iPhone 11 Pro XS Max to an 11 Pro Max?

[newellj]

You're arguing on very irrelevant different points.

The camera technology is the same as the Xs gen except for the addition of an added ultra-wide lens. One could argue the selfie camera upgrade is the actual hardware upgrade because it is the only true hardware upgrade they made. The reason you're taking better pictures and videos on your rear facing camera isn't hardware, it's software optimization through computational algorithms calculated by a microprocessor. The iPhone Xs gen hardware-wise should make the exact same pictures as the iPhone 11 gen (except for zoom). The only reason it doesn't is because Apple essentially locked the software features to the iPhone 11 gen.

The battery life is even less of a point since battery technology is literally the slowest improving technology on the planet with a year of year gain of single digit performance gains. The reason you're getting better battery-life is once again due to micro-architecture optimization (even more than camera tech).

tldr; You're essentially buying into the same hardware generation (with insanely small margins) which is why it's essentially'useless' to buy an 11 if you already any phone in that same gen.

The point is not that this phone isn't fricking awesome because it is. The point is; it simply wasn't made for people that already bought into the X or Xs gen technology.

You're on a rant and you aren't paying attention to the facts. It's factually untrue that "[t]he camera technology is the same as the Xs gen except for the addition of an added ultra-wide lens." The fact is that the sensors in the other two cameras are also new. Higher ISO, lower noise, and a faster sensor (f/2.0) in the telephoto lens. The XS camera was actually only so-so, and the raw files were crap.

On the battery, you are utterly ignoring simple facts again. The capacity of the battery is way up in the Max. Better battery life is not "once again due to micro-architecture optimization." Please stick to facts, not fiction.

This is not "essentially...the same hardware generation (with insanely small margins)" - in quite a few respects the 11 Pro is the actual S generation that the XS was not, and like many S generations it's actually a big improvement over the original.

 

[44267547]

There are some users who after demoing the newest model just don’t feel the benefit of the few added upgrades are of no interest or not worth the extra cost for them at the moment. As an Xs max user myself who took all of 20 minutes at the Apple store to deduce that aside from the camera, which incidentally is of no interest to me personally, and the better battery life..side by side and system wide I was looking at practically the same device. In 20 minutes I was completely content with my Xs max and my impulse to splurge on the 11 pro max had gone, only to be replaced with a hankering and anticipation for what the 12 pro is likely to offer.

I simply am not wowed by what the 11 pro offers. It didn’t feel I was gaining in the sense that I’m not a camera person and already happy with the battery on my xsm any other improvements were not at all obvious to me. I’m most definitely not “downplaying” the new features. They are great if that is important to the user. It’s just that there are many, just like me who aside from these two obvious upgrades appreciate that, in use, the 11 pro max is mostly identical to using my xsm and it would be silly to shell out on this upgrade in particular when the upcoming 12 pro makes makes a lot more sense.

This thread is titled “Xs Max to 11 pro Max” and these are just my thoughts/observations. I’m not downplaying anybody’s purchase and am confused by people here getting upset tbh. I don’t quite get the sensitivity regarding phone choices. They’re just temporary pocket devices when all’s said & done.

My post wasn’t aimed at you specifically. There are just some who I believe hide behind the scenes that they purchased a Phone they couldn’t afford (Which happens a lot) or they regret purchasing it in the first place because they were drawn by hype (Which also happens on these threads) . But I agree that not every iPhone feature has to to appeal to everyone. Consumers have choices of what device they decide to upgrade and when they decide to upgrade. That’s why Apple has options in their lineup, because they know there’s different price points/features for everyone.

 

[MacClueless]

The point is; it simply wasn't made for people that already bought into the X or Xs gen technology.

Many of us upgrade every year and I feel it was very much made for us. It’s just not enough money to worry about.

 

[MacClueless]

people have to put down a certain phone to make themselves feel better about a purchase they either regret or a purchase they couldn’t afford to begin with.

Exactly... just because it’s not right for your situation don’t assume it’s the same for others.

 

[MacClueless]

That’s true. I’m also tired of the yearly upgrade which is insignificant for me.

I’m the exact opposite, in fact I wish they’d do two a year. The upgrades don’t come fast enough.

 

[newellj]

I’m the exact opposite, in fact I wish they’d do two a year. The upgrades don’t come fast enough.

But the iOS upgrades certainly do. They should probably go to every other year. I’m serious, not being snarky. Annual updates to iOS and macOS are clearly far beyond Apple’s resources.

 

[MacClueless]

Annual updates to iOS and macOS are clearly far beyond Apple’s resources.

Huh? Why do you think that?

 

[Zwhaler]

Spoiler: Not another fluffy pro-11 Max review

thinking of upgrading? Use the cash as toilet paper for better use.

It shames me to say it, but this is the rate of ‘innovation’ we’ve been seeing at Apple. It’s an absolute embarrassment that I shelled out another $1500 for the 11 Pro Max after 12 months of shelling out the same for the XS Max.
I managed to sell my XS MAX on eBay for $900, so I rationalized the splurge. But it is far from a needed upgrade.
Let’s say it as it is: The 11 has an extra camera. That’s it. The very fact that you need to see side-by-side photos to notice the enhanced camera quality shows you that you don’t %#*ing need it. But me being the schmuck I am had to buy it anyways.

