I ended up returning my 14 Pro Max. Solid phone for sure even coming from a 13 Pro. However, when it comes down to it, there’s a reason why I stick with the regular sized Pro once they went to 6.1”. Max iPhones are insanely cumbersome to carry around daily even after just a week. Battery and screen size is fantastic but with iOS not taking advantage of it like iPadOS, there’s no point of it besides battery. I also do notice the screen panel is an improvement, especially the brightness too. The cellular connectivity I can tell is much more efficient and stronger too. I had 2 dropped calls with my 13 Pro going back to it with eSim….Might get the 14 Pro if I can find one with 256Gb near me.
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iPhone 14 Pro Max The “I returned my iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max” Thread
- Thread starter sjobsian
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The main reason (for ME) is because the 13 Pro is equal to the 14 Pro for basic specifications and has a physical SIM. I'd hold on to the X as a possible backup because your not going to get squat as a trade-in.
I actually ordered my wife and I the 14PM (we both have the 12PM) I've already returned my 14PM without even opening the box, my wife is still deciding but will most likely return her un-opened box as well.
IMHO, the 13PM is a much better purchase and will possibly be upgrading when they hit the refurbished store. Actually if your upgrading from the X maybe you should check out the 12 Pro or Max from the Apple refurbished store...it's still a great phone.
FYI, I spent a lot of time at the local Apple store looking at the phone and many reviewed commits form actual users and came to the conclusion I would pass on this years model. The only real reason I purchased the 14's was because of the increased battery life and better camera options. I could care less about always-on, island thingy, and making an emergency call from the Amazon.
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Four reasons I'm returning 14P and keeping my 13P (I almost always upgrade each year, just for fun):
Battery life is not improved but actually worse on new phone for my usage. 13P isn't great but I deemed it an acceptable trade-off last year for lighter, more comfortable to handle phone than 13 PM. 14P seems like a step backwards in this regard.
With dynamic island, so much wasted blank (unused) screen space at top and so much less content than 13P when scrolling in Safari side- by-side. Looks like a return to giant forehead bezel of iPhone 8. Sort of amazed no one else seems bothered by this. This is my main reason for not keeping the phone. Seems like a huge step backwards.
Color choice isn't compelling this year. I was really disappointed with deep purple (looks dull and gray to me). I realize this is completely shallow and subjective (many love it) but I missed my beautiful blue phone.
14P features I'm going to miss:
Brighter screen for outdoors(!)
Satellite tracking for hiking
Crash detection
AOD
Hopefully Apple perfects DI design and improves battery, weight, and camera module size next year plus offers a physical sim model in US again for those who need/want it. Y'all enjoy your new phones!👍
Battery life is not improved but actually worse on new phone for my usage. 13P isn't great but I deemed it an acceptable trade-off last year for lighter, more comfortable to handle phone than 13 PM. 14P seems like a step backwards in this regard.
With dynamic island, so much wasted blank (unused) screen space at top and so much less content than 13P when scrolling in Safari side- by-side. Looks like a return to giant forehead bezel of iPhone 8. Sort of amazed no one else seems bothered by this. This is my main reason for not keeping the phone. Seems like a huge step backwards.
Color choice isn't compelling this year. I was really disappointed with deep purple (looks dull and gray to me). I realize this is completely shallow and subjective (many love it) but I missed my beautiful blue phone.
14P features I'm going to miss:
Brighter screen for outdoors(!)
Satellite tracking for hiking
Crash detection
AOD
Hopefully Apple perfects DI design and improves battery, weight, and camera module size next year plus offers a physical sim model in US again for those who need/want it. Y'all enjoy your new phones!👍
To me the 13PM is a “better purchase”because it’s cheaper. If the 13PM were the same price as the 14PM it wouldn’t be a “better purchase”.
At any rate my spouse is enjoying the. 14PM. I’ll get mine in November. We both love the purple. Gorgeous.
To be honest the iPhone 14 plus weighs the same as the standard Pro. Apple really need to ditch this stainless steel and move over to titanium, I’m sure the high price of the iPhone can cover it.
The camera bumps are huge yes, but the cameras perform very well too for it. I think it may be best to wait for the iPhone 15 standard as you will get dynamic island then, so they say, which people seem to think is the only upgrade worth having this year? And they will have to have USB C too.
The camera bumps are huge yes, but the cameras perform very well too for it. I think it may be best to wait for the iPhone 15 standard as you will get dynamic island then, so they say, which people seem to think is the only upgrade worth having this year? And they will have to have USB C too.
I’ve never read anything more absurd in all my life. It’s a phone not designed for normal pockets? Read it all now.
UPDATE: DAY 4 with the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Screen is great. Camera is great. It’s fast. HATE the design. I passed by a Samsung store and looked at their phones and they are without question ahead of Apple on design. The rounded corners, thinness and tiny pill trump this Gordon Gecko phone I’m holding.
