iPhone 14 Pro Max The “I returned my iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max” Thread

[JCCL]

Well I’m guessing you’re gonna find a used or refurbished 13 promax because it would be a poor decision(in my view)to buy a new retail one since it’s the same exact price as the 14 promax

I already have a 13 Pro Max that is with my wife. The Always On Display luckily can be deactivated, so the only thing I've got left is the Island - which hope I can get used to. Worst case scenario I'll just switch with my wife and she'll get the 14 Pro Max.

I did get used to Pro Motion and I use the Telephoto lens a lot, that's why I wouldn't consider a non-pro phone.

 

[Hal~9000]

After giving it some thought I ended up returning the 14 Pro Max without ever even opening the box. The 14 Pro Max just didn’t justify the upgrade over my 13 Pro Max in the same way the 13 Pro Max did over the 12 Pro Max last year:

• Less trade-in value this year, at $720 for the 13 PM vs $790 the year before.
• Dynamic Island not mature yet and slightly obscures 18-by-9 video content.
• Battery life either the same or worse than the 13 Pro Max due to AOD.
• No real processor improvements since Apple didn’t even bother to highlight it.
• Screen gets brighter outside but dims due to getting too hot in sunlight, which is awful for battery health over time.
• SOS and crash detection? Meh, cool ideas but not anything to upgrade for.
• 48mp camera mostly shoots in 12mp mode unless you want to take forever using the lightning port to offload pics.
• No SIM card tray. Prepaid carrier is a great value at $15/mo but doesn’t use ESIM so not looking to give that up.
• No USB-C port. At this point Apple is simply holding out as long as it can to keep that ace in its upgrade pocket.
• No lighter frame material. Still the same old shiny stainless steel at 240 grams.

Usually I’m more than happy to treat myself but this year was just a complete dud. I keep my expectations in check too since I understand that year over year improvements aren’t the biggest, but this year just had nothing really for me. Hopefully the iPhone 15 Pro series brings more to the table but otherwise I’m happy to just keep chugging along with my 13 Pro Max 🙂

 

[fatTribble]

You sound personally invested and seem to be ostensibly asking questions but following them witch commentary anyway demonstrating that the questions were disingenuous. Are you an Apple shareholder or something?

You come across as if you are trying to make me out as someone who doesn't think their purchases through properly and that of course on the contrary, you do your research before purchasing.

So what is the best way to judge any product?

1) Search for the official specifications of the product and make a judgement whether or not the product would possibly fill a need or fulfil a personal desire. If it seems it does, continue to research more so as not to regret your decision later.

Once determined the product might be suitable, search for OBJECTIVE and TRUSTED online reviews of the product, make sure that the product reviewers are as unbiassed as possible, preferably not having received sponsored or "review samples" of either this product or past products. Compare it to the product you own to balance out the pros and cons and consider whether or not the product actually improves enough to purchase.
If enough of the data points emerge positive, make the purchase.

OR

2) Search for the specifications of the product and make a judgement whether or not the product would possibly fill a need or fulfil a personal desire. If it seems it does, purchase one with a four week money back unconditional offer AND ACTUALLY USE THE DAMN THING and see if it is what you want and need for the price. Watch a few reviews by people who currently have the phone to see if you might have overlooked something blatent during the last week or two of use.

Now you can decide to keep or return the device after HAVING ACTUALLY USED IT. 100% money back, free return postage, as is the law here in Japan.

Personally, I would choose a week of using the phone over anyone trying to sell one to me without me ever having carried it around in my pocket and bag, running all my necessary applications, playing some games, watching movies, taking photos and listening to music.

Try before you buy is my motto. Always has been, always will be... In over 30 years of being an consumer, I have never once paid for something I later regretted. TBH, anyone who spends money without doing that is basically gambling IMO.

“Try before you buy is my motto.”

That might be your moto, but you bought your iPhone then tried it. 😂

 

[mous94410]

Just saw the 14+ in a store and compared to my 14PM, the 60hz is not that noticeable but I prefer the smoothness of the 120hz.
Although, the 14+ is lighter compared to the 14PM. I really with that Apple made this phone last year or with a 90hz. I’ll stick with my PM

 

[GraXXoR]

What it really says is how generous Apple is to allow a 14 day no questions asked return policy. (And maximizing profits is exactly what the ceo should be doing)

Lol. You’re funny. You think this says how generous Apple are?

A 14 day money back guarantee for an unseen online purchase is the *absolute minimum required by law* in my country of domicile.

Please explain how obeying the law of the country they are doing business in is “generous”?

I always wonder about people who attribute kindness and generosity to trillion dollar global conglomerates, it’s got to be either on purpose or paid for.

