throwing your money away, better off waiting for the 12s/13
 
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Adelphos33 said:
I usually buy my new phones in January/February, and I’ve had a year with my Midnight Green 11 Pro Max. I’ve now gotten some real world reviews from friends who all love their 12 Pro Max - I am thinking of upgrading and then holding for a few years. A couple of considerations

1) I want a phone with a lightning port - I want to avoid portless phones for a couple of years (so I may want to get a 12PM now)
2) In display Touch ID would be interesting, but not necessary (could be an argument for waiting)

My main question is the bigger screen, better camera of the 12 Pro Max noticeable over the 11 Pro Max? If so I may just go ahead and buy a maxed out 12 Pro Max now...
Click to expand...
You can always keep your 11 Pro Max and wait until the 13 is announced. If it is portless or otherwise doesn't suit you, buy a 12 Pro Max at reduced price.

I don't notice any difference in my 12 Pro Max vs. 11 Pro Max in terms of the overall experience. I'm not a pro photographer and don't know what I don't know. The most appealing thing to me about the 12 Pro Max is the flat screen. I hate curved screens / edges with a passion. The negative of the flat screen is that it can make the 12 Pro Max feel much larger than the 11 Pro Max with its curved edges.
 
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Screen feels little bit bigger - the device itself feels a lot heavier. I'm furious as ever that Apple Books doesn't utilize all the screen space on my 12 Pro Max while Kindle, Libby, and most other apps do.

I can't prove it but it feels like the text is sharper on the 12 Pro Max vs the 11 --- I do a lot... a lot of reading on my devices.

The weight is something I have yet to get used to. Holding this phone for long periods of time just hurts. Yes, queue the "do you lift" comments but I didn't have this problem with the 11 Pro Max. May be the shape of the phone too.

If I had to go back in the past and tell myself anything? I'd have told myself to keep the 11 Pro Max. Not that don't like the 12 Pro Max but the differences are pretty minor. Granted, I'm on the iUP plan so upgrading is pain free (from one year to the next).
 
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BigMcGuire said:
Screen feels little bit bigger - the device itself feels a lot heavier. I'm furious as ever that Apple Books doesn't utilize all the screen space on my 12 Pro Max while Kindle, Libby, and most other apps do.

I can't prove it but it feels like the text is sharper on the 12 Pro Max vs the 11 --- I do a lot... a lot of reading on my devices.

The weight is something I have yet to get used to. Holding this phone for long periods of time just hurts. Yes, queue the "do you lift" comments but I didn't have this problem with the 11 Pro Max. May be the shape of the phone too.

If I had to go back in the past and tell myself anything? I'd have told myself to keep the 11 Pro Max. Not that don't like the 12 Pro Max but the differences are pretty minor. Granted, I'm on the iUP plan so upgrading is pain free (from one year to the next).
Click to expand...
I read alot of books on Apple books and the pages are full screen for me
 
Note the wasted margin space that can't be modified with the Apple Books screenshot vs the 4 other apps (and most other apps for that matter).

Just compare Kindle and Apple Books. As someone who reads a lot (5 books last month) - this is a huge deal for me lol.
 
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BigMcGuire said:
Note the wasted margin space that can't be modified with the Apple Books screenshot vs the 4 other apps (and most other apps for that matter).

Just compare Kindle and Apple Books. As someone who reads a lot (5 books last month) - this is a huge deal for me lol.
Click to expand...
Do you know if you get the same words on a page as an actual kindle paper white with the kindle app on the 12 max?
 
Robbosan said:
Do you know if you get the same words on a page as an actual kindle paper white with the kindle app on the 12 max?
Click to expand...
Very good question. I haven't used a Kindle in years - sorry! Hopefully someone else will chime in.

When I was talking about Kindle - I meant the iOS Kindle App on my iPhone.
 
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For me, the camera alone has justified the upgrade. Night mode is better, Deep Fusion for the telephoto lens (that's new, isn't it?) and the vastly improved Portrait Mode. Great stuff.
 
