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There is always the 11 to consider, which is bigger than the X but not as big as the max. However the trade off with 11 is the lower resolution, non oled display.

Personally I love bigger displays. I had the 6 plus,6S plus and 7 plus. Had the X for a year and hated how small it was. Went back the max last year and now have the max pro. Even before the 6 plus I had a few Samsung galaxy note phones. I would like an even bigger display.

The 11 and the 11 Pro Max are almost the same size, given that the 11 has a bigger bezel. Point being, I wouldn't let physical size be a determining factor between the two (unless you just want the smaller screen for 1-handed use or something).
 
Going from X to Max means you’re now in 8 ounce range. Gets heavy, and it is a wide phone. There is a market for a Fold or Duo style phone.
 
The main reason I went before for any XL or Max series was the batterie life which was much better than the small iPhone version. This year with Apple improving a lot the iPhone 11 Pro battery life I am so happy to go back to the small version e.g. Pocketable, one hand usage, etc.
 
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I had a Xr for 8 months and tried a max 2 weeks before pro release, sold it for what i paid, too big/heavy and pro max is even heavier, got the 11 pro, perfect size for me. Have a iPad 11" pro if need a bigger screen.
 
Witch case do you use?
...
Good question. I didn't mention that and should have. I don't use a case and never have. I always keep my phone in my right trouser pocket with absolutely nothing else in there so it doesn't get scratched. A very slim 2-credit-card wallet, house keys and handkerchief go in my left trouser pocket and that's all I ever carry with me except sometimes a re-usable carrier back in one of my back trouser pockets if I'm going shopping.

I've been baffled by some of the comments saying that the Pro Max isn't pocketable because my experience is that, at least for a front trouser pocket and assuming not very tight skinny jeans, it definitely is for me. I don't notice it at all carrying it around all day in my pocket but maybe that is because I don't use a case, it would probably be a whole different story if I did have it in a case.

I do also agree with the comments that, for those people who put their phone in a shirt pocket, the Max almost certainly would be too big and heavy for that to feel at all secure.
 
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I just realize, that my android Phone that I use for testing is almost the exact same size of the iPhone MAX :-D
Actually since is just a test phone I never bring it out of my house, I will give it a try and see if is too big
The Android phone is a OnePlus 6t I did not noticed that was the exact same size because I'm so used to it that it doesn't seem to me a BIG phone, iPhone max in store compared to the regular iPhone seems much bigger but from some video comparison I found online it seems pretty much the same
 
the only time I didn’t have a plus or max sized phone was the X. I love the size of the max and couldn’t go back to a smaller phone.
 
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I believe that the OP has a good solution. For others, handling a Max in store is a good idea, but it will always feel bigger in a case, much bigger for the very protective cases, and you don’t get to spend much time and carry it around in the store.

I had the same question, so I went to Amazon and bought a really cheap iPhone Max case - I think it was $6-8 or so. I carried that around in my pocket long enough to understand whether I liked the Max size. It was a small expense compared to the PITA of trying/buying/returning actual cellphones.
 
I went from 6s Plus to Xs and never looked back. The Plus was just so comically unwieldy. It wasn’t a ”small hands” type issue (I have large hands), it was more about everything else that the Plus kept crashing into like a Greyhound bus in a supermarket aisle. So many jackets and pants with pockets too small for that behemoth. Same with some of my bags even. The dedicated smartphone pouch would go ”Meh! No way.” I found myself having to think about crap like ”hmmm... right so the black jacket won’t hold the Plus so I have to change pants, or take the blue jacket, or bring a bag just to carry the phone in.”

Also, I had to find one of those plus sized armbands that had to be pulled so tight in order to not slide down while running that it felt like having a blood pressure bracelet strangling my arm for 45 minutes. Given that iPhone weight has gone up considerably since the 6s Plus (the 11 Pro Max is a whopping 34 grams heavier than the 6s Plus - may not sound like much but the flabby Apple-branded silicone case for the 6s Plus ’only’ weighs 28 grams by comparison), I’d probably be leaning to one side like Sam Elliott after a few weeks with an 11 Pro Max on my arm.

The Xs slid neatly into any pocket just like a phone should, and I was no longer awkwardly carrying a piece of luggage around. The 6s Plus was demoted to Apple TV remote. I’m just not a phablet person, when I wanna do something serious I grab my iPad or MBP. Even when I had the 6s Plus. So I wouldn’t consider a ”Plus”, ”Max” etc ever again.
 
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I think the conclusion here for the OP is that with such widely differing experiences being described here, e.g. small-handed me having no problem going from regular 5.8" to Max sized and loving it (actually finding the 6.5" more pocketable than the 5.8"!) and Anuba with bigger hands hating the bigger size and finding it totally un-pocketable there's no avoiding the fact that the only way you can know for sure how it's going to work out for you is to give it a try, either with a real phone or via a decent experiment with some sort of mockup.