The phone is solidly better but not dramatically better overall. It's a winning hardware strategy since Apple can guarantee quality as they incrementally iterate the device over time. In software, as we've seen this season, not so much. That being said, as long as people keep buying it, Apple's going to keep the rate of innovation roughly consistent.
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Huh? Why do you think that?

Lack of quality control in iOS 13 and others (HomePod 13.2).

 

[Dirtydutch]

You're on a rant and you aren't paying attention to the facts. It's factually untrue that "[t]he camera technology is the same as the Xs gen except for the addition of an added ultra-wide lens." The fact is that the sensors in the other two cameras are also new. Higher ISO, lower noise, and a faster sensor (f/2.0) in the telephoto lens. The XS camera was actually only so-so, and the raw files were crap.

On the battery, you are utterly ignoring simple facts again. The capacity of the battery is way up in the Max. Better battery life is not "once again due to micro-architecture optimization." Please stick to facts, not fiction.

This is not "essentially...the same hardware generation (with insanely small margins)" - in quite a few respects the 11 Pro is the actual S generation that the XS was not, and like many S generations it's actually a big improvement over the original.

Gotta agree since we are on a 3 year cycle now, the 3rd iteration truly seems like the one to get. Seems hard to cite many complaints on the 11 Pro/Max. Battery life has got to be 1 on most users list, and these really check that box, with now arguably the best camera on a smartphone to boot.

 

[newellj]

Huh? Why do you think that?

Look around MR. Or check Apple’s forums, or Twitter. iOS 1e and Catalina are both full-on trainwrecks.
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Gotta agree since we are on a 3 year cycle now, the 3rd iteration truly seems like the one to get. Seems hard to cite many complaints on the 11 Pro/Max. Battery life has got to be 1 on most users list, and these really check that box, with now arguably the best camera on a smartphone to boot.

And three years probably makes sense at this point. How much can you iterate, much less innovate, phones at this point? A decade ago, which is not that long ago, he phones we can buy this year would have been more than aspirational, they would have been considered fictional.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Having used iOS since iPhone 4s and Mac OS since my first MBA 2014... iOS 13 has been pretty buggy but worse Mac OS Catalina has been the worst. It is settling down as it always does, but definitely been the worst at start that I've ever seen.

My wife and I have had to switch from Apple Notes to OneNote because of syncing slowness / problems - first time for us ever.

Hopefully Apple gets this ironed out. One thing for sure, I won't be in such a hurry to upgrade to the latest OS in the future (first time since owning my Macs/iPhones). lol.

 

[newellj]

Having used iOS since iPhone 4s and Mac OS since my first MBA 2014... iOS 13 has been pretty buggy but worse Mac OS Catalina has been the worst. It is settling down as it always does, but definitely been the worst at start that I've ever seen.

My wife and I have had to switch from Apple Notes to OneNote because of syncing slowness / problems - first time for us ever.

Hopefully Apple gets this ironed out. One thing for sure, I won't be in such a hurry to upgrade to the latest OS in the future (first time since owning my Macs/iPhones). lol.

I’ve always lagged a year on OS X, which was really a good idea this year. I only installed Mohave a couple of months ago, after the hopefully final version.

I’ve been a rapid adopter with iOS, but my iPads are definitely staying on 12. I bought a used XS Max to “downgrade” to 12 on my phone. My 11 Pro Max? Who knows. It’s brilliant hardware badly let down by its operating system. So yeah, I will be dragging my heels, like you.

 

[Pipper99]

Spoiler: Not another fluffy pro-11 Max review

thinking of upgrading? Use the cash as toilet paper for better use.

It shames me to say it...Let’s say it as it is: The 11 has an extra camera. That’s it. The very fact that you need to see side-by-side photos to notice the enhanced camera quality shows you that you don’t %#*ing need it.

It doesn’t shame me to say that I traded in my XS Max for the 11 Pro Max. I’ll say it as it is, too: the ultra wide angle lens and Night Mode are wonderful. I got some great landscapes and night scenes in Colorado that I never would have gotten with the XS Max. Throw in the terrific battery life, and it’s a worthy upgrade for me.

 

[1rottenapple]

Spoiler: Not another fluffy pro-11 Max review

thinking of upgrading? Use the cash as toilet paper for better use.

It shames me to say it, but this is the rate of ‘innovation’ we’ve been seeing at Apple. It’s an absolute embarrassment that I shelled out another $1500 for the 11 Pro Max after 12 months of shelling out the same for the XS Max.
I managed to sell my XS MAX on eBay for $900, so I rationalized the splurge. But it is far from a needed upgrade.
Let’s say it as it is: The 11 has an extra camera. That’s it. The very fact that you need to see side-by-side photos to notice the enhanced camera quality shows you that you don’t %#*ing need it. But me being the schmuck I am had to buy it anyways.

Who held a gun to your head and shell out $600? Call the police!!!

