I’m Pre-Ordering The iPhone 13 Pro Max – Here’s Why


Pre-Ordering The iPhone 13 Pro MaxPin

I was thinking of sticking with Pixel and getting the Pixel 6 Pro, but I changed my mind – I’m getting the iPhone 13 Pro Max instead


I’ve been using Android phones more or less exclusively for years now. Mostly Pixel phones. My current daily driver is the Pixel 5, and it is a brilliant phone in nearly all areas – from battery life to camera performance.

As a tech blogger, I’ve also tested a bunch of phones in the last 12 months – phones like the Samsung Galaxy S21, the RealMe GT, the OnePlus 9 Pro, and a bunch of OPPO and VIVO phones to name just a few. And they were mostly great.

So why am I switching to iPhone? Why not stick with Android, go with the Pixel 6 Pro which is shaping up to be one hell of an update. The main reason is that I fancy a change; I’ve been using Android for almost six years straight now – that’s a long time.

Pre-Ordering The iPhone 13 Pro MaxPin

The last iPhone I used properly was the iPhone 6s Plus; that phone was my last daily-driver iPhone. I tested the iPhone 11, iPhone X, and iPhone XS range. But I didn’t use these phones for long; I was too into Android during this time.

Why Pre-Order The iPhone 13 Pro Max Then?

For a few reasons. The first is that I use a Mac, currently an iMac but I am switching to the Mac mini next month – I just need to find a decent monitor first. The second reason is Apple’s ecosystem. I know a lot of Android users hate the way Apple does things. But I’m not one of them.

I love how iPhone and Mac play nice. I prefer iPhone apps too; they’re usually better designed, have more features, and run smoother. I’m also really interested in Apple’s A15 CPU, a massively powerful SoC which promises to bring even more performance to the iPhone 13 range.

iPhones Last Much Longer Than Android Phones

I also like that you can run and use an iPhone for years and years and years. My iPhone SE – the OG model – still works. And my iPhone 6s, while no longer supported by Apple, still runs just fine.

Conversely, I’ve been using my Pixel 5 for less than 12 months and it is now starting to have issues.

Similarly, my OnePlus 7T died after 14 months of use; my Galaxy Note 9 no longer gets Android updates; and, finally, my Google Pixel 2 XL no longer switches on – its USB Type C port no longer works either.

Spotting a trend here? None of these Android phones were cheap. They all cost me quite a lot of money. But none of them lasted. They all started falling to bits after 12-18 months. Or they stopped getting Android updates. Either way, this is not what you want.

With iPhone, you’ll pay a massive premium – especially if you go with the iPhone 13 Pro Max. But the phone will last. It has 5G, a massively powerful chipset, a great camera and it will get iOS updates until well into the late-2020s, so you will be able to use it for at least the next 6 to 8 years if you wanted to.

Apple’s 5G iPhone is Now Fit For Purpose

I was tempted to get the iPhone 12, but I wanted to hold out and see how things played out with that phone. As expected, the battery life took a massive hit, thanks to 5G. I knew this would be the case; 5G is massively power-intensive, especially on first-gen modems.

With the iPhone 13 range, Apple’s had 12 months to fix this issue. And reports suggest that it has; the iPhone 13 – all the models – will use new, power-efficient modems and feature the biggest batteries ever used inside an iPhone. This should ensure parity with the iPhone 11’s battery performance.

This is all kind of boring so far, right? Battery life, reliability, 5G issues being fixed. What about the exciting stuff? Are there any new features on the iPhone 13 that I’m excited about? Of course, there’s plenty of things to get excited about on the iPhone 13 – things like 1TB storage options, the 120Hz ProMotion displays, faster charging, and, of course, updates to its camera module, most notably on the Pro models.

But the main reason is simple: I want a phone that I can use for at least the next several years without having to worry about issues, bugs, software support, and performance degradation. And for all of this, I am prepared to pay a premium.

And the reason I’m getting the iPhone 13 Pro Max instead of the cheaper iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro is that I like big displays and I want the best possible camera experience on offer. And in 2021, that means the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

I will also buy the iPhone 13 Pro Max outright via Apple’s finance program and run it on Mint Mobile’s Unlimited Plan – it’s $30 a month for unlimited data and calls. If you don’t fancy doing that yourself, check out ALL the latest iPhone 13 Pro Max deals below:

Latest iPhone 13 Pro Max Deals

Latest Smartphone Releases


  • Xiaomi 15S Pro

    The Xiaomi 15S Pro didn’t come with a flashy launch, but it brings some seriously heavy hardware to the table. A custom 10-core chip, Leica-engineered cameras, and one of the brightest displays on the market

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

    At just 5.8mm thick, it’s one of the thinnest Android phones ever made—but don’t let the slim profile fool you. This phone is all flagship under the hood.

  • Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

    It’s got the same slick design and OLED display, but adds a periscope zoom camera and a 50MP front-facing shooter.

  • Nothing Phone (3a)

    The Nothing Phone (3a) nails the formula: give people what they actually want, keep the price low, and make it look cooler than anything else in its class.

  • Motorola EDGE 60 Pro

    With a bold design, flagship-like display, and surprisingly refined camera system, it’s one of the most interesting mid-range phones of 2025.

  • Google Pixel 9

    I’ve been using the Pixel 9 for a few weeks now, and honestly? It nails all the basics—and a bit more. Killer stuff all round!

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro

    I’ve used the Pixel 9 Pro as my daily device, and it’s hands-down the best balance of power, practicality, and photography you’ll find on Android right now.

  • OnePlus 13

    I’ve been using the OnePlus 13 as my daily driver for a few months now—and I’ve got to say, it’s easily one of the best Android phones I’ve tested this year.

  • Xiaomi 15 Ultra

    After using the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for over a week, I can confidently say: this phone is an absolute beast. It’s made for camera nerds, power users, and creators.

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

    If you’ve been holding out for a truly complete iPhone, the 16 Pro Max delivers—hard. After using it daily, I won't be going back…

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

    Big screen, big battery, and even bigger brains—this is the Pixel to get if you want Google’s best hardware and longest support.

  • Google Pixel 9a

    The Pixel 9a brings Google’s flagship-level smarts to a budget-friendly package, and it’s easily one of the best-value Android phones of 2025.

Best SIM-Only Plans & Deals


  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Premium Plan

    Boost’s top-tier option brings the heat: 50GB of premium data, hotspot, North America roaming, global talk & text, and $430 off select devices. All-in at $60/month with no contract.

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    Data: Unlimited (50GB premium speed)

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited+ Plan

    Level up with 40GB of premium data, hotspot access, global calling, and up to $300 in device savings. All for just $50/month. No contracts and flexible phone options included.

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    Data: Unlimited; Speed Caps After 40GB

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan

    Start strong with 30GB of premium data, unlimited everything, and a killer intro offer: just $15/month for the first 3 months, then $25/month forever. No contracts. No fluff. Big value.

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    Data: Unlimited (Speed Caps Over 30GB)

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    Another high-data, low-cost option with no contract. 108GB for just £9, full 5G access, and the same goodies you get with 12-month deals.

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    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 20GB

    The lowest price option. 20GB for £6 with all the same perks as pricier plans. Great if you don’t use much data and want to save every penny.

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    Data: 20GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 110GB

    This plan gives you big data and zero commitment. 110GB for just £10 with all perks intact. If you need more data but want the freedom to cancel, this is the one.

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    Data: 110GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    More data, same price. For just £8/month, you get 60GB on a no-strings 1-month rolling plan. Ideal for users who stream often but don’t want long commitments.

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    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 40GB

    Perfect if you want full flexibility. You get 40GB and all of iD Mobile's perks with no lock-in, annual increases, or setup fees. Great for short-term users.

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    Data: 40GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    One of the best pound-per-GB plans around. You get 60GB for £8 with £25 cashback, which means you’re effectively paying closer to £6/month. Includes roaming and data rollover.

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    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    This deal gets you a healthy 108GB of 5G data for less than a tenner, with no upfront costs and £24 cashback. All the perks are included too: data rollover, roaming, and loyalty rewards.

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    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: Unlimited Data

    This iD Mobile plan doesn’t just compete on price, it’s up there with the best of them. Unlimited everything, a year-long lock-in with no price rises, and £42 cashback straight to your pocket. It’s like getting nearly 3 months free.

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    Data: Unlimited, No Speed Caps

  • Mint Mobile 20GB Plan

    If you're looking to save some cash on your bills, this plan is an awesome option. You'll get 20GB of data per month and 20GB hotspot data allowance. For moderate to heavy users, that should be more than enough. I seldom use more than 10GB of data a month, and I'm always using my phone

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    Data: 20GB