iPhone 11 Pro Max Refurbished: iPhone 11 Pro Max vs 12 Pro Max

[M. Malone]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently an avid Android user who uses a Mac so I know how much easier my life would be if I was on iOS. I'd like to test the waters on an iPhone for the next couple of months and if all goes well end up getting the iPhone 15 by September/October.

Looking on eBay and I'm currently deciding between an 11 Pro Max ($500) or a 12 Pro Max ($670) both are refurbished and in "excellent" condition.

Besides 5G (which I do not have coverage for where I live), what am I missing by going for the 11 Pro Max?

 

[Kottu]

11 PM has a larger battery than 12PM. Go for 12PM as you get one extra year of update.

 

[eyoungren]

11 PM has a larger battery than 12PM. Go for 12PM as you get one extra year of update.

Does that extra year of update really matter if OP is going to be getting the iPhone 15 this year?

Given your own reasoning about the battery and OP's intention to get the iPhone 15, I'd suggest the 11PM.

 

[rambo47]

5G is the biggie. If you don't have 5G coverage and won't have it anytime soon, save the $$ and go for the 11 PM. Another factor in the choice is rounded edges (11 PM) vs. squared off edges (12 PM). I find the 11 PM is the most comfortable of all the Pro Max models I've owned.

 

[ACE_350]

if you’re just testing the waters, I’d consider the XS Max for extra savings. The size is very similar to the 11PM just thinner. The battery life isn’t nearly as good, but it should be capable of getting the average user through a day.

 

[floral]

Just get the 11PM - the A13 chip is perfectly capable for most, if not all tasks you'd need to do on a smartphone, and as you said, you'll get an iPhone 15 in the future, so it'll work just fine as an iPhone until then. It's also commonly revered as one of the best iPhones in terms of battery life, so you'll probably have plenty of juice left after each day.

As for where to get it, Apple doesn't sell them in the refurbished store anymore, but you can easily find one on Amazon or something for real cheap.

I'd actually argue you should get an SE to cut costs, and also because it has more recent specs, but it feels like you're more looking for a big phone :P

 

[slplss]

A completely biased opinon: save money, get the 11 Pro Max. Then sell it or pass it down the family chain. It will last still, even after it stops getting latest iOS releases.

- A 11 Pro Max user because my 13 Pro got stolen, I'm in love. Will switch to 15 Pro too, if it delivers.

 

[JPack]

The iPhone 12 Pro/Max offers a few benefits.

Larger display
Face ID unlock with mask
6GB RAM
Qualcomm X55 baseband, which should perform better than Intel on 4G/LTE

If you have any intention of keeping it and using it, I'd pick the 12 Pro Max. The 15 Pro Max from a practical standpoint, isn't offering much other than camera sensor and lens.

 

[M. Malone]

Awesome advice. I'm definitely going for the 11PM and I really hope it thwarts my Android preference.

If it does then I will likely get the 15PM or whatever they end up calling it.

If it fails to deliver then I'm back to my Pixel 7 Pro.

Thank you for the guidance everybody.

 

[eyoungren]

Awesome advice. I'm definitely going for the 11PM and I really hope it thwarts my Android preference.

If it does then I will likely get the 15PM or whatever they end up calling it.

If it fails to deliver then I'm back to my Pixel 7 Pro.

Thank you for the guidance everybody.

If it makes your transition any easier, Google's services on the iPhone are actually better than on Android. That includes the Pixel. You do not have to deep dive into Apple's ecosystem if you wish to keep services you already use.

I've had an iPhone since late 2011 and I use Google and other services all the time. Of course, if you're trying to integrate with Apple devices beyond just the iPhone then Apple's service will work better/smoother.

For reference, I own a Pixel 3a XL and I did a year (2020-2021) on Android.

 

[M. Malone]

If it makes your transition any easier, Google's services on the iPhone are actually better than on Android. That includes the Pixel. You do not have to deep dive into Apple's ecosystem if you wish to keep services you already use.

I've had an iPhone since late 2011 and I use Google and other services all the time. Of course, if you're trying to integrate with Apple devices beyond just the iPhone then Apple's service will work better/smoother.

For reference, I own a Pixel 3a XL and I did a year (2020-2021) on Android.

