Hardware

Mobile Phone

Long-term Field Test: 20.09.2019 to 19.09.2022


Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

My new Camera

I am actually very satisfied with the iPhone Xs. As a hobby photographer, I like to use my iPhone as an always-on camera. Since I very rarely take my compact camera with me on walks, excursions etc. and even the pictures for articles like this one are taken at home with the iPhone, the picture quality of the iPhone camera is very important to me.

After watching Apple's keynote, where the advantages of the new camera were also presented, the decision to buy was made and I was one of the first pre-orderers for pick-up on the first day of sale …

This is my sixth iPhone test. Enjoy reading!

Photo: iPhone 11 Pro Max original box, frontside

Photo: the new Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max in case colour gold, lying on the original box

Purchasing: Pre-order, long Waiting Time, Pick-up

Pre-ordered online

13.09.2019: Pre-ordered an Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max with 512 GB storage in gold colour online at noon for pick-up on first day of sale 20.09.2019
Pick-up time slot: 18:30-19:00.
19.09.2019: Receive pick-up information by email. This email contains a QR code to add to the Apple Wallet app for even faster pick-up.

High Demand, long Waiting Time

20.09.2020: Big rush at the Apple Store! It quickly becomes clear to everyone: the pre-allocated time slots are untenable! This is also due to the fact that many foreign tourists without pre-orders simply push their way in and are served preferentially, although it was actually communicated that only customers with pre-orders can be served on the first day of sales!

Pick-up one Hour later than planned

Despite such incidents, everyone remains relatively calm and tries in his or her own way to somehow endure the long wait in the queue. Shortly before 8 p.m. I also get my new iPhone and the manager of the Apple Store apologises for the long wait. I understand and am not angry because everyone has done their best.

Equipment

  • Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max with iOS 13.0
  • Apple EarPods
  • 18 W power supply unit with USB-C socket
  • USB-C to Lightning cable
  • Documentation

Photo: opened original box with Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max in the colour gold

Photo: opened box with Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Photo: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max – Kartoninhalt

Photo: opened box. Underneath the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max are the USB power adapter, Lightning cable and EarPods.

Tech Specs

Model: A2218 (MWHQ2ZD/A)

Colour: Gold (also available in space grey, silver and night green)
Storage capacity: 512 GB (also available with 64 GB and 256 GB)
Dimensions and weight: 158.0 × 77.8 × 8.1 mm, 226 g

Display

Super Retina XDR display with Haptic Touch
6.46-inch All-Screen OLED Multi-Touch (14.7 cm diagonal)
HDR display, resolution: 1242 × 2688 pixels; 458 pixels per inch
Typical contrast ratio: 2,000,000:1
Maximum typical brightness: 800 nits. Maximum brightness: 1200 nits (HDR).
Colour standard: P3
Grease-repellent coating, display zoom, one-hand mode, true tone display
Supports display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously

Processor

A13 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture, neural architecture, integrated M13 motion coprocessor
Processor architecture: ARMv8.4-A
Microarchitecture: 2×2.65 GHz Lightning + 4×1.8 GHz Thunder
Main memory (RAM): 4 GB (type: LPDDR4X)

Cameras

12-megapixel camera with ultra-wide, wide-angle and telephoto lenses
Ultra-wide angle: f/2.4 aperture and 120° field of view
Wide-angle: aperture f/1.8
Telephoto lens: aperture f/2.0
2x optical zoom, up to 10x digital zoom
Portrait mode with bokeh and depth control
Portrait light with 6 effects (natural, studio, contour, stage, stage mono, high-key mono)
Dual optical image stabilisation for wide angle and telephoto
Lens with 5 elements (ultra wide angle), lens with 6 elements (wide angle and telephoto)
True-tone flash with long-time synchronisation
Panorama recording up to 63 megapixels
Night mode
Sapphire crystal lens cover
Body and face detectionNext generation Smart HDR for photos
Advanced red-eye correction
Geotagging for photos
Automatic image stabilisation
Continuous shooting mode
Self-timer
HEIF and JPEG image formats

Wireless Technologies

FDD‑LTE
Frequency bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66

TD‑LTE
Frequency bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48

UMTS/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

LTE
Frequency bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66

TD-LTE
Frequency bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41

UMTS/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

Gigabit-capable LTE with 4x4 MIMO and LAA

802.11ax WLAN 6 with 2x2 MIMO

Bluetooth 5.0

Ultra-wideband chip for spatial awareness

NFC with reading mode

Express Cards with power reserve

Locating Function

Integrated GPS/GNSS
Digital compass
WLAN
Mobile telephony
iBeacon micro-location

Audio Calls

FaceTime audio calls
Voice over LTE (VoLTE)
Calls via WLAN

Video Calls

FaceTime video calls via WLAN and mobile phone

Audio Playback

Supported audio formats: AAC‑LC, HE‑AAC, HE‑AAC v2, Protected AAC, MP3, Linear PCM, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital (AC‑3), Dolby Digital Plus (E‑AC‑3), Dolby Atmos and Audible (Formate 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX und AAX+)
Spatial audio playback. User-definable maximum volume

