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Other Which are you getting? iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max?

Which one?

  • Pro

    Votes: 351 54.4%

  • Pro Max

    Votes: 294 45.6%
  • Total voters
    645
Usually by this time (less than a day to go) I'm thinking about color options and strategically which I like best (while also ensuring the best chance for a Day 1 arrival). 😆

I think I am starting to feel confident about going with the Pro this time around. I'll know pretty quickly if I will like it or not since I can directly compare it against my 11PM before that gets traded-in.

My main concerns are battery life & screen size as it relates to media consumption and general app/web browser usage.
It's possible that both of these will turn out to be non-issues though. Perhaps the battery life will be mostly the same in real-world usage. And perhaps bigger isn't necessarily better, since there's other aspects to consider such an one-handed usage.

Also, for me, with Microsoft announcing GamePass Ultimate will be coming to iOS (via browser just like Amazon Luna) sometime in 2021 - the smaller Pro may actually make more sense. Assuming one attaches an Xbox controller to it, it won't be nearly as "top heavy" as the Pro Max, which is a very serious issue in comfort for handheld gaming. One could assume that a larger screen is automatically better, but the weight as it relates to the controller can more than negate that, just look at the "8bitdo SN30 Pro for Xbox cloud gaming on Android" if you want to see what I mean.
 
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Seriously nice to see that others are in the same boat as myself. I am an 11 PM user currently and wished for a year that I’d gotten the smaller phone. This year, decided to do smaller even with the non-super sweet camera (i use it a lot, but what I’ve got now is good for me; so i likely wont miss the upgrades anyway). So, I’ve opted to use the Apple upgrade plan to get the 12 Pro. If for some reason, I am not totally satisfied, I can always sell it (going for over 1700 now on eBay for preorders), and get the 12 Pro Max later. I’ve got two weeks roughly to figure it out. But I am really thinking that I’ll be happy with the decision I’ve made.
 
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tothemoonsands said:
Usually by this time (less than a day to go) I'm thinking about color options and strategically which I like best (while also ensuring the best chance for a Day 1 arrival). 😆

I think I am starting to feel confident about going with the Pro this time around. I'll know pretty quickly if I will like it or not since I can directly compare it against my 11PM before that gets traded-in.

My main concerns are battery life & screen size as it relates to media consumption and general app/web browser usage.
It's possible that both of these will turn out to be non-issues though. Perhaps the battery life will be mostly the same in real-world usage. And perhaps bigger isn't necessarily better, since there's other aspects to consider such an one-handed usage.

Also, for me, with Microsoft announcing GamePass Ultimate will be coming to iOS (via browser just like Amazon Luna) sometime in 2021 - the smaller Pro may actually make more sense. Assuming one attaches an Xbox controller to it, it won't be nearly as "top heavy" as the Pro Max, which is a very serious issue in comfort for handheld gaming.
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I'm dead set on the Pacific Blue as blue is my favorite color and it just looks sleek, but yeah usually I have my mind set on the specific device by this time...

The battery capacity for the 12PM is slightly lower than the 11PM, which is the other main thing I'm worried about. After 1 year, my 11PM would last me all day, but I would have to charge it pretty early into the night. From 8a-8p I'd have about 20% left which isn't too shabby. This is without any gaming at all, just a few Youtube videos and a lot of web browsing/ video calls.

I want to say I won't miss the bigger screen just because I don't game on my phone at all, but for video editing and photos, 6.7" is such a dream, and it's definitely more convenient to just whip the phone out rather than pick up my iPad.

First world problems huh
 
Hughey79 said:
Will we really see a big difference between the 11 pm and 12 pro in battery life? Camera sensor doesn't mean anything to me. Size and battery are my two main dilemmas.
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According to apple Website , the 12pro has 3 hours less than the 11 PM
 
CoriG said:
According to apple Website , the 12pro has 3 hours less than the 11 PM
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If that's the case I'm definitely sticking with the 12PM!
tothemoonsands said:
100% 😂

"The 6.5 is a good size...6.7 is to big....hmm but 6.1 may be better"

It's a game of millimeters and grams!
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The 12PM is only a couple grams heavier than the 11PM and it hasn't really been an issue. I guess I'm sticking with the 12PM for the reason above^
 
iPhone82 said:
How much bigger is the pro max vs the XS max? I currently use that now
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Not by much but my biggest issue is the weight. It is 0.5 lbs. I currently have the XS max but find it a bit bulky and it has some weight. With the Pro slight increase in screen size I will get that model instead.
 
alanderp said:
I'm in the same boat as well, and pre-order is in less than 12 hours! I was dead set on downsizing from the 11PM this year, but I use my phone for photos and videos quite frequently, so I was tempted by the better camera system on the 12PM.

