We may earn compensation from reviewed products. Learn about our editorial policies.
If you want to know everything about the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, go and watch MKBHD’s review.
The king of tech reviews manages to cover everything that matters with these new phones in a typically assured, non-hyperbolic fashion. It’s as detailed as it needs to be without obsessing over anything; he leaves no stone unturned in 22 minutes of laser-cut precision reviewing.
Marques is an absolute master of this, which is why you don’t really need to watch any other review if you want a rounded opinion from someone who really knows what they’re talking about.
Oh, and if you want to see what the camera is capable of, just watch Peter McKinnon’s mastery of that type of review.
That leaves me with a problem. I haven’t got a clue how to review the iPhone 14 Pro Max that’s arriving today. Doing the usual unbox/design/features/camera/battery life/comparison stuff feels incredibly lazy.
Worse, it feels boring.
I just can’t be bothered, and I’m not convinced you give two hoots, either.
Which is why I need your help.
How traditional embargo reviews work
I’m not part of the Embargo Crowd. And I don’t think I ever will be as far as Apple is concerned; it’s a pretty exclusive club consisting, mainly, of the world’s most prominent, Apple-friendly YouTubers.
I genuinely don’t have an issue with this. I’ve built the Mark Ellis Reviews brand as a business, and the need to purchase expensive review units was factored in from the start. It’s part and parcel of my profit and loss.
I’m also not convinced I’d want to be part of that embargo crowd. MKBHD aside, the reviews that suddenly flood out of the doors once Apple lifts the curtain always feel rather familiar.
This isn’t the fault of those reviewers, either. It is, once again, a reflection of the tech they’re working with. These phones are – Dynamic Monkey Island aside – boring. As that innovation ceiling lowers, there’s not much left to talk about.
This is characterised by the sudden swell of comparison photos that hit social media following the launch of an iPhone each year.
“Here’s a photo from the iPhone 13 Pro Max, and the same photo from the iPhone 14 Pro Max – which do you prefer?”
They always look the same. No one cares.
So, where do we go from here?
I don’t know how to review it
I don’t think I’m alone with these thoughts about reviewing big-ticket products like the iPhone. In fact, I know I’m not.
Last month, Sara Dietschy had an absolute mare while trying to review the M2 MacBook Air. It started off relatively well but quickly descended into something every YouTuber will be familiar with – a rambling, incoherent mess of a-roll with no clear path back to sanity.
She admirably kept a lot of that stuff in and used it to switch the video’s narrative from the review of a new laptop into an engaging stream of consciousness about the state of tech reviews.
There are so many of us doing this stuff now. If you search for help while buying a new iPhone, you’re met with thousands of videos on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram offering to guide you to the right purchase. It’s exhausting.
I’m not sitting here with the answer to this reviewer conundrum. I have no idea where things go from here. I’m not worried, either; this is simply, I believe, a cyclic element of the industry within which I now find myself. As reviewers, we need new things to talk about, but if those new things aren’t interesting enough, it means we have to raise our game.
This doesn’t mean going for the ‘whacky’ or crazy angle, either. I’m not about to head to the top of Everest and try out the satellite feature on the new iPhone, and I’m certainly not going to ‘do a Mr Beast’ and buy one for everybody in my hometown. Those approaches offer fantastic casual entertainment value, but they’re of no use to consumers.
But I need to do something.
I need your help
This is where you lovely lot come in.
What do you want from my iPhone 14 Pro Max review? Assuming you’ve probably digested an awful lot of content about the device already, you must have some prevailing questions.
What bothers you about it? What excites you about it? What’s the one thing that is stopping you from adding it to your cart?
I’ll be asking the same question on Twitter and Instagram this morning, but please do get involved in the comments section below. Let’s work on this together!
If all else fails…
I’m aware I’m leaving this a bit late – sorry. But the thought only came to me last night while chatting with a couple of YouTuber buddies.
So, depending on how many replies I get to this request, I may have to do some of the work myself and settle on a review process for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Fast.
