iPhone 13 Pro Max Getting back to the Apple ecosystem again - need your help!

[x.marX]

TLDR., former apple fan returning to the apple ecosystem again! Need tips on how to protect my brand new iPhone 13 Pro max which could be arriving soon like which charger, case, screen guard etc to use.
I'm in the east midlands, UK btw.


So, I had an iPhone 6 which was incredible at that time but due to my rough use, it developed a short in the motherboard rendering it useless. Then I switched to the Google ecosystem with the Moto G5 which was really good and then I had a lot of Android phones. It was then I got an iPad just for note-taking with an Apple pencil but with each update, the iPad OS got better and better. Fast forward to now, the 13 series have superb cameras and brilliant battery life. The new M1 and its derivatives are killing it in the 'PC' market and I was thinking now is the time to switch again! And yeah, I really love the new iPad os 15.1 and have high hopes for the future Apple products in Tim's leadership.

I'm gonna switch my career (studying a uni course in the UK now!) to IT and programming and the new Macbooks have really good performance in code compiling and in photo editing tasks (Sony faithful, in E-mount I trust).

So, looking forward to getting one by late 2022 or early 2023. Maybe an Apple M2 would be around by then?

Now on to the matter at hand, as I said, I'm a rough user. There could be a lot of dropping the phone to the pavement events. So, need a good case recommendation from the actual users. Also, heard that Apple is not shipping a charger with this phone? So, which budget charger to get (sorry I'm a student now)? Also, do I need any screen protectors?

One more thing, I use my iPad to edit my DSLR (mirrorless rather!) photos. Is there any quick way of transferring it to my pc?
I have a wide colour gamut screen for editing stuff and gaming (or can I connect my old iPad 6 to the said screen)?

Sorry for the dumb questions lol
I'm so stressed with my study schedule as I came from a different background. Need a lot of effort from my side to do the coursework and stuff. The fact that I'm older doesn't help either.

Any comments would be great!

Happy holidays everyone.



And yeah, feels good to be back!







PS: I like Tim's Apple more, sorry purists!

 

[960design]

I'm gonna switch my career (studying a uni course in the UK now!) to IT and programming and the new Macbooks have really good performance in code compiling and in photo editing tasks (Sony faithful, in E-mount I trust).

Good luck on the switch.

Need tips on how to protect my brand new iPhone 13 Pro max

My wife drops her's continually and has never had an issue with the LifeProof case (no screen protector).

OtterBox | Phone Cases, Screen Protection and Power

OtterBox designs protective and stylish phone cases, screen protectors, and wearable protective accessories. Shop now and find your favorite accessory online!

www.lifeproof.com

I use the thinner leather case from Apple with mine and have never had an issue; but I'm on the kinder side of handling.

Also, heard that Apple is not shipping a charger with this phone? So, which budget charger to get (sorry I'm a student now)? Also, do I need any screen protectors?

I would recommend NOT getting a budget charger... those are the items that catch fire. Spend the extra bucks and get the Apple USB charger. $30 is small insurance for a thousand dollar device. We have never used screen protectors.

One more thing, I use my iPad to edit my DSLR (mirrorless rather!) photos. Is there any quick way of transferring it to my pc? I have a wide colour gamut screen for editing stuff and gaming (or can I connect my old iPad 6 to the said screen)?

Transferring images from iPad to PC (non mac?). Certainly, download icloud for windows: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204283

Or just log into your iCloud account, select Photos, download to whatever PC you are using.

 

[now i see it]

Get a Loopy Case for the Max iPhone. It too easy to drop. With the loopy case you don’t have to hold the phone. The loop holds it in your hand.
You’ll never drop an iPhone with this case.

 

[ericwn]

Personally I got a cheap silicone case for the Pro Max and it’s easy to put on or take off. I like using the phones “naked” and with the boxy shape of the current ones it’s much easier for me to grip the phone securely. The old round corners of the 6 were much more slippery.

Get a charger from Apple or Anker, both don’t break the bank. If you still have an old charger with a lightning cable these will continue to work just fine too.

 

[x.marX]

Thanks for the reply @960design!
Appreciate your time.

But that case you linked is huge and has kind of 'busy' design.
I'm not trying to know you down or anything but I spend a lot of time in the design field and I just couldn't agree with that design language!

