Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 12 Pro Max 11 Pro Max to 12 Pro Max Upgraders - what it worth it?
- Thread starter Adelphos33
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I've had 10 iPhones in the last 14 years. I had the original iPhone (4GB model!), the 3GS, the iPhone 4, then starting with the iPhone 5s I upgraded every year like clock work. The iPhone 12 was the first one I've skipped. I have an 11 Pro Max. I use Verizon and I live in southern California. I regularly speed test well over 100Mbps, even in mountain areas like Big Bear. Never an issue with signal quality, whether traveling up the 395, out to Vegas, or out on Kilauea, pre-pandemic of course. I use the telephoto lens a lot and Apple downgraded the lens on the telephoto camera for the 12PM. Watching tons of videos on YouTube comparing the cameras, for daylight shots, there's times where the 12PM comes out on top and there's times were the 11PM comes out on top. Night mode isn't better enough on the 12PM to justify the upgrade. MagSafe? Gimmick. Bring back MagSafe for the Mac, not for accessories for the iPhone that don't serve good real world purposes.
What should Apple have done instead of MagSafe or downgrading the telephoto lens? 120Hz screen. There really is no excuse at this point for not having a high refresh rate screen on the iPhone. All of the 12 models should have had a high refresh rate screen. Even the 11 Pro series should have had high refresh rate screens, but with the battery life increase and camera upgrades over the Xs generation, it was excusable.
Apple needs to finally ditch Lightning too. I was a big supporter of the Lightning port, but at this point, USB-C has eclipsed it in every way. It's ridiculous that we still have to carry a multiple, expensive, Apple proprietary adapters to do simple things like connect external storage or even connect the device to an external display. Why is it that my iPhone has been able to shoot very high quality 4k video since 2015 but there is no easy way for me to connect it to a 4k display to show it off? $50 for a Digital AV adapter that only supports 1080p max with no HDR is ridiculous.
What should Apple have done instead of MagSafe or downgrading the telephoto lens? 120Hz screen. There really is no excuse at this point for not having a high refresh rate screen on the iPhone. All of the 12 models should have had a high refresh rate screen. Even the 11 Pro series should have had high refresh rate screens, but with the battery life increase and camera upgrades over the Xs generation, it was excusable.
Apple needs to finally ditch Lightning too. I was a big supporter of the Lightning port, but at this point, USB-C has eclipsed it in every way. It's ridiculous that we still have to carry a multiple, expensive, Apple proprietary adapters to do simple things like connect external storage or even connect the device to an external display. Why is it that my iPhone has been able to shoot very high quality 4k video since 2015 but there is no easy way for me to connect it to a 4k display to show it off? $50 for a Digital AV adapter that only supports 1080p max with no HDR is ridiculous.
I’m over it I was going to upgrade from my 11pm but Brother got a 12pm and we did a few speed test on 5GE crap (att ) and the speeds were the same maybe a few numbers off. I just didn’t seem the need to upgrade this year . I use that money and brought apple stock instead
Never had the 11 pro max that screen shot was my 12 pro max, had the xs max previously.
Depends on your use. For me it was.
I wanted the flat sides (ergonomic) and better camera (use it a lot). It does feel bigger and heavier but I have gotten used to it.
I wanted the flat sides (ergonomic) and better camera (use it a lot). It does feel bigger and heavier but I have gotten used to it.
I don’t ever have buyers remorse. I get the new flagship every year on launch day and have since the inception of iPhone.
I like the way the 11 PM felt in the hand vs the squared off edges of the 12 PM. Likes the open bottom leather apple cases more and the way the felt against my fingers. The phone just seemed more robust and higher quality.
Sure the 12PM takes better pics, but how good does a picture have to be? I’m on att firstnet as I’m a career fireman. Firstnet isn’t 5G yet so I have no reference when it comes to that.
Did you notice a difference in battery life? Some say the 11 pro max is better and some say the 12 pro max is better. I'm having a hard time deciding.
Not the poster you're replying to, but for what it's worth, I haven't noticed any difference in battery life. But then again, I'm not sure 'noticing' is a reliable guide to such things - our subjective experience of battery life isn't a terribly helpful guide for others! Even if we perceive it accurately, everyone uses their phone differently, and those usage patterns change over time (not least in a pandemic), as does the condition of batteries, the possibility of battery sapping bugs in new/beta OSs, etc.
In general, I would say the battery life in the two phones is very similar, and not a significant point of differentiation. If you're in a circumstance where that extra few percent is critical, you probably need a better solution anyway (a battery case or charging pack or similar).
Speaking of which, it sure would be nice if Apple got around to releasing the Smart Battery Cases for this generation of phones. I really liked my old 11 Pro Max one for hiking trips.
Last edited:
Using both an 11PM and 12PM. I swap off between the two. Currently I am running both under the 14.5 beta 1.
For 14.4 and 14.5 I am seeing better battery life on the 12PM especially for things like listening to music via YouTube Music or reading on Kindle. Most of this is done on wifi as LTE/5G is moderately weak signal wise in my area.
I had a repair under Applecare, so now I am in possession of a new (or refurbished, not sure) iPhone Pro 11 Max with 100% Battery health. I may as well keep this phone for at least another year. I think the Midnight Green 11 Pro Max will end up being a classic iPhone in terms of looks and design, kind of like the jet black 7/7+ (I prefer the color meaningfully over the pacific blue; if I were to get an iPhone 12 Pro I would go silver or gold)
I just wish Apple had done something a nit more color wise. Color is nice but is doesn’t catch the eye like the Black did.
JMO
Picture taken with IPP 11 2020
If I had an 11 Pro, there’s no way I’d bother with the 12 Pro personally. I can’t think of any must have differences in all honesty 
.
.I don’t notice a difference at all. I will say that having every iteration of the flagships, I’ve always been happy to upgrade each year. When I put my 11PM in the mail to ship back as soon as I closed the door, I knew I’d messed up. I’m just not happy with the styling of the 12 PM and I think the Apple leather cases are absolutely janky. The whole thing feels off to me in comparison.
If you’re coming from something else, or a prior model, I’d hold both phones and play with them. If you like the 12PM I wouldn’t dissuade you by any means.
The most distinctive aspect of the design is the 3 lens camera system, which I frankly love. I know people stay the iPhone 12 is the first "new design" in a while but the three lens system on the 11 pro looks closer to the 12 pro the it does to the X/Xs...
Also not the poster you're replying to but I lucked out on my 12 Pro Max - battery capacity is over design capacity and I definitely notice better life with my 12 Pro Max vs the 11 Pro Max.
And I forgot - Apple News:
The 11 pro max and the 12 pro max are pretty much the same weight, so I’m not sure why it would feel heavier.
I recently upgraded from a XS Max to the 12 Pro Max and there was definitely a weight difference between them. I got used to thhe new phone pretty quickly though and I don’t notice the weight unless I hold the XS Max again.
I have the exact same opinion as you. I regretted it right away when I shipped my 11 Pro Max off to T-Mobile as a trade in. Wish I had kept it and returned the 12 Pro Max.
Now add in the fact that T-Mobile tried to pull a fast one on me and say they never got the phone but that's a story for another day lol.
Also went from a xs max to 12 pro max, agree with you 100% weight on the 12 pro max is a non issue.
