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iPhone 16 Pro Max Fastest transfer from older iPhone to 16

whiteshadoww

whiteshadoww

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 14, 2008
372
129
Santa Monica, CA
T-1 day and counting! So exciting. What method are you using to move info from your older iPhone to the new iPhone 16?

Correct me if I'm wrong but given WiFi speeds at Apple Store I think restore from MacBook Pro at the Apple Store is the fastest. I'm turning in my 14PM for $500 credit so need to get the transition done at the store.

Any advice on the fastest path at the Apple Store tomorrow at 8:30?

Thanks!
 
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whiteshadoww said:
T-1 day and counting! So exciting. What method are you using to move info on your older iPhone to the new iPhone 16?

Correct me if I'm wrong but given WiFi speeds at Apple Store I think restore from MacBook Pro at the Apple Store is the fastest. I'm turning in my 14PM for $500 credit so need to get the transition done at the store.

Any advice on the fastest path at the Apple Store tomorrow at 8:30?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I have done this in the store using iphone to iphone. They are always super patient with the process. They have a table in the back where people are all doing the same thing. It takes about 30 minutes depending on how much data you have.
 
jamezr said:
I have done this in the store using iphone to iphone. They are always super patient with the process. They have a table in the back where people are all doing the same thing. It takes about 30 minutes depending on how much data you have.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Is there any research (YouTube?) where someone shows the time it’s takes to make a transfer using the available option like iPhone to iPhone, MacBook to iPhone and iCloud backup?
 
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I have a 12 PM going to a 16 PM. Can I just plug in a USB C Lightning cable into each end the corresponding phone to do the transfer?
 
I have an in store pickup tomorrow with a trade in. Is it possible to just transfer the esim only and restore my data after i leave the apple store? I know there WiFi network gets overloaded on release day and is usually slow. Would rather restore my phone on my own network.
 
whiteshadoww said:
T-1 day and counting! So exciting. What method are you using to move info on your older iPhone to the new iPhone 16?

Correct me if I'm wrong but given WiFi speeds at Apple Store I think restore from MacBook Pro at the Apple Store is the fastest. I'm turning in my 14PM for $500 credit so need to get the transition done at the store.

Any advice on the fastest path at the Apple Store tomorrow at 8:30?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
On the Accidental Tech Podcast this week, Marco Arment recommended using a USB C cable to connect the old iphone to the new one (or a lightning to USB C cable) as the fastest way to transfer data between two phones.

So this year, I plan on using the Quick Start Device to Device transfer via a USB Cable in the Apple Store to transfer the data & settings.
 
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What about backing up the old phone to a Mac or PC using iTunes then restoring the new one from that? One cable I don't have is lighting to USB-C for phone to phone. But maybe I can get one quick on Amazon.
 
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dmontopoli said:
On the Accidental Tech Podcast this week, Marco Arment recommended using a USB C cable to connect the old iphone to the new one (or a lightning to USB C cable) as the fastest way to transfer data between two phones.

So this year, I plan on using the Quick Start Device to Device transfer via a USB Cable in the Apple Store to transfer the data & settings.
Click to expand...
I didn't even know this is an option; 1st seeing/hearing about this.
 
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raylo32 said:
What about backing up the old phone to a Mac or PC using iTunes then restoring the new one from that? One cable I don't have is lighting to USB-C for phone to phone. But maybe I can get one quick on Amazon.
Click to expand...
I've done an encrypted backup to my Mac and then restored my new iPhone in the past, and this has worked well and transferred settings & passwords between the two phones.

This year I am hoping to do the transfer in the Apple Store simply to facilitate the return for my iPhone 15P (I'm part of the iPhone Upgrade program.)
 
Only thing I ever transfer is the eSIM.
Everything I need is in iCloud, and gives me a chance to organise my Home Screen by installing the apps fresh.
Don't forget to unregistered any online banking apps as one year I had to call the one company as I had too many devices registered.
 
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I am going to be changing carriers so don't need to transfer the esim. My XR has a physical SIM anyway. But can I transfer everything else before activating the phone with the new Carrier?
 
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whiteshadoww said:
Thanks. Is there any research (YouTube?) where someone shows the time it’s takes to make a transfer using the available option like iPhone to iPhone, MacBook to iPhone and iCloud backup?
Click to expand...
interesting...try doing a YT search and see what you find....
 
I am backing up my XR to my PC now. IIRC that is how I handled the transfer of my work iPhone 7 to the XR 5 years ago. It worked then, and should work fine again.
 
I usually do the wifi transfer but this year I’m going to try usbc to see if it’s any faster.
 
whiteshadoww said:
Thanks. Is there any research (YouTube?) where someone shows the time it’s takes to make a transfer using the available option like iPhone to iPhone, MacBook to iPhone and iCloud backup?
Click to expand...
I've done it 1 million times and it's quicker to download to your new phone from the iCloud and not from your current phone transferring from phone to phone takes longer than from the cloud
 
I am going from a 15PM to a 16PM and i plan on transferring between both phones with a Thunderbolt 3 cable. Should have my new phone around 10:30 ish central time and can post back on how long it takes. i am using a 185 gigs on my current phone.
 
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Tyler.Schmaltz said:
I am going from a 15PM to a 16PM and i plan on transferring between both phones with a Thunderbolt 3 cable. Should have my new phone around 10:30 ish central time and can post back on how long it takes. i am using a 185 gigs on my current phone.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure the ports are thunderbolt compatible. You can use USB-C
 
Cirillo Gherardo said:
Good to see that it's officially supported. I wonder who had validated that it is actually faster than doing it over local WiFi. Sometimes the transfer part is not the bottleneck.
Click to expand...
Million dollar question. I'll find out tomorrow when I try it! 🤩🤩
 
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