As an experienced technology analyst and long-time Apple user, I often get asked for advice on which iPhones are the best buy right now. For a while, that answer was a clear endorsement of the iPhone 13 Pro Max. With top-tier power, an excellent camera system, and best-in-class display packed into a premium design, it remained a standout choice over the past two years.
However, as we enter 2023, it‘s time to reconsider the iPhone 13 Pro Max. What was once a cutting-edge Apple flagship now shows signs of age. With better options now on the market and an even more advanced iPhone 15 Pro Max launching soon, I suggest avoiding this past-its-prime model.
Below I‘ll detail four compelling reasons why the iPhone 13 Pro Max no longer warrants your upgrade consideration, along with some smarter alternatives worth your money today:
It‘s Simply Too Large and Heavy For Comfortable Use
We need to address the elephant in the room first – well, actually it’s more of a whale. Tipping the scales at a hefty 240 grams/8.46 ounces, the iPhone 13 Pro Max ranks among the very heaviest flagship phones ever released.
Adding a protective case piles on even more size and weight. Compare that to the svelte Galaxy S23 Ultra at just 8 grams more but with a noticeably slimmer design profile. For pocketing, handling, or using your phone one-handed, the iPhone 13 Pro Max crosses from phablet into overtly bulky territory:
| Phone | Dimensions | Weight |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | 160.7 x 77.6 x 7.85 mm | 240 g |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm | 240 g |
| Galaxy S23 Ultra | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm | 234 g |
During activities like working out or hiking, lugging around a bulky iPhone 13 Pro Max in your pocket or clamped onto your arm quickly grows annoying and cumbersome. I certainly began experiencing wrist and hand soreness after prolonged use. This unwieldy form factor remains its Achilles‘ heel.
Prepare For Sticker Shock – High Cost With Minimal Resale Value
Originally launching at an eye-watering $1099 base price that climbs to $1599 for 1TB of storage, Apple has never sold affordable tech. Yet the iPhone 13 Pro Max still astonishes with its towering price tag – one that barely depreciates years later.
Today, a used 128GB iPhone 13 Pro Max still commands around $850 unlocked on Swappa. Considering you can grab a brand new base iPhone 14 for $100 less, the latest iPhone clearly delivers better bang-for-buck. Without substantial discounts even as new models arrive, purchasing yesterday’s iPhone leaves your wallet emptier for what‘s now mediocre technology.
As this iPhone pricing trend shows, costs continue rising while older models retain unreasonable resale value regardless of their outdated specs. With the iPhone 14 Pro Max now selling for $1099, why pay near-identical money for tech that’s already a generation behind the times? The iPhone 13 Pro Max no longer justifies its premium.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max Outclasses Its Predecessor
Another reason I steer shoppers away from the iPhone 13 Pro Max is its next-gen successor. Sporting an upgraded camera system, always-on display, satellite emergency messaging and Dynamic Island, the iPhone 14 Pro Max notably outperforms its precursor in areas like photography, videos, and daily usage.
Testing the phones side-by-side illustrates these generational leaps via benchmarks and image quality:
| Model | Geekbench Score | Battery Life |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | 1887 Single / 5455 Multi | 13 hours video playback |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | 1732 Single / 4685 Multi | 11 hours video playback |
Clearly the latest generation brings meaningful enhancements, even if they seem subtle at first glance. But testing proves the iPhone 14 Pro Max handles demanding tasks faster while taking shots that pop with color and clarity. Unless finding an iPhone 13 Pro Max at a steep $300+ discount, the 14 model presents far better value today.
Apple‘s Upgrade Cycle Makes Buying A 13 Pro Max A Risky Bet
Savvy Apple followers know that come September 2023, a brand new roster of iPhone 15 models will launch. As reliable as clockwork, Apple never fails to release next-generation iPhones, outpacing the previous series with faster speeds, enhanced cameras and fresh designs year after year.
We expect notable changes with the iPhone 15 generation like:
- Titanium alloy chassis with curved edges for ergonomic handling
- Expanded 48MP image sensor across all rear cameras
- Periscope zoom lens with 5-10x optical magnification
- Possible under-display Face ID and fingerprint sensors
- Switch to USB-C charging for faster data transfers and connectivity
While early to set expectations, Apple certainly won‘t be downgrading core functionality or components. By every metric, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will outclass not only the iPhone 13 Pro Max but also the current iPhone 14 series.
This renders buying the iPhone 13 Pro Max in 2023 a risky play at best. In just 6 short months, your shiny new mobile tech transforms into a previous-gen device that looks dated as quickly as the new models roll out. I strongly advise all shoppers now wait until the iPhone 15 unveiling this fall unless you score an absolute steal on deep discount iPhone 14 devices in the interim.
Better Smartphone Alternatives For Early 2023
If even the iPhone 14 Pro Max stretches your budget too far, consider two capable alternatives that continue offering Apple‘s signature quality for less money:
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Surprisingly, the iPhone 14 Pro slightly bests its Max counterpart for worldwide smartphone dominance right now. And for good reason – you still get premium power and dazzling cameras without the cumbersome size or hefty $1099+ price tags seen on plus-sized iPhones.
Unless you consume hours of videos or gaming daily, I encourage choosing the 6.1 inches versus 6.7 inches of extra screen space since one-handed handling vastly improves. Otherwise the two 2022 flagships share an identical spec sheet, right down to benchmark-crushing Apple A16 SoC performance.
For $200 savings over the Max, iPhone 14 Pro buyers reap nearly all the same rewards, especially compared to the older iPhone 13 generation. You may miss out on absolute peak battery capacity, but convenience factors should outweigh an extra 1-2 hours runtime for average users.
Apple Watch Series 8
Let‘s not forget Apple still makes outstanding technology beyond iPhones, including their category-leading smartwatch lineup. If willing to embrace a friendlier form factor, the durable Apple Watch Series 8 packs remarkable utility like health & fitness tracking, notifications and communication tools into a compact wrist-based device.
Thanks to a bright always-on display and accurate sensor array, the Apple Watch Series 8 keeps users connected while monitoring overall wellness stats. Expect all-day battery life even with continuous heart rate data and GPS usage during workouts. Costing hundreds less than a premium iPhone, the feature-packed Apple Watch Series 8 makes for the smartest wrist companion around.
