Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
You know that if you care about battery life, there’s only one real answer.

(Despite the compromise of being unwieldy to hold)
 
Go big always is what I usually say. Pro Max is always my go to option. But I would say it depends a lot on how comfortable you feel with big phones. It is definitely not for everyone.
 
I’m looking at upgrading from my 13 non-pro to either a 16 Pro or Pro Max. Kind of thinking the small screen size increase just moving to the non-max Pro will be enough. Decisions, decisions…
 
I upgraded last year to the PM and I'm not looking back. The titanium chassis helped re-balance the PM and the weight is no longer such an issue. I love the bigger screen and battery life. If you have shorter fingers, though, you may struggle to reach the screen. Reachability helps, but it's just another step you have to get used to doing when you switch to the bigger phone.
 
I upgraded last year to the PM and I'm not looking back. The titanium chassis helped re-balance the PM and the weight is no longer such an issue. I love the bigger screen and battery life. If you have shorter fingers, though, you may struggle to reach the screen. Reachability helps, but it's just another step you have to get used to doing when you switch to the bigger phone.
Yeah I agree. But the reachability helps only a bit. I still almost drop my phone when I try to use it with one hand becaude my hand is not big enough to hold it. 😂 Hope the Pro has a decent battery life this time.
 
Pro Max all day every day. Having a 6.7 inch iPhone screen is life changing and I can't wait to get an even bigger phone when my 16 Pro Max gets here.
 
For a 30 Minutes YouTube, then the iPhone 16 Pro Max would be your best bet, since majority of YouTube Series or old films are still on 4:3 or 16:9, some YouTube Short are even 1:1... it maintains the same width Screen of an old iPhone 8 Plus when watching 16:9" which is around 5.5 to 5.6" display.

Anything over an Hour, either of 16 Pro or 16 Pro Max would definitely strain your eye, none of them would be good since they are too small to watch and enjoy movies.. so your best choice invest for an iPad Mini 6 at least to make the video 3 times bigger and enjoyable...
 
  • Like
Reactions: shr631
I'm switching from a Pro Max to a Pro for pretty much the same reasons the above poster mentioned.

I'll be upgrading from a 13 Pro Max, so with the improved battery specs and the screen size bump on the 16 Pro, I hopefully won't see a massive difference in experience
This is kind of where I’m at. I pre-ordered the 16 pro. These new iPhones got metal encased super batteries, so I think I’ll be fine there. At the same time I think I’ll be using this phone for years and let’s be honest, smart phones are the centerpiece media hub of most peoples lives. So now I’m debating on exchanging it come Friday. I’m going from the 11 Pro which always felt like a perfect size that’s 5.8 to 6.3. But again, my thought process is it seems like the phones are headed in the bigger direction, especially with Apple Intelligence etc. and if I’m gonna be using this for the next three years or so should I just go big and get used to where things are headed????? Ahhhhh
 
You only notice the size difference right when you get the phone. It grows on you quick.
Well, after 3 years of using the bulky 13 Pro Max, it never grew on me. Every time I had to shove that heavy brick in my jeans pocket or try to use it one-handed, it was a hassle.
 
The phone has pretty much turned into everyone’s main communication/computing device. I gladly carry the extra size and weight for additional function.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Surfsalot
Well, after 3 years of using the bulky 13 Pro Max, it never grew on me. Every time I had to shove that heavy brick in my jeans pocket or try to use it one-handed, it was a hassle.

I had the 13 Pro Max. The weight and size annoyed me. Skipped the 14 pro max and have the 15 pro max now. You can definitely tell the difference in weight with the 15 compared to the 13. The 16 pro max is heavier than the 15 pro max. Not by much. But I still don’t want a heavy bulky phone so keeping my 15 pro max for now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iPhonefreak79
Well, after 3 years of using the bulky 13 Pro Max, it never grew on me. Every time I had to shove that heavy brick in my jeans pocket or try to use it one-handed, it was a hassle.
Took you 3 years lol if was that bad I would have ditched it.
 
