Diehard Nexus/Pixel user goes 12 Pro Max

[Commander Shepard]

Went total barebones and I like it

iOS is getting a little closer...

 

[Zorachus]

iOS is getting a little closer...

View attachment 317584

Wow. Ok wait.

Is that iPhone 12 on stock iOS 14? Or an iPhone 11 that's JB?

 

[Commander Shepard]

Wow. Ok wait.

Is that iPhone 12 on stock iOS 14? Or an iPhone 11 that's JB?

No, it's my 3XL. I posted it to compare to what you've managed to do on your iPhone.

 

[Zorachus]

True tone on or off?

 

[Zorachus]

I have to say, a week having this phone, and I'm enjoying it. I love the great display, like I've said in apps that offer black AMOLED setting it looks amazing plus it hides the notch. So A+ screen.

Oh yeah a flat screen YES. I don't like curved edge screens or even the slight minor curve on most recent phones. Thank you for going to a full flat straight edge display. I love that.

Battery life? LOL. Holy cow wow. Seriously destroys my recent Pixel phones. on the next level. This is truly a 2 day phone. No Pixel I owned could barely make it a day let alone 2. This feels like I get double the screen on time. Seems like it's a 9h or 10h SoT phone.

Hvibration is best in class.

iOS has come a long way since my last iPhone the 7 Plus. I do prefer stock Android better, but iOS 14.3 isn't bad and seems doable for me.

The phone feels smoother and fluid. No hiccups or lag really. But I imagine if this had a 120hz screen this would be the warp speed smoothest phone ever. But that'll come in the next iPhone.

Overall I like this. It's definitely a change for me. I'm more digging just the hardware of this phone, the amazing screen, loud speakers, smooth and fast UI. The battery life.

If the rumors are true the iPhone 13 Pro Max will have a 120hz screen. Much smaller reduced notch. More customization in iOS 15. Better privacy and security. And the typical yearly hardware updates, I think Android hos some serious competition here to be worried about.

Only if Google would build a high end Pixel 6 XL like on the quality level of the rumored 13 Pro Max hardware and features. I would love Pixel 5 XL, be a mix of designs of the Pixel 5 all screen little bezels but in the size of the iPhone 12 Pro Max and same build and materials. Then I woke up.

But to wrap up, I really like this 12PM is it my fav phone ever? No. But it's very good. It's more iOS I'm so so on but it's gotten better.

Couple things I really miss are AoD ( Always on Display ) I'm a huge fan of that. And the gesture based navigation is better on the Pixel's it can do much more with back and forward and fluidly moving around the OS better.

 

[Zorachus]

If you look at my posts over the years, the consistent things I've always put in top list of wants for a smartphone;

- Excellent battery life, needs to be over 7h SoT
- Bright vibrant display great outdoors and deep colors
- Smooth fluid UI with no lag or hiccups
- No bloatware or allow bloat to be deleted

Those above four criteria have been my main thing for any new smartphone I look to get. And this iPhone 12 Pro Max meets or exceeds those. I wish a Pixel could have all those 4 but they haven't, they have 2 of the 4, but can have all 4, and hopefully will in the Pixel 6 XL. For now the 12PM is my phone, until the Pixel 6, and hopefully Google makes a XL version, and a high end phone, not mid range.

The notch is ugly AF and I don't like it one bit, but thankfully with the awesome black AMOLED display and apps that can go full deep black option, the notch gets hidden completely, and makes it look like the screen is bezel less and full display to the top, and actually looks great. Some other misc. nit picks with iOS overall, but not major deal breakers.

 

[CHANG3D]

I’ve been using my T-Mobile jump on demand to get a new iPhone every year after the Samsung GS9 fiasco of a phone that can’t even answer phone calls due to lag, my iPhone 12 Pro is the first iPhone I feel I could keep instead of jumping to a new iPhone later this year if iPhone 13 doesn’t have a reduced sized notch...

 

[Zorachus]

I’ve using my T-Mobile jump on demand to get a new iPhone every year after the Samsung GS9 fiasco of a phone that can’t even answer phone calls due to lag, my iPhone 12 Pro is the first iPhone I feel I could keep instead of jumping to a new iPhone later this year if iPhone 13 doesn’t have a reduced sized notch...

