Is the iPhone 14 Pro Max a good upgrade from the iPhone 11?

Be aware that 14s produced for the U.S. market are eSIM-only.

That alone might still be a deal-breaker in some areas of the World. (depends entirely on your carrier)

If the online Apple Certified Refurbished Store is available in your country, you might try looking for an iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max there.

Refurbished iPhone Deals - Apple

To give you a rough idea of pricing, the U.S. Certified Refurbished store has several iPhone 15 Pro Max models with 256 GB of storage ($849 USD), 512 GB of storage ($1019 USD), or 1 TB of storage ($1019 USD). I believe that the 256 GB models would have gone for $1199 USD when they were new, latest-and-greatest phones instead of being refurbished examples of a several-years-old design.

According to Apple, "All [Certified] refurbished iPhone models come with a new battery, a new outer shell, a one-year limited warranty, and free delivery and returns." Plus, you're rather unlikely to get one that has been bricked either by carrier blacklisting or by Activation Lock.

It’s a great phone …

… and can run iOS 27.

Note though that it IS a 4-year old design.

And onboard storage matters …. a lot!

Too little storage might make a particular device a “bad” phone for you.

It’s also NOT capable of running Apple’s AI software. (although some might consider that a “positive” characteristic)

Also consider that any used 14 you might purchase will almost certainly require a new battery.

Lastly, purchasing used Apple devices has a number of potential pitfalls; there are numerous dealers online selling phones which might NEVER work for you.

See this user tip — which covers many of the “gotchas” — and don’t become yet another victim.

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

Personally … this member would never purchase an iPhone from any source other than directly from Apple.

Any used iPhone is always going be the roll of the dice. Unknown battery condition. No warranty.

An Apple Refurbished iPhone 15 or 16 would be a wise choice.

More capability. Comes with a new battery. Comes with a new warranty. Eligible for AppleCare+ coverage. 14 day money back guarantee.

Take a look here: Refurbished iPhone Deals - Apple

Here's a comparison between your phone, and the two Pro Max models that you might find in Apple's Certified Refurbished store.

Apple – Compare iPhone models – iPhone 11 vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max

I've had an iPhone 11 since it came out, so I think switching to a Pro Max model would be a great choice. I don't need AI because I'm not a fan of using it. I prefer the camera and that dynamic island.

Our warning about buying a used iPhone still stands.

We see posts here everyday from users who regret buying a used phone.

Please take a look at The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

But, it sounds like you have already made up your mind. Good luck.

I'm from Serbia and the people who sell used phones with replaced batteries are also authorized, but I really need a new phone

Apple stopped production of the iPhone 14 Pro Max 3 years ago in September 2023.

An iPhone 14 Pro Max will not be a "new" phone. It will be a "used" phone.

then I better save up the money and buy a new 17 pro max

nemanja38 wrote:

then I better save up the money and buy a new 17 pro max

FYI, Apple discontinued the iPhone 17 Pro Max in favor of the iPhone 18 Pro Max.