TV and Video

Supported video formats: HEVC, H.264, MPEG‑4 Part 2 and Motion JPEG
High Dynamic Range (HDR) with Dolby Vision and HDR10-contents
AirPlay Mirroring, Photos and Video output on Apple TV (2. Generation or newer)
Video Mirroring and Video output: Support for up to 1080p via Lightning Digital-AV-Adapter and Lightning-to-VGA-Adapter (Adapter available separately)

Assistant Siri

Use your own voice to send messages, make calls, create a reminder and more.
Get predictive suggestions, hands-free calling, listen to and recognise songs.

Source: Apple (see reference source at the end of this review)

Power Adapter

Manufacturer's information

Talk time (wireless): not specified
Internet usage: not specified
Video playback (wireless): up to 20 hours
Audio playback (wireless): up to 80 hours
Fast charge: up to 50% in 30 minutes
Built-in lithium-ion battery: 3969 mAh
Charging via USB port on computer or mains adapter

Practice

Practice Topics sorted alphabetically

Battery Performance

Battery Life, Battery Saving, Charging Time

Battery Life (Time after Battery Charge until next Charge)

Very individual, difficult to compare. Everybody defines infrequent users and frequent users differently, not to mention the term normal user.

Little use: 2 days (Siri Assistant, a few emails, a few iMessages, calendar, notes, 3 h listening to music, minimal web).
Heavy use: 1 day (reading a book [Apple Books app], Siri, some emails, iMessages or SMS, calendar, notes, calls, 5 h listening to music, 3 h web).

Battery Saving

In order to protect the battery, which cannot be changed by the user, I rarely push it to its limits, as this wears it out unnecessarily.
With about 30% remaining charge, it is charged up to about 70%. Deviations only occur when I check on the iPhone too late.
If you let the battery get almost empty and charge it up to 100% (e.g. overnight), you stress it and use up a full charging cycle.
Modern lithium-ion batteries can withstand 300 to 500 charging cycles. In practice, these are achieved within 2 to 5 years, depending on the treatment.

Charging Time

You can expect these Loading Times

  • Charging time at USB 2.0 socket: 2:24 h (at 32% residual charge up to 71%)(Notebook Sony VAIO Z12X9E/X)
  • Charging time at USB 3.1 socket: 0:36 h (at 33% residual charge up to 70%)(Apple MacBook Air 2020)
  • Charging time with 36-watt mains adapter: 0:32 h (with 36% residual charge up to 71%)(Anker 36 W 5 V/7.2 A 4-port USB charger)
  • Charging time with large Battery pack: 0:43 h (at 31% residual charge to 70%)(Anker PowerCore Edge 20,000 mAh)
  • Charging time with 18-watt mains adapter: 0:25 h (with 29% residual charge up to 70%)(Apple quick charger)
  • Charging time with MacBook mains adapter: 0:27 h (with 35% residual charge up to 70%)(Apple MacBook Air 2020)

Battery Protocol

Sorry, this has become too labour-intensive for me. Almost no one reads it anyway and it takes an enormous amount of time if you do it properly.
And I do everything here properly or not at all.
Hobby should be fun and bring something, also for the reader.

Data Logging

I continue to enter the data for my three iPhones using screenshots and a calendar template for CalenGoo, which takes a minute each.
But preparing a series of these values for the website takes hours.
Therefore, I ask for your understanding that I no longer want to offer this as a standard for every smartphone test.

If I ever have the time and inclination, I'll transfer a few values from my calendar. But then it will be time-consuming manual work.

Energy-saving Mode

Apple's iOS operating system automatically activates low-power mode when the battery has 20% remaining charge and deactivates it when the battery reaches 80%. I will never let the battery run down like that without need (it's pure stress for the battery)! I normally charge from 30% to 70%. It has proven itself!

Profile Settings

Apple customers had to wait seventeen years for this standard function. Apple sells us this well-known basic smartphone function as a new feature named Focus. Profile controls were already available for SymbianOS in 2004. This automatic feature could also be installed as an app for Android OS and BlackBerry 10.
Profile control means: settings for ringtone volume, display brightness, airplane mode etc. adapted to the situation and/or time.
This was already available in 2000 on the Nokia 6310(i).