Now, I'm seeing a lot of ads for this case on Youtube for this "mous" case which had me intrigued!

MagSafe® Compatible Aramid Fibre Phone Case - Limitless 4.0

Absolute maximum protection and full compatibility with all MagSafe® compatible accessories and chargers

uk.mous.co

Is it any good?

Any recommendations for screen guards? any specific company to look for?

Regarding the iCloud, isn't iCloud a bit costly?
Like a quid for 50GB?
Anyway, I need to spend some time on how it works as I don't want my hi-res videos of iPhone 13 taking up space instead of my professional photographs.

I hear ya about the chargers.
I already have my iPad charger with me which I'm going to use for the time being though.

@now i see it
I saw that case in a review. Very nice idea. But again, I don't dig the design.
Sorry.

@ericwn
I feel the same way about the cases in general as I always get transparent cases for my phones.
Now that you mention it, here is one with some protection.

Clear Phone Case - Clarity

The Only Case You'll Ever Need. Protective iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel, AirPods Cases & Essential Device Accessories.

uk.mous.co

I'll be on the lookout for any deals for iPhone certified Anker chargers.

Thanks everyone for the replies!

 

[960design]

Regarding the iCloud, isn't iCloud a bit costly?
Like a quid for 50GB?
Anyway, I need to spend some time on how it works as I don't want my hi-res videos of iPhone 13 taking up space instead of my professional photographs.

Costly? That is a personal decision. How much time and money do you spend on backups? I prefer to write code ( or type in forums ) to managing a multiple platform availability solution ( doubles pretty well as a backup solution ).

About a quid a month ( $0.99 for US ) for 50GB. So $12US / year for storage available on every device you can use.
Main computer use is research papers and coding. Code gets saved to the cloud automatically and git as needed. Research papers are saved to the cloud automatically. No need to worry about backups. Definitely worth a quid.

I use the 2TB plan so a bit more ( $9.99US / month or about $120US / year ). The ease and benefits out way the cost multiple times over for me.

 

[x.marX]

Sorry that I haven't mentioned I get Microsoft office suit along with the drive thingy free because of our Uni's collaboration with Microsoft Academic suite. Not to mention Visual Studio syncing with github.

So, I would love to concentrate more on photo editing.

I don't want my personal videos and photos to affect the cloud storage space for my dslr stuff. I'm hoping it have RAW support too.
I probably don't want to go into details as I didn't have any time to research it as I have coursework to finish by Friday. Really stressed now :|

 

[ericwn]

I also have the 2TB iCloud plan, Apple Music and Apple TV+ subscriptions that we share in the family via the Family Sharing features from Apple. We’re pretty satisfied with that value-wise.

 

[Fatus_Asticus]

I don't know how apple premier works with you being out of the country (USA) but look into the reddit /accountsharing sub and you can find Premier for $5 to $6 per month. Double check how that will work with a Euro account before signing up.

I use a wallet case which is absolutely banging.

VRS DESIGN Damda Glide Pro Phone Case for iPhone 13 Pro Max, Sturdy Semi Auto Wallet [4 Cards] Case with Card Slot Holder, Compatible for iPhone 13 Pro Max Case (2021) (Black)

VRS DESIGN Damda Glide Pro Phone Case for iPhone 13 Pro Max, Sturdy Semi Auto Wallet [4 Cards] Case Compatible for iPhone 13 Pro Max Case (2021) (Black)

www.amazon.com

 

[960design]

Sorry that I haven't mentioned I get Microsoft office suit along with the drive thingy free because of our Uni's collaboration with Microsoft Academic suite. Not to mention Visual Studio syncing with github.

So, I would love to concentrate more on photo editing.

I don't want my personal videos and photos to affect the cloud storage space for my dslr stuff. I'm hoping it have RAW support too.
I probably don't want to go into details as I didn't have any time to research it as I have coursework to finish by Friday. Really stressed now :|

That seems like it will work for you.
Takes more time to copy / paste tons instead of the auto-integration, not to mention when you graduate your data may no longer be available through your Uni's credentials. As long as that is good enough, you are set.

FWIW:
What happens to your personal videos and photos if you lose you laptap due to theft, fire, hurricane, "the coffee incident", ect?

