Home Phone comparison Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max - Which is better?

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

90 out 100
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
VS
68 out 100
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

Compared 2 smartphones : Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Manufactured in September, 2023, with display 6.7 with chipsetApple A17 Pro, vs Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Manufactured in November, 2020 with chipsetApple A14 Bionic. 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 15 Pro Max
  • Higher pixel density: 460ppi
  • Higher refresh rate: 120Hz
  • Lighter design: 221g vs 226g
  • Higher battery capacity: 4441mAh vs 3687mAh
  • Newer Bluetooth version: 5.3 vs 5
  • Supports DisplayPort
Reasons to choose Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

    Versions

    Available versions and configurations
    Memory Options - 8/256 GB
    - 8/512 GB
    - 8/1024 GB    		 - 6/128 GB
    - 6/256 GB
    - 6/512 GB

    Review

    Key Specs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 12 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:
    iPhone 15 Pro Max
    vs
    iPhone 12 Pro Max

    Display

    Display quality comparison
    Type OLED OLED
    Size 6.7 in 6.7 in
    Resolution 1290x2796 pixels 1284x2778 pixels
    Aspect ratio 19.5:9 19.5:9
    Pixel density 460 ppi 458 ppi
    Refresh rate 120 Hz 60 Hz
    Adaptive refresh rate Yes (1-120 Hz) No
    Max brightness 2000 nits 800 nits
    HDR support Yes Dolby Vision Yes Dolby Vision
    Screen-to-body ratio 89.8 % 87.7 %
    Features - DCI-P3
    - Always-On Display    		 DCI-P3
    Display test
    Peak brightness (auto)
    Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
    1789 nits
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    864 nits
    sRGB gamut99.8 %99.4 %
    PWM (Flicker)240 Hz238 Hz
    Response time1 ms8 ms
    Contrast∞ Infinite∞ Infinite
    Sources: NotebookCheck [Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max], [Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max]

    Design & Build

    Design and ergonomics comparison
    Height 159.9 mm (6.3 in) 160.8 mm (6.33 in)
    Width 76.7 mm (3.02 in) 78.1 mm (3.07 in)
    Thickness 8.25 mm (0.32 in) 7.4 mm (0.29 in)
    Weight 221 g (7.8 oz) 226 g (7.97 oz)
    Water resistance IP68 IP68
    Back panel Glass Glass
    Frame Metal Metal
    Colors - White
    - Black
    - Silver
    - Blue    		 - Silver
    - Gold
    - Gray
    - Blue
    Fingerprint sensor No No
    Screen-to-body ratio
    Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
    89.8 %
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    87.7 %

    Performance

    Testing Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max In benchmarks
    Processor
    Chipset Apple A17 Pro Apple A14 Bionic
    Max Frequency 3780 MHz 3100 MHz
    CPU Cores 6 (2 + 4) 6 (2 + 4)
    Architecture - 4/2.11 (Sawtooth)
    - 2/3.78 (Everest)    		 - 4/1.8 (Icestorm)
    - 2/3.1 (Firestorm)
    Process TSMC TSMC
    Transistor Size 3 nm 5 nm
    Neural Processor Apple Neural Engine Apple Neural Engine
    Graphics Apple A17 GPU Apple A14 GPU
    GPU Cores 768 256
    GPU Frequency 1398 MHz 1278 MHz
    FLOPS 2147.2 GFLOPS 654.3 GFLOPS
    GeekBench v6
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
    Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
    2935
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    1976
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
    Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
    7328
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    5114
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)29351976
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)73285114
    Sources: Geekbench v6 [Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max]
    AnTuTu 10
    AnTuTu 10
    Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
    1544984
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    1139529
    CPU375584309114
    GPU531835346277
    Memory267777174323
    UX339788309815
    NanoReview Score15449841139529
    3DMark Wild Life
    3DMark Wild Life
    Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
    10006
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    7880
    Max Surface Temp.n/a45 °C
    Stabilityn/a75 %
    Graphics Testn/a47 fps
    Graphics Scoren/a7880
    Sources: 3DMark [Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max], [Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max]

    Memory

    RAM
    RAM Size 8 GB 6 GB
    Memory Type LPDDR5 LPDDR4X
    Memory Frequency 3200 MHz n/a
    Channels 4 2
    Storage
    Storage Capacity256 GB- 128 GB
    - 256 GB
    - 512 GB
    Storage TypeNVMeNVMe
    Memory CardNoNo

    Software

    OS iOS 17 (Upgradeable to iOS 18.5) iOS 14.1 (Upgradeable to iOS 18.3.2)
    OS Size 17.6 GB 16 GB

