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titovenok88

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Jul 27, 2019
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Hello! Thinking about changing my XS Max. Help me, please, to understand which device, 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max, to buy? What are Pros and Cons? I m using my iPhone for everyday work (hundred emails, different types of docs, social networks, messengers, etc.). Many thanks!
 
I’m going to be honest. I switched from an 8 plus to Pro Max and now I’m seriously considering returning for the Pro. The pro max is just soooo big!!! It’s too much.
Ive been using a Plus phone for 5 years now, and switching over to the smaller size. When the phones became full sized screen it just became too much.
 
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Hello! Thinking about changing my XS Max. Help me, please, to understand which device, 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max, to buy? What are Pros and Cons? I m using my iPhone for everyday work (hundred emails, different types of docs, social networks, messengers, etc.). Many thanks!

Based on your use cases, the 11 Pro or even the 11 would work. It really comes down to preferences and how much you want to spend. If you are really into taking pictures, I would recommend going the 11 Pro route - it does have a better camera than the 11.

There are plenty of references (websites, blogs, YouTube videos) that discuss the pros and cons. If I was on the fence, I would go to the Apple Store or Best Buy (if you don't have an Apple Store in your area) to try out the different 11 models.
 
Well, the cons should be obvious.
Bigger phone, harder to use, looks impressive at first, way more clunky after that...but more battery life and a bigger display (which is especially useful if you consume a lot and not just use it as a phone).

Everything else the Pro does the same.

I ordered both this time, I love my 7, but it's things like the camera and longetivity and the massive increase of battery life that finally got me. Will decide when I get them, which one I like more and hold on to it.

I just wish we already had Qualcomm modems this year, but it does seem Apple improved on that, too.
 
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Ive been using a Plus phone for 5 years now, and switching over to the smaller size. When the phones became full sized screen it just became too much.
You are so right! My field of vision can only take in so much at one time so there’s really a lot of wasted area. I think I’m going t
the 8 Plus is larger than the Pro Max.
Yes, just barely. BUT, the 8 Plus isn’t full screen so it kind of makes it smaller (to me). The Pro Max is 100% screen and it’s just too much.
According the website below, the 11 Pro Max dimensions are larger than the 8 Plus.

Yes but it’s the screen size that’s larger.
 

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You are so right! My field of vision can only take in so much at one time so there’s really a lot of wasted area. I think I’m going t

Yes, just barely. BUT, the 8 Plus isn’t full screen so it kind of makes it smaller (to me). The Pro Max is 100% screen and it’s just too much.

Yes but it’s the screen size that’s larger.

The 11 Pro is a nice compromise with a 5.8 inch display for me.
Well, the cons should be obvious.
Bigger phone, harder to use, looks impressive at first, way more clunky after that...but more battery life and a bigger display (which is especially useful if you consume a lot and not just use it as a phone).

Everything else the Pro does the same.

I ordered both this time, I love my 7, but it's things like the camera and longetivity and the massive increase of battery life that finally got me. Will decide when I get them, which one I like more and hold on to it.

I just wish we already had Qualcomm modems this year, but it does seem Apple improved on that, too.

I wish we had the Qualcomm modem too.
 
Im in the same boat. I have an X right now and my only other device is a rMB. I probably could use the max but I take my phone to the gym so not sure I want the max size.
 
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Another one here in a similar spot... I am upgrading from a X. I ordered and received a regular 11 Pro, but I am in a crisis of sorts trying to decide if I should have gotten the Max. A few trips to the Apple Store to play around with the Max version have not made my decision any easier.

Prior to the X I always had a Plus device dating back to the 6 Plus. The Max display is awesome for video, but it’s a lot of phone to carry around every day...

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. It would be nice to hear from people who have either Pro model and maybe we can compare and contrast.

Talk about first-world problems... LOL

Thanks everyone!
 
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Another one here in a similar spot... I am upgrading from a X. I ordered and received a regular 11 Pro, but I am in a crisis of sorts trying to decide if I should have gotten the Max. A few trips to the Apple Store to play around with the Max version have not made my decision any easier.

Prior to the X I always had a Plus device dating back to the 6 Plus. The Max display is awesome for video, but it’s a lot of phone to carry around every day...

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. It would be nice to hear from people who have either Pro model and maybe we can compare and contrast.

Talk about first-world problems... LOL

Thanks everyone!

I bought both the 11 Pro and Max so I could easily compare them and make a decision. First off they're both great phones so it's hard to go wrong.

Obviously the Max is larger and bulkier. Even if you’re coming from a Plus phone previously, the Max could be too big since it is heavier than ever and the larger screen (compared to Plus models) means your fingers need to cover a larger area than before. So even if you were comfortable with a Plus version previously, the Max may be too large.

Weight: Don’t underestimate the weight either, it is noticeable. After extended use my fingers/wrists ache a little, primarily during one-handed use. The Max is definitely a two handed device, while the 11 Pro can easily be used one handed and for long periods without pain.