 

[x.marX]

I also have the 2TB iCloud plan, Apple Music and Apple TV+ subscriptions that we share in the family via the Family Sharing features from Apple. We’re pretty satisfied with that value-wise.

That's actually a good idea. But My family needs to switch to Apple ecosystem for that to work. I'll be doing some evaluations and research this Sunday when I'm finally free from my Uni crap.

I don't know how apple premier works with you being out of the country (USA) but look into the reddit /accountsharing sub and you can find Premier for $5 to $6 per month. Double check how that will work with a Euro account before signing up.

I use a wallet case which is absolutely banging.

VRS DESIGN Damda Glide Pro Phone Case for iPhone 13 Pro Max, Sturdy Semi Auto Wallet [4 Cards] Case with Card Slot Holder, Compatible for iPhone 13 Pro Max Case (2021) (Black)

VRS DESIGN Damda Glide Pro Phone Case for iPhone 13 Pro Max, Sturdy Semi Auto Wallet [4 Cards] Case Compatible for iPhone 13 Pro Max Case (2021) (Black)

www.amazon.com

Never heard about it! I guess I need to do more research which I'm gonna do on Sunday.

I kind of like minimalist designs. I'm leaning towards that mous 4.0 case at the moment.

That seems like it will work for you.
Takes more time to copy / paste tons instead of the auto-integration, not to mention when you graduate your data may no longer be available through your Uni's credentials. As long as that is good enough, you are set.

FWIW:
What happens to your personal videos and photos if you lose you laptap due to theft, fire, hurricane, "the coffee incident", ect?

Yes, I have thought about this.

I'm gonna build a DIY NAS soon using some old stock HDDs I have. I would be backing everything to this but I need to do a lot of Uni stuff with the coursework and project.
Let's see!

Thanks everyone for the replies!
Really appreciate your time!

 

[eyoungren]

I do not pay Apple for any storage, despite having an iCloud account and several devices. Additionally, all my data fits within Apple's 5GB free offering.

How is that? I don't use most of what Apple offers.

Photo storage with automatic uploads to my computer? Dropbox.

Google Photos also does this and so does One Cloud.

All three are apps that run on my Macs. Take a pic, it appears on my Mac. No iCloud needed. Both Dropbox, Google and One Drive have free offerings.

All my email is IMAP, so accessible on any device that can use IMAP or even log into webmail. No iCloud needed. About the only thing I use iCloud for is backups (I don't store app data) and iMessage. Contacts, notes, reminders and such - Google. But you can also use Yahoo or other services for that too.

You can use Apple devices and not the ecosystem. Apple makes it enticing of course, but it's not necessary.

 

[x.marX]

Sorry guys for bringing back this thread from dead! I mentioned I was buying the iPhone 13 Pro Max but I returned and waited till now for the Galaxy S22 Ultra. I did some tests and found its battery life to be lacking. So, I have ordered the iPhone again!!

So, any new budget cases for iPhone which is tough?
Also, a recommendation on the charger and a screen guard would be cool!

Thanks, guys!

EDIT:
I have a lot of gift card balances left on Amazon.UK and have the employee discount (for stuff that's sold and fulfilled by Amazon UK). So, if it's available from Amazon, that would be great!

 

[dmccloud]

I've used the Speck cases for a while now on my iPhones. They don't add much bulk or weight to the phone, and they protect the phone very well. On the charger side, as long as the charger is reputable (Apple, Anker, Belkin, Samsung for starters) and supports USB power delivery (a common feature for USB-C adapters), you shouldn't have any issues. In fact, if you have any USB-C chargers from a Samsung phone or tablet lying around, you can just use that with the USB-C to lightning cord newer iPhones ship with.

 

[Andeddu]

Sorry guys for bringing back this thread from dead! I mentioned I was buying the iPhone 13 Pro Max but I returned and waited till now for the Galaxy S22 Ultra. I did some tests and found its battery life to be lacking. So, I have ordered the iPhone again!!

So, any new budget cases for iPhone which is tough?
Also, a recommendation on the charger and a screen guard would be cool!

Thanks, guys!

EDIT:
I have a lot of gift card balances left on Amazon.UK and have the employee discount (for stuff that's sold and fulfilled by Amazon UK). So, if it's available from Amazon, that would be great!

