As iPhones have grown bigger over the years, I’ve always been critical of the increase. I remember how the switch from iPhone 4S to iPhone 5 already made me frown as my thumb no longer comfortably reached the top of the screen. And now, in 2021, you look at an iPhone 5 and laugh at its size, thinking it’s a toy smartphone.
This attitude also led me to champion the iPhone SE as a suitably sized phone, and later the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini. I even went so far as to say with great certainty that the successor to my iPhone XS was going to be one of those “mini” models. And in the end, the phone I ended up buying was an iPhone 13 Pro Max. I will explain to you what the change seemed to me.
Weight is what it is, but the rest are pluses
The reasons why I drastically changed my preference I explained to you in another article: my hands are very small, and even the iPhone XS that I have been using for three years has forced me to use the mobile with both hands. Having already gotten used to it, a 5.8 or 6.7 inch mobile is no longer important. There is no longer any difference in use when using both hands.
That’s not to say that every time I walk past a store with iPhones on display, I look at the mini models with puppy eyes. But I continue to defend my purchase after three weeks of using the Pro Max, concluding that it was the best choice after checking that its giant screen was worth it.
Just because of ProMotion’s 120Hz variable, choosing a Pro model is already worth it.
In addition to being able to enjoy ProMotion and 120 Hz variables, something that by itself already makes me prefer the Pro range, the said 6.7-inch screen already allows me to see some content on the mobile and not on the larger screen of the iPad. If I have to take a short trip and don’t need the tablet, I’m already considering downloading shows and movies to my iPhone to avoid carrying another larger device. This same excuse even works for books: the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a panel large enough to read e-books. I even handle spreadsheets with it, kidding.
Another big advantage that I discovered with the Pro Max is its enormous autonomy. I forgot to charge my phone overnight, I don’t need it anymore. Every now and then I load it onto my workbench when I need it, and that’s it. And I haven’t risked doing it yet, but I suspect I can last two days without charging it.
I can also name the cameras and their capabilities as another big plus, but this is something that I have yet to fully understand. Yes i can anticipate that night mode is awesome, achieving good quality in virtually total darkness environments. I have not yet taken advantage of all the other functions.
If I have to name one downside, it is certainly the weight. Switch from an XS to an iPhone 13 Pro which (with its shell) literally weighs a quarter of a kilo it’s a transition that still costs me today. I notice this a lot when, for example, I try to hold the mobile with one hand when I am lying on the sofa or in bed. And yes, it bothers me, I’m not going to say no, but the rest of the perks I have made up for.
I still think small mobiles are very versatile and very suitable. But I have to admit that as a very intensive mobile user at a professional level, it has been good for me to embrace the big screen terminals. AND I don’t think I’ll go back to smaller mobiles, especially seeing how pliable the future is. I just hope to get used to this weight … and hope the pantsmakers adapt the pockets.
