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Apple’s top-of-the-range iPhone 13 Pro Max has been on the market for a few months now. But if you weren’t one of the lucky ones and are only just coming to the iPhone 13 Pro Max party then you might be wondering how to get the best from these powerful machines. Well, you’re in luck. This beginner’s guide to the iPhone 13 Pro Max will talk you through your new iOS device and teach you the basics on how to get more from your amazing gadget.

As you’d expect for Apple’s latest and greatest flagship device, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is expensive to buy. So, if you do take the plunge and invest in one of these handsets, get iPhone 13 Pro Max insurance to protect your treasured tech from harm.

Remember, iPhone 13 Pro Max insurance arranged through Gadget Cover is definitely worth arranging before unboxing your new handset.

Get the set-up process right first time

Once you’ve arranged that all-important iPhone 13 Pro Max insurance, you’ll want to get your new iPhone out of the box and start using it. But hold on just a second, you’ll need to go through the important iPhone set-up process first.

Fortunately for you Apple products are designed to be super-intuitive. Apple really just needs you to take the brand-new iPhone out the box, turn it on and begin following the straightforward set up instructions.

Be warned, if you really want to get the most out of your new iPhone try not to skip ahead through the set up. Yes, it’ll save you time now, but not in the long run. Highlights that you’ll really need to pay attention to include:

• Setting up Face ID to be able to unlock your iPhone using just your face. And if you’re still wearing a mask, then you’ll be pleased to hear the recent iOS 15.4 update means you can still unlock your iPhone.
• Choosing a 6-digit passcode to keep your iPhone safe. For more tips read our recent Gadget Cover guide to iPhone safety before you venture out. We’ve got 24 tips well worth remembering.
• Creating an Apple ID and password if you don’t already have one.
• Training Siri to recognise your voice. Not everyone appreciates all that Siri has to offer, but Apple’s virtual assistant can be very useful indeed. Just give Siri a chance to prove it!
• Setting up the Wallet app with bank card details so you can use your iPhone 13 Pro Max as a mobile wallet and make payments through Apple Pay.
• Migrating from another iPhone using Apple’s Quick Start feature. The stress-free way to seamlessly transfer all your contacts, apps, settings and data from one iPhone to another.

If you ever find yourself confused, don’t worry. Apple Support has an excellent iPhone user guide that will answer any questions you have about the set up process. To explore the iPhone User Guide, simply click Table of Contents at the top of the page, or enter a word or phrase in the online search box.

Always check you’ve selected the right version of iOS for your iPhone before you get started as there will be different features available.

Before you finish setting up, have you arranged suitable iPhone 13 Pro Max insurance for your device? Many new iPhone owners call on Gadget Cover to arrange the right iPhone cover suited to their needs and budget.

Contact our helpful team today to get a quick quote and find out why we’re so popular with the tech-savvy.

Features, tips and tricks of the iPhone 13 Pro Max to get started with

While the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the biggest and heaviest iPhone Apple has ever made, it’s also the best and most feature packed (in our humble opinion). So, if you want to get the best out of your investment then you’ll want to start by taking a look at this super list of features, tips and tricks. There’s plenty you’ll need to know right from the start.

Save stretching, thanks to the Reachability feature

When you’re using that mammoth 6.7-inch display in Portrait orientation, it’s going to be really hard to get to the Notification Centre or Control Centre with just one hand. Unless you’re capable of some serious finger dexterity, the top of the screen is going to be far out of reach.

To bring the top half of the screen to within easy reach of your thumb you’ll need the Reachability feature. Simply swipe down on the bottom edge of the screen and it will bring the top half down and let you access those areas much more easily.

It’s enabled by default but if you don’t want that then go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Reachability and toggle it off. But we really recommend you leave it on when using this beast of an iPhone.

Eliminate distractions with Focus mode

New for iOS 15 is Apple’s attempt to bring a new level of calm and focus to user’s lives. With Focus mode enabled you can take control of what notifications and alerts get through to you. Whether you’re trying to focus on work, driving, enjoying family time, or getting ready for bed there’s a Focus mode just right for you.

Simply open Settings > Focus, choose a focus and follow the instructions. We know how much you’ll enjoy using your iPhone 13 Pro Max but everyone needs a break once in a while.