Examples

Switch off low-power mode and airplane mode in the morning, volume normal. Switch off WLAN when leaving the flat. Set the doorbell to silent in certain places. Activate “Do Not disturb” for dinner or television. From 10 p.m., activate “Do Not disturb” (reachable by phone for favourites) and low-power mode. Activate airplane mode at bedtime if you do not need to be reachable for emergencies.

For some of the functions mentioned above, Shortcuts app is required.

Call Filter

Do Not Disturb is the name of Apple's call filter, which was subordinated to the new profile settings “Focus” with the introduction of iOS 15 (20.09.2021). It now also filters messages and apps.

Allow Messages

Messages from selected people and apps are allowed, all others are muted.

Persons

  • Mute messages from

When Do Not Disturb focus is activated, messages from selected people are muted and sent to the message centre.

  • Allow messages from

With Do Not Disturb focus activated, messages from people you select are allowed. All others are muted and sent to the message centre.

Apps

  • Mute messages from

When “Do Not Disturb” focus is activated, messages from selected apps are muted and sent to the message centre.

  • Allow messages from

With “Do Not Disturb” focus enabled, messages from apps you select are allowed. All others are muted and sent to the message centre.

Allow Calls from

  • All (put callers through unfiltered)
  • Only permitted persons (selection from address book)
  • Favourites (narrow selection from address book)
  • Only for contacts (stored in the address book)

Favourites = Anonymous callers get busy signal or mailbox.
Callers with a suppressed call number immediately receive a busy signal or are sent to the mailbox if “Do Not Disturb” is active.

Time Frame for eternally Outdated and Stubborn, who you like nevertheless

Stubborn acquaintances and relatives who do not want to have the free number transmission switched on by the network operator can still reach you at certain times if you do not leave “Do Not Disturb” active all day, but e.g. 20:00–18:00.
For example, between 6 and 8 p.m., callers with suppressed numbers would also be let through.

You could formulate the announcement text of your mailbox accordingly:
“… landed on my mailbox due to a suppressed call number, … next time better call with activated caller ID!”

Telephone Terror

As soon as diallers of dubious advertising callers start calling you in short intervals and suppress their own phone number or display a fake, constantly changing phone number, “Do Not Disturb” must remain active, otherwise you are no longer reachable for serious callers! For businesses and also for private individuals, it is then worthwhile to buy a real call filter from the App Store. But beware, most of them are crap!
Two notable exceptions: Call Ranger and Number Shield.

enlightenedSince iOS version 16, you can finally create groups in the address book! Apple now calls them “lists” and you don't need iCloud or an extra app to assign your contacts to groups lists.

Blocking individual Phone Numbers

Since iOS 14.7 (?), unwanted phone numbers can be blocked directly from the call list without having to save them in the address book!

Block dubious Numbers directly from the Caller List

  1. open the caller list
  2. tap the (i) to the far right of the phone number
  3. tap on the red lettering “Block caller” at the very bottom
  4. the safety note appears:
    “You will not receive any calls, messages or FaceTime calls from the blocked person.”
    Block contact | Cancel
  5. tap “Block contact”, if you are sure, otherwise tap “Cancel”

If you make a mistake (e.g. slipped in a line, got the wrong contact), you can tap on “Unblock” immediately afterwards.
If you want to unblock the contact later or check all blocks already stored, you can do this via the settings menu:
Settings/Phone/Blocked contacts/Add contact. Search for names in the address book, select, done. While you're at it, you can also add annoying insurance agents, colleagues etc. When you are done, press Cancel in the top right-hand corner. This will take you directly back to the “black list” without selecting a new candidate and you can also undo blockings by swiping the name to the left. Then “Unblock” appears to the right of the entry, which you tap to confirm.

  • If you do not need to answer every call, you can use the phone app to
    Mute unknown callers” and
  • with Settings/Do Not Disturb/Allow Calls limit to “All Contacts
    – anyone who is not in the address book can then no longer bother you

Assistant Siri

Most technology enthusiasts and sci-fi fans would like to operate their computers by voice like in the sci-fi series Star Trek.

History

  • In 2007, the company Siri Inc. had started developing a digital assistant
  • In 2010, Apple bought the company Siri Inc. in April with all rights to the products and the iPhone 4s became the first smartphone with the digital assistant called Siri

Since then, the iPhone can be controlled by voice. Unfortunately, Steve Jobs had decided to let the very powerful software work online in a much slimmed-down way. angryThe original software could run on the iPhone without an online connection to the data centre and would not be as restricted as we know it!
But that will change with iOS 15 in autumn: on newer iPhones with enough computing power, Siri will then run locally without a server connection!

Purpose

I see the main purpose of a digital assistant as being to operate the smartphone without having to pick it up. Users of a Bluetooth headset are particularly happy about this possibility, because this way the iPhone can stay protected in the pocket as often as possible!

