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iPhone 12 Anyone coming from the iPhone 11 max have regrets getting a 12? Torn between 12 and 12 pro max.

nia820

nia820

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jun 27, 2011
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I'm looking to get an iPhone 12, but can't really afford to spend the extra $500 on the max. I gave away my iphone 11 pro max to a cousin of mine as she really needed a reliable phone as she's a single mom. I've been using my husband's old iphone xs since then. Not really happy with the battery life and screen size of the xs, of course.

I'm looking to buy a iPhone 12, but I'm really torn. I really want the 12 max, but it's way out of my budget. The iPhone 12 is in my budget range. So i have the 6.1 12 in my sights, but worry about regretting the 6.1 size.

In order to get the max I'd have to wait another 1-2 months , which I'm not really feeling as I'm struggling with the XS.

For those who downgraded to 6.1, did you have any regrets, or should I stick it out for the max?
 
I had regular 12 which was a little bit small for me. Bearable, but small. Got back to 11 Pro Max. Love the bigger screen at Max.
 
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Had 12 Pro Max, great phone but I found it uncomfortable to hold and impossible to use one handed. Returned it and got the 11 Pro Max which I love.
 
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Gonky said:
Had 12 Pro Max, great phone but I found it uncomfortable to hold and impossible to use one handed. Returned it and got the 11 Pro Max which I love.
Click to expand...
Was it the square edges that made it uncomfortable? or the extra inches on the screen.
 
nia820 said:
I'm looking to get an iPhone 12, but can't really afford to spend the extra $500 on the max. I gave away my iphone 11 pro max to a cousin of mine as she really needed a reliable phone as she's a single mom. I've been using my husband's old iphone xs since then. Not really happy with the battery life and screen size of the xs, of course.

I'm looking to buy a iPhone 12, but I'm really torn. I really want the 12 max, but it's way out of my budget. The iPhone 12 is in my budget range. So i have the 6.1 12 in my sights, but worry about regretting the 6.1 size.

In order to get the max I'd have to wait another 1-2 months , which I'm not really feeling as I'm struggling with the XS.

For those who downgraded to 6.1, did you have any regrets, or should I stick it out for the max?
Click to expand...
So you upgrade a XS Max to a 11 Pro Max and you are looking to upgrade again to 12 or 12 PM and you struggle with $500 ? Why man?

Don't upgrade yearly if you are on tight budget especially with last gen most premium smartphone, it is just obvious.

You can be a phone enthusiast but money is a serious thing too, be more rational regarding your spending...
It's not like you have a 3+ years phone or mid range phone...
Yearly upgrade are absurd whatever Apple's marketing say, smartphone have plateaued for 3-4 years (except camera department)
This is even more true if you are on tight budget...

I really don't get it
 
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nia820 said:
I'm looking to get an iPhone 12, but can't really afford to spend the extra $500 on the max. I gave away my iphone 11 pro max to a cousin of mine as she really needed a reliable phone as she's a single mom. I've been using my husband's old iphone xs since then. Not really happy with the battery life and screen size of the xs, of course.

I'm looking to buy a iPhone 12, but I'm really torn. I really want the 12 max, but it's way out of my budget. The iPhone 12 is in my budget range. So i have the 6.1 12 in my sights, but worry about regretting the 6.1 size.

In order to get the max I'd have to wait another 1-2 months , which I'm not really feeling as I'm struggling with the XS.

For those who downgraded to 6.1, did you have any regrets, or should I stick it out for the max?
Click to expand...

You're using a pretty fine phone IMHO. and unless that XS has a truly useless battery I have to ask what a 12 will do for you. It will have a notionally more muscular chip but that counts for little or nothing in day-to-day use. You will gain night mode, which is an interesting geek feature, and lose an x2 lens which is genuinely useful. You'll gain slab-sided brutalism and lose beautiful styling. 5G? Who really needs it? I was happy with 3G, TBH. Back to battery life; if you are a heavy user with loads of calls and other activity then you are going to suffer battery anxiety with any iPhone, I don't think they're really meant to be used :D.

Of course it's true that logic, reason, common sense, basic what's-in-it-for-me rationality - these things have nothing to do with phone upgrades. That's why there's a leaden lump named 12 Pro Max in my pocket.
 
nia820 said:
Was it the square edges that made it uncomfortable? or the extra inches on the screen.
Click to expand...

The square edges made it uncomfortable (and too big), I think with the 11 style them I could JUST manage it safely one handed.
 
If money is an issue, don't upgrade every year.

Also adjust your expectations: the super max ultra premium smartphones will always be the most expensive, and there will always be a newer and better one that comes out a few months after you get the latest and greatest (at the time). FOMO is real I get it, but the reality is you are not missing out on much, if anything.

My advice, which would seem to be somewhat obvious but would require the adjustment in expectations, is to just to get a used or refurb 11 Pro Max at reasonable price.
 
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For the meantime get the battery replaced, thats solves one problem. Then just save up and the 13 will be out. You can also look at iPhones with apple care on ebay, see if they meet your needs.
 
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Lwii2boo said:
So you upgrade a XS Max to a 11 Pro Max and you are looking to upgrade again to 12 or 12 PM and you struggle with $500 ? Why man?

Don't upgrade yearly if you are on tight budget especially with last gen most premium smartphone, it is just obvious.

