, the gold customary in massive iPhones. Whereas it is not out of date but, it positive is growing older and clocking miles on the odometer.
JOMO: The Pleasure Of Lacking Out
At first look, every era has launched some cool new options which are absolutely an ideal addition to the iPhone vary (and they’re). Nevertheless, that is largely true should you’re upgrading from an older or a lower-tier iPhone. The iPhone 13 Professional Max is not that far behind its successors in terms of the important features of what makes a cellphone good.
The iPhone 14 Professional Max debuted a 48MP high-res primary digicam and the brand new Dynamic Island notch, whereas the iPhone 15 Professional Max was arguably a far more main improve, because it launched a brand new titanium design, a 5X telephoto digicam, and a USB-C port together with a superfast 3nm chip.
On paper, all these are glorious options to have. And positively, I’m positively the goal clientele, particularly with the iPhone 15 Professional Max. Nevertheless, after briefly testing each the iPhone 14 Professional Max and the iPhone 15 Professional Max briefly after their respective launch, I remained unconvinced that an improve is critical.
Do not get me incorrect, each are distinctive units of their very own, however it’s going to take way more to make me half methods with the iPhone 13 Professional Max that is nonetheless alive and kicking.
Three years with the iPhone 13 Professional Max
The ‘jack-of-all-trades, master-of-most’ cellphone
Sure, three years have handed, however Apple’s 2021 flagship does not really feel outdated to me. After all, your mileage could differ, so what’s good for me won’t be good for you, and vice versa. I might completely squeeze out just a few extra years out of this cellphone. Listed below are some long-term impressions I’ve garnered over time.
Battery life: Growing old fantastically
One of many important causes as to why I used to be so fast to leap on the iPhone 13 Professional Max bandwagon three years in the past was easy: battery life. I used to be already invested within the iOS ecosystem, however after our iPhone 13 Professional Max battery assessments and preliminary impressions with the cellphone had been finalized, it was clear it was one thing particular so far as battery life goes. Cue me, a sucker for something with nice battery life.
Again in its heyday, the iPhone 13 Professional Max was not solely the iPhone with the most effective battery life, it was one of many mainstream units with the most effective battery life on the market. It was a strong two-day cellphone, able to hitting upwards of ten hours of screen-on-time with common use.
Nevertheless, as of late, the state of affairs is totally different. I’ve already worn down the battery right down to 87% well being with practically 500 charging cycles clocked. It is a large chunk of potential battery life that has eroded. Battery life is inferior to a few years in the past, which is the anticipated end result after such a heavy use.
Presently, I am normally getting between six and 7 hours of screen-on-time, which nonetheless feels okayish to me.
Show: Silky easy and vivid sufficient… more often than not
Another excuse as to why I instantly jumped ship to the iPhone 13 Professional Max was the 120Hz ProMotion show, which debuted on that iPhone mannequin. Properly, I have been tainted, it could appear, as I do not assume I can return to 60Hz telephones. I take into account shows with 120Hz the bottom requirement for any fashionable cellphone (disgrace on you, Apple, for nonetheless promoting 60Hz telephones in 2024).
This may appear to be a non-issue to individuals who have all the time used 60Hz telephones (as all of us as soon as did), however when you go 120Hz, it is fairly tough to return to a decrease refresh price as every little thing seems choppier and the expertise simply is not nice.
This will sound dangerous from the angle of the iPhone 13 Professional Max, however issues could not be farther from the reality––that show remains to be vivid sufficient for my wants…
… As lengthy the cellphone does not overheat.
Overheating, particularly throughout the sizzling Euro summer season, is a significant concern with the iPhone 13 Professional Max, particularly while you’re exterior within the solar or utilizing your cellphone for in-car navigation. Even rudimentary duties increase the temps so excessive that the gadget has to resort to a widely known Apple tactic––steadily lowering the utmost brightness till the cellphone cools off. It will get to the purpose the place the show turns into barely seen, particularly within the vivid daylight. Not one thing I take pleasure in.
Efficiency: No points
The iPhone 13 Professional Max nonetheless performs admirably in 2024. I do not play video games or use super-heavy apps, so it by no means feels that the gadget lacks efficiency. Truthfully talking, I’ve by no means thought of efficiency itself whereas utilizing it, which is probably a testomony to the facility in extra on deck.
Digital camera: Completely beautiful images, even with out a lengthy zoom
Sure, it is a 12MP one, and sure, it lacks a protracted 5X telephoto zoom, however the digicam package deal on the iPhone 13 Professional Max nonetheless fits my wants completely. Going by my photograph gallery, I would reckon that lower than 10% of all footage are taken with something aside from the usual extensive digicam.
Then once more, a telephoto digicam with 3X zoom remains to be mighty tremendous for many use circumstances I can consider, together with taking completely attractive portraits.
The Measurement Paradox
A curious remark I wish to share.
There’s this well-known adage that claims, “You may get used to it with time!”. I usually take into account it true for many and all events, however within the case of the iPhone 13 Professional Max and its dimension, weirdly, this one does not ring true for me.
The longer I’ve the cellphone, the much less handy it appears to turn into. At first, the honeymoon section absolutely helped me look previous the massive dimension, however after three years, dimension appears to be the primary concern for me. I do know it sounds bizarre and completely illogical, however I catch myself daydreaming about these barely smaller iPhones which are simpler to make use of with one hand.
Actual speak––what would make me improve?
The one smartphone characteristic that really excites me and will get my blood going is battery life. Though we have plateaued prior to now few years, with smartphones hitting a tender wall when it comes to battery life, I am optimistic that we’re on the verge of main good points in endurance. Know-how is growing at a staggering price, so I am bullish that in due time, telephones will get significantly better battery life.
Another excuse for upgrading is the gorgeous trivial swap to USB-C. Though I am already conditioned to tolerate the Lightning port, carrying a single cable that may work with all my tech whatever the model or ecosystem is a significant cause to be looking out for a brand new cellphone.
Admittedly, charging is painfully gradual, however similar to the boiling frog metaphor, I’ve grown accustomed and it not annoys me. I’ve discovered methods to work it out in my on a regular basis routine, so I hardly ever let my iPhone 13 Professional Max fall under 30%.