Rumors I have read about the iPhone 13 Pro line, is a reduced smaller notch, 120hz refresh screen, and iOS 15 having some nice updates.

 

[Aurelius]

Besides the stupid notch I will say this screen is amazing. black dark apps look so good on this phone. The black AMOLED display is great. And bright colors too.

And in Twitter and Reddit with the black background it hides the notch completely and the app takes up full screen and looks really cool.

In my experience, the notch fades away for the most part. You stop thinking about it and just use your apps.

I also can't help but think that screens like these explain why Apple waited until 2017 to go with OLED. It's a big fan of color tuning, and it took a while before OLED was truly accurate.

 

[CHANG3D]

The rumors about the reduced notch size and display have been around for a few years. I don’t trust in them unless Ming Chi Kuo says it. Ming Chi Kuo has only said 4 models of similar sizes, no major camera lenses/hardware changes until 2023, and apple’s homebrew 5G chip will not be ready till 2022 at the earliest. He said nothing about the display or the notch yet.

 

[Zorachus]

Went with a clean minimal theme, in years past to do this required JB now can be done stock;

 

[Commander Shepard]

Went with a clean minimal theme, in years past to do this required JB now can be done stock;

That's nice!

 

[Zorachus]

Unfortunately went back to stock because still system app icons still have the Shortcuts popup no matter what. Specifically Phone and Camera apps no way around it.

Third party apps can be themed with zero issues and a good majority of system apps too, but not all. Plus some third party apps don't have themed icons yet.

I'm sure iOS 15 will offer full true theming.

 

[Zorachus]

LOL now went back and sort of settled in with this setup;

 

[Commander Shepard]

LOL now went back and sort of settled in with this setup;

That looks exactly like an old jailbreak theme. Very cool!

 

[Zorachus]

About the large size of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Is it a big phone? Yes. But any recent XL or Plus, or Max named phone I've owned, have all been large phones, and not a one hand device. Only phone that's truly an easy one handed phone would be like the Pixel 5, but I found that too small, and hard to type on, and a bit tiny to see the display well. I gave my Pixel 5 to my son, it is a really cool phone though.

But yes I am comfortable with the 12 Pro Max size, so much screen real estate for YouTube and videos on Reddit and Twitter. Plus like I've said many times, the screen tech in this phone is fantastic, the deep black AMOLED display is just #1 for me, plus it also gets plenty bright outdoors, and easy to see outside in the sun.

Yeah, I'm still a bit miffed on certain iOS stuff, and find stock Android better, but iOS 14.3 is growing on me, meaning I'm getting used to it, or it's limitations and differences compared to what I'm accustomed to.

But the big features most important to me on a smartphone are here in spades;

- Battery life #1
- Bright vibrant display with great black AMOLED screen

 

[Commander Shepard]

About the large size of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Is it a big phone? Yes. But any recent XL or Plus, or Max named phone I've owned, have all been large phones, and not a one hand device. Only phone that's truly an easy one handed phone would be like the Pixel 5, but I found that too small, and hard to type on, and a bit tiny to see the display well. I gave my Pixel 5 to my son, it is a really cool phone though.

But yes I am comfortable with the 12 Pro Max size, so much screen real estate for YouTube and videos on Reddit and Twitter. Plus like I've said many times, the screen tech in this phone is fantastic, the deep black AMOLED display is just #1 for me, plus it also gets plenty bright outdoors, and easy to see outside in the sun.

Yeah, I'm still a bit miffed on certain iOS stuff, and find stock Android better, but iOS 14.3 is growing on me, meaning I'm getting used to it, or it's limitations and differences compared to what I'm accustomed to.

But the big features most important to me on a smartphone are here in spades;

- Battery life #1
- Bright vibrant display with great black AMOLED screen

How well does the Face ID perform for unlocking the phone and accessing banking apps, shopping apps and the like?

 

[Zorachus]

How well does the Face ID perform for unlocking the phone and accessing banking apps, shopping apps and the like?