With most headsets, voice control is started with a long press on the answer button. If you use a headset on an Apple iPhone from version 4s upwards, the assistant Siri is also addressed via it and instead of saying “Hey, Siri!” you immediately state your wish. Siri answers questions about the weather, can send dictated messages, dial phone numbers, read out received messages, remind you of appointments, wake you up in the morning, play your own music, tell you the artist of a current music track and the scores of sporting events, etc.

Scope of Functions

A few practical Examples …

Stock Exchange

  • Share price of [name of the share]
  • How does the DAX stand?

Telephone and Contacts

  • Call [Name]
  • Dial [phone number]
  • Redial
  • Start FaceTime with [Name]

Find friends

  • Where is [name]?
  • Who is near me?

Messages

  • Send a message to [Name]
  • Send an iMessage to [Name]

Mail

  • Write a mail to [name] with the content: [content]

Appointments

  • When is my next appointment?
  • Appointments today? (short: appointments?)
  • What appointments do I have tomorrow?
  • Create an appointment tomorrow at [time]
  • Move today's appointment from [time] to [time]

Reminders

  • Remind me on [date] at [time]: [content]
  • Remind me of [content] as soon as I arrive home.

Notes

  • Note: [...] shop

Time and Alarm Clock

  • What time is it?
  • Time?
  • What date do we have?
  • Set alarm clock to [time]

System

  • Battery charge iPhone? (this is the only way Siri understands that the phone is meant, not headset)
  • Battery charge? (indicates remaining charge of the connected BT headset in%)
  • Switch [Function] on/off.
  • Is WLAN on?

Maps & Navigation

  • Where am I? (Siri used to name the street, now only the place)
  • Start navigation from here to home
  • When are we there?
  • Exit navigation

Music

  • Play Blue Monday by New Order
  • Play My Playlist [Name]
  • Play something by Yello
  • Pause

Weather

  • Do I need an umbrella?
  • Humidity?
  • How cold is it now?
  • How warm is it now?
  • What will the weather be like tonight?
  • What will the weather be like tomorrow morning? (max. 24 h forecast)

Sport

  • Name the current football results

Hey, Siri!

This way, you call the assistant and immediately attach the question or request to it when you hold the iPhone in your hand or have it on the table.
Siri understands freely formulated questions/instructions and also answers some questions with a comment …

Example: When asked “How cold is it now?”, Siri replied: “It's 6 degrees now, but I don't think it's cold at all, Michael”.

By the way

Siri finds less than 4 degrees bitterly cold, anything above that Siri comments with “... but I don't find it cold at all”.

There is a separate database for each language.

And from the time iOS 10 was distributed, Siri commented on all temperatures above about 20 °Celsius with “hot”.

So the question “How warm is it now?” was answered with “20 degrees, … hot!” (after a few weeks, Siri is no longer used to this).
When Siri wants to be funny, she answers questions about temperature: “No matter how warm it is outside – it's always room temperature inside. Just kidding”.

Cons of Siri

  • Foreign languages do not have the same priority at Apple as the mother tongue
  • Siri is not yet as quick-witted and witty in German as in her mother tongue
  • Siri does not yet manage combined questions (only ever ask one question)
  • Siri needs (until September 2021) a good data connection for almost everything

Data Synchronisation with your local Computer

Media Content

Bildschirmfoto: Bilder und Videos importieren

Screenshot: Import pictures and videos

After establishing the USB connection with a Windows computer, Windows asks the user whether the pictures and videos found on the iPhone should be displayed in the Explorer window or copied to the hard disk (see illustration above). Without iTunes, this is the only way to at least get pictures and videos from the iPhone onto the Windows computer.

By the way, this rudimentary backup function even works when connected to a Rasperry Pi. The editors of the computer magazine c't once presented such a solution for Linux. Better than nothing, but not a comprehensive backup.

To keep media content (books, photos, music, videos) on the iPhone in sync with a local computer, Apple's desktop software iTunes or a third-party solution is required.

Backup with iTunes, Finder or iMazing

Since macOS version Catalina (approx. May 2020), synchronisation or backup has been integrated into the Finder, i.e. Apple's file manager.
Only customers without a Mac, i.e. with a Windows computer, must continue to struggle with a not so smoothly running iTunes version. There is no comparable solution for Linux users.

For data protection reasons, German business people must avoid Apple's iCloud. Use iTunes or, even better, iMazing with USB cable or WiFi connection at home. Security-conscious private users should also do the same.

Regular Data Backup with iTunes

Abbildung: optimale Backup-Einstellung für iTunes

Illustration: Optimal backup setting for iTunes

When recharging the battery in the evening at the USB port of your PC, you can have iTunes create an encrypted backup on the hard disk or SSD (see illustration). It is also possible to synchronise your music collection on the hard disk with the iPhone.

