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iPhone 16 Pro Max To buy or not during my trip or to wait ?

lenuxfrance

lenuxfrance

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 13, 2024
46
15
France
Hello
To summarize
I'm leaving for a 3-week trip to the USA on June 22. Prices in France are quite expensive for iPhones.
On my Roadtrip, I'll be passing through the state of Delaware, so 0 tax.

Currently: an iPhone XS 64 gb that's starting to wear out on the battery side.
The design for the moment of the 17 pro max I find it average and especially it is likely to hurt my wallet because of increases we talk about 50 to 100 usd I think in France it will increase
My use: GPS , vacation photos and videos , a bit of gaming like clash of clans or Pokémon and use TikTok Instagram Facebook

I don't know what to do iPhone 16 pro max is a very good mobile, the 17 pro max ?

Thanks for your help
 
This is a difficult question that can only be answered by you. Let me rephrase it for you though.

Do you feel the need to have the latest iPhone? Would it bug you that a new iPhone is available with features you don’t have? For example I have a 14 Pro Max without any of the AI features.

How important is the few hundred dollars you’ll save to you? Are you running a tight ship with your budget or is it more relaxed?

If I was in your shoes I would wait for the 17 because I’m excited for new features and the 16 has been out for a while. This is based on my current iPhone is fully functional.
 
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Budget-wise, there's a difference of about 600 dollars compared to France.
Since I'm coming from France for a vacation in the U.S.
I'm not a big fan of the new AI features, which I don't see as being very useful.
After that, the camera is more powerful on the 17 pro max.

Esim no problem 100% opérator in France
Price France : 16 pro max 512 environ 1918 usd
 
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Beware
- The warranty period (2 years in Europe)
- The repair of a US model in Europe (mmWave modem)
- Customs formalities (Customs duty + 20% VAT)

This doesn't sound like a good deal. 😔
 
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Shamalow said:
Beware
- The warranty period (2 years in Europe)
- The repair of a US model in Europe (mmWave modem)
- Customs formalities (Customs duty + 20% VAT)

This doesn't sound like a good deal. 😔
Click to expand...
I have a friend who brought it back from NYC, he had no customs duties and the warranty is worldwide, but 1 year.
He told me he activated it on the spot
Frequency-wise, it's 100% compatible
 
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FeliApple said:
If the difference is significant, I’d buy during the trip, no doubt about it.
Click to expand...
Hello
Last year I bought my MacBook at Walmart with the promotion at 699 usd and the year before my iPad mini . I use my iPad mini every day and it never breaks down.
After that, between the time I pass through Delaware and my return to France, there are 10 days to see if my iPhone is working properly. At worst, I have the 1-year international warranty.
As for Apple care: is it a breakage insurance that extends the warranty beyond 1 year?
I'd like to trade in with Apple, is that possible? Is the price on the website the same as in the store? Does it give me time to upgrade my esim to the new iPhone?
Thanks
 
Given the horror stories we keep hearing about europeans getting detained by ICE just because they get paid for doing so I'd be wary of buying it from the USA at all. Unless you're relying on it as a camera, I'd be tempted to buy a cheap-but-decent Android handset like the CMF Phone 2 that is low risk of theft and you'd be less bothered about getting confiscated by customs.
 
Ctrlos said:
Given the horror stories we keep hearing about europeans getting detained by ICE just because they get paid for doing so
Click to expand...
Those "horror stories" have more to the issue than what is reported. There are two sides to the story and the story reported by the detained individual is almost always leaving something significant out.

I have been detained by security at the Oslo airport while waiting to depart. I was taken to a separate room, passport confiscated, told to unlock my cell phone, told to strip to my underwear, and my clothing searched inch by inch. After about 20 minutes I was told I could dress, my phone was returned and my passport was returned. I was never given an explanation except to be told it was a "random" inspection.

The horror stories happen everywhere. I suspect my name, or description, matched someone that was on some watch list. It happens and is not unique to the U.S. I have even been grilled by U.S. immigration being a U.S. citizen.

lenuxfrance said:
Budget-wise, there's a difference of about 600 dollars compared to France.
Click to expand...
If you can save some money, do it. I can confirm that U.S. phone will work in Europe as I have experienced on my many trips to Europe. I use a European SIM, installed while on the plane, and have never had an issue. I have never been questioned by customs on either end about the ownership or purchase of my iPhone, watch, or MacBook.

ESIM is not an issue. Make certain you purchase a phone that is not locked to any carrier and specifically get an unlocked phone from Apple. Warranty should not be an issue as I have never had a warranty issue on several iPhones that I (and my spouse) have owned. Yes, there is always a risk, but the reward is probably greater than the risk.
 