Getting a cheap case for your existing smaller phone sounds like a great idea to me if you can find one that replicates the size of the bigger phone. If you plan to actually use a case with a bigger phone then the size your aiming at isn't the size of the Max but the size of the Max with whatever case you're planning to use installed so it might take a bit of effort to find an appropriate case for your smaller phone that gets you to the desired Max+case dimensions. Another possibility might be to buy the Max case that you would use if you went Max and then find a way to secure your existing phone into that case (maybe double-sided tape, padding it around the edges with rolled up paper, blu tack or some combination of all of those - just make sure it's secure!). That wouldn't look pretty but for a few days experiment it might be worth it. It also might not fully replicate the added weight although you could probably work out a way to weight it down to replicate that as well

Before I went Max I hadn't thought of the buy-a-case trick so I cut out two bits of cardboard to the height and width of a Max (I don't use a case), sandwiched some heavy glossy paper cut out of a magazine to approximate the thickness and try to at least get close to the weight of a Max, sellotaped it all together and kept that in my pocket for a few days to see how it felt.
 
I actually own a iPhone X that I really like but in some case I would like to have a bigeer screen
Max screen it looks better but I'm not sure if will often fell like the phone is going to fall of my hands
i also often carry my iPhone in jeans front pocket and I don't really have big hands
Any body got a Max version felt it too big and went back to regular size?
I had 6S plus but went for X. Too narrow for me to type on. I went with pro max and love it.
 
I struggled with the 6+ and the 8+ in the past and ended up getting a X that I thought was a perfect size. I handled a XS Max in the store one day and for some reason it didn't feel as big. I decided to give it one more try with the 11 Pro Max and I really like it. One thing is the X was much heavier than the standard 6 or 8 so I guess I got used to the weight. The Pro is heavy but I can deal with it. I love the larger screen size. Plus now that I have a watch I don't have to always carry it at certain times.
 
I went from 6s Plus to Xs and never looked back. The Plus was just so comically unwieldy. It wasn’t a ”small hands” type issue (I have large hands), it was more about everything else that the Plus kept crashing into like a Greyhound bus in a supermarket aisle. So many jackets and pants with pockets too small for that behemoth. Same with some of my bags even. The dedicated smartphone pouch would go ”Meh! No way.” I found myself having to think about crap like ”hmmm... right so the black jacket won’t hold the Plus so I have to change pants, or take the blue jacket, or bring a bag just to carry the phone in.”
Totally with you there. After lugging around the 7 Plus, and then the XS Max, I was fed up with uncomfortably buldging pants pockets (some of us can’t wear loose jeans or trousers all the time, and have several occasions to wear slimmer-fitting dress slacks). I tried several belt holsters, but they all made me look like I worked for the ATF. What a relief the more compact, lighter 11 Pro has been! True, there was an adjustment period getting re-used to a smaller device, but after taking just over a week for my brain to recalibrate, I once again perceive the Pro as “normal”, while the Max is clearly a “jumbo” phone.
 
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It depends on whether you need to use the phone one-handed in most of the time. I am using 8 plus which is very close to pro max in size and find it hard to use in crowded transit with one hand. Otherwise it is fine in other situations.
 
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You could say it's too big but it's the exact same size as a 7/8+.

It’s slightly wider, taller and thicker than the 7/8 Plus, not to mention significantly heavier.

Actually, the 7 Plus is the same weight as the 5.8” 11 Pro. There’s a 20% increase in weight from the 11 Pro Max compared to the 7 Plus.
 
It depends on whether you need to use the phone one-handed in most of the time. I am using 8 plus which is very close to pro max in size and find it hard to use in crowded transit with one hand. Otherwise it is fine in other situations.

This was my main issue as well and glad that I ended up going with the normal size this time around.
 
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I’ve had 4S, 6S and X in iPhone sizes, prior to that I was Droid.

With all the current and upcoming streaming services, I find myself watching video content on my phone more often than I’d like to admit. Though I sort of hesitant , I decided to go with the next display size up this series and see how it would go.

I went camping up north where it was 39° at night and 60F in the day this weekend in Arizona, so I was in jeans weather finally. I don’t wear tight/skinny jeans and if you do, the Max won’t work. As a man that could be a problem if you have nowhere else to put your phone and you cant always hold it in your hand the entire time.

In my regular fit jeans there is definitely a difference from smaller form factor in the the pockets. I already had been carrying around an $20 pro max case that I had purchased prior to see if it would work for me in shorts before purchasing an $1100 phone. I already knew what to expect, the only difference was the weight and though it is a bit heavy, it doesn’t bother me.

I found the bulk / size in pocket almost to big for jeans but I’m able to sit down and even take a piss in the woods or public urinal without having to remove it. When walking, I feel a bit self conscious that one can see there’s a phone in my pocket, same as with my X, it’s just more prominent. I feel If my legs were just little longer I’d be OK, ( I’m 5’8”), if I was a tad shorter it may have turned out differently. This size of the Pro Max isn’t for everyone. Opinions may vary.

I thought I’d be more self conscious when I pulled my phone out at the store using Apple Pay or for daily tasks but I wasn’t. My hand is large enough to securely hold it without discomfort. At first it felt a little unwieldily but I got acclimated to holding it before weekend was up.