Come on Look at my signature I usually upgrade yearly but I know for me I wouldn’t be satisfied if I shelled out money for the 11 pro max. I’d feel really dumb if I upgrade, look at the screen, and notice the difference are minimal. I’d rather wait for a big upgrade. Sure fine the battery is good and low-light photography is great, but that initial rush of “wow awesome iPhone 11 Pro Max” will only last for a few days and that’s it.

And name me a phone manufacturer that comes out with an INNOVATIVE PHONE EVERY YEAR. There’s none, its all iterative upgrades, slightly better, slightly faster each year.

 

[SoYoung]

OP, you know you could just keep your XS Max right? Blaming Apple because the upgrade is not worth it is kind of ridiculous. Upgrade yearly these days is kind of ridiculous in my opinion. Any phone these days are easily great for at least a good 2 years. Even if you just sold the current phone and buy another, is just a waste of money when you can just keep the current one for many years without any issues at all.

Its like if someone change his computer every year...in 2019 this kind of practice is completely useless, a waste of money and its just overconsumption.

 

[MacClueless]

I’ve always lagged a year on OS X, which was really a good idea this year.

Why do you say that?

I’ve been a rapid adopter with iOS, but my iPads are definitely staying on 12.

Why?

My 11 Pro Max? Who knows. It’s brilliant hardware badly let down by its operating system.

Huh?

 

[AXone1814]

Not a worthwhile upgrade from the XS Max at all. How come you upgraded knowing it was a minor upgrade for the cost?

 

[newellj]

Why do you say that?



Why?



Huh?

Why? Have you looked at the forums here? 13 has been a wreck for many users. Scan the iOS and iPhone forums and look at the variety and frequency of major problems reported. Do the same in the Catalina forum. Neither was even close to being ready for release in September. Apple seems to have ignored bug reports during the beta periods and pressed ahead to release peripheral features at the expense of core functionality.

 

[Jim Lahey]

So you made an uninformed purchase and blamed Apple when it didn’t meet your expectations? If we had groundbreaking innovation every single year, we would be living on the Starship Enterprise by now. People are not obliged to buy every new iPhone that Apple makes. Moreover, no one is happy these days unless they’re unhappy about something. No matter what Apple does, it would never be enough for some people.

No disrespect, but entitlement culture really grinds my gears ⚙️

 

[MacClueless]

Why? Have you looked at the forums here? 13 has been a wreck for many users. Scan the iOS and iPhone forums and look at the variety and frequency of major problems reported. Do the same in the Catalina forum. Neither was even close to being ready for release in September. Apple seems to have ignored bug reports during the beta periods and pressed ahead to release peripheral features at the expense of core functionality.

I’ve been on every single beta release of both iOS and macOS with multiple device and have been really impressed. What issues have you encountered?

 

[MacClueless]

Not a worthwhile upgrade from the XS Max at all. How come you upgraded knowing it was a minor upgrade for the cost?

The battery life alone is worth the upgrade.

 

[HEK]

Am on AT&T Next program. Went from XS Max to 11 Pro Max. Zero increase in monthly cost. Only amount paid is the tax which amounts to $7 per month. And the cost of a new case, $49.

New phone, faster SOC, fresh WAY longer lasting battery, better cameras, better screen, HDR videos look great, all for slight sum of $86 and new case. Well worth the upgrade. Would be stupid to keep year old XS Max for cost of one Starbucks coffee a month.

Have upgraded to IOS 13. Working great, no issues. IPhone is my major computing device. On it all day for multiple uses. Best device yet. Looking forward to iPhone 12 in ten months. Will upgrade again.

 

[AXone1814]

The battery life alone is worth the upgrade.

Really? I can count the number of times on one hand that my XS Max as dropped below 20%.

 

[MrInquestador]

Spoiler: Not another fluffy pro-11 Max review

thinking of upgrading? Use the cash as toilet paper for better use.

It shames me to say it, but this is the rate of ‘innovation’ we’ve been seeing at Apple. It’s an absolute embarrassment that I shelled out another $1500 for the 11 Pro Max after 12 months of shelling out the same for the XS Max.
I managed to sell my XS MAX on eBay for $900, so I rationalized the splurge. But it is far from a needed upgrade.
Let’s say it as it is: The 11 has an extra camera. That’s it. The very fact that you need to see side-by-side photos to notice the enhanced camera quality shows you that you don’t %#*ing need it. But me being the schmuck I am had to buy it anyways.

Well, compared to the Pixel 4, at least iPhone 11 Pro is more of an upgrade. This is coming from someone who used to own both Pixel 3XL and Xs Max.
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Really? I can count the number of times on one hand that my XS Max as dropped below 20%.

Puhlease! Don’t compare the two and stop hating. It’s hard to kill the battery of the 11 Pro. I can get 10 hours watching YouTube videos and or Netflix. With the Xs Max I used to get 6-7 hours only and that’s with my battery still at 100% capacity even after a year.

 

[MacClueless]

Really? I can count the number of times on one hand that my XS Max as dropped below 20%.

Really. My Xs Max definitely couldn’t make it through a day without a charge or two. The extra couple hours on the Pro is life changing. I’m so used to keeping my phone topped off in the car but it doesn’t matter anymore.