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Video Review: Three Months With the iPhone 14 Pro Max

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Apple in September released the iPhone 14 models, so it's been three months since launch. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using the iPhone 14 Pro Max as his main phone since it came out, and he has some long term usage thoughts to share with those still undecided about upgrading.


In terms of durability, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is holding up well, even through several drops. There is a deep scratch on the display, but that tends to happen with no case. The stainless steel coating in black is prone to scratching, but it seems to be more durable than the coating on the 13 Pro Max.

Always on display and the Dynamic Island are nice features to have, especially with iOS 16.2 updates that let you hide wallpaper. Dynamic Island isn't being taken advantage of well as of yet, but Live Activities are still new and haven't been widely adopted by third-party apps.

The 48-megapixel upgrade to the Main camera on the iPhone 14 Pro models makes a major difference in quality, but it's not something that's for day to day use because of the file sizes. The sensor upgrade does bring improvements to all photos, and the new 4K 24fps option for Cinematic Mode results in great videos.

If you're still unsure about upgrading, it's well worth the purchase if you're coming from an iPhone 11 or older, but it's not really worth going for one of the standard 14 models over the Pro models just because of the huge number of features Apple made exclusive to the 14 Pro and Pro Max. To see all of Dan's thoughts on Apple's latest flagship, make sure to watch the video up above.

Article Link: Video Review: Three Months With the iPhone 14 Pro Max
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/12/14/iphone-14-pro-max-video-review/
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I kinda like the 14 PM.. but the forced e-sim ONLY ( US ) has me holding on to the 13PM...

Was looking to upgrade for additional storage and better camera, but there's no way I'm going e-sim only when I switch devices ( iOS <-> Android ) frequently!
 
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I love mine. But the screen glass is awful. I already have a tiny scratch/crack I can run a nail across and feel. Maybe 1/8 long and just enough to be annoying when I see it. It’s in a case and never dropped so I have no idea where it came from. But very disappointing.
 
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bigpoppa said:
Horrible battery life compared to the 13 Pro Max which was at 99% capacity when I traded it in. 🤦‍♂️
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Not my experience. 13 Pro versus 14 Pro I find the 14 Pro real-world stronger battery in (my) day-to-day usage. However both are battery-problem-free in my experience. As to capacity life I suspect your sample of one is just that, n=1.
 
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bigpoppa said:
Horrible battery life compared to the 13 Pro Max which was at 99% capacity when I traded it in. 🤦‍♂️
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Same here, I get 6H SOT with 14PM if lucky. So tired of setting up phone as new, trying betas, going back to official release, all to end up with the same 10% drain per hour / 1% down every few minutes regardless of using or not using the phone.

On low brightness, notifications on for a handful of apps, background refresh off, haptic typing off, AOD off, reduce motion on, using LTE not 5G. I have crippled this phone back to the 6S era essentially and it still sucks battery. Either I have a lemon or iOS 16 is screwed up
 
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My only complaint is the camera software, never ever in my history of owning iPhones do I have to battle with this iPhone 14’s pro camera app, that preserve camera settings is completely useless because no matter what IT DOESN‘T remember my previous settings at all.

It plays the button roulette as well, I turn off Live Photos and the RAW option decides to turn On, not even 16.2 fixed this issue.

I’ve sent my complaints to apple and nothing’s been fixed. I have my settings defaulted in the camera app through settings but no luck, it still wants to do what ever it wants, it makes taking pictures on the snap annoying Because i have no idea what setting it decided to enable for me that I disabled by default….
 
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TheYayAreaLiving 🎗 said:
Honestly, it's the best iPhone Apple has ever worked on. I love my iPhone 14 Pro Max 1 TB in Deep Purple. It’s just incredible and the camera continues to amaze me daily.
Click to expand...
No doubt, this silver 14pro makes up for all of the missed iPhones I didn’t get for one reason or another…. Usually money (4s, silver 5s, green 5c, jet black 7, X, iPhone 11pro when it was the newest)

Now that I have the pro, I completely understand the angst against the nominal upgrades every year, and the boredom people report, because this is seriously the best iPhone Apple has ever created. (Which is a really obvious and truthful statement.) and there’s no where to go from here except a newer iPhone, and they aren’t making huge changes year to year anymore.

I can’t imagine anything that would really make me have FOMO on future iPhone. That may change in two or three years, but so far the rumors for the 15 are already underwhelming (especially because you’ll need the Max to get the periscope lens… which I won’t ever get a Max phone: too big.)
 
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Way , way too heavy. I got rid of my iPhone 11 Pro Max as that too was too heavy and the 14 Pro
Max is even heavier. A true Porker class phone !
Also, the screen scratch resistance of iPhones is dire. Really dire. Have now started using a screen protector on my 13 pro and that so far has yielded so few hairline scratches compared to the 11 Pro max I had prior with no screen protector.
Also… the cost increase in Europe. Not good. When you can get a Pixel 7 Pro for so much less I really have to question how much longer I will stick with Apple. Or will just keep my 13 Pro for a while longer yet I expect.
 
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c84216 said:
I love mine. But the screen glass is awful. I already have a tiny scratch/crack I can run a nail across and feel. Maybe 1/8 long and just enough to be annoying when I see it. It’s in a case and never dropped so I have no idea where it came from. But very disappointing.
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Pocket lint and small sand particles I would assume. I used to get the same before I switched to a folio case.
 
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JM said:
No doubt, this silver 14pro makes up for all of the missed iPhones I didn’t get for one reason or another…. Usually money (4s, silver 5s, green 5c, jet black 7, X, iPhone 11pro when it was the newest)

Now that I have the pro, I completely understand the angst against the nominal upgrades every year, and the boredom people report, because this is seriously the best iPhone Apple has ever created. (Which is a really obvious and truthful statement.) and there’s no where to go from here except a newer iPhone, and they aren’t making huge changes year to year anymore.

I can’t imagine anything that would really make me have FOMO on future iPhone. That may change in two or three years, but so far the rumors for the 15 are already underwhelming (especially because you’ll need the Max to get the periscope lens… which I won’t ever get a Max phone: too big.)
Click to expand...
100% agree. The size of the Pro Max isn't so bad. The battery life is insane and you get used to it. Honestly, it's worth it. Hopefully, you will be ordering iPhone 15 Pro Max or Ultra in Silver on September 2023. :p
 
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