I thought the Pixel 4 XL Face unlock was best, but it's not better than this 12 Pro Max FaceID. This phone is instant unlock where the 4 XL seemed pretty finiky and I'd have to enter my passcode a good 1/3rd of the time or more often because it didn't register my face to unlock, with the 12 PM it always registers my face 99% of the time and unlocks. But neither phone will unlock while using it flat on the table, unless you move your head over the phone, or of course lift it up.

For secure apps it's almost perfect, you look at the phone and feel a quick vibrate and a chime and that's it.

More I use this phone no way I'd go with the smaller 6.1" version. The Max version feels and looks so good and easier to type on. It's not too big I think it's just right now.

 

[Zorachus]

It's great how my phone now can be somewhat themed, being stock, no JB or anything. But my last iPhone, the 7 Plus required a JB for almost every tweak I have stock now;

-Widgets needed a JB back on the 7 Plus
-Icon themes needed a JB
-Dark theme need a JB
-Phone calls coming in as a banner notification, and not take up whole screen required a JB
-Volume HUD minimal and to the side now needed a JB
-Default app settings needed a JB

I used all of those JB tweaks back then, must haves. Now my 12PM can do of the above stock.

 

[Zorachus]

iMessage.

Ok now that I'm using this iPhone and iMessage is the text app, I can't really see anything special about it. Not saying it's bad or anything, but don't see what the hype is about?

It works no different than Google Messages, or Signal, or WhatsApp, or Textra, etc...Doesn't seem a million times better than other text apps.

Actually one pet peeve is when forwarding an article or something, I have to actually start typing the name or group name for that thread to show up as an option. On Google Messages when forwarding you see your lists of previous messages right there and can choose immediately.

Like I said I'm not knocking iMessage it does the job, but it's not special or anything. Seems like just another text app I'd download from the Play Store on my Android phone. I guess I just don't see why it's praised so much?

 

[Commander Shepard]

iMessage.

Ok now that I'm using this iPhone and iMessage is the text app, I can't really see anything special about it. Not saying it's bad or anything, but don't see what the hype is about?

It works no different than Google Messages, or Signal, or WhatsApp, or Textra, etc...Doesn't seem a million times better than other text apps.

Actually one pet peeve is when forwarding an article or something, I have to actually start typing the name or group name for that thread to show up as an option. On Google Messages when forwarding you see your lists of previous messages right there and can choose immediately.

Like I said I'm not knocking iMessage it does the job, but it's not special or anything. Seems like just another text app I'd download from the Play Store on my Android phone. I guess I just don't see why it's praised so much?

From what I understand, the main advantage of iMessage is that its security is unrivalled. As far as features, I think Google Messages has largely caught up, especially since RCS was implemented. I hope Textra gets RCS support. It's the best Android messaging app, IMO.

EDIT: Since reading all your glowing comments on the 12 Pro Max, I told the boss to add me to the list of contractors who wanted one (paid for by the company, of course ). I have a 256GB Pacific Blue version on the way.

 

[Zorachus]

The whole iMessage thing, I guess I just don't get what it's all about? I don't own any Apple products besides this iPhone, my PC is a custom built high end Windows computer. My TV is a Chrome cast based OLED system. I don't own a tablet. My family is on Google Pixel phones.

To me iMessage so far is no different than any old text app. Is there a setting or something I'm missing, that turns on all the iMagic?

 

[Zorachus]

From what I understand, the main advantage of iMessage is that its security is unrivalled. As far as features, I think Google Messages has largely caught up, especially since RCS was implemented. I hope Textra gets RCS support. It's the best Android messaging app, IMO.

EDIT: Since reading all your glowing comments on the 12 Pro Max, I told the boss to add me to the list of contractors who wanted one (paid for by the company, of course ). I have a 256GB Pacific Blue version on the way.

I love the hardware of the iPhone 12 Pro Max #1, more so than iOS 14 itself.

-The screen tech is bar none the best, black backgrounds and dark themed apps look AMAZING. Plus it gets bright enough to use well outdoors
-Battery life is silly good, like it seems to give me 9h to 10h SoT, close to double that of my Pixel 4 XL
-Speakers are very loud with good bass, and clear sound
-Now a lot of things that used to require a JB, can be done stock, or are baked into the phone now, which is great.