I’m exchanging 16 Pro for 16 Pro Max tomorrow, mainly for battery life.
 
Last edited:
I’ve debated jumping from the Pro to the Pro Max for the past few generations and finally took the leap this year. It’s been an interesting few days trying to adjust, and I actually picked up a 16 Pro yesterday thinking I would swap back when having them both in-hand again (I regret not taking advantage of the 14 day Upgrade Program trade-in window to still have my 15 Pro to compare with 🤦‍♂️).

After going back down to the regular Pro for a full day today, I found I missed the larger screen size more than I appreciated the convenience of the smaller size. Most awkward movements I need to make on the Max are still awkward on the Pro. Typing and using the phone are overall genuinely more enjoyable on the bigger size, and worth the trade off imo.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bachdh and yaboid01
I’ve debated jumping from the Pro to the Pro Max for the past few generations and finally took the leap this year. It’s been an interesting few days trying to adjust, and I actually picked up a 16 Pro yesterday thinking I would swap back when having them both in-hand again (I regret not taking advantage of the 14 day Upgrade Program trade-in window to still have my 15 Pro to compare with 🤦‍♂️).

After going back down to the regular Pro for a full day today, I found I missed the larger screen size more than I appreciated the convenience of the smaller size. Most awkward movements I need to make on the Max are still awkward on the Pro. Typing and using the phone are overall genuinely more enjoyable on the bigger size, and worth the trade off imo.
same with me. I prefer the larger screen size to the convenience of smaller size. I also have a habit of taking my phone out of my pocket when I sit down. So it doesn't bother me much.
 
Caved and ordered a 16 Pro Max. I was contemplating dropping down to a regular 16 Pro, but since I have Display Zoom set to "Larger Text" I decided to stick with the larger phone to maximize readability.
How has this worked out? I have a 15P and recently turned off Display Zoom Larger Text because most apps don't support it. I got tired of not being able to see everything... Now of course I can't easily see the smaller text smh. I am hoping the 16PM shows all or most with Larger Text enabled. Thanks
 
How has this worked out? I have a 15P and recently turned off Display Zoom Larger Text because most apps don't support it. I got tired of not being able to see everything... Now of course I can't easily see the smaller text smh. I am hoping the 16PM shows all or most with Larger Text enabled. Thanks
Display Zoom/Larger Text works perfect on the Pro Max. Every app supports it because it’s zooming the entire screen vs just text (which requires the app support Dynamic Text, which not every app does).

I tried setting text to 110% on the regular Pro but not every app I used supported it, and the ones that did sometimes had formatting issues dealing with the larger text. So with the Pro Max I have Display Zoom set to Larger Text and Text Size set to normal. Hope that’s helpful.
 
  • Like
Reactions: philrock
Had the same dilemma.

I have a 14pro. I was really leaning towards the 16 pro, as I like smaller phones and loved the mini, and in addition the base pro is getting a little screen boost (but its barely larger because its all in how tall it is). I have had very large note androids in the past, but I've never had an iphone max.

Ultimately I decided to go with the 16 pro max, because it will give me a huge battery boost over my 14, isn't a huge weight increase from the 14pro with its TI case, and I have been using some map apps for outdoors stuff that would be good to have a larger screen with. If when I get it, its just too damn huge, then I'll just exchange it within the 14 days.
Did you keep the 16 PM or exchange for the 16 pro? I’m looking to upgrade to the PM from my x!
 
I got the 6 Plus, and I’ve had the largest iPhone that I could get ever since then. I was going to switch to Android and get a Galaxy Note if Apple didn’t ship a large phone. I’ve flirted with going back to the smaller iPhones, but I returned them and got the Max. I love the bigger screen for reading, photos, videos, everything. It’s never been uncomfortable or bulky to me. I don’t have big hands, and I use the large phones easily.

All that said, you’re just going to have to try it for yourself.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.