The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the largest model in Apple’s iPhone 12 line-up. It adds a giant screen and super-long battery life to the 12 Pro’s exceptional camera capabilities.
PROS
- Long battery life
- Big, bright screen
- Excellent cameras
CONS
- Expensive
- Exceedingly heavy and large
You might consider upgrading to an iPhone 12 Pro Max if you feel nervous about your smartphone running out of battery. This phone packs the most longest-lasting battery of any iPhone. As a result, it’s also the heaviest and most expensive iPhone ever made.
The iPhone 12 range is similar in many ways, with the same screen technology, the same processor and iOS 14. I will focus here on the Pro Max’s differences from its siblings.
It’s BIG!
Apple’s 12 Pro Max is bigger than previous large phones. It measures 6.33 inches by 3.07 inches by 0.29 inches (HWD) and 8.03 ounces. It is slightly larger and heavier than the iPhone 11 Pro Max (6.22x 3.06x 0.32 inches, 7.97 ounces), but it is noticeably heavier than the iPhone XS Max (6.05x 3.05x 0.3 inches, 7.34 ounces), which measures 6.2 by 3.05x 0.3 inches, 7.34 ounces).
The Pro Max is available in dark blue, grey, and silver. It also has a matte back with a shiny metal band at the edge.
Although the 12 Pro Max may not be the most popular flagship, it is undoubtedly the heaviest at 3.2 ounces heavier than the iPhone 12 mini. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra measures 6.49 inches by 3.04 inches by 0.32 inches. It is lighter at 7.34 ounces.
The OLED screen is a 6.7-inch display, which you can immediately see from its large size. It is noticeably larger than other iPhones and slightly brighter than the iPhone 12 and 12 min, with 800 maximum nits, compared to 625 for lower-cost models.
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is my primary camera, and I also use it to test 5G bandwidth. I have used a large phone quite a bit recently. Large phones are great for tired eyes, but terrible for tired hands. The 12 Pro Max’s screen has text and icons that can be larger than other iPhones. Or they can be smaller to offer more real estate. 2,778 by-1,284 pixels resolution is more than that of the iPhone 12 or 12 Pro.
Big Phone, Big Sound, Big Battery
The Pro Max uses the same Apple A14 processor as the iPhone 12 models, and runs at 3GHz. Both Pro Max and Pro Max have 6GB RAM, while the 12 and mini have 4GB. Pro models are available in 128GB and 256GB storage capacities; the smaller phones have 64GB, 128GB and 256GB, respectively.
The Pro Max has the same connectivity as the other iPhone models and packs dual-SIM capability. One SIM is an eSIM that allows you to load another number or subscription while on the move.
The Pro Max performed no better than the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro when tested with weak 5GHz Wi-Fi signals. In this instance, a bigger phone doesn’t necessarily mean better antennas. It just means longer battery life.
However, it does make for slightly better speakers. Although I don’t have an accurate decibel meter, the iPhone 12 Pro Max seems to sound slightly better than the 12 Pro. All of the iPhone 12 series have great speakers for phones. You won’t get much bass, but you will get plenty of treble.
Battery life is the Pro Max’s biggest strength and significant selling point. The battery capacity of the 12 Pro Max is 3,687mAh. However, it is slightly smaller than that of the 11 Pro Max. But, due to more efficient hardware, the battery testing times are longer.
The battery life was primarily compared with other iPhone 12 models. I was able to run the video test for 10 hours, 37 mins on the iPhone 12 mini, 12 hours and 24 minutes on iPhone 12 Pro, 12 hours, 22 minutes on the iPhone 12 Pro, and 15 hours, 29 on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. This is a significant upgrade.
Each phone was left to rest for 14 hours while I checked battery usage. The Pro Max lost 6%, while the Pro lost 88% and the Mini lost 99%. While I was running this test, the iPhone 12 was being used for something else. However, the iPhone 12 Pro and the standard 12 have identical screens and batteries, so I expect similar results. This is an excellent advantage for anyone who forgets their phone.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max, like all other models in the series, does not come with a charging cable.
High-End Cameras & Pro Photo Features
The Pro Max’s camera is a bit more advanced than the other iPhone 12 cameras. The Pro Max comes with three rear lenses: a 12-megapixel primary camera, f/1.6 ultrawide camera, and a 12-megapixel zoom lens, f/2.2 2.5x. This zoom is more than the iPhone 12 Pro’s 2-x sensor, but it does collect less light than the 12 Pro. All iPhone 12 models have the same 12-megapixel front-facing camera.
Night portrait mode is supported by the Pro Max and Pro Max, but not the 12 and mini. Only the Pro Max phone has sensor-shift image stability to allow the sensor to move if the phone is jerked or bumped. This, combined with the phone’s LiDAR sensor, which is also on Pro Max, should help to deliver better night shots.
Aside from the slight increase in the zoom, the Max is just as good as the iPhone 12 Pro Max in terms of photos.
Zoom aside, there are two main advantages to either Pro or 12 phones over the Mini: Night mode with bokeh and the LiDAR assisted focus lock. These were helpful in close-up shots as well as Portrait-mode shots of nonhuman objects like mugs and apples. I didn’t notice any differences between the Pro phones and non-Pro phones when taking portrait-mode photos of people in daylight. ?
The iPhone Proline offers high-end camera features that lower-cost iPhones lack, such as ProRAW mode or Dolby Vision video capture at extremely high resolutions and frame rates. The iPhone 12 Pro Max’s large battery makes it a great companion for a day, especially if you use it as a tripod to shoot a lot of 4K videos. Although this isn’t everyday for iPhone owners, I think it’s a great niche use.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is an excellent example of a significant camera upgrade phone. The S20 and S20+ have 5x optical zoom cameras, which gives you an entirely new perspective. Additionally, the autofocus is significantly improved than the lower-priced phones.
Night portrait mode is only available for the iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max.
This is Apple’s win to a certain extent. I think the cameras on the $699 iPhone 12 Mini are so great that the $1,099 iPhone 12 Pro Max doesn’t seem like much. However, this does not help Pro Maxes sell.
Do you need to go Max?
I wouldn’t say I like large phones. My phones should be able to be used one-handed while I’m out and about with my hands, not in my bag or holding a baby’s hand. To afford a super-expensive, colossal phone, I need it to have some truly innovative features. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra delivers this with its stylus, 5x zoom camera, and other remarkable features.
I don’t think the iPhone 12 Pro Max will get me there. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is more expensive than the iPhone 12 Pro. It’s also less portable and easier to hold. It has a very long battery life, but you can still get an iPhone that fits comfortably in your hand, as well as a spare battery that you can keep in your car or bag. The Pro Max is better for those with large hands or fingers and people who need larger icons and text. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is fine, but it is not the iPhone 12 with the most appeal.
The iPhone 12 mini, which is cheaper than this phone, is my favourite of the four new iPhones this year. I also recommend the iPhone 12 Pro for those who want the 2x zoom camera to be a must-have.
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