The iPhone 11 Pro Max launched in 2019 at $1,099, and it now sells on Swappa for about a fifth of that. This guide covers whether it still makes sense to buy one in 2026, how long Apple is likely to keep updating it, what yours is worth if you are selling, and what to check on a used unit.
Quick Answer
Yes, at the right price and for the right buyer. The iPhone 11 Pro Max runs iOS 27 and still has a sharp 6.5-inch OLED screen, a 2x telephoto, and strong battery life, but it is the oldest generation Apple supports, so plan on one to two years of use. As of September 23, 2026, 64GB units sold for an average of $207 on Swappa and 256GB units for $234.
Shop Used iPhone 11 Pro Max on Swappa
Who Should Buy an iPhone 11 Pro Max in 2026
Buy one if:
- You want a big OLED screen and a telephoto camera for roughly $200 to $250.
- You need a phone for one to two years: a stopgap, a backup line, or a first iPhone for a teenager.
- You do not need 5G, MagSafe, or Apple Intelligence.
Skip it if:
- You plan to keep the phone for three years or more. An iPhone 13 or newer has more support runway.
- You want Apple Intelligence or the new Siri features, which require an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.
- The battery health on the listing is low and the price does not reflect it.
iOS 27 Support: How Long the iPhone 11 Pro Max Has Left
The iPhone 11 Pro Max runs iOS 27, which Apple released on September 14, 2026. It launched with iOS 13 in 2019, so iOS 27 is its eighth major version.
Its A13 Bionic chip is the oldest on the iOS 27 list. It is shared with the iPhone 11, the iPhone 11 Pro, and the iPhone SE (2nd generation), and when Apple drops a chip, it drops every iPhone that uses it. Apple dropped the iPhone XS and XR from iOS 26 after seven years on the market, and the A13 chip reached that same seven-year mark this month, which makes the A13 models the most likely to be dropped next.
Apple has not announced iOS 28 compatibility. It usually does so at WWDC in June. If the iPhone 11 Pro Max is dropped, it keeps working on iOS 27, and Apple has historically shipped security-only fixes to older iOS versions for a period afterward, though it does not commit to a timeline. For how support windows work across brands, see How Long Will a Used Phone Get Updates? If you plan to keep yours past that point, read Keeping an Older Device Secure After Updates End.
iPhone 11 Pro Max Specs That Still Matter
| Spec | iPhone 11 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Released | September 2019, from $1,099 |
| Display | 6.5″ Super Retina XDR OLED, 2688 x 1242, 60Hz, 800 nits typical |
| Chip and RAM | A13 Bionic, 4GB |
| Rear cameras | 12MP wide, 12MP ultra wide, 12MP 2x telephoto |
| Video | 4K at up to 60 fps |
| Battery | 3,969mAh, up to 20 hours of video playback (Apple rating) |
| Cellular | 4G LTE, no 5G |
| Charging | Lightning, 18W fast charging, Qi wireless (no MagSafe) |
| Water resistance | IP68, up to 4 meters for 30 minutes |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Weight | 226g |
| Colors | Midnight Green, Space Gray, Silver, Gold |
What holds up: the OLED display is still bright and sharp, the triple camera takes good photos in daylight, and battery life on a healthy battery is strong for its age.
What has aged: the screen runs at 60Hz, Night mode works on the main camera only, there is no 5G or MagSafe, and 64GB of base storage is tight in 2026.
How Much Is an iPhone 11 Pro Max Worth in 2026?
| Storage | Avg. Listing Price | Avg. Sale Price | Trade-In Quote (Unlocked) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64GB | $271 | $207 | $112 |
| 256GB | $247 | $234 | $118 |
| 512GB | $300 | $313 | $130 |
Swappa price data as of September 23, 2026. Trade-in quotes are the figures shown on the same iPhone 11 Pro Max price page for unlocked units. Listings start at $155. The 512GB model sells rarely, so its average moves more with each sale.