My only beef would be the difference between iOS and stock Android, which is just the way it is, they are two different Operating Systems, from totally different companies, I do prefer stock Android still, but the hardware on this 12 Pro Max is too good to pass up. So far now this will be my phone, until Google makes a Pixel 6 XL, and hoping it's a high end top notch hardware phone from Goog.

Also I do miss AoD ( Always on Display )

 

[Commander Shepard]

I love the hardware of the iPhone 12 Pro Max #1, more so than iOS 14 itself.

-The screen tech is bar none the best, black backgrounds and dark themed apps look AMAZING. Plus it gets bright enough to use well outdoors
-Battery life is silly good, like it seems to give me 9h to 10h SoT, close to double that of my Pixel 4 XL
-Speakers are very loud with good bass, and clear sound
-Now a lot of things that used to require a JB, can be done stock, or are baked into the phone now, which is great.

My only beef would be the difference between iOS and stock Android, which is just the way it is, they are two different Operating Systems, from totally different companies, I do prefer stock Android still, but the hardware on this 12 Pro Max is too good to pass up. So far now this will be my phone, until Google makes a Pixel 6 XL, and hoping it's a high end top notch hardware phone from Goog.

Also I do miss AoD ( Always on Display )

I've always thought the best phone would be an iPhone running Android. Two things prevent me from going all in with an iPhone as my personal/daily phone: no drag/drop file management and no Touch ID. I continue to see reports that the 13 will have full-screen Touch ID or on the power button like the latest iPad Air. We'll see, but there's no chance Apple will ditch iTunes for file management.

I have a 2018 iPad Pro that I'm using as a laptop replacement. It's a decent solution, but I'm still planning on getting either the new 14" Air or 14" MBP when they're available later this year. I liked my XPS laptops, but Dell's customer service is ghastly. Took almost 8 months for them to refund a returned XPS 15 and their CS clowns constantly lied to me every time I called and emailed for updates. I'll never give Dell another dollar of my money.

 

[Zorachus]

Curious, do you guys and gals set a light or dark theme?

 

[wra18th]

Dark Theme

 

[Zorachus]

Couple questions since I'm an Android user now on iOS.

- Updating apps? How do I update my apps? On the Google phones, in the Play Store you have the option for Auto Updates or Update yourself. But on the App store, I don't see my list of apps in there, or an option to update them.

- Security updates? On the Pixel phone, you get monthly security updates, it either shows up as an option alerting you an update is ready, or you can check yourself in Settings - System, and check for an update. Right now, I see I'm on 14.3, but that's been out since early December.

 

[CHANG3D]

Right on the second one. iOS is a much more secure system than Android. Apple typical would patch quickly if there’s a zero-day issue.

the answer to your first question is goto the App Store. Goto your profile and it should be there. (Optional: Drag down to force it to check for new updates)

 

[Zorachus]

Question please, one extremely frustrating thing I can't seem to figure out, in regards to e-mail attachments.

I have Gmail installed, and I want to send photos as an attachment to my work e-mail. I do this all the time on my Pixel phone, and they come in as attachments, but on the iPhone, these photos come in as large photos in the message part of the e-mail, not as an attachment, even though I click the paperclip looking icon to make them an attachment but they still show up in the e-mail as huge photos.

I then re-installed Apple e-mail, to try that, but that thing is confusing AF to setup, I must have created some account years ago for @icloud but can't seem to get it setup, says I need to turn on icloud, which I just did, but each time I try to setup Apple e-mail, it keeps asking me to turn on icloud, and then I try to log in, and it says that account is already on this phone. LOL ok?

Bottom line, how the heck, do I get my iPhone e-mail to send my work e-mail photos as attachments, and not come in as full size pictures in the message of the e-mail, I just want it as an attachment.


Setting up iCloud drive? Say follow these steps;

- Settings
- Click my name at top
- Tap iCloud
- Turn on iCloud Drive
- I do that, then a almost blank screen pops up, just shows Cancel or Upgrade tabs. Click Upgrade, nothing happens. Click Cancel, nothing happens.