 

[GraXXoR]

“Try before you buy is my motto.”

That might be your moto, but you bought your iPhone then tried it. 😂

Fair point. But now that’s just semantics. You know full well the world isn’t black and white.
I bought it knowing that it was a “two-week satisfaction guaranteed our your money back” type situation.

The defenders of Big Business are out here in full. Lol.

 

[GraXXoR]

I have a 11 Pro Max, but I have my new 14 Pro Max still sitting in its box. I'm worried if I transfer to the 14 Pro Max and decide to return, if it will be difficult to reactivate the 11 Pro Max.

I did just that. I deactivated my new 14 pro after removing a transit card just in case, and reactivated my 11 pro max. But I used a physical SIM, so it took 10 seconds to move the SIM back to my old phone.
It then took about 10 minutes to complete the activation process as usual and about 30 minutes for all the data to sync back from iCloud.

It’s back and fully functional, as if I never deactivated. Not sure how it works if you’re lumbered with an eSIM though.

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

Lol. You’re funny. You think this says how generous Apple are?

A 14 day money back guarantee for an unseen online purchase is the *absolute minimum required by law* in my country of domicile.

Please explain how obeying the law of the country they are doing business in is “generous”?

I always wonder about people who attribute kindness and generosity to trillion dollar global conglomerates, it’s got to be either on purpose or paid for.

Just remember this trillion dollar global conglomerate started off with the inventor named, Steve Wozniak. A humble gentle person to this day.

 

[shady16]

I'm coming from an iPhone 8 (don't laugh, it has served me really well all these years). To finally upgrade, I pre-odered the 14 pro. Got it in hand and while the 120Hz screen is wonderful, the device is just too damn big and heavy. I have small - medium sized hands. The longer I've had it, the more I think it's the weight that's the problem for me, a bit more than the size.

Additionally, I think that square sides actually do a disservice to the larger phones. I've held an 11 Pro extensively and while it felt larger than the 8, it felt quite a bit smaller than the 14 Pro. This is especially true with cases on - on the iPhone 8 with the rounded edges, the case just rounded over the corner and wasn't as obtrusive like the square ones.

With my 14 Pro disappointment, I then bought a 13 Mini. I love it without a case, but with a case, the square edges still get to me and make the screen feel really small (because your finger can't glide over the edge). I am now going back and forth between whether I should keep that, or get a regular 13/14. As mush as I like the features of the 14 Pro, I don't think it's for me.

13 Mini - small and light. Case with raised, hard edges makes the phone / screen feel a bit too small.
13 / 14 - larger, but still lighter. With case, same problem as the 14 Pro, but still lighter.

i honestly don't get why weight of a phone bothers so many people ive been using pro max phones since XS max and they don't even feel heavy to me at all lol better get used to it because these sizes are here to stay for a while.

 

[I7guy]

Lol. You’re funny. You think this says how generous Apple are?

A 14 day money back guarantee for an unseen online purchase is the *absolute minimum required by law* in my country of domicile.

In my country there is no law afaik requiring sellers to offer a 14 day minimum. During holiday shopping times, you get more than 14 days, so not sure of the point your making.

Please explain how obeying the law of the country they are doing business in is “generous”?

I did above.

I always wonder about people who attribute kindness and generosity to trillion dollar global conglomerates, it’s got to be either on purpose or paid for.

Sometimes its fairness, but I understand the cynical will never see that.

 

[AGoldenSky]

Even by MacRumors' standards, there is some seriously pompous and self-righteous navel-gazing going on here.

 

[GraXXoR]

Just remember this trillion dollar global conglomerate started off with the inventor named, Steve Wozniak. A humble gentle person to this day.

Remind me, what position this gentle soul holds in Apple at the moment, I can't seem to recall.

 

[aPple nErd]

I’ve had my 14 pro for a few days now and I do have to admit I’m not a huge fan of this design. I love the design of the 12/13/14 regular models, but the camera bump is definitely getting to be too big. If they add the 48mp lense and nothing else to the regular model next year, I’d probably get that. I honestly do not think 3 lenses are necessary anymore, with how the zoom works on the 48mp. We could go back to a single lense and it would be more than enough for most people.

I’m coming from an Xs that I had since October 2019, and while it was starting to slow down and the battery was degraded significantly, it was otherwise a perfectly usable phone that I could have gotten a few more years out of most likely. I just had the upgrade bug, and wanted the squared off edges, because I loved and miss the iPhone 4/4s/5/5s/se1 design language.

