Home Phone comparison Apple iPhone 12 and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max - Which is better?

Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

65 out 100
Apple iPhone 12
VS
n/a out 100
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 12
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Compared 2 smartphones : Apple iPhone 12 Manufactured in October, 2020, with display 6.1 with chipsetApple A14 Bionic, vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, Manufactured in September, 2025with chipsetApple A19 Pro. Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery Life
  6. Cameras
  7. Comments (0)

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Apple iPhone 12
  • Higher pixel density: 460ppi
  • Lighter design: 164g vs 221g
Reasons to choose Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
  • Larger display: 6.9in
  • Higher refresh rate: 120Hz
  • Higher battery capacity: 4729mAh vs 2815mAh
  • Newer Bluetooth version: 5.4 vs 5
  • Supports DisplayPort

Versions

Available versions and configurations
Memory Options - 4/64 GB
- 4/128 GB
- 4/256 GB		 - 12/256 GB
- 12/512 GB
- 12/1024 GB

Review

Key Specs Apple iPhone 12 and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Display
Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
Camera
Main & front camera tests
Performance
App & system performance
Games
3D gaming performance
Battery
Battery life, charging speed & type
Connectivity
Connectivity features
NanoReview Score
Overall score by NanoReview
Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
Customize your score
Function
Importance (Weight)
Display:
Camera:
Performance:
Gaming:
Battery:
Connectivity:
Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

Tests & specs

Specs & test comparison
Smartphones:
Apple iPhone 12
vs
iPhone 17 Pro Max

Display

Display quality comparison
Type OLED OLED
Size 6.1 in 6.9 in
Resolution 1170x2532 pixels 1320x2868 pixels
Aspect ratio 19.5:9 19.5:9
Pixel density 460 ppi 458 ppi
Refresh rate 60 Hz 120 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate No Yes (1-120 Hz)
Max brightness 625 nits n/a
HDR support Yes Dolby Vision Yes Dolby Vision
Screen-to-body ratio 87.1 % 92.6 %
Features DCI-P3 - DCI-P3
- Always-On Display
Display test
Peak brightness (auto)
Apple iPhone 12
646 nits
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
sRGB gamut99.4 %n/a
PWM (Flicker)226 Hzn/a
Response time16 msn/a
Contrast∞ Infiniten/a
Sources: NotebookCheck [Apple iPhone 12]

Design & Build

Design and ergonomics comparison
Height 146.7 mm (5.78 in) 163 mm (6.42 in)
Width 71.5 mm (2.81 in) 77.4 mm (3.05 in)
Thickness 7.4 mm (0.29 in) 8.2 mm (0.32 in)
Weight 164 g (5.78 oz) 221 g (7.8 oz)
Water resistance IP68 IP68
Back panel Glass Glass
Frame Metal Metal
Colors - White
- Black
- Blue
- Green
- Red		 - White
- Black
- Silver
Fingerprint sensor No No
Screen-to-body ratio
Apple iPhone 12
87.1 %
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
92.6 %

Performance

Testing Apple iPhone 12 and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max In benchmarks
Processor
Chipset Apple A14 Bionic Apple A19 Pro
Max Frequency 3100 MHz 4300 MHz
CPU Cores 6 (2 + 4) n/a
Architecture - 4/1.8 (Icestorm)
- 2/3.1 (Firestorm)		 n/a
Process TSMC n/a
Transistor Size 5 nm n/a
Neural Processor Apple Neural Engine n/a
Graphics Apple A14 GPU n/a
GPU Cores 256 n/a
GPU Frequency 1278 MHz n/a
FLOPS 654.3 GFLOPS n/a
GeekBench v6
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Apple iPhone 12
1941
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
3780
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Apple iPhone 12
5008
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
10772
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)19413780
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)500810772
AnTuTu 10
AnTuTu 10
Apple iPhone 12
1095315
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
2112459
CPU310050510033
GPU323143791934
Memory173777367847
UX288345442645
NanoReview Score10953152112459
3DMark Wild Life
3DMark Wild Life
Apple iPhone 12
7601
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
Max Surface Temp.41.2 °Cn/a
Stability77 %n/a
Graphics Test45 fpsn/a
Graphics Score7601n/a
Sources: 3DMark [Apple iPhone 12]

Memory

RAM
RAM Size 4 GB 12 GB
Memory Type LPDDR4X LPDDR5X
Channels 2 4
Storage
Storage Capacity- 64 GB
- 128 GB
- 256 GB		256 GB
Storage TypeNVMeNVMe
Memory CardNoNo