With that in mind, I do have the following plan. We all know that the iPhone 14 Pro Max looks identical to the last version, albeit with a couple of fancy screen updates and a better camera. However, I’m coming from the polar opposite – the iPhone 13 mini.
That’ll be my starting point. What’s it like to ‘go big’? And, more importantly, how does the iPhone 14 Pro Max feel as a package against the phone I’ve been using solidly for a year?
I’m still not convinced that’s much of a review, though.
Dammit.
Come on, guys – get involved!
19 Comments
When looking for a new devise myself I always tend to drift away from these huge tech YouTubers. As much as I respect iJustine, MKBHD or UnboxTherapy – I don’t really trust their judgement. I’m sure they know what they’re talking about, but it’s just way too formal and, as you’ve said “laser cut”. I’m looking for a review where the reviewer talks as he is talking to his friends, rather than some huge production. Talk about the good and the bad. You’ve used the Mini for quite some time, tell us all about it. I’m on the iPhone 12 Pro at the moment, with the latest iOS update it got a bit sluggish and buggy. Maybe compare it to some older devices, I know some folks are still using the 11, they should know about the drastic leap (or it’s lack) between these devices. Most of us are using these phones to consume contest, how’s the cutout gonna intrude the videos, what are the speakers like, how’s the front camera etc. Just don’t stress about it, you really shouldn’t be comparing yourself to other reviewers, most of us watch your video because of you. Because we trust you much more than we trust other tech channels.
Regardless of what you decide to do, I’m sure you’re going to deliver a great video and I’m really looking forward to it! Cheers!
That’s vastly helpful – thank you, Patrick! And I promise I’m not stressing – this challenge genuinely invigorates me!
Mark, totally get the dilemma. While I do respect big tech reviewers for what they do and how far they have come. I always tend to gravitate towards channels like yours for my real world decision making. I feel more connected to what you present on your video and more so to what you publish here on your blog. I think a vast majority of the population who use these products do not fall into those edge cases where most reviews concentrate more heavily on and sometimes it seems like a better idea to just read the spec sheet than watch a video review. One may argue that it is important to keep tech companies in check for what they promise versus what they offer in real world, but I am more interested in knowing how a new product would improve my life and by how much. This helps me in deciding if there is advantage in getting an iPhone 14 Pro over my iPhone 13 mini. What does the new gen processor translate to? How does it improve my photography experience where all I might do is to take some photos of my coffee cup and few of my mates when we are out and about. Will dynamic island let make my life that much easier? As you have mentioned many times before, these gadgets are made to last for a long time, so unless one really finds any value, is it worth upgrading? I look for honest answers to these and that is when I feel the trust towards a channel. I keep coming back to this blog and channel for that reason.
Thank you for the kind words, Vishnu! This is so helpful – it’s so nice to hear thoughts from your side of the fence, and it really gives me something to go on ????
For me the first video is the least important – so just what stands out to you. The video that I would be really interested in would be the ones that look at what it’s like after a month etc. IE what is it like to live with. What works and what doesn’t work.
You and me both, Jan! Thanks!
Hi Mark, I completely understand! Anyone can read out a list of specs and benchmark numbers, but one of the reasons why I follow your YouTube channel is that you look to see how the tech you review fits into your (and possibly your subscribers’) everyday lives.
For the iPhone 14 Pro Max review I’d like to know the following:
– Is the extra expense worth an upgrade (say from an iPhone 11)? Especially when you take into account the huge price increases in the UK (that never seem to get mentioned)
– Should people consider a refurbished iPhone 13 Pro Max instead?
– How will a screen protector affect the use of the Dynamic Island?
– How long does it take to export content via the ageing lightning cable?
– Is it possible to stream 4k content via a lightning cable adapter to a TV or monitor?
Finally it would be good to hear your views about why you chose the larger size over the standard size. When looking at the 13 Pro vs Pro Max in the Apple store the size difference seemed very small, so is it just about having a better battery life or are there other advantages to having a screen that is 0.6 in larger?
Looking forward to the review!
Dan, this is so helpful (and kind). Thank you!
