iPhone 12 Pro vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max: What should you buy?

(Paradigm credit: Future)

The iPhone 12 Pro vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max face up-off is no longer the showdown information technology was a few months ago. Once, those two phones institute themselves at the head of Apple's iPhone lineup. And while they remain pretty powerful — those A14 Bionic chips are nada to sneeze at — they've since fabricated way for the iPhone xiii Pro and iPhone thirteen Pro Max.

All the same, if you're mulling over picking up one of Apple tree's older phones, it pays to compare the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, every bit these devices sport some surprising differences. As we noted in our iPhone 12 Pro review, the regular Pro's 6.1-inch display makes it piece of cake to use with one hand. And our iPhone 12 Pro Max review shows that going big with a 6.7-inch display has its benefits. Just the differences go beyond screen size for these two Pro phones. The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max as well differ in terms of camera features and specially battery life.

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Plus: The iPhone thirteen is not a iPhone thirteen Pro consolation prize

The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are harder to come up by now that Apple tree has dropped them from the iPhone lineup in favor of newer iPhone 13 options, information technology'south still worth looking at how the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max compare. (We've also got an iPhone 12. vs. iPhone 12 mini comparison besides as a expect at the iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Pro differences. And if the new models interest you after all, we've got a look at the iPhone thirteen Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max differences, too.)

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Specs compared

	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 12 Pro Max
Price	$999	$1,099
Display	6.one-inch OLED (2532 x 1170)	half-dozen.7-inch OLED (2778 10 1284)
Colors	Silver, Graphite, Golden, Pacific Blueish	Silverish, Graphite, Golden, Pacific Blue
CPU	A14	A14
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Rear camera	12MP broad (f/one.6), 12MP ultra-wide (f/ii.4), 12MP telephoto (f/2.0)	12MP wide (f/1.6), 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.4), 12MP telephoto (f/2.2)
Zoom	2x optical/10x digital	2.5x optical12x digital
Front camera	12MP TrueDepth (f/2.2)	12MP TrueDepth (f/ii.2)
5G	sub-6Ghz, mmWave	sub-6Ghz, mmWave
Bombardment life (hrs:mins)	ix:06	10:53
Size	v.78 x 2.82 x 0.29 inches	vi.33 ten three.07 x 0.29 inches
Weight	6.66 ounces	8.03 ounces

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Price

The iPhone 12 Pro debuted at $999 for 128GB of storage. Upgrading to the 256GB model costs $ane.099, and the 512GB version costs $one,299.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 Pro Max fabricated its debut at $i,099 for 128GB. The 256BG version costs $1,199 and the 512GB model is priced at a whopping $i,399 (or $100 more than than the MacBook Pro).

If you're on the debate between the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, it's good to know that you tin can get double the storage on the regular Pro for the aforementioned cost as the entry-level Pro Max — at least dorsum when the iPhone 12 Pro models were still on offer from Apple.

These days, Apple is focusing on the iPhone thirteen, with the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max among the models that Apple killed. You can yet find both phones at other retailers and through wireless carriers. Simply make sure the prices are lower than $999 and $i,099, as those are the new starting prices for the iPhone 13 models. We can help yous find lower-priced versions of the iPhone 12 Pro models in our round-up of the all-time iPhone 12 Black Friday deals.

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Design

If y'all want an iPhone that'southward easier to use with one hand, the obvious pick is the iPhone 12 Pro. It features a 6.1-inch display in a adequately meaty design that measures v.78 x 2.82 x 0.29 inches and weighs half dozen.6 ounces.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is a beast of a handset. Information technology packs a half-dozen.7-inch screen into a taller, wider and heavier chassis that comes in at vi.33 10 iii.07 x 0.29 inches and 8.03 ounces. This is best for those who want an immersive screen and don't heed using two easily.

Both the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro feature sleek flat edges and narrower borders, every bit well as a Ceramic Shield Brandish that's designed to offer iv times meliorate drib functioning than the iPhone 11 series. And the water resistance is keen for both models, too, with an IP68 rating that allows them to be submerged in up to 6 meters of water for xxx minutes.

I too similar the matte drinking glass dorsum on both phones (which resists fingerprints) and the polished stainless steel band that runs along the outside of the handsets (which adds a bit of bling).

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Displays

The OLED displays on the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and vi.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max are simply amidst the all-time you'll find on any phone. These panels are bright, colorful and accurate, though the sheer size of the Pro Max may tempt you if you enjoy watching videos on the go. The Pro Max's display is too ideal for reviewing documents.

In our lab tests, the screens on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max were evenly matched in terms of color reproduction. The iPhone 12 Pro registered 115.6% of the sRGB color gamut and 81.9% of the more enervating DCI-P color space. By comparison, the iPhone 12 Pro Max hit 119.7% and 84.8%, respectively.

The iPhone 12 Pro proved a bit brighter, as its brandish averaged 742 nits based on our testing, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max reached 654 nits. Both screens are plenty brilliant plenty to run into in directly sunlight.

Both the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have screens that refresh at 60Hz. Apple tree didn't add faster refresh rates until the iPhone xiii Pro models debuted.

