Video Review: Four Days With the iPhone 14 Pro Max

[MacRumors]

Apple on Friday released the new iPhone 14 models, and MacRumors videographer Dan picked one up on launch day. He's been using the iPhone 14 Pro Max non-stop since it came out, and over on the MacRumors YouTube channel, has shared his initial thoughts on the day-to-day experience with the latest iPhone.

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Dan's mini review highlights his issues with setting up the eSIM, the usefulness of the always-on display, the functionality of the Dynamic Island, how the new 48-megapixel camera fares, and more. Make sure to watch the video, and stay tuned to the MacRumors website and the MacRumors YouTube channel because we have more in-depth iPhone 14 video content coming, plus Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods 2 coverage.

Article Link: Video Review: Four Days With the iPhone 14 Pro Max

 

[yossi]

Relaxing fireside chat 😂

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

no word on battery ?

 

[thadoggfather]

I could see a huge difference with outdoor visibility too personally (from 12 pro to 14 pro max), even with sunglasses on

Nice video, Dan!

I also agree with team Space Black

 

[mattopotamus]

Picking up a pro max today, and I am very curious how the transition to e-sim is going to pan out. I have Verizon prepaid with a phsyical sim at the moment. I tried to be proactive and reached out to Verizon yesterday, and they said it should work without an issue, fingers crossed.

 

[Macalway]

What does he say?

 

[ratspg]

Picking up a pro max today, and I am very curious how the transition to e-sim is going to pan out. I have Verizon prepaid with a phsyical sim at the moment. I tried to be proactive and reached out to Verizon yesterday, and they said it should work without an issue, fingers crossed.

I've seen a lot of people have issues with PrePaid plans transferring to eSim. Some it worked no problems, others had to put a call in to make it happen. Pro Max is amazing!

 

[1557750]

I agree on the dot being placed wrong. Why not put it on the clock side where there is more room?

 

[tomtad]

Got a 14 Pro and immediately regretted it when I picked it up, the thing is just too heavy. And for a handheld device that is a big deal. Everything else is wonderful, the screen is smooth and bright, the camera's amazing. But for holding, texting and reading, what I do 99% of the time, it's just uncomfortable.

It's a shame the regular 14 lacks so many features but it's what I had to change to.

 

[IwatchScot]

I am E-sim on my 13 Pro Max here in the UK and it was done within 10mins. Super easy.

 

[Born Again]

Macrumors have really stepped up the video production! Well done

 

[ctg7w6]

Love that a quarter of the video is him complaining about Esim and how it doesn't work very well or that he waited in queue so long to get help with it. When all of this is just attributable that he is on some small, no-name carrier without the resources to handle an Apple launch.

And no offense to those carriers... The big carriers struggle every year with the Apple launch.

But we really didn't need his rant about esims and how carriers aren't ready for them. By his own admission, he went to a Verizon store and had everything up and running in minutes.

Moral of the story: go with a small carrier at your own risk. It is literally the risk everyone takes with every product involving a small company: they have less resources. Maybe that's worth it to you for some other reason, but don't complain about it when it doesn't work out for you.

I do International travel and having only an esim is going to be a pain. But, I am more than happy to deal with it because I am ready for physical sims to go the way of the dodo.

 

[thadoggfather]

Love that a quarter of the video is him complaining about Esim and how it doesn't work very well or that he waited in queue so long to get help with it. When all of this is just attributable that he is on some small, no-name carrier without the resources to handle an Apple launch.

And no offense to those carriers... The big carriers struggle every year with the Apple launch.

But we really didn't need his rant about esims and how carriers aren't ready for them. By his own admission, he went to a Verizon store and had everything up and running in minutes.

I don't think thats a problem, sharing his experience. He's probably not the only person out there on a smaller carrier also interested in the new phones.

Anecdotally, going from 12P to 14PM was easier than I expected on ATT. I felt like I Airdropped my service to the other phone with a pop up and waiting a couple minutes. Not sure if that was everyone's though, I've had some launch years where im in activation hell.

Despite this- I too wish my 14PM had a SIM for flexibility. It wasn't bothering anyone, being there, other than Apple.

 

[Benlurks1010]

“Dynamic Island is something that you don’t really notice much” That would make it a success, in my opinion.