Part of me still wants to downsize due to having an iPad and my MB for bigger screens, but the other part of me wants to have the upgraded camera system on the 12PM especially if I plan on keeping this phone for the next 2 years. The question is if I will really benefit from the bump in low-light images and videos, and if I'll miss the bigger screen everywhere or not.
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I currently have the XS Max and I’m slightly undecided. I was set on downsizing to the Pro, but the differences in cameras made me reconsider. As of now, I’m still set on the regular Pro. I figure that regardless, the 11 pro camera was amazing and both the 12 pro and 12 pro max cameras are even better. Yes, the 12 pro max a bit more, but I think the convenient size of the regular pro may outweigh that. It’s an upgrade whichever decision you choose.

Also the 12 pro max growing in size and weight isn’t too convincing for me.
 
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alanderp said:
If that's the case I'm definitely sticking with the 12PM!

The 12PM is only a couple grams heavier than the 11PM and it hasn't really been an issue. I guess I'm sticking with the 12PM for the reason above^
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One has to wonder though if part of the 3 hour difference is actually related to 5G. Surely Apple conducted their test with a level of "Mixed Usage" - switching between 5G and LTE. Makes sense because 5G is a main selling point of this device.

I would expect it to be a bit more favorable when compared apples-to-apples - LTE vs LTE.
 
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tothemoonsands said:
One has to wonder though if part of the 3 hour difference is actually related to 5G. Surely Apple conducted their test with a level of "Mixed Usage" - switching between 5G and LTE. Makes sense because 5G is a main selling point of this device.

I would expect it to be a bit more favorable when compared apples-to-apples - LTE vs LTE.
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That's true. I almost never use wifi though, only at home, and at that point I'm on my MacBook or iPad. Apparently T-Mobile also has better coverage for the slower 5g compared to the faster 5g that Verizon has. Not sure what the technical names of the bands are... Even if 5g was toggled on and off automatically, anything less than the battery life of the 11PM makes me 100% want to choose the 12PM.

I keep holding my best friend's 11P and my gf's XS Max and am still swayed by the smaller form factor of the normal Pro, but the screen on the XS Max is something I feel like I will really miss.
 
rawCpoppa said:
I wonder if the shape of the edges will make holding the 12PM easier with one hand.
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This is something I've considered as well... I honestly think it will make bigger phones harder to hold because the edges don't really conform to your palm. The squared edges was a joy to use on the 5/5s though.

My ex has an iPhone XR with a squared case for some odd reason, and from what I remember, I didn't really enjoy holding it.
 
I can’t freaking decide! I want the form factor of my current 11 pro, but I want the camera system of the 12 pro max. Who is in the same situation and what are you deciding?! Photos are the most important thing to me, but equally important is being able to deal with the thing on a daily basis in my hands!

Edit: ordering a Pro, despite wanting the better camera. I’ve tried the larger phones in the past and they’re just too much of a headache to deal with. It’s only another 11 months and it seems like both size Pros will be on par with one another again, so I’ll manage. Plus like others have mentioned I bet you’ll be hard pressed to notice the camera differences between the two Pro models in the real world, if at all.
 
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cchs2014 said:
I currently have the XS Max and I’m slightly undecided. I was set on downsizing to the Pro, but the differences in cameras made me reconsider. As of now, I’m still set on the regular Pro. I figure that regardless, the 11 pro camera was amazing and both the 12 pro and 12 pro max cameras are even better. Yes, the 12 pro max a bit more, but I think the convenient size of the regular pro may outweigh that. It’s an upgrade whichever decision you choose.