Create custom home screen pages using Focus mode

Focus mode isn’t just limited to alerts and notifications. You can also set it up so only certain apps will appear on your home screen during Focus times.

Go to Settings > Focus and open up the Focus that you’re currently using. Tap Home Screen and turn on Custom Pages. You can then select the Home Screen pages you want to use during that Focus period.

After all, when you’re getting ready for bed you perhaps don’t want to see a load of apps that will keep you awake.

Creating custom home screen pages based on your Focus mode is super handy.

Get the most out of Night mode

Along with its siblings in the iPhone 13 stable, the iPhone 13 Pro Max supports Night Mode using the new and improved camera set up. Great news for those people who love getting out and about with their camera phone when the sun has gone down. As well as Night mode the iPhone 13 Pro range has also been upgraded to a 3x optical zoom and a 15x digital zoom.

A handy tip for keen snappers who want more information on their shots. Swipe up on any photo you’ve taken and it will show you the exact details of which camera lens was used, the size of the photo, and much more besides.

Take things to the next level with Macro Photography mode

If you’re looking to have some fun with your shots, don’t forget the Macro Photography mode is automatically enabled. The iPhone detects when you move close to a subject, performs some sophisticated autofocus wizardry, and produces brilliant macro shots. When you move away, the camera reverts to standard camera mode. It works for video as well.

For those who don’t want this, open Settings > Camera and toggle off Auto Macro. But we love the artistic close-ups you can achieve of the small world around us.

Make the most of those speakers

They may be small but according to What Hi-Fi? magazine the speakers on the iPhone 13 Pro Max are rhythmically and dynamically second to none. Those audio experts do recommend hopping into the settings for Apple Music and enabling Dolby Atmos for the most immersive, three-dimensional audio experience on stereo headphones.

However, Apple headphones such as AirPods, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max can be pretty pricey. So, you’ll want to make sure your iPhone 13 Pro Max insurance covers accessories lost, damaged or stolen at the same time as your iPhone.

Disable the Pro Motion display for extended battery life

The iPhone 13 Pro Max 120Hz refresh rate is perfect for buttery-smooth animations and motion clarity when gaming and scrolling fast. However, not everyone wants or needs this. And when you’re trying to extend battery life it can seriously hamper your efforts.

But if you want to limit the refresh rate then Apple makes it easy to do so. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion.

So, if you prefer it to be capped at 60Hz then you can do so by toggling this option. Be aware that it also gets set to 60Hz by default when you select Low Power mode.

Take control over display brightness

A lot of reviewers have commented on the noticeable brightness when viewing the display outdoors in direct sunlight. This is a great addition to the display capabilities but might be annoying for those who want absolute control over their tech.

If you want to change the brightness manually then you’ll need to go to Settings > Display & Text Size and scroll down to the Auto Brightness option. By default, this will be turned on. If you want full manual control over display brightness then turn that off.  

Don’t forget to drag and drop

The ability to drag and drop is obviously available on other iPhones running iOS 15. But it’s by far the most useful on the large screen of the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

To take advantage of this feature, simply tap and hold on a file, link, or photo until the quick-action menu appears. Now use another finger to open the app that you want to move the object to, such as the Notes or Photos app. Then simply drag the file, link or photo into the app and drop.

Simples.

Keyboard trackpad can come in very handy

Again, this is something that’s not exactly new, but you might not have used it when you had a much smaller phone. Simply tap and hold on the space bar to unlock the feature. You’ll now be able to move through text much more easily.

Sometimes the old tips are the best, particularly when you have such a large device in your hands.

Make like a movie director with Cinematic mode

A very cool feature that uses the very latest in AI technology to give your movies that Hollywood treatment. It does this by detecting where in the shot a viewer’s interest should be and then automatically focusing on that point.

Choose a Photographic Style for those perfect Insta-moments every time

There’s now a new option in camera settings to apply Photographic Styles. In a way these are just new filters you can apply. But once you’ve chosen the style you want, the camera will keep taking photos in that style until you turn the feature off or change the style.

A good idea when you first get your iPhone 13 Pro Max is to go in and change the tone and warmth to your liking. So, if you want that super-saturated look then go for it!