 

[AltTabbins]

The whole iMessage thing, I guess I just don't get what it's all about? I don't own any Apple products besides this iPhone, my PC is a custom built high end Windows computer. My TV is a Chrome cast based OLED system. I don't own a tablet. My family is on Google Pixel phones.

To me iMessage so far is no different than any old text app. Is there a setting or something I'm missing, that turns on all the iMagic?

Because its a one stop shop. If I had your phone number and sent you a message, it would automatically as an iMessage if you have an iphone, or sms if you don’t. No playing “let’s get everyone I know on the same messaging app” game. Outside the US it’s not a big deal since its an unspoken thing to use whatsap. With your phone number I can send you messages, full res pictures, 4K hdr videos, money, documents, just about anything. It even modified what you send in links. If I sent you a Spotify link, you could play the song inside imessage. If I send you an Amazon link, it would show the product in a picture and give the Amazon description of it. Group messaging works like you would expect it to. And it all links up to your other Apple products nicely. It’s not something that apparent at first but when you use it for a few months and then try going back, you’ll understand. Of course the more people you know who use iPhone, the better iMessage is. If everyone in your family and circle of friends use Android, it’s not that compelling.

 

[AltTabbins]

Question please, one extremely frustrating thing I can't seem to figure out, in regards to e-mail attachments.

I have Gmail installed, and I want to send photos as an attachment to my work e-mail. I do this all the time on my Pixel phone, and they come in as attachments, but on the iPhone, these photos come in as large photos in the message part of the e-mail, not as an attachment, even though I click the paperclip looking icon to make them an attachment but they still show up in the e-mail as huge photos.

I then re-installed Apple e-mail, to try that, but that thing is confusing AF to setup, I must have created some account years ago for @icloud but can't seem to get it setup, says I need to turn on icloud, which I just did, but each time I try to setup Apple e-mail, it keeps asking me to turn on icloud, and then I try to log in, and it says that account is already on this phone. LOL ok?

Bottom line, how the heck, do I get my iPhone e-mail to send my work e-mail photos as attachments, and not come in as full size pictures in the message of the e-mail, I just want it as an attachment.


Setting up iCloud drive? Say follow these steps;

- Settings
- Click my name at top
- Tap iCloud
- Turn on iCloud Drive
- I do that, then a almost blank screen pops up, just shows Cancel or Upgrade tabs. Click Upgrade, nothing happens. Click Cancel, nothing happens.

I gave up on the mail app. It’s been replaced with the gmail app and I set it as my mail client.

 

[Zorachus]

So owning this phone for 3 weeks now, another mini review;

- First two weeks were a rough transition from stock Android and my Pixel, iOS is radically different in how it operates and getting around the UI, etc... now I have gotten used to iOS the best I can and will. But it definitely takes a few weeks to make the change from Android to iPhone, certainly can't adjust over one weekend, it takes time.

- I mainly like this iPhone 12 Pro Max mostly for the hardware;
The screen tech is best, the deepest blacks, and vibrant bright colors, I love this display.
The battery life, holy cow wow, insane battery life. My Pixel 4 XL at the end of a workday, at night before charging the phone, and it would always be in the 15% to 20% range left, with this 12 Pro Max, end of night battery is like 55% to 60% left. Truly a night and day difference in battery life between the two.
The speakers are loud and clear
UI is smooth and pretty much lag free, especially with Reduced Motion and Prefer Cross-Fade Transition enabled, those two options on make a big difference.
Dark theme looks so good on this phone, true AMOLED deep blacks and apps that do the black background look awesome.

- I still like stock Android better than iOS, but I will say iOS 14.3 has come a long way and many little improvements since my last iPhone that ran iOS 9, I hated iOS then, now it's bearable.
- Still hate the stupid notch, but at least in black backgrounds it's hidden away, in Reddit and Twitter with black theme, it does look killer.

