Understanding whether buying a refurbished iphone 14 pro max is the right choice or not
The refurbished iPhone 14 Pro Max is in the perfect range of affordability and in vogue. Therefore, it is one of the most popular phones on the refurbished market. But is it good for you? Well, you would only know once you go through this article.
iPhone 14 Pro Max Overview
iPhone 14 Pro Max is still very fresh. It has just been about two years since the phone graced our marketshelf. Since then, the market has been dominated by phones until the iPhone 15 walked in.
iPhone 14 Pro Max was the top of the line when it hit the market shelf. Pro Max was released alongside standard edition iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. iPhone 14 was supposed to achieve more greatness.
However, the discontinuation of the Lightning Port and the introduction of the newer iPhone 15 led to the early demise of the phone.
Hence, the only way you can get your hands on an iPhone 14 Pro Max is to buy a refurbished one. Otherwise, you can go back in time. See if that works.
Technicalities
As an upstanding tech lover, you should understand its specifications before buying a gizmo. Therefore, go through this section very carefully as I will be talking about all that is important.
However, it would help if you remembered that buying a jaded iPhone 14 Pro Max is not the same as purchasing a brand-new iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Therefore, do expect to see some depreciation over time. This depreciation could be aesthetic or technical in nature.
With that note, let us dive right in.
Design
Design is one of the most significant and most essential aspects of the phone. Even though it is termed as one of the prettiest phones in existence, Apple should do something original at this point. iPhone 14 Pro Max looks precisely the same as its predecessor.
The phone comes with a rugged exterior stainless steel exterior. This makes the phone look premium and durable. iPhone 14 Pro Max was released in four aesthetic variants.
These include Silver, Deep Purple, Gold, and Space Black. Howevevr, if you are buying a refurbished iPhone 14 Pro max, chances are that you will not be able to choose between colors.
Chipset
iPhone 14 Pro Max, along with its siblings, comes with an A16 Bionic system on a chip or SoC. This system is built on TSMC’s N4 fabrication process. Even though the architecture seems familiar to the iPhone 13, this is an entirely new A15 chipset.
As a result, expect to see more power with every ounce. However, Apple has discontinued this chipset. Hence, it is essential to know that you might need help with some problems if things go awry. Therefore, you need to be careful.
Camera
You are paying for the camera here. Even though it is refurbished, the quality of the camera you will be getting is just excellent.
This is a considerable step up from the previous iteration but a small step down from the current generation. The primary camera features a 48-megapixel quad-pixel sensor, which is around 65% larger than the last variation.
The camera runs a specialized system known as the Photonic Engine that hugely improves the overall image and video quality.
Subsequently, the video side of things features a specialized mode known as the action mode. This helps in stabilizing the video quality. This ensures that you have crystal-clear videos.
Display
The iPhone 14 family features a super retina XDR OLED display. This display comes with an adaptive sensor that reads the environment to adjust brightness.
In normal conditions, the screen features 1,000 nits brightness, which can go up to 1,600 nits while watching HDR and 2,000 nits while being outside.
The iPhone Pro Max’s screen comes with 2556×1179 pixels located at an interval of 460 pixels per inch. Both the models come with an advanced ‘always on display’ that features an adaptive ProMotion 120 Hz refresh rate. This can significantly improve the overall battery level.
Battery
This is an iffy territory we are venturing into. Out of all the components of the iPhone, the battery loses its vitality the quickest. As per sources, a battery loses around 50% to 80% of its vitality in the very first year.
Now, the iPhone 14 has stopped production in 2023. Therefore, you should expect some depreciation in the following figure.
The iPhone Pro Max comes with a 4323mAh battery. This battery is capable of providing around 29 hours of video playback time and 25 hours of video streaming time. However, as I have stated earlier, we expect some depreciation in these figures.
Connectivity
For the first time, the developers of the iPhone used an emergency SOS service. This service is powered by a satellite and can be very crucial to safety. This satellite is powered by Globastar.
As per usage, the phone is quite solid in terms of connectivity. The calls are crisp and never drop. This adds to the overall USPs of a well-made phone. Therefore, you might be OK with the connection.
Software
iPhone 14 was initially released with an iOS 16. This was an advanced operating system at the time. However, expect your refurbished iPhone 14 Max Pro to come with an iOS 17. The phone received the iOS update at the WWDC 2023 event.
Soon after, this update was released to the public on September 18th, 2023. However, Apple later released iPhone 14 variants that supported the next-generation Qi2 wireless charging feature. However, this variant comes with iOS 17.2.
Reception
At the time of its release, the phone mainly received good reviews. Several critics, like the famed Patrick Holland of CNET, gave a generally positive review of the iPhone 14 family.
However, he pointed out that the battery was a small step up from the previous iteration. However, Jordan Palmer of Tom’s Guide claimed that the battery is actually a step down from the last generation.
