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iPhone 16 Pro Max Anyone else feeling bored or somewhat disappointed with their 16 Pro Max? thinking about switching to S25 Ultra just for fun.

NvidiaIntelPC

NvidiaIntelPC

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 25, 2023
74
117
I upgraded from the 13 Pro Max to the 16 Pro Max in late October, and as a tech enthusiast, I’m already bored with this brick. It doesn’t offer anything noticeably different from the 13 Pro Max, which I used for 2.5 years.

Apple’s “AI” doesn't exist it's just a marketing gimmick, and the camera upgrades are not noticeable, even though I take a lot of photos and videos. The new camera button? good idea but poorly designed, touch-sensitive aspect of it is unreliable and completely unergonomic. The display looks identical to the 13 Pro Max, and I don’t see any real benefit from the Dynamic Island over the old notch. Plus, the new Photos app is just terrible.hate it everythime.

I love my other Apple devices: MacBook Air (best laptop), Apple TV (amazing), AirPods Pro 2 (excellent), and Apple Watch Ultra (great). But I’m just not into the iPhone or iOS anymore.

I already have a nice, fast 8” Android tablet and have owned a few Samsung Note flagships over the years, so I’m not addicted to iOS, and I never use iMessage.
I’m seriously thinking about switching to the S25 Ultra for a change, even if it means giving up my Apple Watch Ultra (which I think is way better than any other smartwatch).


Anyone else disappointed with the 16 series, especially those who are into tech and upgrading from the 12 series or newer?
 
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NvidiaIntelPC said:
I upgraded from the 13 Pro Max to the 16 Pro Max in late October, and as a tech enthusiast, I’m already bored with this brick. It doesn’t offer anything noticeably different from the 13 Pro Max, which I used for 2.5 years.
Click to expand...
If you are into tech, try a real interchangeable lens mirrorless camera. Takes much better pictures than an iPhone. And better than even a Samsung.
 
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I would switch if the android market had a lot of photography apps like iOS. There too many options and accessories that are made for the iPhone like external lenses, Beastgrip accessories like the Beastcage (currently have one on order). Samsung has good cameras but doesn’t have the software to control them as well as Apple. Also android isn’t as secure as iOS. I’d loose my airdrop, image quality via text to other iOS devices etc. If I did get one, I’d buy it and open another line and use it with my iPhone. Similar to what I’m doing now with two 16 pro max iPhones.
 
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I'm not bored with my iPhone 16 Pro and I do use some of the AI features in a limited capacity. I wouldn't base a purchase decision on AI at this point though.

That being said, I'm interested to see what the updates will be to the Samsung Galaxy fold and I make pick one up. At the very least, I figure I can use it as a small portable iPad like device.
 
NvidiaIntelPC said:
I upgraded from the 13 Pro Max to the 16 Pro Max in late October, and as a tech enthusiast, I’m already bored with this brick. It doesn’t offer anything noticeably different from the 13 Pro Max, which I used for 2.5 years.

Apple’s “AI” doesn't exist it's just a marketing gimmick, and the camera upgrades are not noticeable, even though I take a lot of photos and videos. The new camera button? good idea but poorly designed, touch-sensitive aspect of it is unreliable and completely unergonomic. The display looks identical to the 13 Pro Max, and I don’t see any real benefit from the Dynamic Island over the old notch. Plus, the new Photos app is just terrible.hate it everythime.

I love my other Apple devices: MacBook Air (best laptop), Apple TV (amazing), AirPods Pro 2 (excellent), and Apple Watch Ultra (great). But I’m just not into the iPhone or iOS anymore.

I already have a nice, fast 8” Android tablet and have owned a few Samsung Note flagships over the years, so I’m not addicted to iOS, and I never use iMessage.
I’m seriously thinking about switching to the S25 Ultra for a change, even if it means giving up my Apple Watch Ultra (which I think is way better than any other smartwatch).


Anyone else disappointed with the 16 series, especially those who are into tech and upgrading from the 12 series or newer?
Click to expand...
I have everything you posted. I even upgraded from a 13 Pro Max to a 16 Pro MAX because I outgrew the Android Ecosystem.

I have a GalaxyWatch Ultra, the new Galaxy Buds and a S24 Ultra.

I decided to Switch to the Apple Ecosystem it’s just more fluid. Mac Mini M4 Pro, iPad Pro M4 new AirPods Pro 2 new 16 Pro MAX.

Apple hit a home run with the M4 Pro Mac Mini. So I’m the opposite I gave up the Android Ecosystem. For Apple.
 