In some cases I can use it one handed for tasks but for the most part it’s two handed usability. I got better at securely holding it faster than I thought.

Now for the good stuff.

The screen display was everything I expected and much more. Everything I did felt so immersive with the extra real estate. Surfing web and anything else I do allows me to see much more, it makes the experience preferably pleasurable.

The larger display is enough for me to overlook the downsides. I know this because the thought of bringing back the Pro Max and going back to the smaller 11 Pro screen outweighs the discomforts I’m adjusting to on the Max IMO. I realize a weekend isn’t enough to draw a definite conclusion for some but I’m personally confident.

Everyone’s experience may vary as you can see from the responses in this thread.

I used to try to convince myself when I owned the smaller size phones the bigger size phones were too encumbersome, not worth the extra cash, not for me. If your on the fence, you may want to be the judge for yourself because if it works for you, the larger display IS gratifying.

I’m not returning the 11 Pro Max. I absolutely LOVE it!
 
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The larger display is enough for me to overlook the downsides. I know this because the thought of bringing back the Pro Max and going back to the smaller 11 Pro screen outweighs the discomforts I’m adjusting to on the Max IMO. I realize a weekend isn’t enough to draw a definite conclusion for some but I’m personally confident.
Glad you were able to make the required adjustments to get the 11 Pro Max working for you. I went through a similar process with the XS Max, and was giddy at first.
This may not happen to you, but after 9 months I grew tired of making adjustments, and longed for a phone I could just relax and use without thinking about it so much.
However, when I went to the Apple store for the 11 Pro, I played with the Max and was instantly smitten. I remained in love with it for 2 weeks, but on the last day of my trial period, like the Cinderella clock striking midnight, the spell was broken, and I was once again confronted with the reality of a big, heavy phone that, while a joy to use, was a burden to carry.
Luckily, the 59th st Apple store is open 24 hours, and I was able to exchange for the 11 Pro at 11:58pm.
Do I miss the Max? My eyes and mind do, but my hands and pockets do not.
 
Glad you were able to make the required adjustments to get the 11 Pro Max working for you. I went through a similar process with the XS Max, and was giddy at first.
This may not happen to you, but after 9 months I grew tired of making adjustments, and longed for a phone I could just relax and use without thinking about it so much.
However, when I went to the Apple store for the 11 Pro, I played with the Max and was instantly smitten. I remained in love with it for 2 weeks, but on the last day of my trial period, like the Cinderella clock striking midnight, the spell was broken, and I was once again confronted with the reality of a big, heavy phone that, while a joy to use, was a burden to carry.
Luckily, the 59th st Apple store is open 24 hours, and I was able to exchange for the 11 Pro at 11:58pm.
Do I miss the Max? My eyes and mind do, but my hands and pockets do not.

Great point and thanks for sharing that side of the coin. I can see what you mean. Guess you’ll have to ask me in 8 months after the nightingale effect wears off.

Today I had a free day to myself, catch up on some TV shows and the larger display is going to be hard to give up. Once you see something beautiful, it’s hard to want less.
 
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I went from 6s Plus to X. At first I missed holding a larger size phone but then found myself getting used to it (I’m 5’4”). But I still missed a larger phone so I thought it was a no-brainer to get the Pro Max.

When I got the Pro Max, it actually felt a bit off. The screen was a great size, but adjusting to the overall phone size was more than I thought in my daily life. Things here and there were starting to add up. After a few days with it I thought I made a mistake.

I went to the Apple store and purchased a Pro size. Everything felt right again. No issues at all since I was already used to the size. But strange thing was after a few days with the Pro size, i started missing the large size again (I know, I’m indecisive). Being back on the Pro size reminded me of why I wanted a larger screen (watch videos, taking lot of photos, draw, etc). So I made the decision to keep the Pro Max and return the Pro.

After using only the Pro Max for a week now, I don’t regret keeping it. I began adjusting to it and getting used to its size in my everyday life. All the things I had issues with it’s size before doesn’t bother me anymore. And something about getting the larger size coming from the X felt more like I got a brand new phone since the front of the screens are still the same.

it helped me a lot to use both and see which one would end up suiting me more. if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have remembered the reasons of why I wanted a larger size and instead would’ve reverted back to what I’m used to. There’s always going to be an adjustment period, so knowing what you want to use it for can help a lot in the decision making.
 
Great point and thanks for sharing that side of the coin. I can see what you mean. Guess you’ll have to ask me in 8 months after the nightingale effect wears off.

Today I had a free day to myself, catch up on some TV shows and the larger display is going to be hard to give up. Once you see something beautiful, it’s hard to want less.
Glad to share! I must admit, though, that seeing the Pro Max in other people’s hands while in transit does bring up slight pangs of jealousy — especially when they’re easily typing away on that larger keyboard! >Sigh!<

Well, just like I had to stop thinking about the super-sexy, but total-hot-mess ex-girlfriend when I got married, I’ll just keep reminding myself of the freedom and comfort I’ve gained from using the regular-sized Pro. (Especially with 6 days still to go on my trial period!)
 
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