E-Mail, Contacts, Tasks, Notes

An iCloud email account can, but does not have to be created!
PIM data such as email, addresses, tasks and notes can be easily synchronised with your existing email accounts.

For this purpose, the EAS protocol is also supported, which works with Microsoft's Outlook, but also with 1&1 Mail Business, for example.
Advantage of EAS: easy to set up and all data is available at all times while on the move (older mails are only reloaded from the server if required when “entire period” is selected for synchronisation).

Important Safety Tip

Set transport encryption “SSL/TLS” with corresponding port!

Those who have Microsoft Outlook installed locally can keep it synchronised with the iPhone via iTunes (not tested myself).
I created a separate account for Posteo because I'm still using their calendar for a while (with CalenGoo).

I have uninstalled Apple's Mail app because I use Tutanota with their own Mail app.
I have never activated iCloud Drive and will never use it because American authorities can access it at any time for no reason.
I don't support mass surveillance because it's easy to become collateral damage: Backdoor keys are rarely carefully secured and are therefore very desirable targets for criminals.

Regular Data Backup with iMazing

However, iMazing, a Swiss quality product from the Geneva-based software company DigiDNA, is much better than iTunes. I already preferred it to iTunes on the Windows notebook and it is simply a dream. iTunes, on the other hand, was sometimes more of a nightmare on the Windows notebook.

iMazing automatically backs up the data from my iPhones to my MacBook Air via WLAN every day. Without a cloud. Works like a dream.
The feature-rich and user-friendly iMazing is the best manager for iOS devices on Mac and PC.
I have been using iMazing on my Windows notebook for years because Apple's patchwork iTunes is really no fun.

Music Player

17.02.2020: Listening to my favourite album “The Best Of The Art Of Noise (1992)” again, 2nd track: Yebo (Mbaqanga Mix).
This is ideal for testing the low bass reproduction! Another tip: 7th track: Legacy.

This is synthesiser sound, which – taken on its own – is not objectively suitable for testing the sound quality of a music player. Electronic music sounds good on any device. But I know this album inside out and have listened to it very often on various MP3 players (constant quality encoding; dynamic data rate up to max. 320 kbit/s).

For a real objective test of the sound quality, I used music titles with acoustic instruments and very often heard musicians' voices.
The listening test CD of the hi-fi magazine Audio was also very helpful for the objective test of the acoustics.

Linear smooth Frequency Response

The Apple iPhone 11 Pro can really show that it has a ruler-like frequency response down to the low bass range. Otherwise, the bass would not be so abysmally deep, undistorted and clear (unfortunately, I can't measure it).

Conclusion: one of the best high-end music players – but not with the included Apple EarPods!
They have too weak a bass response, but otherwise transmit quite neutrally (writes the press).
Since I don't think much of such gimmicks, I didn't even unpack the EarPods this time.

My audio test equipment: I use the Sony MDR-EX90LP as headphones.
These in-ear headphones in studio monitor quality offer a quite undistorted reproduction.

Messaging

iMessage targeted for Years

Time and again one can read in the IT news that iPhones of journalists and other vulnerable persons have been spied on. Often the spy software got onto the iPhone unnoticed through a security hole in iMessage.

Cryptology professor Matthew Green recommends Apple to completely rewrite the code base of iMessage (Reference).

Apple had always closed security holes relatively quickly, but as long as the code of iMessage is not significantly improved, there will always be successful attacks.
That is why I have deactivated iMessage (and also FaceTime).

Alternative: Threema

Threema can optionally be used without personal data such as telephone number or e-mail address. The Threema ID is sufficient.
Chats are end-to-end encrypted and phone calls are tap-proof.

Alternative: Session

Session does not use any personal data, i.e. neither telephone number nor e-mail address! There is also no connection to the device's address book! The Session ID is generated locally on the device and serves as public key.
Chats are end-to-end encrypted and phone calls are tap-proof.
Further advantages: decentralised onion routing network, free of charge.

Excellent Acoustics for pleasant Telephony

The Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max offers excellent sound quality and supports HD Voice (Plus) – even with Voice over LTE (VoLTE).
If the person you are calling is also using UMTS or VoLTE with HD Voice (Plus), you will experience much better sound quality than with ISDN in the fixed network!
You recognise callers (and their state of mind) immediately by their voice and conversations remain more relaxed because there is no more annoying background noise.

