Other My one BIG Problem with the iPhone 12 Pro Max is...

[NLLV]

I hope this gets some views and can generate conversation, because it seems the be the ONE thing that will prevent me from actually switching from Android.

The one thing is the battery life of the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

To start, I need to point out that I am a video content creator who livestreams a LOT. That should make the rest of this make sense.

Currently, I use a Samsung Galaxy s20 Ultra, but a month ago I upgraded from a PC to a 2020 iMac.
As much as I want to unify my computer with my phone, as much as I want that low light performance on the video side, the photography as well looks great, and as much as I want to switch over, there is one problem.

THE BATTERY LIFE OF THIS PHONE COMBINED WITH 5G IS A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO FOR ME.

And I wish this was not the case.
You see, I do livestreams on youtube that are on location and mobile.

I rely on the massive battery on the Samsung phone (5000 mah) to get me through the stream, and before Verizon lit up 5g in Las Vegas, I could go THREE HOURS on a stream and go from 100-40%

Right now, with the phone switching from 5g to LTE+ and to LTE and then back constantly, my battery goes from 100% to 20% in just 90 minutes.

I honestly cannot imagine that the iPhone will fair better, and I suspect it will fair much worse.

Perhaps the A14 is more power friendly than the Qualcomm in this phone, or maybe iOS is that much more optimized? The thing is, this is something I do professionally, and I cannot risk it.

I am considering ultimately, getting the phone unlocked and then testing it for a few weeks to see how it works for me, but I question this:

With all the competition using larger batteries, with 5g being so spotty and failing even if a person stands under a tree, why would you put such a small battery in the devices?

We have no official reports, do we? Still I have read around 3750 mah on the Pro Max, and that seems like it will pose a huge problem down the line until 5g is everywhere (which will take some time.)

Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill?

Thanks all
Steven in Las Vegas
(AKA NOT Leaving Las Vegas on Youtube)

 

[now i see it]

Yes good idea to buy one and try it out within the Return period to see if the battery life will meet your needs.

Gotta remember the 5G towers are still beta and 5G modems in smartphones are only Gen 1 with undoubtedly a long list of hardware errata burned into them (bugs).

If your livelihood depends on dependable streaming, use a device that will work the best - (or use a battery pack).
Undoubtedly the iPhone 13 will have better 5G performance and the iPhone 14, better than that - etc

 

[mjschabow]

Don’t worry about the specs, the battery will be great compared to your S20. I speak from personal experience.

 

[glenthompson]

With the MagSafe charger you can always add on a battery pack. But as suggested get one and give it a try within the return period. When used outside a major battery drain is the display due to the brightness level necessitated but the sun. When I use my iPad outside my battery life really drops. If you can live with a dimmer display the battery life will improve.

 

[NLLV]

These are good suggestions, and I regretfully did not mention that I need to use a gimbal on the streams, as I am always walking around. I have to see if I can attach a cable and have the gimbal stay centered.

@mjschabow your comment intrigues me, could I ask you to elaborate on your personal experience, please?

 

[menist]

I heard youtubers are getting the 12 to review Friday. Hopfully by Monday, we will know more about the battery life. I doubt it'll be good with the constant switching of 5g to lte back and forth.

 

[Nozuka]

I think/hope they are going to release a MagSafe battery attachement soon. That would surely help in scenarios like these.

 

[edk99]

Maybe there is an option to turn 5g off and just use 4g LTE.

 

[fs454]

...maybe don't use 5G? It's not like you're gonna see the 5G network very often anyways. The battery life, regardless of if you use 5G or turn it off, is going to be much better than the S20.


It is completely and totally irrelevant to compare battery capacities as a measure of how much battery life you're going to see out of a device, especially when comparing relatively inefficient SoCs out of current android flagships . An absolutely, fully useless metric. Power consumption is WILDLY different between these devices, and the A14 is a 5nm chip. Power efficiency is a real and tangible thing.

 

[bpeeps]

Typing “Seeking Attention” probably would have also had the same effect with much less words.