So overall I like this iPhone 12 Pro Max, like I keep saying mainly for the great hardware, and technology inside and build quality. iOS? Meh it's ok, rather have stock Android 11 on here. I'll be keeping this phone, until the Fall, and see if Google goes back to a flagship, and crosses fingers makes a Pixel 6 XL, if not, see if the iPhone 13 does indeed have a smaller notch and 210hz refresh display, those two hardware changes on the iPhone would be a welcome upgrade.

iMessage? With my family and friends circle being 70% Android users, and not owning any other Apple products, not getting an iWatch ( I am not a watch guy whatsoever ) or iPad ( don't care for tablets ) and never a Mac ( I build custom Gaming PCs ), so I guess I won't get as much out of iMessage, but it does the job. I have a lot of my circle on Telegram now, using that a lot now.

 

[Zorachus]

From what I understand, the main advantage of iMessage is that its security is unrivalled. As far as features, I think Google Messages has largely caught up, especially since RCS was implemented. I hope Textra gets RCS support. It's the best Android messaging app, IMO.

EDIT: Since reading all your glowing comments on the 12 Pro Max, I told the boss to add me to the list of contractors who wanted one (paid for by the company, of course ). I have a 256GB Pacific Blue version on the way.

When is your iPhone 12 PM coming?

 

[Aurelius]

So overall I like this iPhone 12 Pro Max, like I keep saying mainly for the great hardware, and technology inside and build quality. iOS? Meh it's ok, rather have stock Android 11 on here. I'll be keeping this phone, until the Fall, and see if Google goes back to a flagship, and crosses fingers makes a Pixel 6 XL, if not, see if the iPhone 13 does indeed have a smaller notch and 210hz refresh display, those two hardware changes on the iPhone would be a welcome upgrade.

Not sure about the notch, but the rumors point to a 120Hz display. And I suspect Google might leave you hanging if the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G are significantly more successful than the 4.

 

[Commander Shepard]

When is your iPhone 12 PM coming?

I've had it for a couple days. I like it better than I expected, but still am having some trouble with Face ID. Must be me because I've never been able to get it working on my iPad Pro, either. On the other hand, I never had a problem with Windows Hello (Face Recognition) on any of the XPS laptops I owned over the last few years.

The hardware is outstanding. Your praises for the screen, speakers, etc are well justified. As for performance, this thing is lightning quick for everything. Switching from Android to iOS is pretty easy. I still dislike iTunes file management. Syncios lets me bypass a lot of iTunes' restrictions, though.

My major gripe still is no Touch ID. There's speculation that the 13 will bring it back so that would go along way towards getting me back to an iPhone as my every day phone.

 

[Zorachus]

I've had it for a couple days. I like it better than I expected, but still am having some trouble with Face ID. Must be me because I've never been able to get it working on my iPad Pro, either. On the other hand, I never had a problem with Windows Hello (Face Recognition) on any of the XPS laptops I owned over the last few years.

The hardware is outstanding. Your praises for the screen, speakers, etc are well justified. As for performance, this thing is lightning quick for everything. Switching from Android to iOS is pretty easy. I still dislike iTunes file management. Syncios lets me bypass a lot of iTunes' restrictions, though.

My major gripe still is no Touch ID. There's speculation that the 13 will bring it back so that would go along way towards getting me back to an iPhone as my every day phone.

Good news, are you customizing it at all?

 

[Commander Shepard]

Good news, are you customizing it at all?

Just tried a few things with folders and the dock. Nothing like the cool stuff you've done... yet.

 

[Zorachus]

Dropped my phone from about 5 or 6 feet up, onto concrete. Ugh.

Phone is A ok, zero issues

Was on the phone and getting out of my car had phone up to my ear, but had other stuff in my hand, was doing the lifting up neck and head hold of the phone, and it slipped out and fell all the way down to the street. I was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

It landed right on the corner, more of the side, and my thin little case held up, the case had a minor scuff on it, but the phone itself nothing

https://www.amazon.com/Meifigno-Com...e+12+Pro+Max+thin+case&qid=1611177062&sr=8-49

 

[Zorachus]

https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/21/smaller-notch-iphone-12s/

 

[Commander Shepard]

https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/21/smaller-notch-iphone-12s/

If Apple names it the 12S, then we can forget about the return of Touch ID in 2021. An S designation merely suggests a bump in specs, not the introduction of new features.