The 14 PM is just a tired and old design. Apple is no longer a leader in design and is just riding on the coat-tails of yesterday.
The 14 PM is just a tired and old design. Apple is no longer a leader in design and is just riding on the coat-tails of yesterday.
TBF there are only so many ways you can design a phone. I had the S22U and thought it was a lazy design, was not a fan. I have the standard S22 as my droid and was using it right until I got the 14PM, like it a lot but it’s not a design masterclass.
As for the iPhones I preferred the 11PM design and rounded edges just about but looks wise the 13 and 14 do look really nice even if the Squared edges are not great ergonomically.
So are you returning it? If you do I want to see pictures of receipts and the new Samsung phone
iPhones aren’t for everyone. Good that apple gives a 14 day no questions asked return policy (although I think they should charge a restocking fee)
Competition as “they” say is great. Go buy what you want and what suits you.
Seriously, I’m not sure what people were expecting. I barely notice a difference in day to day use and I went from an X to 14PM. Keeping the phone because I felt like getting a new phone but wasn’t expecting a life changing upgrade.
Thanks to your honest and clear communication on this forum.
Personally I look forward to my i14 pro max in November. My spouse already has the purple pro max.
I went from an xr to a 14PM. And there is a huge day to day difference. Screen is better, sound is better, speed in safari is much faster, battery is better etc
It wasn’t life changing but it was a was a welcome change.
Well i activated my 128gb new 14 pro max yesterday morning. Immediately knew not much of a change from my 13 pro max.
But I went ahead to Apple Store and traded in my 128gb 13 pro max for $720 plus sales taxes ($50). So $770
I will keep the 14 pro max.
And next year do the same (trade in to apple)
I will buy the lowest gb model and effectively treat it as a $33/month rental. That’s the cost to upgrade yearly (assuming trade in prices remain stable).
But I went ahead to Apple Store and traded in my 128gb 13 pro max for $720 plus sales taxes ($50). So $770
I will keep the 14 pro max.
And next year do the same (trade in to apple)
I will buy the lowest gb model and effectively treat it as a $33/month rental. That’s the cost to upgrade yearly (assuming trade in prices remain stable).
This guy is obnoxious but I agree with him on:
1. Screen. It’s very good.
2. It’s fast processing wise and screen refresh.
3. Camera is good (no surprise).
Where I just fall asleep is on everything else. This guy is a total obnoxious nerd and at the end of the day, you put this phone next to a 5 year old iPhone X and it’s just a grid of icons that looks and functions pretty much the same.
Where I’m at: I find the DI to be a gimmick. It’s more annoying than anything: the screen is big and it’s annoying to keep reaching up; the design totally sucks for the reasons mentioned.
Two pictures below. One taken with the 14 PM, the other with the 11 PM. To all readers: see if you can guess correctly.
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I have the 12 mini and bought the 14 Pro on upgrade. Sure the 14 Pro feels heavier in the hand yet I personally feel the weight balance in the pocket is less than half in the hand, perceivably.
Of course the camera modules are huuuge yet comparatively to many Android phones with similar picture quality and video performance. I see ONLY the Sony Xperia 1 IV having minuscule camera bumps across the entire industry - adding manual zoom to their periscope lens the bump has NOT grown since the Xperia 1 II!
That’s a 2-3yr time frame with major camera advances and no bump.
Apple must move to periscope lens - 1 fixed, one with true optical zoom before digital zoom and a regular fixed camera for the iPhone 15 onward. Apple cannot keep growing the protruding lens beyond the 14 Pro.
Strange the iPhone thickness didn’t grow to compensate for the protruding lens given us larger batteries and better cooling. Then again I hope or don’t think cooking is an issue on the 14 Pro ??
14 Pro above and 11 Pro below - lighting on the open door is brighter that’s my deduction for my decision.
I’m curious, since you dislike DI, where is the placement of the URL bar in Safari on your iPhone?
I completely agree with this. The max models are just humongous for regular size hands
and I’m a regular weight trainer.
I just choose to use it because of the assurance of the battery lasting throughout the day and into the night if need be.
I returned my 14pm and went back to my 13p. I do enjoy larger screens but not the way apple is doing it. The aspect ratio is just a tad too wide. They need a 6.4 or 6.5 inch screen, at least with their current aspect ratios that would hit the spot. Don’t get me wrong , 14pm is a wonderful phone and most will love it, it’s just not for me. This makes it hard for me to use iPhone in general. They just don’t make the one I want. The 6.1 is at least for me on the border of being too small.
Easy to spot the differences. Anyways, I place a priority on photo quality so of course I’ll upgrade.
Otherwise, the 11 Pro Max is still a fantastic phone besides it only having 4GB and no 5G.