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raythompsontn said:
Those "horror stories" have more to the issue than what is reported. There are two sides to the story and the story reported by the detained individual is almost always leaving something significant out.

I have been detained by security at the Oslo airport while waiting to depart. I was taken to a separate room, passport confiscated, told to unlock my cell phone, told to strip to my underwear, and my clothing searched inch by inch. After about 20 minutes I was told I could dress, my phone was returned and my passport was returned. I was never given an explanation except to be told it was a "random" inspection.

The horror stories happen everywhere. I suspect my name, or description, matched someone that was on some watch list. It happens and is not unique to the U.S. I have even been grilled by U.S. immigration being a U.S. citizen.


If you can save some money, do it. I can confirm that U.S. phone will work in Europe as I have experienced on my many trips to Europe. I use a European SIM, installed while on the plane, and have never had an issue. I have never been questioned by customs on either end about the ownership or purchase of my iPhone, watch, or MacBook.

ESIM is not an issue. Make certain you purchase a phone that is not locked to any carrier and specifically get an unlocked phone from Apple. Warranty should not be an issue as I have never had a warranty issue on several iPhones that I (and my spouse) have owned. Yes, there is always a risk, but the reward is probably greater than the risk.
Click to expand...
The goal is to leave with my iPhone XS, then do a trade in at Apple and leave with only the 16 pro max already configured and throw away the packaging before getting on the plane.
 
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lenuxfrance said:
The goal is to leave with my iPhone XS, then do a trade in at Apple and leave with only the 16 pro max already configured and throw away the packaging before getting on the plane.
Click to expand...
My experience is that customs will never question a person having a single phone as that is so common today. An expensive watch, like Rolex, may raise eyebrows. But not a phone. Everyone has a phone. If you had 5 phones you would get scrutinized. Two phones may raise suspicions.

My wife and I have had several exchange students from Europe. They buy a lot of stuff while here. It has never been a problem. One student bought a new phone because it was cheaper. They were never questioned about the phone.

My spider sense is that you would have no issues.
 
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lenuxfrance said:
Hello
To summarize
I'm leaving for a 3-week trip to the USA on June 22. Prices in France are quite expensive for iPhones.
On my Roadtrip, I'll be passing through the state of Delaware, so 0 tax.

Currently: an iPhone XS 64 gb that's starting to wear out on the battery side.
The design for the moment of the 17 pro max I find it average and especially it is likely to hurt my wallet because of increases we talk about 50 to 100 usd I think in France it will increase
My use: GPS , vacation photos and videos , a bit of gaming like clash of clans or Pokémon and use TikTok Instagram Facebook

I don't know what to do iPhone 16 pro max is a very good mobile, the 17 pro max ?

Thanks for your help
Click to expand...
I have one and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a superb phone. The 16 PM is so good that I may skip upgrading to the 17 PM even though I usually upgrade every year.

IMO if your USA trips are infrequent buy now to get the Delaware price benefit. The 17PM will no doubt also be a superb phone, but Trump's tariff antics have disturbed supply chains and prices will almost assuredly be higher than they otherwise would have been. If [unlikely] the 17PM gets a camera you absolutely must have no matter the cost, you could resell the 16PM in France.

Back up your old phone to a computer at home before you travel.
 
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Allen_Wentz said:
I have one and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a superb phone. The 16 PM is so good that I may skip upgrading to the 17 PM even though I usually upgrade every year.

IMO if your USA trips are infrequent buy now to get the Delaware price benefit. The 17PM will no doubt also be a superb phone, but Trump's tariff antics have disturbed supply chains and prices will almost assuredly be higher than they otherwise would have been. If [unlikely] the 17PM gets a camera you absolutely must have no matter the cost, you could resell the 16PM in France.

Back up your old phone to a computer at home before you travel.
Click to expand...
Thanks you For your opinion
 
lenuxfrance said:
My operator has provided me with an illustrated tutorial on how to make a quick transfer.
Click to expand...

The process is pretty easy, but I’ve seen a lot of international sims seemingly not transfer because they don’t have a local network to activate on. I’m not sure about yours since your carrier provided the information, but it could be something to be aware of.
 
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McNads said:
The process is pretty easy, but I’ve seen a lot of international sims seemingly not transfer because they don’t have a local network to activate on. I’m not sure about yours since your carrier provided the information, but it could be something to be aware of.
Click to expand...
Yes, you're right, I contacted my operator a few days ago and he explained this to me:
If you have a normal SIM, transfer to esim from France to avoid the activation hassle because it's not possible abroad without a vpn.
You don't need to be in France to transfer esim from one iPhone to another locally.
After that I have a free vpn that I use after the usa and France I'm just limited to 2gb per month.
 
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