My Honest Thoughts on Upgrading from the iPhone 12 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Hey, this is DamianJay, and welcome to The Morning Drive. Today, I want to talk about something we all encounter every few years—upgrading our phones. Specifically, I’m sharing my experience moving from the iPhone 12 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. There are two different stories I want to tell here. First, I’ll dive into what it’s like upgrading a phone in 2024. And second, I’ll share my honest opinion on the age-old debate: Android vs. Apple. Spoiler alert: it’s not what you think.
Android vs. Apple: The Unpopular Truth
Let’s start with the big one—Android versus Apple. I’ll keep it short and succinct: Android makes better phones. Period. Yeah, I know, that’s a pretty unpopular opinion. I was an Android user for 10 years before I switched to Apple, and let me tell you, the switch had nothing to do with which phone was superior. In fact, I’ll still stand by this: if you buy a top-tier Android phone, you’re going to get a better camera, better battery life, better screen refresh rates, and just generally better tech.
Back when I had Android, I was always excited about the cutting-edge features that came with it. For example, when I upgraded to the Razer Phone (yes, the same Razer that makes gaming laptops), it had a 120Hz refresh rate—something that Apple only introduced much later. But despite all those bells and whistles, I found that owning an Android came with a significant drawback: inconsistency. Specifically, app compatibility issues.
With Android, the operating system doesn’t always match the app in the store, meaning you might not get the latest features. It used to be a bigger problem a few years back, and maybe it’s not as bad today, but that’s why I left. With Apple, there’s consistency. Every phone—whether it’s brand new or a few generations old—works the same, as long as Apple is still supporting its iOS. That’s comforting. You’re not left waiting for Android’s latest “Lollipop” or “Marshmallow” update, hoping it’ll make things run smoother.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max: What’s New?
Let’s talk about the upgrade from the iPhone 12 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Honestly, the thrill of getting a new phone? It’s gone. I remember when buying a new phone was an event—something you looked forward to because of all the exciting new features. But this time? Not so much. Sure, the iPhone 16 has a faster refresh rate and some other minor upgrades, but jumping four generations didn’t bring the excitement I expected.
I mean, I literally went through the whole setup process—migrating all my data, re-logging into apps (which, by the way, didn’t automatically transfer as I thought they would)—and once it was all done, it felt like I was holding the same phone. Just a little faster. Sure, I’ve got some new emojis and marginally better features, but none of it really matters. The iPhone 16 Pro Max isn’t revolutionary; it’s evolutionary. Just barely.
The Bigger Picture: Diminishing Returns
You might think jumping four generations of iPhones would feel like a huge leap, but it didn’t. Apple’s been playing catch-up in so many areas—features like being able to record video while listening to music are just now coming to the iPhone, something Android had years ago. And don’t even get me started on how all the iPhones look the same. It’s not a conversation starter like it was five or ten years ago. You’ve got a slab of glass with an Apple logo on the back, just like everyone else.
If we’re being honest, most people only use three or four apps every day. For me, it’s Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. And as someone who’s an aspiring influencer, I’m on these platforms a lot—like, a lot—but upgrading didn’t change my experience with any of them. Even for creating content, there’s no discernible difference between using the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The camera quality? Almost the same. My workflow? Exactly the same. So what’s the point of upgrading?
Why I Upgraded
So why did I bother upgrading? Simple: I want my phone to last four to six years. My old iPhone 12 Pro Max was starting to show signs of age. The battery life was declining, the RAM was getting full, and the phone was slowing down. My iPhone 16 Pro Max has a bigger battery, more RAM, and more storage. That’s about it. But here’s the kicker: even with a brand-new battery, I didn’t see the leap in performance I was expecting. After a full charge, my new phone lasted the entire day, which is great, but by the end of the day, it was still down to 17%. Not exactly mind-blowing.
The Bottom Line
Here’s the takeaway: the thrill is gone. Upgrading phones these days doesn’t carry the same excitement it once did. Whether you’re an Android fan or an Apple die-hard, the truth is that most phones are incredibly similar now. Unless you’re a hardcore gamer or a camera enthusiast, there’s not much reason to upgrade as often as we used to. Sure, I got more space, more RAM, and better battery life with my new phone, but the everyday experience? It’s exactly the same.
And honestly, that’s a good thing. We’ve reached a point where our phones have become tools, not toys. They’re reliable, consistent, and do exactly what we need them to do. So, if your phone is still ticking all the boxes for you, what’s the point in upgrading? Just beat it up for four or five years and grab a new one when it starts to fall behind. Because, at the end of the day, a phone is a phone is a phone.