iPhone XS Max New iPhones: not worth it

[killhippie]

It's not marketing hype when they make a phone that hits the top on benchmarks.
Displaymate gave the Max the best display on a Smartphone too.

The 14 day return policy means people can take them back if not happy.

I see they got you with 'Benchmarks' the least important thing on a phone. Yes on an iPad a good CPU is needed, but even there benchmarks are just for bragging rights. What can the power of the CPU in the XS or X do in reality that's so important the 6s or 7 cant? Don't say Animoji/Memoji or I'll scream as that's a gimmick. I bought the XS and tbh wish I had not sold my 7 before hand, that was a solid phone and the XS although a beautiful device is not that much of an upgrade in usability and must have features and I find Face ID to be very hit and miss compared with Touch ID, although call quality is better but not £1348 (with Applecare) better!

 

[cappo3]

My last phone before the X was a 6. Fortunately I still have it, because I’m planning on going back...

 

[Kulfon]

Can You list any phone manufacturers that release a new product that *doesn’t* have any ‘marketing hype’ behind them? If you can, I would be interested to know.

I am totally not saying Apple is unique. I am saying it is all marketing hype

 

[aneftp]

I know this is just an opinion of one man. I was using 6s for 3 years. Now I have Max. I have to say that in terms of my experience it is a step backwards. Big, heavy. There is nothing that this phones does better for me. People talk about OLED and even though it is nice, it is really nothing special.
All in all, wasted money. It is nicer to reach out to 6s. Can use it with 1 hand. You do not notice, do not make it an effort to use it. It is just there.

Just wondering. Are u in USA?

If USA and your last phone as a 6s (assume u purchased around September/October 2015?)

 

[Kulfon]

Just wondering. Are u in USA?

If USA and your last phone as a 6s (assume u purchased around September/October 2015?)

Nope. In the USA I would return with no discussion

 

[The Game 161]

Surely if it’s too big you get the smaller version

Max to the 6s is like night and day from pretty much everything

 

[Kulfon]

Ok, sold Max, got xs. Happy!!!

 

[aneftp]

Nope. In the USA I would return with no discussion

Ok. The only reason I was asking cause in the USA. The 6s was the last iPhone many of the big carriers (att/verizon/sprint) offered for subsidized $199/299 pricing (msrp $649 usd). So many people who have held onto their 6S aren’t used to paying “full iPhone prices”
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Ok, sold Max, got xs. Happy!!!

Glad you are happy. If u are coming from 4.7 inch iPhone 6s. The size of the iPhone Xs max may be too big.

iPhone xs is similar size as 4.7 iPhone 6s

iPhone 6/7/8 Plus is similar size to iPhone xs max.

 

[ggibson913]

I know this is just an opinion of one man. I was using 6s for 3 years. Now I have Max. I have to say that in terms of my experience it is a step backwards. Big, heavy. There is nothing that this phones does better for me. People talk about OLED and even though it is nice, it is really nothing special.
All in all, wasted money. It is nicer to reach out to 6s. Can use it with 1 hand. You do not notice, do not make it an effort to use it. It is just there.

Apple does have a 14 Day return policy. You could return it or exchange it to the regular XS. Oops couldn't see your reply.

 

[aneftp]

Apple does have a 14 Day return policy.

OP is not from USA. So different countries have different return policy. And different carriers have different return policies even if in USA.

 

[anitak1982]

I went from an se to my ipx. I have never loved a phone more as I disliked the bezels making the screen on the se no bigger than the size of a credit card. I however still owe quite a bit on my ipx $648.99
and absolutely have no desire to start over and give up this amazing phone. Maybe I will be like the 6 holdouts and still have my ipx years later as this does all I need and more

 

[PanAm-L1011]

There never has been an iPhone that was worth the money. Apple is the richest company on the planet with a massive surplus of cash. They charge the highest prices imaginable and the sheep keep lining up to pay it.

1. Why are you here? If you don't like Apple, that's fine, but find something you do like (that you are passionate about) and focus on that.

2. You've insulting nearly everyone on here by calling us sheep. Did you ever think we keep coming back to Apple because we like the products? I've had the Galaxy S, Galaxy Note, and Galaxy Note 8. They were all packed with features. More features that iPhones. But, I found I never used those features. They would cool to use at first, but as the new-phone wore off, I used them less and less. However, the bugs irritated the F out me. I like Apple's supreme build (for me, they look much more well made than any other phone), simplicity of the iOS, the complete lack of bugs, and most importantly Apple's customer service. I have a problem, they help. I've always used PC's at work, and it's headache after headache. Of all the Macs I've had, I've had very few problems. I broke my screen and the Genius Bar was kind enough to replace it for free - you won't find customer service like that every where.

I think you should think before you speak and insult several hundred people. We're not sheep - we find Apple's products and customer service superior - that's why we keep buying.

 

[koa]

The 6s can’t do Animoji’s! The defense rests.

 

[now i see it]

I don't think any iPhone models in the past have received as much negative feedback as the XS variants have this year.

 

[Superhappytree]

These are just useless posts that show what an utterly disconnected species we have become because of these devices.

Use your 6S, get an XS, whatever but get on with life and not spread misery.

I actually find posts like yours to be the most useless and add nothing to the discussion. You could copy your comment, swap '6S' and 'Max' around with any other Apple product and then paste it into any one of these threads at random. Only problem with that is there would be no debate or discussion whatsoever which is the entire point of these forums.

"Why are you complaining about Macs? Stop spreading misery, either buy one or move on with life. Simple as that. It's such a usuelss post, my comment isn't useless that adds absolutely nothing to the discussion though... not at all /thread".

See?