 

[CarolG]

Maybe there is an option to turn 5g off and just use 4g LTE.

I think AT&T said that we have to use a new sim to get 5G. If I put the sim from my XS Max into my 12 Pro Max will that negate 5G? I don’t think I need 5G right now.

 

[Tsepz]

I hope this gets some views and can generate conversation, because it seems the be the ONE thing that will prevent me from actually switching from Android.

The one thing is the battery life of the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

To start, I need to point out that I am a video content creator who livestreams a LOT. That should make the rest of this make sense.

Currently, I use a Samsung Galaxy s20 Ultra, but a month ago I upgraded from a PC to a 2020 iMac.
As much as I want to unify my computer with my phone, as much as I want that low light performance on the video side, the photography as well looks great, and as much as I want to switch over, there is one problem.

THE BATTERY LIFE OF THIS PHONE COMBINED WITH 5G IS A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO FOR ME.

And I wish this was not the case.
You see, I do livestreams on youtube that are on location and mobile.

I rely on the massive battery on the Samsung phone (5000 mah) to get me through the stream, and before Verizon lit up 5g in Las Vegas, I could go THREE HOURS on a stream and go from 100-40%

Right now, with the phone switching from 5g to LTE+ and to LTE and then back constantly, my battery goes from 100% to 20% in just 90 minutes.

I honestly cannot imagine that the iPhone will fair better, and I suspect it will fair much worse.

Perhaps the A14 is more power friendly than the Qualcomm in this phone, or maybe iOS is that much more optimized? The thing is, this is something I do professionally, and I cannot risk it.

I am considering ultimately, getting the phone unlocked and then testing it for a few weeks to see how it works for me, but I question this:

With all the competition using larger batteries, with 5g being so spotty and failing even if a person stands under a tree, why would you put such a small battery in the devices?

We have no official reports, do we? Still I have read around 3750 mah on the Pro Max, and that seems like it will pose a huge problem down the line until 5g is everywhere (which will take some time.)

Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill?

Thanks all
Steven in Las Vegas
(AKA NOT Leaving Las Vegas on Youtube)

The iPhone will probably give you better mileage, because despite the S20 Ultra having a larger battery, the 11 Pro Max gives better battery life, and the 12 Pro Max is rated at the same battery life.

Battery Test | PhoneBuff

The official PhoneBuffStyle smartphone battery test rankings.

www.phonebuff.com

The iPhone 12 Pro Max will also have Smart Data Mode which may help quite a bit.

iPhone 12 only uses 5G when necessary to save battery life

Apple’s Smart Data Mode is designed to save power

www.theverge.com

 

[Successful Sorcerer]

The A14 soc is pretty battery friendly and should compensate for 5G. I think you can expect something like the iPhone 11 Pro (Max).

 

[silvetti]

I think/hope they are going to release a MagSafe battery attachement soon. That would surely help in scenarios like these.

I can totally see a line of battery pucks (disc shaped) so you can top-up your phone battery.

 

[NLLV]

...maybe don't use 5G? It's not like you're gonna see the 5G network very often anyways. The battery life, regardless of if you use 5G or turn it off, is going to be much better than the S20.

Certainly an option, if they allow for it.
There is no such option in Android, does iOS allow to selectively turn bands off?

Also, fwiw I know it's hard to believe, but theoretically the entire strip here in Las Vegas is 5g according to Verizon's own coverage maps, but I go into areas where it's not covered (into buildings etc) and on top of that, specific areas are spotty due to trees or pedestrian overpasses.

It is completely and totally irrelevant to compare battery capacities as a measure of how much battery life you're going to see out of a device, especially when comparing relatively inefficient SoCs out of current android flagships . An absolutely, fully useless metric. Power consumption is WILDLY different between these devices, and the A14 is a 5nm chip. Power efficiency is a real and tangible thing.

Well I hope you're correct, however the difference is offset by the 5000mah battery on the s20.

Also consider the fact that the snapdragon 865 is 7nm, it isn't like it's a 5nm vs 10 difference that a 2010 phone would have.

