Syncing iPhone 13 Pro Max with MacBook Pro runs into sync problem

I own an iphone 13 Pro Max and a Macbook Air Pro. Both devices have the latest SW on it. After the latest iOS update, my iPhone 13 Pro Max is recognized, the backup is started and completed and then there seems to be in an endless cycle with trying to sync (message preparing to sync) calendar, contact’s etc. The sync process does not start. After a number of reboots of the iPhone and the MacBook Pro, eventually I might get the iPhone to sync. A number of times there is no sync. Sometimes I sync my iPad first and then the sync of the iPhone works, sometimes it is just a frustrating exercise.

This seems to be a definite SW problem caused by Apple's upgrade to the latest iOS version. From my perspective it is a SW bug and needs to be fixed by Apple engineering. Why? Before the latest iOS update,

there were no sync problems between my iPhone 13 Pro Max and the MacBook Pro!

Just a final information: I am not using iCloud, I have never used it and I do not intend to use it!