I actually returned a 13 and ordered this pro, and I don’t plan on returning it, but I’ll definitely consider upgrading next year again, depending on the camera on the regulator 15. Honestly also not a huge fan of the island. I like the software features it adds, but it definitely is more obtrusive than the notch, which I had finally gotten used to. I think it was a dumb move to waste the space above the island.

Overall I can definitely understand dislike for the 14 pros. I think we’ve definitely reached a point where the Steve Jobs design language is completely gone, which is leading to a more fragmented, cumbersome, and less intuitive design. It seems like a lot of design changes over the past few years weren’t fully thought out, and there was no Steve to tell people their design sucks. As much as Steve hated the back of android phones back then with their camera bumps, and as much as he hated fragmentation, it’s a little disturbing and also disappointing how fragmented iPhones have become. I mean we have 3 different designs here, from the home button SE, to the notch 12/13, to the island 14 pro, all available at the same time. And next year if they go port less or offer usb c, that’s even more fragmentation. It used to be pre iPhone 5, all iPhone accessories pretty much worked with each other, then from about 2014-2017, we had that again with lightning. Now it just seems like Apple is just taking stabs at things to see if people like them. The island and the ever growing camera tumors seem like that’s what they are.

 

[WilliApple]

My solution for the camera bump for me will to be get a thick case.

 

[Vazor]

Lol. You’re funny. You think this says how generous Apple are?

A 14 day money back guarantee for an unseen online purchase is the *absolute minimum required by law* in my country of domicile.

Please explain how obeying the law of the country they are doing business in is “generous”?

I always wonder about people who attribute kindness and generosity to trillion dollar global conglomerates, it’s got to be either on purpose or paid for.

I find that absolutely hilarious as well. As if Apple is doing anything out of generosity.

 

[Vazor]

i honestly don't get why weight of a phone bothers so many people ive been using pro max phones since XS max and they don't even feel heavy to me at all lol better get used to it because these sizes are here to stay for a while.

The fact that so many people find 240 grams or less of weight in their hands heavy concerns me.

 

[davedvdy]

Lol. You’re funny. You think this says how generous Apple are?

A 14 day money back guarantee for an unseen online purchase is the *absolute minimum required by law* in my country of domicile.

Please explain how obeying the law of the country they are doing business in is “generous”?

I always wonder about people who attribute kindness and generosity to trillion dollar global conglomerates, it’s got to be either on purpose or paid for.

The 14 days part is pretty "meh", but the lack of a restocking fee on an iPhone is the part where I vastly prefer to purchase directly with Apple. In fact, I can't think of anywhere else where you don't have to eat a restocking charge out where I live.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I find that absolutely hilarious as well. As if Apple is doing anything out of generosity.

I’ll be honest I am yet to see Apple ever being generous either. They make money and have a history of being forced to abide by regional laws and restrictions.

 

[Dealmans]

My solution for the camera bump for me will to be get a thick case.

only one that I tried that worked on my 13 max was the UAG monarch, laid flat.

 

[Dealmans]

The fact that so many people find 240 grams or less of weight in their hands heavy concerns me.

They can always put it down occasionally lol, my Mrs uses a 12 pro max with a nomad folio case, not once have I heard her complain about the weight, but then she isn't on macrumors

 

[Dealmans]

In my country there is no law afaik requiring sellers to offer a 14 day minimum. During holiday shopping times, you get more than 14 days, so not sure of the point your making.

In Australia, buying from Apple and Amazon are the only way to get 14 days change of mind return, doesn't matter what it is if you buy from a retailer you'd have to fight tooth and nail to get a refund for buyers remorse and would be rare, chances are 0 on apple products or anything electrical unless faulty.

 

[NdTonks]

Cancelled my 14 order on launch day. Great phone but only if upgrading from a 10 or earlier.

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

Cancelled my 14 order on launch day. Great phone but only if upgrading from a 10 or earlier.

You would be incorrect. Only if you’re upgrading from a 12 or earlier. The 12s didn’t have promotion either. Don’t try to shortchange or insult the 14 pros by that much

 

[akash.nu]

In Australia, buying from Apple and Amazon are the only way to get 14 days change of mind return, doesn't matter what it is if you buy from a retailer you'd have to fight tooth and nail to get a refund for buyers remorse and would be rare, chances are 0 on apple products or anything electrical unless faulty.

Yeah I think you’d have a different view about the return policy depending on the country you’re in. 14 days return policy is standard in Europe.

Consumer laws are much stronger and consumer friendly in Europe.

 

[Dealmans]

Yeah I think you’d have a different view about the return policy depending on the country you’re in. 14 days return policy is standard in Europe.

Consumer laws are much stronger and consumer friendly in Europe.

We do get a 2 year warranty on all apple products though, no matter where you buy from.