CIO Review: The iPhone 11 Pro Max convinced me to the max
20.11.2019
Translation: machine translated
I have replaced my old Google Pixel XL with the new iPhone. Why did I buy a new phone in the first place? And why an iPhone, even though I'm not an Apple fanboy?
In times of global warming, the impending end of the world and Extinction Rebellion - the name is strong, somehow reminding me of the "Army of the Twelve Monkeys" from the film of the same name - of course you have to ask yourself whether now is really the right time to replace your old phone.
I have convinced myself with a not entirely airtight argument that the moment is about right: On the one hand, it's been three years since I bought the Google Pixel XL, which unfortunately no longer looks particularly smart visually due to its not too high-quality finish.
On the other hand, because my son's old phone - it has been struggling to survive for months after falling down a well - is showing more and more failures. In particular, the microphone no longer works. You can say that telephony is not important, but somehow you want to be able to make calls. So thanks to my new purchase, I can generously leave my old Pixel to my son.
Why an iPhone?
We have revised our digitec and Galaxus apps and brought them up to date. I wanted to test the apps directly on a current Apple device. The products are popular and widely used in Switzerland. I've also wanted to get to grips with iOS for a while now, having already owned and tested a Windows and an Android device.
We put the apps online around the time I bought the Pixel... it could be that's why I bought the Pixel, to test the apps in the Google Play Store. As we all know, history repeats itself.
I was curious to see whether an iPhone was as convincing and high-quality as many users describe it. But it was also important to me that I could use the device without iTunes. iTunes was not my programme. With iOS 13, iTunes is history and there is one less reason not to have an iPhone.
Finally, the review
The device
The iPhone is actually and truly impeccably made. It is cool. Especially with the three lenses. It looks really pro. It feels valuable. Clearly a point that I appreciate. I like products that are good and where someone pays attention to the details. Quality is a decisive criterion for me. I prefer to buy less, but something with quality. In the end, it's often cheaper because the products last longer and have a pretty good resale value. This is also the case with us on the resale platform.
The software
In my subjective opinion, Apple has more or less lost the battle for the software. The operating system runs stably and well, but nothing more. I have uninstalled the majority of Apple's own apps and replaced them with others. Probably not such good news for Apple, but for me it's one reason why the iPhone suits me. I can use the apps I want for myself. And I don't have to bother with iTunes and the like. You can leave the Apple ecosystem to one side.
Photo and video
The camera is good. Very good, in fact. But is it the best camera? I have no idea. In my opinion, the overall impression, i.e. photo, video and sound, is excellent. I don't know all the devices, but I was able to compare the Pixel 3 and the iPhone 11 Pro Max for videos, tested by a professional editor. The overall picture is more coherent and the sound is clearly better than on other devices. You can shoot films with the iPhone 11 Pro without any additional accessories. Without an additional microphone.
However, I don't often film for myself. But I like the three zoom levels. Especially the wide angle. You can find a few of my photos in the gallery above.
I present you my new phone
Why in green? Why not! But why do advertising departments always have to give colours such meaningless names as "Midnight Green"? I don't understand it. Do they want to annoy customers? Or are they trying to outdo each other in their creativity? Maybe the advertisers are lounging on the site Fantasynamegenerators.com.
The right plan
I almost forgot to recommend the right plan for you. As simple and good as the iPhone, but also unbeatably cheap :-P
Would you like to read more from me?
Then mark the article with "Like". Or even better: follow me. Who knows, maybe I'll write something again. Have you had enough of my writing for the time being because there's too much text and all that? Then just click through to another article.
Oliver Herren
Chief Innovation Officer
Oliver.Herren@digitecgalaxus.chCool: Creating interfaces between the real world and the world of pure information. Not cool: Driving by car to the mall to shop. My life happens online, the information age is where I feel at home.