Septembersrain said:
I'd vote no. I've still got my 11 Pro Max I got in January of last year. I had two 11 PM that had yellow screens. I settled on the second one. I saw the demo models at Best Buy and they are more yellow this year to me. I also feel that no form of Touch ID in this mask environment is not an upgrade to my current device. I also don't like the square design but that's just nitpicking.
Click to expand...
Agreed it’s not worth it. The camera is not a huge improvements. Battery life is less. 5g modem is out of date and less efficient. Screen qualityis the same. 6.5 and 6.7 is almost the same but the 6.7 square body just feels way bigger (came from xs max and returned the 12 Max, went with the iPhone mini instead). I dont think you missing much. And worst is the green reflections shooting in low light. Truly got me annoyed.
 
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Absolutely yes for me. Two main reasons:

1. Camera

2. Better reception in marginal areas. I don’t mean speed e.g. 5G. I am an outdoor person and frequently in remote areas with marginal or no reception. The 12 PM is the first phone since the 7 series with a decent reception. E.g. I have areas where I can now sent/receive a text where the last 3 or 4 years it was frustratingly silent.
Last year I took my old “you are holding it wrong” 4 with a bumper out and it had better reception (holding on to signal, not speed) then the 11 PM.

I know some of you in mainly good reception areas may not experience this and only compare top speed.

The 12 PM is the first phone in quite a while which I am all the way around satisfied.
 
If your 11 pro max is getting this kind of battery life already 23% battery left 12 pro max, then keep your 11 pro max till the next iPhone comes out.

F2E33700-A0B5-40F9-8381-F6B08C750DA6.jpeg
 
BigMcGuire said:
As someone who reads a lot (5 books last month) - this is a huge deal for me lol.
Click to expand...

Have you tried ebook readers? Sure the text isn't as sharp and the UI is terrible compared to a smartphone, but the eink display is so much more comfortable for reading! And the battery lasts pretty much forever.
 
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It probably isn't worth it. Of course it depends on what you value; and if you value a specific feature that comes with the 12 PM it could be worth it for you. But for most people I'd say it isn't worth it. The 2021 pro max will make more sense since it will (hopefully) come with promotion.
 
I’ve only had my 12 pro max since Monday and I upgraded from the 11 pro max. I was hesitant for many months but decided to go ahead and do it.

what I like about the 12 pro max:

The larger display. It’s a wider display and I really like that.

The camera is a lot better in low light situations, not only at nighttime but inside my house

I love MagSafe charging

I like the new design and I went for a new Colour this time.


I think for those reasons on balance it had been a good upgrade.

I’m also waiting to test out 5G. It is in my area but because of the national lockdown I’m inside most of the time if I’m not at work
 
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Shanghaichica said:
I’ve only had my 12 pro max since Monday and I upgraded from the 11 pro max. I was hesitant for many months but decided to go ahead and do it.

what I like about the 12 pro max:

The larger display. It’s a wider display and I really like that.

The camera is a lot better in low light situations, not only at nighttime but inside my house

I love MagSafe charging

I like the new design and I went for a new Colour this time.


I think for those reasons on balance it had been a good upgrade.

I’m also waiting to test out 5G. It is in my area but because of the national lockdown I’m inside most of the time if I’m not at work
Click to expand...
I'm in the same boat about upgrading this year. I absolutely LOVE my 11 PM, but the thought of something new and shiny, mmm, lol. Not to mention this design is amazing, looks like a work of art IMO. I know it's only been a few days for you, but are you happy you upgraded or do you think meh, it's just okay, or are you thinking it wasn't enough of an upgrade. Does the added screen size actually make a difference? Sorry if I sound redundant, I've never been this undecided before. Maybe it's what's going on in the world, not too sure but just looking for some input.
 
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biffuz said:
Have you tried ebook readers? Sure the text isn't as sharp and the UI is terrible compared to a smartphone, but the eink display is so much more comfortable for reading! And the battery lasts pretty much forever.
Click to expand...
I used a kindle years ago - like 4 or 5 - and loved it. Haven’t tried one recently. Was considering trying one - <cough>.
 
Septembersrain said:
I'd vote no. I've still got my 11 Pro Max I got in January of last year. I had two 11 PM that had yellow screens. I settled on the second one. I saw the demo models at Best Buy and they are more yellow this year to me. I also feel that no form of Touch ID in this mask environment is not an upgrade to my current device. I also don't like the square design but that's just nitpicking.
Click to expand...
12 pro max has this yellow screen also and some people are exchanging 3+ times. Also 12 pro max has a bit of green tint/raised black thing.
I personally suffer from flickering on videos I take on this. It gets me dizzy trying to watch them.
 
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