Here are the reasons why I upgraded from iPhone X to iPhone Xs Max;
- For a Bigger Screen
- New Camera Features
- Better Face ID
- Stereo Sound
- Better Water Resistance
The iPhone Xs Max is the biggest iPhone ever and it was enough to convince me to upgrade from the iPhone X. That’s why I upgraded from last year’s iPhone, although not much has changed.
There are many great things the iPhone Xs Max can do that helps strengthen the decision. There are many reasons to upgrade from an older iPhone like the iPhone 7 Plus, but not so many if you have the iPhone X. While you’ll have most of these features if you upgrade to the iPhone Xs, the verdict is because you’re missing out on a bigger screen.
In terms of features, here are five reasons why I decided to buy the iPhone Xs Max, and it’s helped me upgrade and keep my payments pretty much the same. I sold my iPhone X before the values dropped to a friend, traded an old Galaxy S5 with Verizon’s $100 trade-in promotion, and got a 256GB iPhone Xs Max. My monthly payments are pretty much the same with the iPhone X payout and the Galaxy S5 billing credit of about $4.50 per month from trading. I just had to pay the tax in advance. Search for iPhone Xs deals to take advantage of similar upgrade options.
While I’ve enjoyed the phone so far, returning to a larger screen from the iPhone X is a big deal. You should consider trying the phone in a store before making the switch. Even if you’re used to the iPhone 7 Plus or 8 Plus, it’s a larger screen and requires you to reach farther than other iPhones. While the Plus models can be used with one hand, they can be a two-handed device for many users.
Upgrade from iPhone X for a Better, Bigger Screen
The larger iPhone Xs Max screen is a major reason to upgrade.
The biggest reason to switch from iPhone X to iPhone Xs Max is the bigger screen. Besides using it for video and photos all the time, I watch a lot of video on my iPhone and work hard. The bigger screen means I can do more.
Instead of taking an iPad with me when I travel, I can now manage with my iPhone Xs Max to watch videos from iTunes, Netflix and Hulu. The larger screen makes it easy to use the new camera features and makes an excellent viewfinder.
This larger screen has more pixels, better color accuracy and is brighter at the same time. All of this provides a better viewing experience that looks great in a wide variety of environments.
If you have the iPhone X and want a bigger screen, this is the phone you’re looking for. Note that you’ll need to travel farther than on any Plus model to tap corners and use some gestures.
Upgrade for New Camera Features
I’m a fan of the new iPhone Xs Max camera features.
I have many cameras, including the Sony a6500, but most of the photos I take of my friends, family and even the cars I review are on the iPhone. It is always with me and also the device I will use to record most of our car review videos with a DJI Gimbal. Improved stereo recording and microphones are a nice upgrade.
With the new Smart HDR, iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max can deliver better detail in highlights and shadows, which combine to deliver better-looking photos. It’s early, but I’m already enjoying the results of this upgrade.
With the new camera I can also change the depth of field to change the bokeh after taking the photo. This is something I do with Slør on the iPhone X and iPhone 7 Plus, but it’s nice that it’s built right into the editor.
Portrait Mode Selfies are better, but they’re not perfect yet. I’m hopeful that iOS 12.1 will adjust this further. I also upgraded for better low light performance and better capture of the action. Almost every day, I take enough pictures of children and dogs to freeze a moment in time. I look forward to further testing the action performance on the way to the track soon.
The upgraded front camera now offers more frames per second and includes video stabilization. I use this camera to record video for our YouTube channel and I’m looking forward to that advantage.
Upgrade for Better Face ID
Face ID is better on iPhone Xs Max.
Face ID is a good alternative to Touch ID, but not perfect on the iPhone X. Apple raises this on the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max.
Face ID is faster and more reliable than the iPhone X in low light and in bed. It’s not perfect yet because sometimes I have to enter my password to unlock it when I’m lying in bed or at an awkward angle.
I use my iPhone more than necessary in bed, and I like being able to access the phone faster and easier with Face ID on the iPhone Xs Max. Face ID still has room to grow, but it’s better than the iPhone X.
Upgrade for Stereo Sound
Stereo sound is a nice upgrade.
iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max now support stereo sound. This is a nice feature when listening to music on iPhone without headphones or Bluetooth speakers.
Even though I use my AirPods a lot, there are times when I want to listen to music or watch movies without headphones while walking around the house or traveling.
iPhone Xs Max stereo sound is a noticeable upgrade from iPhone X and after upgrading from iPhone Xs I’m happy to have it.
Upgrade for Better Water Resistance
Enhanced water resistance is a nice upgrade.
I don’t specifically put my iPhone in water, but I accidentally exposed my iPhone X to water and I’m around water quite often when fishing and doing other outdoor activities.
The iPhone Xs Max is not waterproof, but it is more water resistant than the iPhone X. This provides a bit more reassurance when fishing, walking on water, and using my iPhone Xs Max in the hot tub.
