IPhone 12 Pro vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max Buyer’s Guide

The popular iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max’s replacements, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, were introduced by Apple in 2020. They include a redesigned squared-off industrial design, the A14 Bionic processor, a LiDAR Scanner, and MagSafe. The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max were the most feature-rich iPhones available prior to the release of the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max as Apple’s premium flagship products starting in 2020.

Although Apple has already discontinued the iPhone 12 Pro ($999) and iPhone 12 Pro Max ($1,099), users may still be able to purchase them at other retailers at substantially cheaper costs. Despite having a large number of features in common, the two phones truly vary from one another beyond only screen size. Our article helps you choose which of these two iPhones is ideal for you by highlighting the differences between the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max.

The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are contrasted

Most of the essential features of the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are identical. The OLED Super Retina XDR technology, A14 Bionic CPU, 5G connection, “pro” camera set-up with 12MP Ultra-Wide, Wide, and Telephoto lenses, LiDAR Scanner, and colour options are all shared by the two phones. The areas where the two gadgets diverge are more intriguing.

Differences

IPhone 12 Pro

• 1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution
• Telephoto lens with ƒ/2.0 aperture
• 2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 4x optical zoom range
• Digital zoom up to 10x
• Dual optical image stabilization
• Battery life with 17 hours of video playback
• Weight of 6.66 ounces (189 grams)
• Originally priced at $999, $1099, $1299 for 128GB/256GB/512GB

IPhone 12 pro Max

• 7-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with 2778-by-1284-pixel resolution
• Telephoto lens with ƒ/2.2 aperture
• 5x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 5x optical zoom range
• Digital zoom up to 12x
• Sensor-shift optical image stabilization
• Battery life with 20 hours of video playback
• Weight of 8.03 ounces (228 grams)
• Originally priced at $1099, $1199, $1399 for 128GB/256GB/512GB

Apple has improved the Max’s camera in other ways besides its physical size. Discover how the iPhone 12 Pro differs from its larger sibling by reading on for a closer examination of each of these features.

Viewing Area

The display size of the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max is where there are the most obvious differences. The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and the 6.7-inch 12 Pro Max have the same size. This translates to the larger phone being able to display more content, with app UI elements being further apart and components like the keyboard being much larger. However, the smaller phone will be much easier to use with one hand and much more pocketable.

The displays themselves are same in terms of technologies and capabilities, but the iPhone 12 Pro will be preferred primarily because it fits the hand better and is simpler to operate with one hand. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is unquestionably preferred by those who want a bigger display, to the extent that it threatens to displace the 7.9-inch iPad mini.

Measurements and Weight

The iPhone 12 Pro is plainly narrower and taller than the iPhone 12 Pro Max due to its reduced size. Compared to the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the iPhone 12 Pro is 6.6mm slimmer and 14.1mm shorter. However, the 7.4mm thickness of both phones is the identical. With a total weight of only 189 grammes (6.66 ounces), the iPhone 12 Pro is likewise 39 grammes (1.38 ounces) less than its bigger cousin.

Cameras

Another significant area where the gadgets differ from one another is the camera. The two iPhones have many of the same software features, including Smart HDR 3, Night mode, Deep Fusion, and Apple ProRAW. They also include rear camera arrays with three 12MP sensors, including an Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto, as well as a LiDAR scanner. However, Apple was able to include three more camera functions on the 12 Pro Max because to its greater size.

Compared to the Wide-angle camera on the iPhone 12, the Wide camera on the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 47 percent larger sensor and larger pixels. Apple claims that the iPhone 12 Pro Max takes low-light shots that are 87 percent better than previous models, with more detail and richer colour.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 65mm focal length and 2.5x zoom lens, which is superior to the 52mm focal length and 2x zoom lens in the iPhone 12 Pro and enables a 5x optical zoom range. The Telephoto lens on the iPhone 12 Pro has an f/2.0 aperture while the Telephoto lens on the iPhone 12 Pro Max has an f/2.2 aperture.

Instead of lens-shift optical picture stabilisation, the Wide lens on the iPhone 12 Pro Max utilises sensor-shift optical image stabilisation. This indicates that instead of the lens, the camera sensor rotates to reduce camera shaking. Improved optical picture stabilisation is the end outcome.

Camera advancements like increased zoom in, improved low-light performance, and sensor-shift optical image stabilisation are notable but not particularly ground-breaking. However, if you often use your iPhone for photography and filming, you’ll probably like the improvements on the 12 Pro Max.

A battery’s life

The battery life of the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max also varies. According to Apple, the iPhone 12 Pro can play videos for up to 17 hours. The iPhone 12 Pro Max, on the other hand, can fit a bigger battery since it is bigger, giving it a longer battery life. According to reports, the iPhone 12 Pro Max may provide up to 20 hours of movie playback. As combined use tends to be a little heavier than video playing alone, the actual battery life for both devices will probably be less than Apple’s predictions.

If having a long battery life is important to you, the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a great battery life. The battery life of the iPhone 12 Pro is still respectable but falls short of that of the 12 Pro Max if you decide to purchase it.

Additional iPhone Option

If the iPhone 12 Pro’s initial starting price of $999 is too much for you to pay, you should certainly have a look at its less expensive sibling, the iPhone 12 ($599/$699), or even the iPhone 11 ($499).

• iPhone 12 vs iPhone 12 Pro Buyer’s Guide
• iPhone 11 vs iPhone 12 Buyer’s Guide

Final Reflections

The screen size is the most apparent factor to consider when choosing between the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the greatest iPhone for both photography and filming thanks to its improved camera. Heavy battery users would also appreciate the increased capacity.

Although the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers the greatest an iPhone can provide in every way, not every user will find it to be a worthy investment. Not everyone needs a phone with a 6.7-inch screen. While some people may find the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s size to be excessive or uncomfortable, others will like the bigger display for watching media.

In the end, screen size is a question of personal taste. To accommodate all consumers, Apple provides the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro range in three distinct screen sizes. It boils down to your preference as the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max share practically all features with the exception of the camera hardware. The extra size, battery life, and camera functions appear to be a reasonable bargain given the $100 price increase.