Also the 12 pro max growing in size and weight isn’t too convincing for me.
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I think Apples reality distortion is kicking in high gear for some people. There have not been any comparisons and people are acting like it’s a night and day difference. For several years now, the small and larger pros have been identical outside of the obvious screen and battery etc. I am going to wager that there is little difference at the end of the day. In-depth comparisons might reveal minor advantages for the Max, mostly edge cases. I think Apple did OIS in the 6 Plus and not in the regular 6. I don’t recall there being much of a difference at all.
 
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Ds6778 said:
I think Apples reality distortion is kicking in high gear for some people. There have not been any comparisons and people are acting like it’s a night and day difference. For several years now, the small and larger pros have been identical outside of the obvious screen and battery etc. I am going to wager that there is little difference at the end of the day. In-depth comparisons might reveal minor advantages for the Max, mostly edge cases. I think Apple did OIS in the 6 Plus and not in the regular 6. I don’t recall there being much of a difference at all.
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You're right, I'm going to be a patient little boy and get the one with the biggest battery :) Another 3-4 weeks of waiting isn't that bad
 
Ds6778 said:
I think Apples reality distortion is kicking in high gear for some people. There have not been any comparisons and people are acting like it’s a night and day difference. For several years now, the small and larger pros have been identical outside of the obvious screen and battery etc. I am going to wager that there is little difference at the end of the day. In-depth comparisons might reveal minor advantages for the Max, mostly edge cases. I think Apple did OIS in the 6 Plus and not in the regular 6. I don’t recall there being much of a difference at all.
Click to expand...

Great point. The iPhone 6 Plus did have OIS. I’m also sure in-depth comparisons will show variations for both cameras. But regardless, both cameras will be great for regular users and those who aren’t pro photographers like myself.
 
I'm starting to finalize my preparations for the 12 Pro tomorrow. Tempered glass screen protectors ordered etc.
Yeah yeah, Apple says that the coating is going to be more scratch-resistant and shatter-proof, but all I know is my 11 Pro Max is riddled with micro-scratches. Granted, they are only visible when the display is off in very harsh direct sunlight, but it's still annoying. And no, I don't have sand in my pockets!!

Really hoping that there is noticeable improvement to the scratch resistance, but not taking any chances this time around. I much prefer the experience of not have any screen protector, but at the end of the day, I'd rather not have any micro-scratches.
 
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tothemoonsands said:
I'm starting to finalize my preparations for the 12 Pro tomorrow. Tempered glass screen protectors ordered etc.
Yeah yeah, Apple says that the coating is going to be more scratch-resistant and shatter-proof, but all I know is my 11 Pro Max is riddled with micro-scratches. Granted, they are only visible when the display is off in very harsh direct sunlight, but it's still annoying. And no, I don't have sand in my pockets!!

Really hoping that there is noticeable improvement to the scratch resistance, but not taking any chances this time around. I much prefer the experience of not have any screen protector, but at the end of the day, I'd rather not have any micro-scratches.
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Enjoy your 12P!! Let us know how you like downsizing!
 
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Pro Max, no contest whatsoever. The camera alone does it, and for my primary portable computer why not have the larger display? In the grand scheme of things, carrying around something that's maybe half an inch larger if that isn't a big deal.
 
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Pro Max all the way. I love a larger screen, and I can still take it for a run just fine in a FlipBelt, it zips into my cycling shirt, fits in my trail running pack, etc. I'm small and the size is no problem for me. Still fits in jeans pockets, small purses, etc.

Looking forward to the Pacific Blue and the REALLY nice cameras.
 
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fs454 said:
Pro Max, no contest whatsoever. The camera alone does it, and for my primary portable computer why not have the larger display? In the grand scheme of things, carrying around something that's maybe half an inch larger if that isn't a big deal.
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That half of an inch makes a world of difference in one-handed usage though. Many people always use two hands on their phones, making that a non-issue for them. But I use the phone single-handedly quite often and usability of the Max is pretty awkward for me. I went with a 7+ a few years ago for the the camera, but struggled a bit with the size all year. I debated upgrading to the 11 Pro Max (instead of the 11 Pro) for the camera, but ultimately decided I couldn’t compromise ease of use for longer battery life, 87% better low light photos instead of 27%, 5x zoom instead of 4x and better image stabilization.

I love the years when the features are the same in both models and I don’t even have to consider the Max.
 
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