Hi Mark, for me, only feature of iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max I really want to hear deep information is cinematic mode as now it is able to use 4k resolution. How it improved and how usable it is. I still messing if I will go for this route or will buy some 4k mirrorless camera for casual YT video here and there. For me camera is gadget which I will use only for this, but phone is daily driver, so pay little bit more for phone make more sense for me.
I wanna know if that always on display affect battery. It’s one thing keeping a few pixels on to display time and notifications and a totally different thing to keep the whole screen on the way apple is doing.
So my guess is that it must consume a relatively high amount of battery.
Also it seems just day-to-day annoying to have the whole screen on all the time.
Would like to hear your opinion about it
I think taking a look at it as an average consumer is the best way. I have always liked that you don’t faff with benchmarks, tech specs, and other stuff that most tech YouTuber’s spend 90% of their videos going on about. Does it work well for you? Is it worth the upgrade over your 13 Mini? Does the Dynamic Island change how you interact with it day to day? These are the things that help me make a purchase decision. Not how much RAM is in it and how it scores on Cinebench.
As your tagline mentions, your reviews and such are for normal people. As a normal person (though some would debate that), I don’t care about the endless benchmarks, as they are completely meaningless. I just scroll or skip past them. I care more about it works in your daily, normal usage, and not testing something that 99.99% of use would never do.
It should also be viewed from how the vast majority of us use and change/update our devices, which is certainly not every year. It shouldn’t even be compared to the previous model, because most people looking to upgrade are coming from a device that’s 3-6 years old.
Your reviews have been spot-on, so keep doing what you always have – it’s a winning formula!
Appreciate this – thank you.
I’m in the same boat as you in the size jump (from 12 mini to iPhone 14pro max). There probably isn’t much call for this for people who are not doing a jump like this but I’m wondering things like this:
1. Can I carry it in the side pocket of my gym shorts. My weights program is on the phone so zI have to carry it. I’m guessing I will look like a dork if I have to have a bum bag to carry it.
2. Do I need to master new operating techniques like holding it differently to type and what’s a good tip for that? I can type and hold in one hand on the mini…
3. Will it be easier to see? I know you’ve had eye issues lately so you’ll know how important better seeing is. I’m older and eyesight isn’t as good as it was and that’s a big reason for upscale but will it really make a difference
Thinking about it…all these things are about the every day function of it. Handling and carrying. No one really covers those ordinary things…
Debs (59, West Yorkshire – from your webinar and other comments)
This helps so much, Debs – thanks!
Hi Mark,
I really appreciate how you write about using the devices over time vs rushing to get a review out. I’d be really interested in learning how you use your iphone 14 Pro Max as a content creator and business person.
For example, would the enhance cameras on the new iPhone help you level up for content production.
Seeing how you use multiple laptops has encouraged me to stop looking for the “one device to rule them all” and have one machine that’s the best for a specific task.
Don’t stress about the format just keep sharing how all this works for you.
Pingback: iPhone 13 mini vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - 8 First Impressions - Mark Ellis Reviews
Hi Mark. The trouble with many of the reviews is although they say it’s based on real world use, these people are not real world people. They have so much access to multi tech and don’t really live a normal working life.
Most of us only have one or two bits of kit that we want to work and use with out a tech degree or huge amounts of time to play around with.
I suspect many would be looking to upgrade from two or three generations back so that’s the kind of review details were more concerned with.
As with quadratic equations, I have no need for benchmark figures.
Hi Mark, can you also talk about the difference in your lifestyle and uses by switching from the 13 mini to the 14 Pro Max?
Does it bother you to always have to use two hands? Maybe on instances when you need to hold an umbrella and order an uber, or holding a cup of coffee while texting?
Does it bother you in your pockets? Is annoying when you’re sitting down and trying to take the phone out?
I find what the tech reviewers are lacking is their story and experience on using the phone over a certain time. I don’t enjoy listening to specs comparisons because I can open the Apple website by myself for that.
That said, I really enjoy your reviews and your channel has the potential to be big.