 

[simidene]

I received my 14 pro last week and the E-sim transition was flawless on Att. I really like the black color of my phone. The new island I believe opens up the main screen so that you can focus on other work and calls etc, are not taking up the whole screen. I did notice that on some apps the island does cut off the top part of the app and any writing that maybe there. But all in all, it is certainly for me a worthwhile and appreciable upgrade from the 13pro.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Got a 14 Pro and immediately regretted it when I picked it up, the thing is just too heavy. And for a handheld device that is a big deal. Everything else is wonderful, the screen is smooth and bright, the camera's amazing. But for holding, texting and reading, what I do 99% of the time, it's just uncomfortable.

It's a shame the regular 14 lacks so many features but it's what I had to change to.

The pro max is 1/4 of a kilogram ,can you imagine that ?

 

[The Game 161]

Very happy with mine. Pro raw has really gotten me into photography and do enjoy that AOD even if some don’t. Brightness for one is great and it’s amazing how much a difference it makes

 

[macvicta]

Even without taking Dynamic Island into consideration, the pill by itself looks so much better than the notch. I would buy an iPhone 14 Pro Max for that alone. I’m so happy to finally have the notch behind us.

 

[thadoggfather]

Even without taking Dynamic Island into consideration, the pill by itself looks so much better than the notch. I would buy an iPhone 14 Pro Max for that alone. I’m so happy to finally have the notch behind us.

yeah was never a deal breaker for me, but at the same time, I never cared for the notch.

I think notch on the laptops now looks even more ridiculous and antiquated even if you can hide it. its not even the mohawk notch, its the unibrow one.

 

[craigab1]

This is anything but a relaxing fireside chat. I typically enjoy Dan's reviews, but his anti-eSIM rant in this video is embarrassing. I went from a physical SIM to an eSIM on ATT in all of about 5 minutes. The process worked seamlessly, as it did for everyone I know who received their new phone last Friday. If you're going to use a small discount carrier with your top-of-the-line iPhone, I'm not sure why you would expect that to be easy.

 

[thadoggfather]

This is anything but a relaxing fireside chat. I typically enjoy Dan's reviews, but his anti-eSIM rant in this video is embarrassing. I went from a physical SIM to an eSIM on ATT in all of about 5 minutes. The process worked seamlessly, as it did for everyone I know who received their new phone last Friday. If you're going to use a small discount carrier with your top-of-the-line iPhone, I'm not sure why you would expect that to be easy.

Counter point - is Dan an Apple employee? Does he have to keep a lid shut on his experience or gaslight us and himself?

Is your iPhone 14 any less of a good device, can it withstand his slight criticism? Of course it can, it’s an inanimate object

 

[David1964]

Got a 14 Pro and immediately regretted it when I picked it up, the thing is just too heavy. And for a handheld device that is a big deal. Everything else is wonderful, the screen is smooth and bright, the camera's amazing. But for holding, texting and reading, what I do 99% of the time, it's just uncomfortable.

It's a shame the regular 14 lacks so many features but it's what I had to change to.

I thought Leeds fans were a bit stronger than that 😂 Sounds like you need to go to the gym and do some push-ups if you can't handle the weight of a smartphone.I use a Pro Max and have no issues with the weight.I like heavy phones.

 

[ratspg]

This is anything but a relaxing fireside chat. I typically enjoy Dan's reviews, but his anti-eSIM rant in this video is embarrassing. I went from a physical SIM to an eSIM on ATT in all of about 5 minutes. The process worked seamlessly, as it did for everyone I know who received their new phone last Friday. If you're going to use a small discount carrier with your top-of-the-line iPhone, I'm not sure why you would expect that to be easy.

It was the most seamless experience for me. Went from a Physical to eSim on my iPhone 13 Pro Max in less than two minutes and a few taps. Transferred that eSim from the iPhone 13 Pro Max to the iPhone 14 Pro Max over Bluetooth in less than 10 seconds. Was up and running.

 

[tomtad]

The pro max is 1/4 of a kilogram ,can you imagine that ?

Sure I could pick it up. But holding it for any length of time just can't be a nice experience.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

Even without taking Dynamic Island into consideration, the pill by itself looks so much better than the notch. I would buy an iPhone 14 Pro Max for that alone. I’m so happy to finally have the notch behind us.

Agreed. The fact that the pill is functional too has been a plus for me. I'm looking forward to other apps picking it up as well.

One question that came to me watching this video. I've noticed this in other reviews too where they are pulling the phone out of the box on video for the first time. What's the story with people really slowly and deliberately peeling off the soft cover sticky deal that Apple puts on the screen of a new phone? Picks up the phone at normal speed, but then peels over the screen cover like it's some kind of surprise what's going to be underneath and we're building anticipation. Not exclusive to this video, but have always wondered if there is something I'm missing on that.