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NvidiaIntelPC said:
I upgraded from the 13 Pro Max to the 16 Pro Max in late October, and as a tech enthusiast, I’m already bored with this brick. It doesn’t offer anything noticeably different from the 13 Pro Max, which I used for 2.5 years.
Click to expand...

When you say you're bored with it, what exactly did you expect a new iPhone will do compared to your old phone? Coffee in the morning? laundry? dinner?

Sorry to disappoint you, but other phone brands won't do anything special either compared to your old phone.
 
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geta said:
When you say you're bored with it, what exactly did you expect a new iPhone will do compared to your old phone? Coffee in the morning? laundry? dinner?

Sorry to disappoint you, but other phone brands won't do anything special either compared to your old phone.
Click to expand...
After 8 years or more on Android I still own and use an S24 Ultra, just not a daily. Things on Android just aren’t as polished as on Apple. Also Safari is just better than Chrome on many levels.

It’s like going from a Toyota to a Lexus.

Also the Apple ecosystem feels like you are part of a Community with Apple Stores everywhere.

And best part of all No more eye rolls from girls when they see your Android 🤖 phone.
 
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If iPhones are getting boring the Samsungs will be 10 times worse, lol. Just remember who's the OG and who's the copycat in the game... That did not change over the years.

And if you like photography so much why not get a proper camera, you'll have much more fun. Phone cameras are limited no matter the gimmicks, it will always be a camera just for quick convenience.
 
TheRealAlex said:
I decided to Switch to the Apple Ecosystem it’s just more fluid. Mac Mini M4 Pro, iPad Pro M4 new AirPods Pro 2 new 16 Pro MAX.
Click to expand...
In September 2012, I bought my first iPhone brand new and 'converted' to the Apple ecosystem. I was all in. Unfortunately, that was a year that Apple changed things and Apple was NOT all in with me continuing to use a PowerBook G4 for my phone syncing.

I also realized that certain things I'd enjoyed while playing around on a jailbroken 3GS prior to that purchase were not available to me on my brand new iPhone 5. So, I had two problems with the Apple ecosystem.

So, since Apple allows other services to be used on the iPhone, I ignored Apple's ecosystem and brought Google to my iPhone. Because it's cross platform. And then, when the iOS 6 jailbreak dropped I jailbroke my iPhone 5. I've had dark mode and a bunch of other things long before Apple introduced them.

I gave up jailbreaking in 2020, but only because of the hassle now involved to do it, not because Apple had all of a sudden reached a pinnacle that made me no longer want to do it. But, I have remained with Google's and other third party services.

So, while you have switched to the Apple ecosystem, there are only a few things in that ecosystem I do use. Everything else I use is third party. One third party service, OCLP (Open Core Legacy Patcher) is enabling me to type this message in on a 2009 Mac Pro that is running Sonoma. Apple says I can't run it, and if I solely stuck with Apple's ecosystem I wouldn't be able to.

But I don't like being told 'no'.

There we are then. I use iPhone because I like iOS and you're right, it's more fluid. But I'm not and will not be forced to use Apple's ecosystem when I can use other services if I want to.
 
It's tough to recommend upgrading from anything later than maybe a 14/14 Pro. I personally put that cut off there for the satellite and crash detection features. But I know people who are still happy with the regular iPhone 11.
 
I would’ve switched to a Google Pixel a looooong time ago. Only thing keeping me on iPhone is iMessage. (And no, RCS is not the same.)
 
The S25U is… another slab phone.
A fantastic one no doubt, but if you got bored of your 16PM because it was too similar to the 13PM, I am not sure what you expect the S25U to deliver that also won’t bore you a week in when the “new phone excitement” has worn off and you go back to using your phone like you’ve used every other phone and it just becomes another phone.
 
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I will probably never go the Samsung route because I don't like that ecosystem in general, but I've tried playing with S25U and I can see where you might be coming from.

Surprisingly and I thought I will never say that, but the scrolling within apps and input responsiveness on S25U seems to be better now than 16P on iOS18.
 
NvidiaIntelPC said:
I upgraded from the 13 Pro Max to the 16 Pro Max in late October, and as a tech enthusiast, I’m already bored with this brick. It doesn’t offer anything noticeably different from the 13 Pro Max, which I used for 2.5 years.

Apple’s “AI” doesn't exist it's just a marketing gimmick, and the camera upgrades are not noticeable, even though I take a lot of photos and videos. The new camera button? good idea but poorly designed, touch-sensitive aspect of it is unreliable and completely unergonomic. The display looks identical to the 13 Pro Max, and I don’t see any real benefit from the Dynamic Island over the old notch. Plus, the new Photos app is just terrible.hate it everythime.