You should look into the Otterbox Defender XT case w/MagSafe. It’s a little costly but you might be able to get it cheaper from a third party retailer. If you are getting a high end flagship you shouldn’t scrimp on the accessories either. I used the Defender case on my 12 Mini for a year and 3 months and it looked brand new when I took it out. Like you, I have also dropped the phone many times. I have since switched to the smaller official silicone Apple case w/MagSafe because I use the Apple MagSafe battery pack a lot and the Defender case AND the pack made my little phone too bulky.

 

[x.marX]

You should look into the Otterbox Defender XT case w/MagSafe. It’s a little costly but you might be able to get it cheaper from a third party retailer. If you are getting a high end flagship you shouldn’t scrimp on the accessories either. I used the Defender case on my 12 Mini for a year and 3 months and it looked brand new when I took it out. Like you, I have also dropped the phone many times. I have since switched to the smaller official silicone Apple case w/MagSafe because I use the Apple MagSafe battery pack a lot and the Defender case AND the pack made my little phone too bulky.

I've used the Speck cases for a while now on my iPhones. They don't add much bulk or weight to the phone, and they protect the phone very well. On the charger side, as long as the charger is reputable (Apple, Anker, Belkin, Samsung for starters) and supports USB power delivery (a common feature for USB-C adapters), you shouldn't have any issues. In fact, if you have any USB-C chargers from a Samsung phone or tablet lying around, you can just use that with the USB-C to lightning cord newer iPhones ship with.

Sorry, I already bought a case and a screen guard before you guys posted the reply (did not see them!).

So, here is the stuff I bought!

1. Casekoo Defender Pro case - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09BJVNVGH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2. PULLEN 13 pro max screen and camera glass protector= -

3. Belkin 37W USB Type C PPS PD Dual Port Wall Phone Charger (25+12 watt) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09HTZ2CX5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Do I need to go for the Speck or the Otterbox cases?
Also, I haven't applied the camera lens protector fearing the performance might be impacted. Do I need to do that?
The lens is supposed to be made of very tough glass, right? I'm guessing it doesn't need much protection?

BTW, the phone is getting really warm when charging (I'm doing 45% to 70% charging and discharging to minimise the impact on the battery). Apple says if it gets warm, the case must be removed. Do you guys do that?

Thanks for the replies BTW. Appreciate your time!

 

[Andeddu]

Sorry, I already bought a case and a screen guard before you guys posted the reply (did not see them!).

So, here is the stuff I bought!

1. Casekoo Defender Pro case - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09BJVNVGH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2. PULLEN 13 pro max screen and camera glass protector= -

3. Belkin 37W USB Type C PPS PD Dual Port Wall Phone Charger (25+12 watt) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09HTZ2CX5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Do I need to go for the Speck or the Otterbox cases?
Also, I haven't applied the camera lens protector fearing the performance might be impacted. Do I need to do that?
The lens is supposed to be made of very tough glass, right? I'm guessing it doesn't need much protection?

BTW, the phone is getting really warm when charging (I'm doing 45% to 70% charging and discharging to minimise the impact on the battery). Apple says if it gets warm, the case must be removed. Do you guys do that?

Thanks for the replies BTW. Appreciate your time!

The case you have will provide sufficient protection to your 13 Pro Max as the bumper covers the entire edge of the phone so if you are happy with it, don’t change it.

The camera lens protector isn’t required and I personally wouldn’t bother with it as the case you have is raised around the camera module. The only realistic way damage can occur is if you drop it on a hard and uneven surface.

The phone can get warm to the touch with no problems so don’t feel as though you have to remove the case. The max temp of the phone is high and the phone will regulate temperatures itself via throttling if needs be. I would not be removing the case when charging the phone as no damage will occur via heat while it is charging. The warmth is due to the battery charging and the lost energy which is not stored but instead converted into heat. This is absolutely normal and not a cause for concern. Warmth can degrade the battery faster than normal but it will NOT damage your equipments as it will be within the normal operating parameters. This is why battery charging anoraks advise users not to use fast chargers as they produce more heat causing a slightly higher level of battery degradation over a long period of time.

I am not bothered by that as batteries are replaceable via Apple. I use a MagSafe wireless charger and also use a Belkin fast charger.