We compare the iPhone 12 vs iPhone 12 Pro Max to help you choose which phone is right for you.
An iPhone 12 Pro vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max comparison is an excellent way to compare one of Apple’s top iPhones. These phones have been at the top of Apple’s iPhone lineup for the past year, and they both still perform well, thanks to their A14 Bionic chip and 5G connectivity. They feel very different when held, which is not surprising considering the differences you’ll discover when looking at each model.
It’s easy to use the regular Pro’s 6.1-inch display with one hand while going large with the max’s 6.7-inch display has its advantages. These two Pro phones have different screen sizes. The iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max also differ in price, camera features, and battery life.
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Design
The iPhone 12 Pro is the best choice if you’re looking for an iPhone that can be used with just one hand. The iPhone 12 Pro features a 6.1 inch display and a compact design. It measures 5.78×2.82x 0.29inches and weighs 6.6oz.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is an incredible handset. The iPhone 12 Pro Max packs a 6.7 inch screen in a heavier, taller, and wider chassis. It measures 6.33×3.07x 0.29 inches and weighs 8.03 ounces. This screen is ideal for people who prefer an immersive experience and can use two hands.
The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro have sleek edges and narrower borders. They also feature a Ceramic Shield Display, four times more resistant to drops than the iPhone 11 series. Both models have excellent water resistance, with IP68 ratings that allow them to be submerged for up to 30 minutes in water up to 6 m.
The matte glass backs on the phones resist fingerprints and the polished stainless steel band running along the handsets adds a little bling.
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Displays
The OLED displays found on the iPhone 12 Pro’s 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max phones are among the most impressive you will find. The panels are vibrant, colorful, and precise. However, the Pro Max’s large size may make it tempting for those who enjoy watching videos on the move. The Pro Max’s display can also be used to review documents.
The screens of the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max were identical in colour reproduction during our lab tests. The iPhone 12 Pro achieved 115.6% of sRGB and 81.9% in the more challenging DCI-P colour space. The iPhone 12 Pro Max scored 119.7%, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max scored 84.8%.
Based on our testing, the iPhone 12 Pro’s display was 742 nits brighter than the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s display of 654 nits. Both screens can be seen in direct sunlight.
The screens of both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max refresh at 60Hz. Apple did not introduce faster refresh rates for the iPhone 13 Pro models until then.
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Cameras
Both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max have triple rear cameras. They also offer Apple’s computational photography upgrades such as Night Mode portraits, Smart HDR 3, and Smart HDR 3 to take better photos in difficult lighting. Both phones can record Dolby Vision video at 4K resolution for stunningly vivid footage.
There are some camera differences. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a wider primary camera sensor that lets in more light. Additionally, the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers a slightly stronger zoom than the iPhone 12 Pro.
Let’s begin with the zoom. The iPhone 12 Pro’s telephoto lens has an optical zoom that is 2x, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a digital zoom that is 10x. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 2.5x optical zoom and a 12x digital zoom.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is closer to the subject than the iPhone 12 Pro, as you can see from this photo of harvest decorations. Although it isn’t a significant upgrade, it’s still an excellent one.
This close-up of a Christmas tree was also taken in low light. As you can see, the iPhone 12 Pro Max captured the gold ornament better than the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The same applies to the icicle at the center.
This next photo was taken in close darkness using Night mode on both my iPhone 12 Pro and iPad 12. The iPhone 12 Pro image is quite bright but the iPhone 12 Pro Max image has better texture and detail. You can also see the words clearly.
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Performance
Both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max have identical specs. They both use Apple’s 5nm Bionic chip and 6GB RAM. It’s no surprise that they deliver comparable performance.
Geekbench 5, which measures overall performance measured that the iPhone 12 Pro scored a single-core score of 1,585 and multicore scores of 3,669. The iPhone 12 Pro Max scored a similar score of 1,603 on single-core but achieved a higher 4,111 multicore score.
The Adobe Premiere Rush app was used to transcode a 4K video into 1080p. This took just 27 seconds for the iPhone 12 Pro. At 28.5 seconds, the iPhone 12 Pro Max came in second place.
The 3D Mark Wild Life graphics benchmark was also run, which both phones did well. The iPhone 12 Pro recorded 51 frames per second in the Unlimited test, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max registered 54 frames per second.
You can expect superior performance from the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max models, regardless of whether you choose the Snapdragon 888 system-on-chip. However, the iPhone 13’s newer models come with the A15 Bionic which promises even better performance.
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Battery life
The biggest difference between iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max is their battery life. The iPhone 12 Pro’s battery is 2,815 mAh, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 3,687-mAh battery.
The iPhone 12 Pro survived 9 hours and 6 mins on the Tom’s Guide Battery Test, which requires continuous web surfing over 5G, at 150 nits screen brightness. The iPhone 12 Pro Max was much more durable at 10:53.
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Max come without a charger. If you need fast-charging up to 50% in just 30 minutes, you will need your own 20W ($19). Although the magnetic MagSafe charger has been praised for its simplicity, it is not as fast as wired charging.
The Apple MagSafe Duo is something we would avoid. It is too expensive and does not come with a power block. It can only charge at 11W when used with the Apple 20W charger.
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: iPhone 13 arrives
The new iPhone 13 models have arrived, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max having the same size displays as their iPhone 12 counterparts. The new phones come with the A15 Bionic processor as well as dynamically adjusting ProMotion displays. The iPhone 13 Pro screen’s notch is even smaller. There are also improvements in the cameras, including the telephoto lens, and ultrawide angle shooter.
An iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 13 Pro comparison that we did before we had the chance to review the phones fully suggests that the Pro models should be your choice.
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Bottom line
The iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max are still formidable flagship phones. Both phones are running iOS 15 and remain nearly equal in display quality, performance, and photography.
For those looking for a small device, the iPhone 12 Pro is still the best option. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a larger screen and a longer battery life. The iPhone 12 Pro Max won the Tom’s Guide Awards 2021 for Smartphones with the top honours. Even though the differences in photography are subtle, Pro Max’s camera produced better results when using Night Mode.
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