The lack of a SIM card tray might be a bit concerning. This makes the phone restrictive and not as accessible as it should be. Otherwise, the phone mostly received good reviews from critics and users alike.
Common Problems Of Refurbished iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 14 Pro Max is a great phone that has some fantastic features under its hood. However, it does have some pitfalls. The only way you can prepare yourself is by knowing these pitfalls and how to fix them.
I have pointed out some of the most common problems that your refurbished iPhone 14 Pro Max might run into. However, these are just the tip of the iceberg.
Hence, your experience might be completely different. Therefore, keep a careful eye out to spot your problem.
With that note, let us dive right in.
Battery Problem
Poor battery is one of the most common problems that you could face with your refurbished iPhone 14 Pro Max. If you feel your phone is struggling to retain charge, then it is a problem of optimization.
Some of the most straightforward fixes are reducing the screen brightness, turning off unused applications, disabling background applications, or resetting the phone. If the problem persists, then you should get your phone. You are checked by professionals.
Slow Performance
It is common for your refurbished iPhone 14 to show some performance problems. This is because every component has a lifecycle and cannot extend beyond it.
The best way to fix the issue is to update the overall software, clear the cache, close all background applications, or reset. However, you can also resort to deleting some unused files to improve performance.
Unresponsive Touchscreen
Touchscreen issues are rare. However, this is a trickier mess that you can end up in. The best way to proceed is to remove the glass protector and clean the glass. This should make the screen more responsive.
However, if the problem persists, you might have to reset your phone hard. However, the best way to deal with screen issues is to take your phone to a professional.
Network Error
iPhone 14 Pro Max is a solid phone when it comes to the network. However, time is unkind and never lets up. Therefore, your refurbished iPhone 14 Pro Max might run into some network-related problems. The best way to proceed is to check the router first.
Sometimes, it is the router that is working up rather than the phone. If that does not work, try to reset your phone. This would automatically reset the network setting. This could help you with connectivity issues.
Heating Issues
iPhone 14 Pro Max rarely overheats. However, old iPhones have the tendency to heat up from time to time. If this happens, you will be bombarded with a message instructing you to let your phone cool down.
Follow what the message is saying. It might cool down in a few minutes. However, if this persists, things could become problematic.
Checklist For Buying A Refurbished iPhone 14 Pro Max
Buying a refurbished iPhone 14 Pro Max sounds easier than it is. Therefore, I would like to treat you guys to a mall checklist that could help you save up your investment and time.
Here is a detailed checklist of things to check before leaving the refurbished iPhone dealership. Otherwise, you might end up losing money for nothing:
- Switch It On: This is the most obvious thing that you must do. As soon as you get your hands on your refurbished iPhone Pro Max, it would be best if you switched it on to see how it is working. Trust me, if there is a problem, you will understand it only in this very first step.
- Look For Wear & Tear: Old phones are bound to go through some hell. It is one of the most obvious things that you must know about. However, look for blatant wear and tear. Anything that damages the overall look of your phone. Therefore, be very minute, look for all the forms of wear and tear, and note them down. As a result, you can pitch your deal more effectively.
- Look For LCD Backlighting Issues: Screen burn-ins are pretty standard in refurbished iPhones. Therefore, you need to be very careful. Screen burn-ins are when a particular image burns into the scream. As a result, you would often see it in the background of every application. Screen burn-ins can be annoying. Hence, you should be careful.
- Look For Repair History: As a refurbished product buyer, you need to prepare yourself for the fact that your phone has gone through some repair. Therefore, ask the seller to provide you with a comprehensive repair history. This should help you to pinpoint the areas that were previously worked upon. This is critical information as it can help in several different ways.
- Inspect The Charging Port: The charging port can act up in older iPhones. Hence, you must check it before leaving. Check the port by letting your phone charge for around 5 minutes. See how much charge the phone is retaining. Now plug in another iPhone, preferably another iPhone 14 Max Pro. If the charging rate is higher, then you will have a problem. There is no quick solution to a charging socket error. Therefore, ask the seller to change the phone.
- Check The Camera: The final thing that you should do when buying a refurbished iPhone 14 Max Pro is check its camera quality. Ask your seller to show some pictures that the camera has captured. This should provide you with a clear-cut idea about the phone’s camera quality. Look for graininess, clouds, etc. Again, there is no quick fix for camera problems. Hence, it would help if you were careful.
The Final Thought
With that note, you have reached my extensive guide for buying a refurbished iPhone 14 Max Pro. If you are planning on buying a refurbished iPhone, you have to take care of a slew of things.
Therefore, it is better that you approach the topic prepared. As a result, I have tried being as extensive as possible. Keep following our page for more such refurbished tech-related issues.
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