Software

OS iOS 14.1 (Upgradeable to iOS 18.3.2) iOS 26
OS Size 7 GB n/a

Battery

Volume 2815 mAh 4729 mAh
Max Charging Power 18 W 30 W
Battery Type Li-ion Li-ion
Removable No No
Wireless Charging Yes (7.5 W) Yes (15 W)
Reverse Charging No Yes
Fast Charging Yes (58% in 30 min) Yes
Full Charge Time 1:30 h n/a
Battery Life Test
Battery Life
Apple iPhone 12
21:15
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
Web Browsing08:00 hn/a
Video Playback12:09 hn/a
Games04:35 hn/a
Standby Mode112 hn/a

Main camera

Matrix 12 MP 48 MP
Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 8064x6048 pixels
Zoom Digital Optical, 5x
Flash Quad LED Dual LED
Stabilization Optical Optical
8K Recording No No
4K Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 120 fps)
1080p Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 120 fps)
Slow Motion 240 fps (1080p) 240 fps (1080p)
Wide-angle lens 120 ° 120 °
Lenses count Standard: 12 MP
Ultra-wide: 12 MP		 Standard: 48 MP
Telephoto: 48 MP
Ultra-wide: 48 MP
Depth
Features - Bokeh effect
- Pro mode		 - Bokeh effect
- Pro mode
- RAW support
Main lens
Matrix12 MP48 MP
Aperturef/1.6f/1.6
Focal length26 mmn/a
SensorSony IMX372n/a
Sensor size1/3.41/1.28
Pixel size1.4 μm1.22 μm
AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
StabilizationOpticalOptical
Telephoto
Matrixn/a48 MP
Aperturen/af/2.8
Focal lengthn/a120 mm
Stabilizationn/aOptical
Ultra-wide lens
Matrix12 MP48 MP
Aperturef/2.4f/2.2
Focal length13 mm13 mm
Sensor size1/3.6n/a
Pixel sizen/a0.7 μm
StabilizationDigitalDigital
Main camera DxOMark results
Photo quality
Apple iPhone 12
127
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
Video quality
Apple iPhone 12
130
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
Overall camera score
Apple iPhone 12
117
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
Bokeh55n/a
Preview74n/a
Zoom60n/a
Sources: DxOMark [Apple iPhone 12]

Front camera

Matrix 12 MP 24 MP
Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels n/a
Aperture f/2.2 f/1.9
Focal length 23 mm n/a
Sensor Sony IMX514 n/a
Sensor size 1/3.6 n/a
Pixel size n/a 1.12 μm
Autofocus No Phase autofocus
Stabilization Digital Optical
Video resolution 2160p (4K) at 60 fps 2160p (4K) at 60 fps
TOF 3D sensor Yes Yes
Selfie camera DxOMark results
Photo quality
Apple iPhone 12
127
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
Video quality
Apple iPhone 12
140
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a

Connectivity

Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) Wi-Fi 7 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be)
Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display		 - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version 5 5.4
Bluetooth features LE, A2DP LE
USB type No USB Type-C
USB version n/a 3.2
USB features - Charging
- USB Storage Mode		 - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG
DisplayPort n/a Yes
GPS - GPS
- GLONASS
- Galileo
- QZSS		 - GPS
- GLONASS
- Beidou
- Galileo
- QZSS
- NAVIC
NFC* Yes Yes
Infrared Port No No
Connectivity
SIM Count*1n/a
SIM TypeNanoeSIM
eSIM Support *YesYes
Hybrid SlotNoNo
2G BandsGSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)n/a
3G BandsUMTS/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)n/a
LTE Bands*LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B30/B32/B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B42/B46/B48/B66)n/a
LTE category18n/a
5G SupportYesYes

Sound

Speakers Stereo n/a
3.5 mm Jack No No
FM Radio No No
Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
Speaker Test
Max Volume
Apple iPhone 12
81.1 dB
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a

Other

Class Flagship Flagship
Announced October, 2020 yr September, 2025 yr
Release Date October, 2020 yr September, 2025 yr
Launch Price ($) 800 n/a
MSRP ($) n/a 1199
Sensors - Barometer
- Proximity Sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Face Sensor		 - Barometer
- Proximity Sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Face Sensor
Charger Included n/a No
* Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

Results

After analyzing the data, we consider Apple iPhone 12 the clear winner in this comparison.

Survey

Which smartphone would you pick?
1 (50%)
1 (50%)
Total Votes: 2

User comments

Share your opinion or ask questions below