Please realize too, as your tone to me comes off as thinking I am just the most clever troll ever... I want to buy the iPhone...

My knee jerk reaction to this announcement was to stay up on November 6th to pre-order it.

 

[NLLV]

Typing “Seeking Attention” probably would have also had the same effect with much less words.

That's right, I forget that anyone who doesn't automatically buy the iPhone and puts thought into the tools they need is automatically considered simply a troll and attention seeker.

I do have news for you however, and that is that the iPhone is a great phone, but it is not the best phone for all people.

Its really okay to ask questions.

I remember a long time ago when I was in school and they used to consider asking questions and seeking answers to be a redeeming quality of a student.

Now a days if you don't just fall in line (especially in this community), you're considered nothing more than an attention seeker.

I have my youtube channel for that. Plenty of attention filled there when I publish videos lol

 

[NLLV]

The iPhone will probably give you better mileage, because despite the S20 Ultra having a larger battery, the 11 Pro Max gives better battery life, and the 12 Pro Max is rated at the same battery life.

Battery Test | PhoneBuff

The official PhoneBuffStyle smartphone battery test rankings.

www.phonebuff.com

The iPhone 12 Pro Max will also have Smart Data Mode which may help quite a bit.

iPhone 12 only uses 5G when necessary to save battery life

Apple’s Smart Data Mode is designed to save power

www.theverge.com

Thank you, I had not read about smart data mode. Wonder how well that juggles things.

I actually have to use a VPN when I stream because Verizon throttles youtube and actually all. Streaming data aggressively.

This is a good find, it's a shame the device doesn't do 120hz and if I switch I think I'll be missing that feature which I have turned on all the time now, but perhaps I'll get used to being at 60hz again too.

 

[silvetti]

Certainly an option, if they allow for it.
There is no such option in Android, does iOS allow to selectively turn bands off?

Also, fwiw I know it's hard to believe, but theoretically the entire strip here in Las Vegas is 5g according to Verizon's own coverage maps, but I go into areas where it's not covered (into buildings etc) and on top of that, specific areas are spotty due to trees or pedestrian overpasses.




Well I hope you're correct, however the difference is offset by the 5000mah battery on the s20.

Also consider the fact that the snapdragon 865 is 7nm, it isn't like it's a 5nm vs 10 difference that a 2010 phone would have.

Please realize too, as your tone to me comes off as thinking I am just the most clever troll ever... I want to buy the iPhone...

My knee jerk reaction to this announcement was to stay up on November 6th to pre-order it.

It does allow selecting 3G vs LTE so I assume there will be an option for 5G as well.

 

[BrettDS]

Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill?

I don’t know that you’re making a mountain out of a mole hill necessarily, but I think that you do have a pretty unusual use case. The vast majority of people aren’t doing three hour live streams on their phone. I use an iPhone 11 Pro Max and I am planning to purchase an iPhone 12 Pro Max. I have no complaints about the battery life on my current phone. It is more than enough to get me through a day of pretty heavy use. And personally I think the phone is big enough and heavy enough as it is. I would not want to see it get any bigger or heavier for extra battery life that I do not need.

Again, obviously this is something that’s important to you, and I can understand why, but just because you have a need for extra battery life doesn’t mean that everyone does. And I suspect that there are a lot of people (maybe even a majority of people) who would prefer a smaller and lighter phone to one with a bigger battery.

You can always use an external battery pack to extend the battery life of your phone and I think it makes sense to expect to need to do something like that for fringe use cases like yours. If the phone was bigger and heavier because of a larger battery that I don’t need there’s nothing I could do short of attaching a few helium balloons to it.

 

[Dwalls90]

If Apple is fair about one thing in their specs, battery life is one of them. The 11 Pro Max battery is fantastic, and seeing as the 12 Pro Max is measured at the same level, you shouldn't have concerns about battery life. Yes, I know there is 5G, and it may be a battery sucker, but Apple has accounted for this in the specs.