If you’ve gone from a Pro or Pro Max iPhone to the regular iPhone 16, how do you feel about the switch? Do you wish you’d gone for the Pro or Pro Max again? What made you decide one way or the other?
I went from a 13 Pro Max to the iPhone 16. Didn’t like it at all and ended up returning it for the Pro Max.
Lex said:
I went from a 13 Pro Max to the iPhone 16. Didn’t like it at all and ended up returning it for the Pro Max.
What was it about the iPhone 16 that didn’t work for you? And what’s better about the 16 Pro Max?
It really depends on which Pro or Pro Max you had before. If you had the 12, it’s not a big change. But if you’re coming from a 13 Pro or newer, you might miss the 120Hz ProMotion. And if you had a Pro Max, the battery life on the base models might feel like a downgrade.
@Sage
I’ve got a 12 Pro Max now. The 120Hz ProMotion is great, but I think I can live without it. That said, it’s really nice. Haha.
Lian said:
@Sage
I’ve got a 12 Pro Max now. The 120Hz ProMotion is great, but I think I can live without it. That said, it’s really nice. Haha.
I had a 12 Pro Max too! I went for the 16 Pro Max because I tend to keep my phones for 3-4 years, so I wanted the best option. The battery life is way better, the screen looks nicer, and it doesn’t overheat. But if you’re looking to save money, the 16 Plus might work for you. Personally, I can’t go back to smaller phones because of the screen size and battery life, but that’s just me.
@Sage
This is really helpful, thanks! Did you have overheating issues with your 12 Pro Max? I don’t remember mine overheating.
I actually want a smaller phone now. The Pro Max feels too big to carry around, but I agree the 16 Pro Max has a stunning screen.
@Lian
Yeah, my 12 Pro Max would get really hot in sunlight and dim the screen a lot. The 16 Pro Max stays bright and doesn’t overheat at all. It’s been a big improvement.
You might like the 16 Pro then. It’s smaller, lighter, and still has better battery life than your 12 Pro Max. Plus, it has all the features of the 16 Pro Max except for the size and battery.
@Sage
Ah, I remember the dimming now. I’m excited to get something with better brightness!
Thanks for the advice. I’m definitely leaning toward the 16 Pro now.
@Lian
I switched from a 12 Pro Max too. The 16 Pro Max feels so much better to hold because of the weight distribution.
@Lian
One thing to note, on 120Hz devices, low power mode makes animations drop to 60Hz but play at half speed, which feels laggy compared to a regular 60Hz device. Just something to consider.
If you’re used to 120Hz, the 60Hz display on the base model will probably feel slow. Other than that, the regular iPhone 16 has some nice colour options. But if you can stick with a Pro model, I’d recommend it.
I’m too used to ProMotion to give it up, but other than that, I’d switch in a heartbeat.
If you’ve had a Pro with a 120Hz display, you’ll definitely miss it. Also, the zoom on the base models isn’t great.
Reese said:
If you’ve had a Pro with a 120Hz display, you’ll definitely miss it. Also, the zoom on the base models isn’t great.
I upgraded from a 12 to the 15 Pro Max, and it was the camera, battery, and 120Hz that sold me in that order. I still use my 12 for things like verification alerts, and going back to it feels so weird. If the Plus models had 120Hz, I might’ve gone with one just for the colour options.
I downgraded, and honestly, you stop noticing the lack of 120Hz after a few days. Your eyes adjust, and it feels normal. The cameras are still great, the battery life is solid, and the phone overall is fantastic.
A friend of mine did this recently. They said they don’t miss the Pro features and are really happy with the regular model.
I made the switch and I’m completely happy with it. The only thing I miss is some of the camera zoom, but I didn’t use it much anyway. Also, the Aquamarine colour is way prettier than any of the Pro colours.
@Tatum
I have the 12 Pro Max in Pacific Blue, and the Aquamarine Plus looks like such a nice upgrade.
@Tatum
Good to hear! Are you happy with the camera quality overall? And what phone did you upgrade from?