iOS

Apple iOS, formerly also known as iPhone OS

iOS Versions

  • 20.09.2019 supply w. iOS version 13.0
  • 24.09.2019 update to iOS version 13.1
  • 28.10.2019 update to iOS version 13.2
  • 10.12.2019 update to iOS version 13.3
  • 24.03.2020 update to iOS version 13.4
  • 07.04.2020 update to iOS version 13.4.1
  • 20.05.2020 update to iOS version 13.5
  • 01.06.2020 update to iOS version 13.5.1
  • 15.07.2020 update to iOS version 13.6
  • 12.08.2020 update to iOS version 13.6.1
  • 01.09.2020 update to iOS version 13.7
  • 16.09.2020 update to iOS version 14.0
  • 24.09.2020 update to iOS version 14.0.1
  • 20.10.2020 update to iOS version 14.1
  • 05.11.2020 update to iOS version 14.2
  • 14.12.2020 update to iOS version 14.3
  • 26.01.2021 update to iOS version 14.4
  • 08.03.2021 update to iOS version 14.4.1
  • 26.03.2021 update to iOS version 14.4.2
  • 26.04.2021 update to iOS version 14.5
  • 03.05.2021 update to iOS version 14.5.1
  • 24.05.2021 update to iOS version 14.6
  • 19.07.2021 update to iOS version 14.7
  • 26.07.2021 update to iOS version 14.7.1
  • 13.09.2021 update to iOS version 14.8
  • 20.09.2021 update to iOS version 15.0
  • 01.10.2021 update to iOS version 15.0.1
  • 11.10.2021 update to iOS version 15.0.2
  • 25.10.2021 update to iOS version 15.1
  • 17.11.2021 update to iOS version 15.1.1
  • 13.12.2021 update to iOS version 15.2
  • 12.01.2022 update to iOS version 15.2.1
  • 26.01.2022 update to iOS version 15.3
  • 10.02.2022 update to iOS version 15.3.1
  • 14.03.2022 update to iOS version 15.4
  • 31.03.2022 update to iOS version 15.4.1
  • 16.05.2022 update to iOS version 15.5
  • 20.07.2022 update to iOS version 15.6
  • 17.08.2022 update to iOS version 15.6.1
  • 12.09.2022 update to iOS version 15.7
  • 12.09.2022 update to iOS version 16.0

Software (Apps)

Integrated Apps

Stocks, App Store, Files, Settings, Reminders, FaceTime, Photos, Find Friends, Health, Home, Calendar, Camera, Maps, Compass, Contacts, Mail, Find My iPhone, Music, Messages, Notes, Podcasts, Calculator, Safari, Siri, Voice Memos, Phone, Tips, Clock, Wallet, Watch, Weather, iBooks, iCloud Drive, iTunes Store

Free Apps from Apple

Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iMovie, GarageBand, TV and Clips are pre-installed.

Highly recommended Apps in Apple's App Store

  • 1Blocker Ad Blocker and Firewall by Salavat Khanov
  • Battery Charge Alarm by Bastiaan Modderkolk
  • Number Shield by Kinnaman Software LLC
  • Cs Cesium Music Player by Mike Clay
  • Date & Time Calculator by Thomas Tsopanakis
  • Shortcuts by Apple
  • Privee – Photo Zensor by Zenlogic LLC
  • Strongbox (Zero) – KeePass & PwSafe by Mark McGuill (Phoebe Code Ltd.)

You can find apps that I have already tested on the Mobile Apps page.
Most of these have proven themselves.
For apps that I have not yet tested myself, I link to developer's website or to Apple's App Store.

Missing Software

  • App for automatic location-dependent volume control
  • real call filter as has been a matter of course on other smartphone platforms such as Symbian OS, Android OS and BlackBerry 10 OS for many years

Addendum 20.06.2021: with iOS 15, Apple will finally deliver in autumn what actually belongs ex works.

High Quality Hardware

Acoustic Characteristics

The acoustics are excellent! Thanks to high signal-to-noise ratio, good channel separation and low distortion, the fidelity is outstanding!

Glass Housing with Stainless Steel Frame and Chassis

The excellently crafted case feels very good and is a pleasure to hold.

High-Resolution 6.46-inch Display

This OLED display shows photos and text sharply and in natural colours. The size of the screen is enough to be able to work on this website on the go. I even watch some episodes of TV series on this display.

A13 Bionic Processor: one of the fastest Smartphone Processors on the World Market

I had read it before I bought the iPhone, but now I notice every day that it's true.
Normal “daily business” leaves it completely cold, everything runs smoothly and the case is never very warm.
It's a pity that Apple stopped providing an interface to evaluate the temperature of the processor or the battery in an app a long time ago.

Face ID replaced Touch ID – unlocking is comfortable

Your face has been used to secure your personal data since the predecessor iPhone X. The fingerprint scanner of older iPhones does not recognise its user as reliably as the infrared camera in the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Depending on the weather (humidity?!) and the condition of my skin, my iPhone 6s Plus/7 Plus/8 sometimes did not recognise me and I then had to type in my very long password. My iPhone 11 Pro Max only fails to recognise me if I accidentally hold it too close or too low under my face. However, children and twins should do without Face ID because they could otherwise unlock each other's devices. Hand on heart: do children need such a sensitive iPhone with a glass casing? (No!)