Software: The Max also lacks any usability improvements since iOS is not optimized for the big screen unfortunately. There is no multi-window or split screen mode, and few apps offer extra features in landscape mode. Also, even though the screen is larger, surprisingly little extra content is shown. A little extra on the right, and on the bottom. For example on a Google search results page, only half a result more is shown. On the iOS settings home page, only two extra settings are shown at the bottom.

The only usability reasons I can see to go Max are if you watch a lot of video content or play games, both are definitely better on the Max. Also if you like to have your text really large, or prefer a wider keyboard. The Max keyboard is wider but the same height as on the 11 Pro. There is a one handed keyboard mode which on the Max makes the keyboard slightly narrower than the 11 Pros default width. But again, due to the size and particularly weight of the Max, it is tiring to use for me. I'm sure there are other use-cases where the Max is a big improvement but I think video and gaming are the big ones.

Battery: If you care about battery life the Max is the way to go for sure. I have done lots of testing against the two and on average the Max is 25-30% better. For light web browsing the Max is nearly 40% better. I think it would be very difficult to kill in a single day unless you were constantly gaming, and even then you could safely expect 6-7 hours. It will be a multi day battery for many users for sure.

For me, I still haven’t decided which to go with. The battery on the Max is very tempting but the extra bulk in-hand/pocket and 1-handed use difficulty is off-putting.

Let me know if you have any questions.
 
Thanks for Your suggestions. I am going to buy 11 Pro Max. I am wearing suits 99% of time. My XS Max fits well in my jacket pocket. And I realized, that if You don’t have iPad Pro, then bigger screen of iPhone makes the work more productive, than smaller one. And, of course, films, YouTube experience better on 6,5 screen. And I am well with one-handed use of my XS Max. It’s just time to make such experience.
 
I bought both the 11 Pro and Max so I could easily compare them and make a decision. First off they're both great phones so it's hard to go wrong.

Obviously the Max is larger and bulkier. Even if you’re coming from a Plus phone previously, the Max could be too big since it is heavier than ever and the larger screen (compared to Plus models) means your fingers need to cover a larger area than before. So even if you were comfortable with a Plus version previously, the Max may be too large.

Weight: Don’t underestimate the weight either, it is noticeable. After extended use my fingers/wrists ache a little, primarily during one-handed use. The Max is definitely a two handed device, while the 11 Pro can easily be used one handed and for long periods without pain.

Software: The Max also lacks any usability improvements since iOS is not optimized for the big screen unfortunately. There is no multi-window or split screen mode, and few apps offer extra features in landscape mode. Also, even though the screen is larger, surprisingly little extra content is shown. A little extra on the right, and on the bottom. For example on a Google search results page, only half a result more is shown. On the iOS settings home page, only two extra settings are shown at the bottom.

The only usability reasons I can see to go Max are if you watch a lot of video content or play games, both are definitely better on the Max. Also if you like to have your text really large, or prefer a wider keyboard. The Max keyboard is wider but the same height as on the 11 Pro. There is a one handed keyboard mode which on the Max makes the keyboard slightly narrower than the 11 Pros default width. But again, due to the size and particularly weight of the Max, it is tiring to use for me. I'm sure there are other use-cases where the Max is a big improvement but I think video and gaming are the big ones.

Battery: If you care about battery life the Max is the way to go for sure. I have done lots of testing against the two and on average the Max is 25-30% better. For light web browsing the Max is nearly 40% better. I think it would be very difficult to kill in a single day unless you were constantly gaming, and even then you could safely expect 6-7 hours. It will be a multi day battery for many users for sure.

For me, I still haven’t decided which to go with. The battery on the Max is very tempting but the extra bulk in-hand/pocket and 1-handed use difficulty is off-putting.

Let me know if you have any questions.
Wow! This is a fantastic comparison. Thanks so much for your input. I am leaning toward keeping the regular Pro at this point. Your detail is very much appreciated!
 
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I bought a Max to test drive against my X and I think it’s worth the jump to the bigger screen.

You can use it one handed without a case and there are lots of tricks to make it easier to handle.

The jump in screen size makes it so much easier to read, watch videos, and look at pictures. I also think viewing work documents will be a lot better.
 
I bought a Max to test drive against my X and I think it’s worth the jump to the bigger screen.

You can use it one handed without a case and there are lots of tricks to make it easier to handle.

The jump in screen size makes it so much easier to read, watch videos, and look at pictures. I also think viewing work documents will be a lot better.
Very good points. That display is very nice...
 
I bought both the 11 Pro and Max so I could easily compare them and make a decision. First off they're both great phones so it's hard to go wrong.

Obviously the Max is larger and bulkier. Even if you’re coming from a Plus phone previously, the Max could be too big since it is heavier than ever and the larger screen (compared to Plus models) means your fingers need to cover a larger area than before. So even if you were comfortable with a Plus version previously, the Max may be too large.

Weight: Don’t underestimate the weight either, it is noticeable. After extended use my fingers/wrists ache a little, primarily during one-handed use. The Max is definitely a two handed device, while the 11 Pro can easily be used one handed and for long periods without pain.