    Battery

    Volume 4441 mAh 3687 mAh
    Max Charging Power 23 W 20 W
    Battery Type Li-ion Li-ion
    Removable No No
    Wireless Charging Yes (7.5 W) Yes (7.5 W)
    Reverse Charging Yes No
    Fast Charging Yes (46% in 30 min) Yes (55% in 30 min)
    Full Charge Time 1:49 h 1:32 h
    Battery Life Test
    Battery Life
    Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
    31:37
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    22:52
    Web Browsing12:36 h08:35 h
    Video Playback22:07 h13:38 h
    Games06:58 h05:29 h
    Standby Mode139 h116 h

    Main camera

    Matrix 48 MP 12 MP
    Photo resolution 8064x6048 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
    Zoom 142 Optical, 2.5x
    Flash Dual LED Dual LED
    Stabilization Optical Optical
    8K Recording No No
    4K Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
    1080p Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
    Slow Motion 240 fps (1080p) 240 fps (1080p)
    Wide-angle lens 120 ° 120 °
    Lenses count Standard: 48 MP
    Telephoto: 12 MP
    Ultra-wide: 12 MP
    Depth    		 Standard: 12 MP
    Telephoto: 12 MP
    Ultra-wide: 12 MP
    Depth
    Features - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode
    - RAW support    		 - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode
    - RAW support
    Main lens
    Matrix48 MP12 MP
    Aperturef/1.8f/1.6
    Focal length24 mm26 mm
    SensorSony IMX803Sony IMX603
    Sensor size1/1.281/1.9
    Pixel size1.22 μm1.7 μm
    AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
    StabilizationOpticalOptical
    Telephoto
    Matrix12 MP12 MP
    Aperturef/1.78 - 2.8f/2.2
    Focal length120 mm65 mm
    SensorSony IMX913Sony IMX613
    Sensor size1/3.061/3.4
    Pixel size1.12 μm1 μm
    StabilizationOpticalOptical
    Ultra-wide lens
    Matrix12 MP12 MP
    Aperturef/2.2f/2.4
    Focal length13 mm13 mm
    SensorSony IMX633Sony IMX372
    Sensor size1/2.551/3.4
    Pixel size1.4 μm1 μm
    StabilizationDigitalDigital
    Main camera DxOMark results
    Photo quality
    Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
    153
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    131
    Video quality
    Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
    158
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    130
    Overall camera score
    Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
    154
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    131
    Bokeh8070
    Preview8680
    Zoomn/a115
    Sources: DxOMark [Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max], [Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max]

    Front camera

    Matrix 12 MP 12 MP
    Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 4290x2800 pixels
    Aperture f/1.9 f/2.2
    Focal length 23 mm 23 mm
    Sensor Sony IMX714 Sony IMX514
    Sensor size 1/3.6 1/3.6
    Pixel size 1.12 μm 1 μm
    Autofocus Phase autofocus No
    Stabilization Optical Digital
    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 15 Pro Max
    145
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    127
    Video quality
    Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
    156
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    140

    Connectivity

    Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
    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 5.3 5
    Bluetooth features LE LE, A2DP
    USB type USB Type-C No
    USB version 3.2 n/a
    USB features - Charging
    - USB Storage Mode
    - OTG    		 - Charging
    - USB Storage Mode
    DisplayPort Yes n/a
    GPS - GPS
    - GLONASS
    - Beidou
    - Galileo
    - QZSS
    - NAVIC    		 - GPS
    - GLONASS
    - Galileo
    - QZSS
    NFC* Yes Yes
    Infrared Port No No
    Connectivity
    SIM Count*n/a1
    SIM TypeeSIMNano
    eSIM Support *YesYes
    Hybrid SlotNoNo
    2G BandsGSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
    3G BandsUMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)UMTS/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
    LTE Bands*LTE ()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)
    LTE category2018
    5G SupportYesYes

    Sound

    Speakers n/a Stereo
    3.5 mm Jack No No
    FM Radio No No
    Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
    Speaker Test
    Max Volume
    Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
    92.3 dB
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    81.2 dB

    Other

    Class Flagship Flagship
    Announced September, 2023 yr October, 2020 yr
    Release Date September, 2023 yr November, 2020 yr
    Launch Price ($) n/a 1100
    MSRP ($) 1199 n/a
    Sensors - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Face Sensor    		 - Hall Sensor
    - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Face Sensor
    Charger Included No n/a
    * Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

    Results

    After analyzing the data, we consider Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max the clear winner in this comparison.

    Survey

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