I think what’s pushing me to an iPhone is my preference of a Mac over PC. I know I can easily use a Mac and an Android. The issue though is now I am giving my personal information to both Google and Apple. Call me paranoid, but I’d rather just give my personal info to just one.

And I know they’re both corporations you can’t blindly trust, but I’d trust Apple more because they’re in the business of selling hardware for profit whereas Google is in the business of selling information.

So my hope with this transition is I am able to transition all my emails, files, pictures, etc. with iCloud.

Google then can have my search history!

 

[Tsepz]

The 11 Pro Max is great however it suffers from the Intel modem, I would say get the 12 Pro Max due it having the A14 Bionic 5nm chip, the A15 and A16 are based on the same architecture and along with that you get 6GB RAM, so the 12 Pro Max should feel much more modern and up to scratch with the latest crop of iPhones (save for the fact that it has a 60Hz screen).
12 Pro Max also has the newer and much larger camera sensor along with the LiDAR tech.

All in all, a 12 Pro Max is a great deal now in terms of getting a modern iPhone at a decent price.

 

[eyoungren]

The 11 Pro Max is great however it suffers from the Intel modem,…

This is the second time I've heard this now.

What exactly is my 11 Pro Max supposed to be suffering from with the Intel modem?

 

[Tsepz]

This is the second time I've heard this now.

What exactly is my 11 Pro Max supposed to be suffering from with the Intel modem?

View attachment 2186620

Switching between WiFi networks is slow, it can absolutely obliterate the battery in low signal areas and it’s WiFi connection is not as good as the Qualcomm based iPhones.

I mostly enjoyed my 11 Pro Max but it always fell behind my previous devices (incl. androids) with Qualcomm modems in terms of keeping stronger signal throughout the house, this goes for WiFi and 4G LTE.

Comparing my 11 PM to a friends 12 PM was like day and night, 12 PM was a great jump signal and connection wise.

 

[eyoungren]

Switching between WiFi networks is slow, it can absolutely obliterate the battery in low signal areas and it’s WiFi connection is not as good as the Qualcomm based iPhones.

I mostly enjoyed my 11 Pro Max but it always fell behind my previous devices (incl. androids) with Qualcomm modems in terms of keeping stronger signal throughout the house, this goes for WiFi and 4G LTE.

Comparing my 11 PM to a friends 12 PM was like day and night, 12 PM was a great jump signal and connection wise.

OK. I guess we do things differently…and of course our devices are different.

Firstly, I don't use WiFi much. I'm not paying my carrier for cellular service so they can provide my data over WiFi that I already pay my ISP for. But, I also don't use my devices as substitute computers and media players. I am pretty much sitting in front of a computer all day every day, so my phones are mainly used for texting, calls and some light email.

Secondly, my only other device that has an active line is a 6s+, and that doesn't use WiFi either. The 11PM was a big upgrade for me. I intentionally avoided the 12PM because having served as an LTE guinea pig for Sprint when they rolled LTE out, I refuse to be a 5G guinea pig for T-Mobile while they roll out 5G.

Consequently, my frame of reference and my awareness of this Intel modem 'problem' is different.

 

[Tsepz]

OK. I guess we do things differently…and of course our devices are different.

Firstly, I don't use WiFi much. I'm not paying my carrier for cellular service so they can provide my data over WiFi that I already pay my ISP for. But, I also don't use my devices as substitute computers and media players. I am pretty much sitting in front of a computer all day every day, so my phones are mainly used for texting, calls and some light email.

Secondly, my only other device that has an active line is a 6s+, and that doesn't use WiFi either. The 11PM was a big upgrade for me. I intentionally avoided the 12PM because having served as an LTE guinea pig for Sprint when they rolled LTE out, I refuse to be a 5G guinea pig for T-Mobile while they roll out 5G.

Consequently, my frame of reference and my awareness of this Intel modem 'problem' is different.

All good. That is the thing, it’s all about what context you come from, coming from 6S+ you may not notice at all.

Outside of this though the 11 Pro Max is a lovely device, had mine from early 2020 to late 2022, it served me incredibly well, the battery life was amazing and I loved its size, still a very capable smartphone honestly.