In the truest Sense of the Word: outstandingly good Camera

Apple's designers ignore all criticism and continue to let the lenses of the main camera on the back of the device protrude a little from the housing. There is a reason for this: good optics consist of several lenses with the appropriate spacing and they need space!

For example, the Apple Leather Case provides a flat back. This has an opening for the lens bulge that fits exactly, making the back completely even. This camera really takes outstandingly good photos. In very low light, they are a little noisy, but in sufficient light, the quality corresponds to that of compact cameras.

Localisation via GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and QZSS

Thanks to the use of four satellite systems, localisation is always possible, provided there is a clear view of the sky.

Lightning Jack and Lightning Cable

A Lightning plug can be easily and precisely inserted into the Lightning socket. Better than the Micro-USB socket that used to be common with other manufacturers.
This is as good as the USB-C sockets and plugs now common everywhere except iPhones.
If you don't care about detail and build quality, you won't miss the detail, I do.

Photo: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Gold, left side, volume buttons

Photo: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Gold, left side

Photo: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Gold, right side

Photo: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Gold, right side

fitBAG Nappa Leather Sleeve for Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

No Smartphone without a Leather Case from fitBAG

When I buy a new smartphone, I always buy a black leather case from fitBAG (made in Germany) for it …

Photo #1: fitBAG leather sleeve with two types of leather: this side with nappa leather …

Photo #1: fitBAG leather sleeve with two types of leather: on this side nappa leather …

Photo #2: and the other side with buckskin

Photo 2: fitBAG leather sleeve with two types of leather: on the other side buckskin

Stainless steel and glass are susceptible to scratches. That's why I protect my iPhone with a black nappa leather case from fitBAG.

Glass and Stainless Steel need good Protection

You want to protect an expensive iPhone from damage. Some use leather cases, others foils. Foldable flip cases made of genuine leather are also a popular solution. The disadvantage of these products is that you can hardly feel or see the beautiful case directly with your hands. Another solution are cases from which you take the smartphone out to operate it. I like such cases from fitBAG best and that is why I have been a regular customer there for years.

Who wants to feel naked Glass with Stainless Steel Frame

Bags from fitBAG are not expensive despite being made to measure!

If you want to feel naked glass with a stainless steel frame in your hand, you can save the money for Apple's leather case (a whopping €59 after all)! Instead, buy a fitBAG leather case for a third of the price. Specify the iPhone model and its case dimensions +3 mm so that it is not too tight and the iPhone can be removed comfortably. After a few weeks of use, the case will widen a tiny bit, but by then the outer buttons would be heavily stressed, which is too risky for me (I'm very fussy). From many years of experience, I can assure you that fitBAG's nappa leather cases are made exactly to customer specifications.

Optimum Protection through Combination

Apple's leather case makes a beautiful leather back without a protruding camera lens!
If you have the leather case made by fitBAG with the dimensions of Apple's leather case, you have a very secure transport protection for the valuable iPhone!

Pros

  • tempered glass front and back – buy Apple's leather case if you prefer a leather back
  • Stainless steel housing frame in surgical quality
  • absolutely flawless processing quality
  • very efficient coordination of software and hardware
  • good reception performance when using LTE
  • excellent noise-free sound quality when telephoning (supports HD-Voice and HD Voice Plus = EVS)
  • supports VoLTE (extremely fast connection setup, battery-saving, HD Voice and HD Voice Plus = EVS)
  • outstandingly good acoustics even for music reproduction with linear flat frequency response from 18 Hz to almost 20,000 Hz
  • reliability and stability of the operating system
  • Storage with secure hardware encryption
  • Apple Messenger iMessage for chatting with end-to-end encryption (only if you avoid the iCloud!)
  • Face ID quickly unlocks the iPhone, can also be used for purchases in the App Store (if desired, no compulsion)
  • Software keyboard with intelligent word suggestion algorithm – BlackBerry converts discover the ingenious role model!
  • Display with excellent performance in resolution, brightness and colour fidelity
  • 4 GB RAM
  • Model with 512 GB internal memory also available in Germany
  • very user-friendly
  • Safari web browser with very fast page loading and reading mode for suitable web pages
  • very good camera with full automatic and few, but very useful functions
  • ideal for smartphone testers: screenshot by pressing the right side key and upper volume key simultaneously
  • No bloatware ex works

