The iPhone 12 Pro Max, which was released in 2020, remains a capable handset in 2024, with features that keep it relevant, especially for individuals who do not want the latest models. For the past few days, I’ve experimented with an iPhone 12 Pro Max. I’m curious if it’s still a nice phone to use in 2024. I enjoy coming back to some of the other older devices to remind myself that you can have a fantastic daily phone for less money, and that you don’t necessarily need the latest and greatest to have a decent experience. Apple items are more expensive, as we all know, but I don’t mind considering how long they endure; the iPhone is arguably the best illustration of this.
IPHONE 12 PRO MAX KEY FEATURE
For me, the most significant features of a phone are the camera, screen, wallet options, speed, and battery life. I’m delighted to certify that the iPhone 12 Pro Max (mine is at 88% battery health) passes the majority of these requirements.
In my experience with most iPhone models, the camera has been excellent since the 11 and 11 Pro. The introduction of night mode and improved indoor photos was a game changer for me. I believe you may still use the 11 Pro Max; I simply did not have one accessible.
It still has a 2x optical zoom, and in good lighting, the photos are nearly identical to those I took with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The quality of the night mode or indoor shooting differs from the 15 Pro Max, but it is decent enough not to annoy you. If you enjoy shooting at night or indoors, the 13 Pro Max appears to be a superior option.
On the screen, there is no promotion and a high refresh rate, however this fades after a few hours. I did notice it at first, but then entirely forgot about it. The always-on display is a wonderful feature, but it’s not worth spending more money on a 13, 14, or 15 Pro.
In a nutshell, they are the ones who create the material. If you want a compact gadget to photograph with anywhere and yet get great photos, I highly recommend this. This is especially true if you are somewhat shy. If you’ve ever been apprehensive about vlogging in public, this is as good as it gets.
On the other hand, if your budget is a priority, I’d recommend getting a DSLR like my old Canon 77D. It will take up far more space, especially with chargers and accessories, but for the same price as an iPhone 12 Pro Max, you can have a 77D body with many lenses.
Overall, for the majority of consumers, the iPhone 12 Pro Max remains a good and viable phone in 2024. The camera is still excellent and performs well. When it comes to battery life, the 13 Pro Max may be a better option. Picking up a used item is always risky, but if you can inspect the battery before purchasing and ensure that it is 90% or more, it is the best option. If you go less than this, be aware that you may have to spend an additional £85 with Apple for a replacement.
CAMERA
The iPhone 12 Pro Max features an excellent camera setup. It features three lenses. There are three lenses: one wide, one ultra-wide, and one telephoto. Each lens captures 12MP. The wide and ultra-wide lenses produce stunning images. The photographs are full of detail and range. The telephoto lenses allow you to zoom in 2.5 times. The telephoto lens on the 12 Pro only zoomed twice. So the 12 Pro Max has a better zoom.
Additionally, the gadget offers Night mode, which allows you to take amazing low-light images. For photography and videography fans, this is still the best option as it supports 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, and 10‑bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR. As a slow-mo enthusiast, I adore Apple’s camera configuration in each Pro series. The DXO Mark score is 131, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max is ranked 48th globally, making it a great choice.
DESIGN AND SCREEN
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is very appealing. It has a sturdy metal frame. The front screen is constructed of Ceramic Shield, a durable material that will not crack easily. The phone screen is large, measuring 6.7 inches. Its display features transparent colors, realistic blacks, and high contrast. Because of its slim bezels, the screen extends from edge to edge. This provides users with a compelling viewing experience. It feels like the content continues on indefinitely.
HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?
According to Apple research, the 5G cell modem design and high refresh rate screens with LTPO technology are still massive energy eaters due to their infancy. In short, if Apple didn’t want to undergo a complete design overhaul to accommodate considerably larger batteries, it had to choose between 5G and dynamic display refresh rate, and it chose 5G for obvious reasons. Because of its now-resolved patent battles with Qualcomm, Apple was already a year behind Samsung, Huawei, and the rest of the Android competitors in delivering a 5G iPhone, so another year would have been a PR catastrophe regardless of the quality of US 5G infrastructure.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is powered by the A14 Bionic processor. This chip is really powerful. It makes the phone work faster. You can open multiple apps at once. Games also operate smoothly. The phone includes 6GB of RAM, which keeps things operating smoothly. Even when you’re doing multiple things at once.
Buy it if...
- Loud stereo speakers, excellent audio quality
- The world’s fastest smartphone chip, 5G,
- Dependable battery life and rapid charging
- Apple iOS 14 is fast and easy to use, with five years of guaranteed significant updates.
- Very good photo and video quality throughout the day and night.
- LiDAR Scanner has a variety of applications and use cases (although fairly niche).
Don't buy it if…
- iOS requires improved file management.
- We miss TouchID because FaceID doesn’t work with a mask on.
- The new camera delivers the same quality as the old one.
FULL SPECIFICATION
Network | Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
Launch | Announced | 2020, October 13 |
Status | Available. Released 2020, November 13 | |
Body | Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.29 in) |
Weight | 228 g (8.04 oz) | |
Build | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), stainless steel frame | |
SIM | Nano-SIM and eSIM or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) – for China | |
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | ||
Display | Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
Size | 6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) | |
Resolution | 1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density) | |
Protection | Ceramic Shield glass | |
Platform | OS | iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 18.1 |
Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | |
CPU | Hexa-core (2×3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4×1.8 GHz Icestorm) | |
GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | |
Memory | Card slot | No |
Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM | |
NVMe | ||
Main Camera | Triple | 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.9″, 1.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 65mm (telephoto), 1/3.4″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120Ëš (ultrawide), 1/3.4″, 1.0µm TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) |
Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) | |
Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10‑bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec. | |
Selfie camera | Single | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6″ SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
Features | HDR | |
Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | |
Sound | Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers |
3.5mm jack | No | |
Comms | WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | |
Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS | |
NFC | Yes | |
Radio | No | |
USB | Lightning, USB 2.0 | |
Features | Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | ||
Battery | Type | Li-Ion 3687 mAh, non-removable (14.13 Wh) |
Charging | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) – requires iOS 17.4 update | |
Misc | Colors | Silver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue |
Models | A2411, A2342, A2410, A2412, iPhone13,4 |