I upgraded from an iPhone 12 Pro Max to an iPhone 13 Pro Max. I love big phones.

Since owning the iPhone 8 Plus, the best phone has to have a big screen. Whether it's streaming shows, FaceTiming, or scrolling through social media, the more screen real estate, the better. Lately, I've been obsessed with TikTok (sign me up to follow Tom's Guide's TikTok account), and the 6.7-inch screen on my iPhone 12 Pro Max makes shooting and editing videos a breeze.

If the iPad mini 6 I just ordered (read how I got it for free) supported SIM cards, I would have made it my everyday phone.

Since it doesn't, the iPhone 13 Pro Max will suffice, unless I decide to jump to Android for a phablet that expands to the grand size of 7.6 inches, like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3. But when it comes to iPhone vs. Android, I'll stick with the Apple ecosystem.

In fact, I'm switching from an iPhone 12 Pro Max to an iPhone 13 Pro Max because I plan to replace it with a 13 Pro Max once I've completed my 12-month payments. That doesn't mean I'm not excited about the upgrade. [Compared to my iPhone 12 Pro Max, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has longer battery life, according to iPhone 13 battery tests, plus the iPhone 13's sweet new camera features and the smoothest scrolling of any Apple phone It has adaptive refresh up to 120Hz. Although slightly heavier than its predecessor, the 13 Pro Max retains its 6.7-inch display and has a smaller notch.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max also offers a 1TB storage option for the first time, and even with my extensive use of TikTok, I'm convinced I won't need as much storage on the iPhone 13 thanks to iCloud plans. Instead, I'm downgrading my storage with Apple's iPhone Upgrade Plan, reducing my current monthly fee.

If you've ever wondered, "Is Apple's iPhone upgrade program worth it?" the answer depends on the year and model. For example, the upgrade program's iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 fees are generally the same, but I spent more each month on the iPhone 12 Pro Max than I spent on the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

For the 128GB iPhone 12 Pro Max, you can pay $54.08 per month instead of the initial $1,099; the 256GB version costs $58.28 per month and the 512GB version costs $66.58 per month. The new 1TB iPhone 13 Pro Max option is $74.91 per month. All of these plans come with Apple Care+, a great perk for the accident-prone.

In other words, by downgrading my storage, I will be spending $54.08 instead of $58.28 for the next 12 months. Again, my iCloud storage plan reduces the need for an abundance of on-board space.

Consider your storage needs as well. Maybe you have enough free space on your phone to justify downsizing your capacity this year, as I plan to do. Also check out the best iPhone deals if you want to change from your current phone to one of Apple's latest products. Each carrier also offers attractive promotions on their own loans to replace Apple's iPhone upgrade program.