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iPhone 12 vs iPhone 12 Pro Max

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Starting at

£154.55

£799 new

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Starting at

£261.99

£1,099 new

See options
iPhone 12Starting at £154.55See options
iPhone 12 Pro MaxStarting at £261.99See options
4.6/5 (144 reviews)
4.6/5 (26 reviews)

In a nutshell

They share the same A14 Bionic chip, the same 12MP main camera and the same 60Hz refresh rate. The iPhone 12 has the lower launch price, a lighter 162g body and a smaller 6.1-inch screen. The iPhone 12 Pro Max counters with a 2.5x optical telephoto, more memory with 6GB of RAM and longer battery life.

At 128GB, the iPhone 12 launched at £849 and the iPhone 12 Pro Max at £1099.

Available models

iPhone 12

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Pristine, Excellent, Great, Good

iPhone 12 Pro Max

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Pristine, Excellent, Great, Good

Durability

iPhone 12 58/100
iPhone 12 Pro Max 63/100

Both should get OS updates for the same length of time, until about 2027 (est.).

Frame:The iPhone 12 has an aluminium frame and the iPhone 12 Pro Max a stainless steel one.

Weight:The iPhone 12 weighs 162g and the iPhone 12 Pro Max 228g, so the iPhone 12 is the lighter phone.

Water and dust:Both are rated IP68, the same protection against dust and water.

Front glass:Both have the same Ceramic Shield on the front.

Released

2020
2020

Updates until (est.)

2027
2027

Water resistance

IP68
IP68

Frame

Aluminium
Stainless steel

Weight

162gLighter
228g

Release date

23 October 2020
13 November 2020

Front glass

Ceramic Shield
Ceramic Shield

Dimensions

146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm
160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm

Biometrics

Face ID
Face ID

Performance

iPhone 12 46/100
iPhone 12 Pro Max 50/100

The same A14 Bionic chip in both, so expect the same everyday speed.

Memory:The iPhone 12 Pro Max has 6GB of RAM against 4GB on the iPhone 12, which helps keep more apps open in the background.

Storage:The iPhone 12 launched in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB and the iPhone 12 Pro Max in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB.

Chip

A14 Bionic
A14 Bionic

RAM

4GB
6GBMore memory

Storage options

64GB, 128GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB, 512GB

AI features

No
No

Screen quality

iPhone 12 62/100
iPhone 12 Pro Max 63/100

The iPhone 12 Pro Max has the bigger screen, at 6.7 inches.

Size:The iPhone 12 Pro Max's 6.7-inch screen is bigger than the 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 12.

Panel:The iPhone 12 uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel at 2532 x 1170 and the iPhone 12 Pro Max a Super Retina XDR OLED panel at 2778 x 1284.

Smoothness:Both refresh at the same 60Hz.

Brightness:Both peak at the same 1200 nits, by the makers' figures.

Screen size

6.1"
6.7"Bigger screen

Screen type

Super Retina XDR OLED
Super Retina XDR OLED

Refresh rate

60Hz
60Hz

Resolution

2532 x 1170
2778 x 1284

Peak brightness

1200 nits (maker figure)
1200 nits (maker figure)

Camera

iPhone 12 29/100
iPhone 12 Pro Max 50/100

Only the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a telephoto lens, so it is the one for zooming in.

Zoom:Only the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a telephoto lens, with 2.5x optical zoom. The iPhone 12 has no telephoto lens.

Video:The iPhone 12 records video at up to 4K 60fps and the iPhone 12 Pro Max at up to 4K 60fps Dolby Vision.

Main camera:Both use a 12MP main camera, the same resolution.

Ultrawide:Both have the same 12MP ultrawide.

Main camera

12MP
12MP

Ultrawide

12MP
12MP

Telephoto

None
12MP

Optical zoom

None
2.5xMore zoom

Front camera

12MP
12MP

Video recording

4K 60fps; Dolby Vision 4K 30fps
4K 60fps Dolby Vision

Battery

iPhone 12 51/100
iPhone 12 Pro Max 58/100

The iPhone 12 Pro Max lasts longer on Apple's figures, up to 20 hours of video against 17.

Battery life:Apple rates the iPhone 12 at up to 17 hours of video playback and the iPhone 12 Pro Max at up to 20 hours.

Capacity:The iPhone 12 Pro Max has the bigger battery, 3687mAh against 2815mAh.

Wireless charging:Both support the same wireless charging: MagSafe 15W, Qi 7.5W.

Battery

2815mAh
3687mAhBigger battery

Wireless charging

MagSafe 15W, Qi 7.5W
MagSafe 15W, Qi 7.5W

Video playback (maker)

Up to 17 hours
Up to 20 hours

Connectivity

iPhone 12 58/100
iPhone 12 Pro Max 58/100

Both have 5G and the same Wi-Fi 6.

Port:Both have the same Lightning (USB 2) port.

SIM:Both take the same Nano-SIM + eSIM setup.

Bluetooth:Both have the same Bluetooth 5.0.

5G

Yes
Yes

Port

Lightning (USB 2)
Lightning (USB 2)

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 6

SIM

Nano-SIM + eSIM
Nano-SIM + eSIM

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0

Our verdict

Buy the iPhone 12 if you want the lower launch price and a lighter 162g body. Buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max if you want a 2.5x optical telephoto and more memory with 6GB of RAM.

Buy the iPhone 12 if

  • You want the lower launch price
  • You want a lighter 162g body
  • You want a smaller 6.1-inch screen
Shop from £154.55

Buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max if

  • You want a 2.5x optical telephoto
  • You want more memory with 6GB of RAM
  • You want longer battery life
Shop from £261.99

FAQs

Only the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a telephoto lens, with 2.5x optical zoom. The iPhone 12 has no telephoto lens.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max's 6.7-inch screen is bigger than the 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 12.

Every Reboxed phone has a minimum of 80% battery health. If you want the closest thing to new, some phones offer our New Battery Upgrade, professionally installed before your phone is dispatched. If it's available, you'll see it on the product page.

Pristine, Excellent, Great and Good. Pristine has zero blemishes and at least 90% battery health. Good can show noticeable wear on the casing but works perfectly. Every grade is TechCheck certified and comes with a 12-month warranty.

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