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Cameras

The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max both offer triple rear cameras along with Apple's computational photography upgrades, including Night Fashion portraits and Smart HDR 3 for better photos in tricky lighting. Plus, both phones tape Dolby Vision video in 4K for stunningly colorful footage.

But there are some notable photographic camera differences here. The iPhone 12 Pro Max benefits from a larger principal wide camera sensor, which lets in more light, and the larger iPhone too offers a slightly more powerful zoom than the iPhone 12 Pro.

Let's start with the zoom on both phones, The telephoto lens on the iPhone 12 Pro has an optical zoom of 2x and a digital zoom of 10x. However, the iPhone 12 Pro Max delivers a two.5x optical zoom and 12x digital zoom.

Every bit yous can see in this shot of harvest decorations, the iPhone 12 Pro Max gets you closer to your subject than the iPhone 12 Pro. It's non a dramatic difference, just it'south still a welcome upgrade.

I also challenged both phones in low lite with this close-up of a Christmas tree. The iPhone 12 Pro Max did a slightly amend job capturing the gold decoration on the left, as you can see that information technology'due south slightly sharper and more in focus. Aforementioned thing goes for the icicle in the centre.

I took this next photo of a vacation sign in nigh darkness with Night mode engaged on both phones. While the iPhone 12 Pro shot is fairly brilliant, the iPhone 12 Pro Max image delivers much better texture and detail in the cloth on the dresser and in the flecks of paint on the sign. The words are in better focus, likewise.

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Performance

The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max share the same specs, as they're both powered by Apple tree'due south 5nm A14 Bionic chip and 6GB of RAM. So information technology'due south not a surprise that they offer comparable performance.

On Geekbench 5, which measures overall performance, the iPhone 12 Pro notched a single-cadre score of 1,585 and a multi-core score of 3,669. The iPhone 12 Pro Max scored a like ane,603 on unmarried cadre only hit an even college 4,111 multi-cadre marker.

We also transcoded a 4K video to 1080p using the Adobe Premiere Rush app, and the iPhone 12 Pro took only 27 seconds. The iPhone 12 Pro Max was right backside at 28.5 seconds.

Lastly, we ran the 3D Mark Wild Life graphics benchmark, and both phones excelled. The iPhone 12 Pro registered 51 frames per 2d on the Unlimited test and the iPhone 12 Pro Max reached a slightly college 54 fps.

Whether you become the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max, await better performance that the leading Android phones, even those powered by the newer Snapdragon 888 system-on-fleck. The newer iPhone 13 models feature the A15 Bionic, though, which figures to raise the performance bar even higher.

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Battery life

Other than their sheer size, battery life is the biggest difference between the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 Pro has a two,815 mAh battery, compared to iii,687 mAh bombardment for the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

On on the Tom's Guide battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over 5G at 150 nits of screen effulgence, the iPhone 12 Pro lasted 9 hours and half dozen minutes. The iPhone 12 Pro Max lasted a much longer 10:53. (This is 1 surface area where the iPhone 13 outperforms the previous generation as both iPhone 13 Pro models outlast their predecessors and can exist found on our best phone battery life list.)

Both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Max ship without a charger. You'll demand to supply your ain 20W ($nineteen) charger if you lot want fast charging to 50% in 30 minutes. The magnetic MagSafe charger is one of the best wireless chargers still because it's then easy to utilise, but its 15W charging speed is slower than wired charging.

Nosotros would generally avoid the Apple MagSafe Duo. It's too pricey at $129 and doesn't even come with a power brick. Plus, information technology offers only 11W charging when paired with Apple's 20W charger.

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: iPhone 13 arrives

New iPhone 13 models are hither, every bit we've mentioned, with the iPhone xiii Pro and iPhone xiii Pro Max featuring the same-sized displays as their iPhone 12 counterparts.

The new phones characteristic the A15 Bionic processor and dynamically adjusting ProMotion displays. Fifty-fifty the notch on the iPhone 13 Pro screen is smaller, and at that place are improvements to the cameras besides, notably the telephoto lens and the ultrawide bending shooter.

In fact, an updated iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 13 Pro comparison concludes that the Pro models are the ones to get if you tin can swing the higher prices. Otherwise, the iPhone thirteen is the phone that will appeal to the biggest audience.

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Bottom line

Even with the iPhone 13 Pro models now available, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max remain formidable flagship phones, even if they're smashing for different types of users. Both phones run iOS 15, and they remain very evenly matched on brandish quality, performance and photography

Even so, the regular iPhone 12 Pro remains the option for those who desire a meaty device. I personally prefer the iPhone 12 Pro Max for its larger screen and almost two extra hours of battery life. (In that location'south a reason the iPhone 12 Pro Max took dwelling house elevation honors for smartphones in the Tom'south Guide Awards for 2021.) And while the photography differences are subtle, the Pro Max's camera offered improve results in Dark Manner.

Marker Spoonauer is the global editor in chief of Tom'due south Guide and has covered engineering for nearly 20 years. In addition to overseeing the direction of Tom'south Guide, Mark specializes in roofing all things mobile, having reviewed dozens of smartphones and other gadgets. He has spoken at key industry events and appears regularly on Tv to talk over the latest trends. Marking was previously editor in chief of Laptop Mag, and his work has appeared in Wired, Pop Science and Inc. Follow him on Twitter at @mspoonauer.