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iPhone XS Max Thinking of upgrading a Xs Max to 16Pro
- Thread starter rjw1678
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I upgraded from a XS Max to a 15 pro. All these considered I miss the XS.
I prefer the gleaming stainless steel over titanium
I prefer glossy glass back over frosted
I prefer the more natural photos over the super saturated 15 pro stuff
The only reasons I upgraded were: I didn’t have enough storage, and the comms were terrible. If those two things weren’t issues I’d keep it forever.
Will you notice a difference aside from photos and design? No. Not really at all. Day to day it’s the same. In fact it could be a somewhat worse experience as you’ll be losing 3D Touch or whatever they called it.
These new phones are amazing I will say that. They’re weighted better so they sit in the hand better. They are clearly monumental designs. Oh and USB-C is awesome. But… it’s not night and day.
Just my .02 cents
I prefer the gleaming stainless steel over titanium
I prefer glossy glass back over frosted
I prefer the more natural photos over the super saturated 15 pro stuff
The only reasons I upgraded were: I didn’t have enough storage, and the comms were terrible. If those two things weren’t issues I’d keep it forever.
Will you notice a difference aside from photos and design? No. Not really at all. Day to day it’s the same. In fact it could be a somewhat worse experience as you’ll be losing 3D Touch or whatever they called it.
These new phones are amazing I will say that. They’re weighted better so they sit in the hand better. They are clearly monumental designs. Oh and USB-C is awesome. But… it’s not night and day.
Just my .02 cents
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I updated my xs max to a 15PM. After 4 years and a new battery I was ready to move on.
The difference with the 15pm was night and day. Every aspect of the phone was improved and it was immediately noticeable especially the camera as I take many pictures.
USB-c is a mixed bag. But some of what it can do over lightning is cool.
If you are not sure of why you want to upgrade wait for the iPhone 17.
The difference with the 15pm was night and day. Every aspect of the phone was improved and it was immediately noticeable especially the camera as I take many pictures.
USB-c is a mixed bag. But some of what it can do over lightning is cool.
If you are not sure of why you want to upgrade wait for the iPhone 17.
well, it is like 80 years tech gap! Go and do it, you will love it
Upgraded from XS Max to 16 Pro and Im absolutely pleased with it. USB-C, cameras, speed, ProMotion, speakers, matte back, dynamic island, Great battery, and so on. it was well worth it. Hopefully I'll keep it for years bc I think the longer the better.
What he says. It still runs the latest OS- although it isn't quite the same- and so everything works just the same as long as it's working correctly.
If you are interested in Apple A1 you'll see a difference eventually, and you'll see some difference in the camera.. That's it.
I had the max and imo it’s a night and day upgrade to the 15pm. The photos on the 15 pro are head and shoulders above the xs max, imo.
The increase in performance and better screen is immediately noticeable.
3D Touch was gone years ago, even though the max had the hardware, it was neutered in the software. But yeah the max was good looking.
It is night and day. But if you are coming from a Max, go for a Max. iPhone 16 Pro Max has a larger screen.
Sir you are awesome to wait that long before your upgrade, definitely post your views if you decide to up.
I went from xs max to 12 pro max. I was really bummed it felt so disappointing, I actually went to a 12 mini after a week or so (then 13 mini). The xs max was so comfortable to hold. I think it’s a good upgrade. I actually used a google fold pixel 9 for a month, then iPhone 16 (satellite text was amazing). I’m back to the 13 mini waiting for the 17. I need to upgrade but I’ll wait since September is coming up anyway.
I went from xs max to 12 pro max. I was really bummed it felt so disappointing, I actually went to a 12 mini after a week or so (then 13 mini). The xs max was so comfortable to hold. I think it’s a good upgrade. I actually used a google fold pixel 9 for a month, then iPhone 16 (satellite text was amazing). I’m back to the 13 mini waiting for the 17. I need to upgrade but I’ll wait since September is coming up anyway.
Anything is going to be better in every single possible way than what you have now. This is an odd question. Given the huge list of missing features unless you don't really use the phone that much I cannot understand, again, why this is a question?
The first thing i noticed you wrote is you want to go from a Max to a non Max screen. That’s a big difference. You will have a smaller size, less battery life etc. If you want something smaller and lighter i would suggest just waiting for the new Air phone coming out this fall.
If the intent is to stick with a Pro Max, you will see more upgrades but its more of a little step here, a little step there type of thing. It wont be a jaw dropping thing except for the camera being a lot better. If you’re not sold on the 16, just wait for the 17 unless you can get some crazy good deal.