Just so I'm not a complete hypocrite adding to the useless comments, I actually agree with OP; I couldn't justify the 7, 8, X nor XS because my 6S performs the exact same. I've tried every one of them and there is no noticable speed difference at all when opening apps which is the main thing we all do, apart from half a second faster in some instances but that's it. I also felt like I downgraded in some ways, like preferring Touch ID and finding it more convenient/reliable, the smaller more manageable size, LCD having no tinting issues at angles, a headphone jack, no ugly obtrusive notch... I could easily go with it a couple more years until iOS is advanced enough to the point where better hardware is required, but the XS isn't it for me.

 

[circatee]

Glad you were able to obtain your device of choice. Nothing worse than owning a device you don't like...

Ok, sold Max, got xs. Happy!!!

 

[Kulfon]

Glad you were able to obtain your device of choice. Nothing worse than owning a device you don't like...

Agree with you!!!

 

[alpi123]

I truly don't miss my 6s. While the Xs Max is much bigger, I got used to it pretty quickly and the 6s feels like 5 in my hand. The gestures are so nice and easy, I also like the idea of Face ID. The audio is like uncomparable to the 6s and Portrait Photos just pop on the OLED screen. I'm sure this phone will last a good 4-5 years, if not more.

Maybe I dislike the battery. Although it's almost double the size, I feel like it lasts almost the same as my degraded 6s.

PS: The Max is definitely usable with one hand, you just have to reach longer. But for social media it's okay.

 

[EEzycade]

I think the iphone xs max(shudder as i say that awful name) is too big. What has happened to the small phone. As someone with a muscle disease, no small phones is a HUGE issue for me. I feel like the tech world is leaving people like me behind.

 

[44267547]

I don't think any iPhone models in the past have received as much negative feedback as the XS variants have this year.

Because you read a .00001 Of a fraction of feedback on a tech forum should speak for the millions of iPhones produced and sold for ‘negative feedback.’ Can I make the opposing argument for the dozens of those I know that Have upgraded to the iPhone XS have had not one problem?

Apple manufactures over 600,000 iPhones a day, there will be concerns with hardware anything that’s mass produced, let’s not use a tech for him to solidify the XS for negative feedback, When are just as many threads that have positive feedback as well. The argument goes both ways.

 

[Ffosse]

I paid £1249 and feel I got my money's worth. iOS on a mobile 6.5" screen is awesome.

 

[craigio85]

I like new tech in general. Have two macbook. I am into photography, so have about 20k worth of Canon gear and try to buy things that do make a difference. Iphone 5s was great, 6s was great - they made a difference. I purchased Xs Max but continue to use 6s. It hapenned for the first time in my life that I have new tech that I do not want to touch:
1. Bulky and heavy
2. Impossible to use with one hand
3. No practical difference in speed of using apps or internet
4. Weird screen ratio
So fo the first time I see something being a lot more expensive and be a step backwards when it comes to experience and comfort of using. I cannot comprehend how people might like it, but do respect those who do.


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I wish I could return, but we do not have same policy as US.

What was it that made you go for the Max model? Surely if you were so happy with the 6s, the XS would have been the obvious choice for an upgrade since you’d get more screen space in a form factor very close to what you already had. In terms of reachability, the Max was a step-up even for existing Plus users.

How could you expect size, weight and usability not to be the number one issue moving between the two devices below?

Regarding speed in daily usage, I’m not sure what you really expected. If your 6s performed similarly to the XS Max in this regard, then you already had lightning fast, highly responsive interaction - how did you expect that to get any better?

I don’t mean to sound preachy and dismissive, but so many of these threads criticising the XS and XS Max seem to boil down to people who made questionable buying decisions based on their own stated wants and needs or just downright unrealistic expectations. Beyond charging issues (which weren’t affecting the majority of users) and the usual screen tint nitpicking, there are threads and threads full of people conplaining about things that are absolutely not issues with the devices, but issues with their own preferences not being met.

 

[davedvdy]

I see they got you with 'Benchmarks' the least important thing on a phone. Yes on an iPad a good CPU is needed, but even there benchmarks are just for bragging rights. What can the power of the CPU in the XS or X do in reality that's so important the 6s or 7 cant? Don't say Animoji/Memoji or I'll scream as that's a gimmick. I bought the XS and tbh wish I had not sold my 7 before hand, that was a solid phone and the XS although a beautiful device is not that much of an upgrade in usability and must have features and I find Face ID to be very hit and miss compared with Touch ID, although call quality is better but not £1348 (with Applecare) better!

All of this highly depends on what a person does on their phone. You don't see the value in it, so it's obviously not for you to keep the upgrade. The screen and camera are worthwhile upgrades for many. Carrier contract discount pricing disappearing + higher iPhone costs don't make it as valuable as before, no doubt.

It's up to the developers to take advantage of the specs, if they can. Some may argue that they prefer a better CPU or GPU on their iPhones than an iPad (since they don't own one, or care to). Regardless, the advancements in the iPhone mean the iPad will also see a nice bump shortly anyway too, I'd imagine.

I can't comment on Face ID since I don't have a device with it. I know with Touch ID, if I have the slightest amount of grease on my fingers, my device will not unlock. Some here find Face ID a lot better and I am looking forward to it.

 

[bushman4]

Other than size and better internals the new iPhones really don’t offer exciting new bells and whistles. The big upgrade cycle will take place when Apple sells foldable iPhones with 5G
Unfortunately the iPhone after 10 years is at maturity.

 

[NorthSeaBeach]

Foldable screens are the next evolution about as much as curved screens were. The screen still needs to be attached to the hardware, limiting what can be done. Foldable screens don't really matter when the battery, camera, processor chip can't be folded.

I think a foldable, flexible screen even when it’s put in a hard frame, will prevent a lot of screencracks.