That puts the iPhone 11 Pro Max about 80% below its $1,099 launch price. Condition, battery health, and carrier status explain most of the spread between listings. Unlocked phones make up the large majority of current listings. Values for the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro are in How Much Is an iPhone 11 Worth in 2026?
For buyers, the useful number is the average sale price, since that is what phones actually sell for. For a 64GB unit, a listing near $207 in good condition with a healthy battery is a fair deal, and 256GB is worth the roughly $27 more it has averaged.
Will the iPhone 11 Pro Max Price Drop Further?
Not by much. Most of its depreciation happened in its first three years, and prices for five-to-seven-year-old iPhones tend to flatten. The next event likely to move the price is Apple’s next iOS compatibility announcement. If the A13 models are dropped from iOS 28, expect demand, and prices, to soften. If you are a seller, that is a reason to sell sooner rather than later. The general timing rules are in Best Time to Sell Your Phone (Before Value Drops).
Will an Unlocked iPhone 11 Pro Max Work on My Carrier?
Yes. An unlocked iPhone 11 Pro Max works on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, and on the prepaid brands that run on their networks. It is a 4G LTE phone with Voice over LTE, which is what US carriers require now that the old 3G and CDMA networks are shut down. It supports a physical nano-SIM plus one eSIM.
Two things to check:
- The model number. Go to Settings > General > About and tap the Model Number until it shows a number starting with A. A2161 is the model sold in the US and Canada and the safest choice. Other model numbers are international versions, so confirm band support with your carrier before buying one.
- Carrier lock status. A carrier-locked phone works only on its original carrier until that carrier unlocks it. Swappa listings show carrier status, and you can filter for unlocked phones.
For the full compatibility check, see Will This Used Phone Work on My Carrier? and Unlocked vs. Carrier-Locked Phones: What It Means When Buying Used.
Shop Used iPhone 11 Pro Max on Swappa
iPhone 11 Pro Max vs Newer iPhones at a Similar Price
| Model | Avg. Sale Price (Swappa) | Compared With the iPhone 11 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 (64GB) | $137 | Cheaper, same A13 chip, but an LCD screen and no telephoto |
| iPhone 11 Pro (64GB) | $175 | Same cameras and chip in a smaller 5.8″ body with a smaller battery |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max (64GB) | $207 | Baseline |
| iPhone 13 (128GB) | $242 | Newer A15 chip, 5G, 128GB, two years newer, but no telephoto and a 6.1″ screen |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max (128GB) | $288 | 5G, MagSafe, 6.7″ screen, 2.5x telephoto, LiDAR, a year newer |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max (128GB) | $364 | ProMotion 120Hz, 3x telephoto, up to 28 hours of rated battery, two years newer |
Swappa average sale prices as of September 23, 2026.
For about $35 more than a 64GB iPhone 11 Pro Max, a 128GB iPhone 13 is the smarter buy for anyone keeping a phone past next year. The 11 Pro Max still wins on screen size and optical zoom. If you are weighing it against the iPhone 11 or 11 Pro, see Is the iPhone 11 Still Worth Buying in 2026? For a closer look at the next generation up, see iPhone 11 vs iPhone 12: Which Should You Buy Used in 2026?, and for every budget pick ranked, see Best Cheap iPhones in 2026: Top Picks Under $300.
What to Check Before Buying a Used iPhone 11 Pro Max
- Battery health. These phones are five to seven years old, and many have already had a battery replacement. Swappa has no minimum battery-health percentage to list a device, but the battery must be fully functional, and iPhone sellers must disclose when health is below 80% and the Apple battery message is showing. Budget $50 to $100 for a replacement if health is low. See iPhone Battery Health: What to Check on a Used iPhone.
- Parts and Service History. On the iPhone 11 Pro Max, Settings > General > About shows whether the battery or display has been replaced and whether the part is genuine Apple. “Unknown Part” means a non-genuine or unverified replacement, which is worth asking about.