While you’re messing around with the camera settings it’s worth paying attention to all those toggles. In particular, enabling Preserve Settings will save you the hassle of constantly toggling various settings on and off.

Check if HDR video is working for you

Go to Settings > Camera > Record Video and check if HDR Video is on by default. While we love the true-to-life colour and contrast that HDR video gives us, it can cause problems if you leave this enabled.

Particularly if you edit videos or share them with friends and family then it might be worth turning this feature off. HDR videos won’t look brilliant on everyone’s phones and often don’t look that great on social media.

The same goes for photos. Go into the camera settings and check if Apple ProRaw is toggled on. If you don’t think you’re going to be editing or doing much touching up of your photos then toggle it off. Bear in mind, having it toggled on will make the file size for each picture much larger and will take up more storage space.

Although if you’ve gone for the whopping 1TB storage option you might not be that concerned.

Optimise your battery health right from the start

For years there have been complaints about iPhone battery life, but not now. One of the stand-out features of the iPhone 13 Pro Max is its large 4352mAh battery. Which, along with other enhancements, means your Pro Max should last for at least an entire day of use.

Despite this, one of the first things you’ll still want to do is check that Optimised Battery Charging is on. That way you can retain that maximum battery capacity for as long as possible.

However, if you’re in a hurry and need faster charging, then toggle it off. 

Adding widgets to make your life easier

We’re all fans of widgets and were so pleased when Apple added them to the home screen in iOS 14. Apple and third-party app makers have been busy adding useful widgets. And they look so much better when viewed on the bigger display of the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Which ones will you add to make your life easier?

The power of the back tap

Apple has loads of accessibility features that come in so handy for getting to things that can be hard to reach on the big screen. A good one to get started with is the back tap.

To set this up, go into Settings > Accessibility > Touch and scroll down to the bottom and select Back Tap. It gives you the option of a double or a triple tap. So, you could access two different areas from the back of your iPhone.

If you keep up to date on iPhone features then you’ve probably already come across this one. But if you’ve upgraded from an older iPhone where this was not a feature then it’s worth trying out. Some people find it very helpful. 

Adjusting the Safari tab bar

Change can be difficult. And if you’ve been a long-term Safari user you might find the movement of the tab bar from the top of the screen to the bottom a bit tricky to deal with. But this is the default setting, and while you may be tempted to send it back to the way it was before, we recommend keeping it at the bottom for the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Swiping between tabs at the bottom of the screen is so much easier on the fingers than stretching for the top of a 6.7-inch display. So, give this change a chance.

However, if after a few days you’re unconvinced and want to switch it back then this is easy to do. Open up Safari and tap the ‘aA’ button on the left. When a pop-up menu appears simply tap on ‘Show Top Address Bar’.

Set an Emergency Contact

Like other iPhones before, we recommend setting up the Emergency SOS feature to keep you safe. Our mobiles can be life-saving devices – that’s why iPhone 13 Pro Max insurance is so important.

Looking good with exclusive Live Wallpapers

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is a good-looking phone but if you want to make it even better then you’ll want to show off with a Live Wallpaper exclusive to the model. Your home screen or lock screen will never have looked so good.

These are really beautiful machines but they’re not indestructible, particularly that stunning screen. Better to get iPhone 13 Pro Max insurance as soon as you can.

Be aware that unlike some insurers, Gadget Cover will even cover your iPhone for minor screen cracks. If it’s not suitable for repair, we will replace it.

Get iPhone 13 Pro Max insurance from Gadget Cover

You won’t be surprised to hear that above everything you simply must get the right iPhone 13 Pro Max insurance policy for your needs and budget. The caring team here at Gadget Cover knows the pressures on everyone’s budget at the moment, so we’ll do our best to find a policy that’s tailor-made for you.

Accidental damage, liquid damage, theft and breakdown are all covered as well as loss and unauthorised usage. Choose a policy through us and cover will automatically be extended to your immediate family, too.

And if you’re heading off on your hols, we can protect your iPhone anywhere in the world, up to 180 days in any one year.

Get a quote for iPhone 13 Pro Max insurance from Gadget Cover today.