I love my other Apple devices: MacBook Air (best laptop), Apple TV (amazing), AirPods Pro 2 (excellent), and Apple Watch Ultra (great). But I’m just not into the iPhone or iOS anymore.

I already have a nice, fast 8” Android tablet and have owned a few Samsung Note flagships over the years, so I’m not addicted to iOS, and I never use iMessage.
I’m seriously thinking about switching to the S25 Ultra for a change, even if it means giving up my Apple Watch Ultra (which I think is way better than any other smartwatch).


Anyone else disappointed with the 16 series, especially those who are into tech and upgrading from the 12 series or newer?
Click to expand...
If you register before the Samsung Galaxy unpacked event, you’ll get an no obligation e voucher for $50 or $100 depending on where you live. I registered a week ago. I have used android and iOS both over the last 6 years. I know where you’re coming from with the boredom or lack of excitement. That’s why I would rotate monthly between the two. Although I am kinda locked 🔒 in with Apple 🍎 music and Apple fitness +.
 
GusBougadis said:
If you register before the Samsung Galaxy unpacked event, you’ll get an no obligation e voucher for $50 or $100 depending on where you live. I registered a week ago. I have used android and iOS both over the last 6 years. I know where you’re coming from with the boredom or lack of excitement. That’s why I would rotate monthly between the two. Although I am kinda locked 🔒 in with Apple 🍎 music and Apple fitness +.
Click to expand...
How is the gaming/3D app performance on Galaxy? No way they fixed that as well, though I didn't try this on a flagship android in a long time. Used to be that you got worse performance with better hw on it solely because of the OS.
 
SmOgER said:
How is the gaming/3D app performance on Galaxy? No way they fixed that as well, though I didn't try this on a flagship android in a long time. Used to be that you got worse performance with better hw on it solely because of the OS.
Click to expand...
I haven’t owned a galaxy phone since the s4. After that pixel and 3 LG. I don’t game, so, I wouldn’t know how to answer that. I do know that most of the apps work better on iOS. I currently rotate between an iPhone XS, iPhone 14. I also have a Samsung Galaxy Tab and iPad. My next carrier upgrade may be an android phone; I’ll have to see what deals are available when my contract expires. Apple Music is not good on android and with Apple fitness + you need to confirm on your iPhone to get into the app on Apple TV 📺.
 
In the same boat here. I love MacOS and my MacBooks, Apple Watch, and AirPods, but not a fan of my previous iPhones and iPad. I really enjoyed the Samsung Note series of phones but the Galaxy Fold is hands-down my favorite phone of all time. I stopped bothering with my M1 iPad Pro 12.9 because the Fold 6 accomplishes both phone and tablet functions, and has S Pen support too!

I miss my Apple Watch more than my prior iPhones, but my Galaxy Watch Ultra is pretty awesome too. Nowadays Android apps are every bit as polished as iOS. Android is actually much better than iOS/iPadOS when it comes to file management and multi-window support. With Samsung Dex I can even connect a monitor and Bluetooth keyboard and my Fold6 transforms to a dekstop computer on-the-go. Many apps today are cross-platform and cloud-based so I have no issues transitioning between Android phone, Macbook Pro, and even Windows PC on occasion. They are all tools, just use what works best for you (sometimes that's Apple, and honestly sometimes not).
 
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It’s a personal choice, but looking over the specs for the S25 Ultra there doesn’t seem to be much different than the camera sensors. While the mp’s are great, it’s limited to a 2x and 3x telephoto. The 12 GBH of RAM sounds nice.
I’ll be getting a 17 PM when they’re released, but I must admit I’ve been looking at Androids.
 
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NeonNights said:
In the same boat here. I love MacOS and my MacBooks, Apple Watch, and AirPods, but not a fan of my previous iPhones and iPad. I really enjoyed the Samsung Note series of phones but the Galaxy Fold is hands-down my favorite phone of all time. I stopped bothering with my M1 iPad Pro 12.9 because the Fold 6 accomplishes both phone and tablet functions, and has S Pen support too!

I miss my Apple Watch more than my prior iPhones, but my Galaxy Watch Ultra is pretty awesome too. Nowadays Android apps are every bit as polished as iOS. Android is actually much better than iOS/iPadOS when it comes to file management and multi-window support. With Samsung Dex I can even connect a monitor and Bluetooth keyboard and my Fold6 transforms to a dekstop computer on-the-go. Many apps today are cross-platform and cloud-based so I have no issues transitioning between Android phone, Macbook Pro, and even Windows PC on occasion. They are all tools, just use what works best for you (sometimes that's Apple, and honestly sometimes not).
Click to expand...
The fold 6 is really nice. 👍🏻 I was at the Samsung store 🏬 over the holidays and they had many on display.
 
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