- The OLED screen. Older OLED panels can show burn-in. Check a full-screen gray or white image for faint ghost outlines of the keyboard or status bar, and test Face ID. The full routine is in How to Inspect a Used Phone Before You Buy.
- Storage. 256GB units sold for only about $27 more on average than 64GB units, and 64GB fills up quickly.
- Activation Lock and IMEI. See iCloud Activation Lock: How to Avoid It on a Used iPhone and IMEI Check: What It Reveals About a Used Phone.
Real people approve Swappa listings before they go live, and listings must have a clean IMEI, no Activation Lock, no cracked glass or water damage, and a fully functional battery. Payments run through PayPal with buyer protection and dispute resolution, and the 3% buyer fee is already included in the listing price. If a phone is not as described, you are entitled to a return and refund.
Selling Your iPhone 11 Pro Max
If you are upgrading, selling usually beats trading in by a wide margin. A 256GB iPhone 11 Pro Max sold for an average of $234 on Swappa, while the trade-in quote for an unlocked 256GB unit on the same price page was $118. Even after Swappa’s 3% seller fee and payment processing, selling typically returns close to double the trade-in quote.
To sell one on Swappa, the phone needs a clean IMEI, Activation Lock turned off, no cracked glass or water damage, a fully functional battery, and it must be paid off. If battery health is below 80% and the Apple battery message is showing, disclose it in the listing.
- Price it against current iPhone 11 Pro Max sale prices.
- Back it up, sign out of your Apple Account, and erase it using How to Wipe an iPhone Before Selling It (the Right Way).
- List it for free at swappa.com/sell/iphone.
For more ways to raise your sale price, see How to Sell Your Used Phone for the Most Money, and for the trade-in math, see Apple Trade-In vs. Selling Your iPhone or Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the iPhone 11 Pro Max still good in 2026?
Yes, for a short-term or budget phone. It runs iOS 27 and still has a sharp 6.5-inch OLED screen, a 2x telephoto camera, and strong battery life on a healthy battery. Its A13 chip is the oldest Apple still supports, so plan on one to two years of use rather than three or more.
Will the iPhone 11 Pro Max get iOS 28?
Apple has not said. It announces compatibility at WWDC, usually in June. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is on its eighth major iOS version, and its A13 chip is the oldest on the iOS 27 list, which makes it one of the most likely iPhones to be dropped next.
How much is a used iPhone 11 Pro Max worth?
As of September 23, 2026, a 64GB iPhone 11 Pro Max sold for an average of $207 on Swappa, a 256GB model for $234, and a 512GB model for $313. Listings start at $155. The trade-in quote for an unlocked 256GB unit on Swappa’s price page was $118.
Does the iPhone 11 Pro Max have 5G?
No. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is a 4G LTE phone. It works on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon LTE networks with Voice over LTE. The iPhone 12 series was the first with 5G.
Will an unlocked iPhone 11 Pro Max work on Verizon?
Yes. An unlocked iPhone 11 Pro Max works on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. The US and Canada model, A2161, is the safest choice. You can find the model number in Settings > General > About by tapping Model Number.
Should I buy an iPhone 11 Pro Max or an iPhone 13?
For most people, the iPhone 13. A 128GB iPhone 13 sold for an average of $242 on Swappa as of September 23, 2026, about $35 more than a 64GB iPhone 11 Pro Max, and it is two years newer with 5G and a faster A15 chip. Choose the 11 Pro Max only if you want the bigger screen and the telephoto lens.
The Bottom Line
The iPhone 11 Pro Max is still worth buying in 2026 as a one-to-two-year phone at around $200 to $235, especially if you want a big OLED screen and a telephoto lens for the money. It is not the right buy if you want a phone to last three or more years, because its A13 chip is first in line to lose iOS support. If you already own one and are upgrading, selling it on Swappa typically returns close to double the trade-in quote.