Software: The Max also lacks any usability improvements since iOS is not optimized for the big screen unfortunately. There is no multi-window or split screen mode, and few apps offer extra features in landscape mode. Also, even though the screen is larger, surprisingly little extra content is shown. A little extra on the right, and on the bottom. For example on a Google search results page, only half a result more is shown. On the iOS settings home page, only two extra settings are shown at the bottom.

The only usability reasons I can see to go Max are if you watch a lot of video content or play games, both are definitely better on the Max. Also if you like to have your text really large, or prefer a wider keyboard. The Max keyboard is wider but the same height as on the 11 Pro. There is a one handed keyboard mode which on the Max makes the keyboard slightly narrower than the 11 Pros default width. But again, due to the size and particularly weight of the Max, it is tiring to use for me. I'm sure there are other use-cases where the Max is a big improvement but I think video and gaming are the big ones.

Battery: If you care about battery life the Max is the way to go for sure. I have done lots of testing against the two and on average the Max is 25-30% better. For light web browsing the Max is nearly 40% better. I think it would be very difficult to kill in a single day unless you were constantly gaming, and even then you could safely expect 6-7 hours. It will be a multi day battery for many users for sure.

For me, I still haven’t decided which to go with. The battery on the Max is very tempting but the extra bulk in-hand/pocket and 1-handed use difficulty is off-putting.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Nice review, thanks for sharing.
 
Ideally, I'd replace my 11 Pro with my MacBook Pro 13" if I could. But it's a phone and I value portability in such a device, and as such, I find the Pro to be about as large as I would ever want to go with a portable device. There's no way I could use the Pro Max comfortably which is why I went with the smaller size. The Max would barely fit in my jeans pocket and I personally don't find it comfortable to use whenever I've played with anyone's max/plus model phones over the years.

To each his own - I have friends and relatives who wouldn't give up the max/plus size to save their lives. I'm not one of them however. It's a very personal decision and no one here can make it for you.
 
So Max is too big for me, and the battery difference is not important to me, if it had a better camera then yes I would consider it but it is identical in terms of camera performance (same lenses, sensors, and so on) so for me iPhone 11 Pro because I like the more discreet size and the ability to shoot quickly and easily one-handed. The Max is awesome but remains a bit unwieldy for me as a one-handed camera.
 
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Im in the same boat. I have an X right now and my only other device is a rMB. I probably could use the max but I take my phone to the gym so not sure I want the max size.
This was my biggest complaint. It’s too big and heavy for any physical activities. Mounting on a bike, in your gym shorts running, etc.
 
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Another one here in a similar spot... I am upgrading from a X. I ordered and received a regular 11 Pro, but I am in a crisis of sorts trying to decide if I should have gotten the Max. A few trips to the Apple Store to play around with the Max version have not made my decision any easier.

Prior to the X I always had a Plus device dating back to the 6 Plus. The Max display is awesome for video, but it’s a lot of phone to carry around every day...

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. It would be nice to hear from people who have either Pro model and maybe we can compare and contrast.

Talk about first-world problems... LOL

Thanks everyone!
Let me tell you why I went 11 Pro...

I compared my XS usage to my friends who either have the 7/8 Plus, X, or the XS Max. They use the phone for heavy video consumption. They are also very stationary people.

For me, I watch videos frequently, but find myself to be a heavy commuter. I also walk and text (or use other apps that require one hand many times). A larger screen would be nice for consumption but a hassle for most other things because the screen isn’t optimized for the extra space more than less.

the regular Pro is a good size balance between Plus and 4.7’ users. Until my life settles down a little bit more (or needs change), I would rather stick to something comfortable and less of a hassle.

My 14-day return policy isn’t over yet, so maybe I may feel compelled to try the Max for a change. I’ll have to see, but not likely.
 
This was my biggest complaint. It’s too big and heavy for any physical activities. Mounting on a bike, in your gym shorts running, etc.

I do all of those things with the plus size iPhones, including the Pro Max, and I love it. I had the X, and I'm glad to be running, biking, etc with the Pro Max. When I hold the Pro, I'm assured that I have no desire to go back to a smaller phone. To each his own. :)
 
I do all of those things with the plus size iPhones, including the Pro Max, and I love it. I had the X, and I'm glad to be running, biking, etc with the Pro Max. When I hold the Pro, I'm assured that I have no desire to go back to a smaller phone. To each his own. :)
I mean I'm not saying you can't do those activities withe the max/plus size phones it's just that it's noticably clunkier experience.
 
Thanks for Your suggestions. I am going to buy 11 Pro Max. I am wearing suits 99% of time. My XS Max fits well in my jacket pocket. And I realized, that if You don’t have iPad Pro, then bigger screen of iPhone makes the work more productive, than smaller one. And, of course, films, YouTube experience better on 6,5 screen. And I am well with one-handed use of my XS Max. It’s just time to make such experience.

I'm too late, but I was going to say that if you enjoyed using the XS Max, you should go with the Pro Max. I did
I mean I'm not saying you can't do those activities withe the max/plus size phones it's just that it's noticably clunkier experience.

Yes, it’s not for many, but I just haven’t found it to be clunky. :)
 
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