Cons

  • Apple's calendar app only allows appointments in 5-minute increments (useless, I recommend CalenGoo) (1)
  • Apple's music app has been broken optimised (useless, many therefore use the Cs Music Player)
  • mechanical switch does not switch off all sounds – YT videos etc. still blare away!
  • only iOS 15 now brings – ten years too late – automatically switching ringtone volume depending on location or time (has been available for Android for 10 years)
  • No exchangeable battery – battery not easily exchangeable by the customer
  • Memory not expandable via memory card slot
  • not available with 1 TB storage
  • Storage size suitable for everyday use and future-proof far too expensive (at least 256 GB are a must due to lack of expandability!)
  • no new device as replacement in the event of damage, even with Apple Care+ insurance
  • Release of the API “Core NFC” grants only minimal access to the near-field chip (2)

Notes

(1): Impractical workaround for this gross error: tap the dial, then it switches from 5-minute intervals to 1-minute intervals

(2): Just one of many practical NFC applications that are unfortunately not usable with the iPhone:
read out eTicket (local public transport time ticket) via the RMV app to check the expiry date of the ticket subscription.
Until Apple sees sense, this function will remain reserved for Android users. Even consumer protection in Canada could not prevail against Apple.

Conclusion

Some Apple peculiarities make a blanket recommendation impossible.
If you are willing to compromise and accept the disadvantages (maybe even because of the advantages), you will get a very nice and solid smartphone!

For me it is a very nice and reliable device. I love its rounded corners and the great photo quality.

Alternatives

Similar Models and Successors

  • Apple iPhone 11 Pro – Glass casing, stainless steel frame, 4 GB RAM, max. 512 GB storage, 5.8-inch OLED display, triple camera (Tele/WW/SWW)
  • Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – Glass body, angular stainless steel frame, 6 GB RAM, max. 1 TB storage, 6.7-inch OLED display, triple camera (48 MP) + Lidar, 5G, Dual eSIM
  • Apple iPhone 14 Pro – Glass body, angular stainless steel frame, 6 GB RAM, max. 1 TB storage, 6.1-inch OLED display, triple camera (48 MP) + Lidar, 5G, Dual eSIM
  • Fairphone 4 – Aluminium body, plastic back, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, max. 2 TB (microSDXC card), 6.3-inch LCD display, dual camera (48 MP WA/SWA), 5G, Dual SIM
  • Google Pixel 8 Pro – Glass housing, aluminium frame, 12 GB RAM, max. 512 GB storage, 6,7-inch full-screen OLED display, triple camera (50 MP WW, 48 MP UWW, 48 MP TP), 5G, Dual eSIM
  • Google Pixel 8 – Glass housing, aluminium frame, 8 GB RAM, max. 256 GB storage, 6,2-inch full-screen OLED display, dual camera (50 MP WW, 12 MP UWW), 5G, Dual eSIM
  • Google Pixel 7 Pro – Glass housing, aluminium frame, 12 GB RAM, max. 256 GB storage, 6,7-inch full-screen OLED display, triple camera (50 MP WW, 12 MP UWW, 48 MP TP), 5G, Dual eSIM
  • Google Pixel 7 – Glass housing, aluminium frame, 8 GB RAM, max. 256 GB storage, 6.3-inch full-screen OLED display, dual camera (50 MP WA, 12 MP UWA), 5G, Dual eSIM
  • Google Pixel 7a – Plastic housing, aluminium frame, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, 6.1-inch full-screen OLED display, dual camera (64 MP WA, 13 MP UWA), 5G, Dual eSIM

Memory Expansion impossible – don't save at the wrong End

  • the smartphone camera takes excellent photos in high resolution
  • the MP3 music collection grows and grows
  • eBooks and audio books also need space

If you underestimate the amount of memory you need, you will not be able to use your iPhone as intended for long, then it will limit you and become practically unusable.

But there is the iCloud, isn't there?

Storage outsourcing to a cloud requires a reliably available data connection so that required data can be downloaded quickly at any time. Without a Wi-Fi connection, this will be more expensive in the long run than the additional price for an iPhone with enough memory, as real mobile flat rates are expensive in Germany. Talking about additional price: 5 GB are free you have paid for with the price of the device – they are neither enough for backups nor for further data collections. 0.99 EUR/month (50 GB) or 2.99 EUR/month (200 GB) are not expensive, but that is to encourage the population to upload personal data (the NSA can hardly wait)!

You should care that the NSA has access to your iCloud at all times – for business use (EU-DSGVO) and to protect the privacy of your fellow human beings, the use of the iCloud is therefore taboo!

Also remember that iMessage conversations are only secure if no backup is made to the iCloud! As soon as the iCloud is used even for one backup, these iMessage conversations including the key are available to American authorities!

Reference

Tech Specs iPhone 11 Pro Max: Apple's Support Website

iMessage: Code better be completely rewritten
heise online news 07/2021 (German-language)

Matthew Green: A case against security nihilism

Famous IT security researchers warn (German-language)

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