You can be a phone enthusiast but money is a serious thing too, be more rational regarding your spending...
It's not like you have a 3+ years phone or mid range phone...
Yearly upgrade are absurd whatever Apple's marketing say, smartphone have plateaued for 3-4 years (except camera department)
This is even more true if you are on tight budget...

I really don't get it
Click to expand...
I want planning on upgrading actually, but after I have my 11 pro max away I decided to upgrade to 12 series.

The xs 5.8 I'm using didn't have enough juice for me. I'm a heavy user so I'm charging twice a day. I've actually had to carry a power bank in my purse which is something I'm not use to.
 
Gonky said:
The square edges made it uncomfortable (and too big), I think with the 11 style them I could JUST manage it safely one handed.
Click to expand...
I actually prefer the flat edges, adds more grip when holding the phone, always felt like I was going to drop my XS max when rocking it without a case.

Don't have that problem with my 12 pro max.
 
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My wife had the 11 pro max and upgraded to a 12. She was looking for a smaller phone this time around for whatever reasons. The only thing she has noted in the transition is the battery life. The 11 pro max had incredible battery life. The 12 is not bad by any means and she just tosses it on the charger in the car on the way home from work.
 
Look for a used 12PM, that might solve your issues. Save some money and still have apple warranty.

Currently using the 11PM and will consider selling if price is right!
 
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nia820 said:
I'm looking to get an iPhone 12, but can't really afford to spend the extra $500 on the max. I gave away my iphone 11 pro max to a cousin of mine as she really needed a reliable phone as she's a single mom. I've been using my husband's old iphone xs since then. Not really happy with the battery life and screen size of the xs, of course.

I'm looking to buy a iPhone 12, but I'm really torn. I really want the 12 max, but it's way out of my budget. The iPhone 12 is in my budget range. So i have the 6.1 12 in my sights, but worry about regretting the 6.1 size.

In order to get the max I'd have to wait another 1-2 months , which I'm not really feeling as I'm struggling with the XS.

For those who downgraded to 6.1, did you have any regrets, or should I stick it out for the max?
Click to expand...
Honestly if you're struggling with the XS (5.8) then getting a 12/12 Pro (6.1) isn't going to make you do cartwheels either. Trust me I know, I came from my beloved 11 Pro Max and was very torn this year.

I struggled between the 12 Pro v/s Pro Max this year simply due to the difference in weight. This year's Max is a heavy phone. After using my wife's 12 Max and my son's 12 Pro (which is great), there's no way I'd have been happy in the long run with the size of the Pro. I like the size of the Max screen just not the weight, maybe it needs a diet, cough, cough Apple...

Hope this helps
Devin
 
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Why don’t you get your 11PM back and give the XS to the single mom? Maybe she is fine with the size...

Or buy a 2nd 11PM. You can find them with some discount. In EU about 100€ more than a 12
 
I've got a 12 Pro Max and the battery life is my favorite feature. Note: I don't have a cell plan that has access to 5G and am limited to 5Ge (LTE+). With that in mind, my phone literally lasts 2 days with normal usage (it's my work phone and most used personal computer). I've forgotten to charge it before and found and I can easily get through 2 full days without thinking about it at all.

However, 1) I could afford it (thank you bonuses at work) and 2) I use my phones till they die and don't normally upgrade yearly anymore. I came from a 6S Plus.

My wife has a 12 mini and I like it a lot more than I thought I would. The size is great for medium to small sized hands and the screen real estate is adequate. She loves it. She also has to charge it at least once during the day.

Personally, I think if you can wait it out till the iPhone 13 and save some money for the max (as battery life seems important for you) then that's what I would do.
 
Irish1020 said:
So do you have the 12 pro still or did you get 12 pro max? I’m debating on getting the 12 pro, max is a pain sometimes.
Click to expand...
I decided overall I prefer the larger screen and I totally got used to it !! I found myself squinted at the regular pro….
 
Irish1020 said:
So do you have the 12 pro still or did you get 12 pro max? I’m debating on getting the 12 pro, max is a pain sometimes.
Click to expand...
I ended up with the pro max and really like it. I totally got used to the size. It’s nice when you review emails, documents, photos etc! Can almost use it one handed!
 
DevinNj said:
Honestly if you're struggling with the XS (5.8) then getting a 12/12 Pro (6.1) isn't going to make you do cartwheels either. Trust me I know, I came from my beloved 11 Pro Max and was very torn this year.

I struggled between the 12 Pro v/s Pro Max this year simply due to the difference in weight. This year's Max is a heavy phone. After using my wife's 12 Max and my son's 12 Pro (which is great), there's no way I'd have been happy in the long run with the size of the Pro. I like the size of the Max screen just not the weight, maybe it needs a diet, cough, cough Apple...

Hope this helps
Devin
Click to expand...
“This year's Max is a heavy phone.” - it’s literally 2 grams heavier than last year’s Max. Am I missing something??
 
You already stated the phone (12PM) is out of your budget. That should be the end of discussion. It’s moves like these that lead people down a slippery slope to debt and financial instability.

That being said, if you know without a shadow of a doubt that you will have the money in 1-2 months as you stated, maybe consider doing the monthly plan. Pay monthly for 1-2 months and when you have the rest, pay off the plan completely. Just keep in mind, by that time we will be ~1 month from the launch of the next series and the 12 will undoubtedly go down in price.
 
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