If the intent is to stick with a Pro Max, you will see more upgrades but its more of a little step here, a little step there type of thing. It wont be a jaw dropping thing except for the camera being a lot better. If you’re not sold on the 16, just wait for the 17 unless you can get some crazy good deal.
A little step ? 😳
From a XS Max to a 16 Pro Max is an huge step…
The XS Max is 6.5" and the 16 Pro is 6.3", so not so dramatic a difference like going 6.9 to 6.3 with the current Max and Pro models. The 16 Pro also has a bigger battery and a more efficient chipset so it will have longer battery life than XS Max.
My XS suddenly died, so now I'm thinking of 16 Pro or Pro Max. But if it wasn't dead I wouldn't upgrade. Sure, newest and greatest will be better, but is it as dramatic as 100 bucks (for Xs) vs 1500$? No way, that ratio is way off. In fact I'm thinking of getting a 14 pro or even 12 pro. It's just not that many differences, I guess slim bezels is the only improvement I'd care about. Cameras are more or less mediocre on all of them anyway when you compare to a proper DSLR..
In some ways it's even a downgrade! Where's 3D Touch?
120Hz is a gimmick, noticeable but makes no meaningful difference in daily usage and it isn't even true 120Hz for battery saving purposes. Why not put it in when battery efficiency improves and it's useable 100% of the time without any tricks like 60hz is.
Also the overall design is definitely worse, you can tell that heavyweights like Jony Ive left and newest iPhones look like it was designed by AI.. Looks very flat and lifeless compared to older models. I'd say that started since 12 Pro.
In some ways it's even a downgrade! Where's 3D Touch?
120Hz is a gimmick, noticeable but makes no meaningful difference in daily usage and it isn't even true 120Hz for battery saving purposes. Why not put it in when battery efficiency improves and it's useable 100% of the time without any tricks like 60hz is.
Also the overall design is definitely worse, you can tell that heavyweights like Jony Ive left and newest iPhones look like it was designed by AI.. Looks very flat and lifeless compared to older models. I'd say that started since 12 Pro.
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Do not buy anything older than a 14 Pro Max. But I would choose a 15 Pro Max for the USB C alone…
Camera is not mediocre on any of the last iPhone. At all.
3D Touch has been replaced long ago by “long touch”: it has not the hardware but the final result is quite similar.
120 Hz is not a gimmick: it is a real difference. It is not necessary to keep it at 120 Hz in every situation, so the switch down to 1 Hz (i.e for always on) is made on purpose, and makes a lot of sense.
Design is aesthetic, and aesthetic is subjective by nature. iPhone XS was beautiful, but I think the 15/16 are not so different, design wise.
My brother upgraded his X to a 16 Pro a couple months ago. He doesn’t use it any differently apart from using the camera more. To him, it was just a minor update. He wanted a better camera and the 120hz display. He's unlikely to upgrade again for a while.
So, it really depends on what you use your phone for. iOS 18 is likely to be the XS' last major update, who knows for sure though.
So, it really depends on what you use your phone for. iOS 18 is likely to be the XS' last major update, who knows for sure though.
The design of the X / XS is my overall favorite in terms of aesthetics. Apple will eventually circle back to something similar since they have to mix it up to differentiate between generations, and the moment they release the next stainless steel iPhone, I will buy that immediately.
Until then, there is nothing I would want that I don't have in my 15 Pro. A fantastic phone all around, just missing the stainless steel frame. Titanium cannot begin to compare when it comes to premium/luxury design and aesthetic.
I made that switch and I have to say, long touch is just a garbage nonsense. 3D touch was absolutely superior, you could press the keyboard once to change it cursor (like you now have to press and hold the spacebar - you could press everywhere back then) and then you could select text with second, harder press. It was lovely and I was using it all the time. In my new 16 Pro the long touch bullsh... is just worse. In like an every way.
3D Touch will probably make a comeback sometime as a new feature, lol. Or not, considering the rumors about aluminum design, maybe iPhones will just continue to get cheapened out, in some ways at least.
You said it perfectly, I feel the same. Until then, there is nothing I would want that I don’t have in my 15 pro.
I kind of agree, reluctantly. 16P feels significantly better in your hands, but that's mainly because of different chassis shape and I won't deny that stainless steel iPhones look more premium. Compared 14P with 16P side by side recently - you can only tell 16P is newer/better when you are looking at the details (like smaller bezels), but from any distance - 14P looks better to be honest.
I don’t understand how people can be oblivious about the technical advancements over 6/7 years? Even if you use the phone as a doorstop 6 years later there are a massive amount of updates easily perceived.