Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, launched on November 13, 2020, is a flagship device that commands attention with its large display and premium features.

Build Quality

The iPhone 12 Pro Max features a robust build, measuring 160.8 mm in height, 78.1 mm in width, and 7.4 mm in depth, with a weight of 228 grams. This gives it a substantial feel in hand. The phone utilizes a stainless steel frame with a Ceramic Shield front, advertised as having improved drop protection compared to previous generations, and a glass back. It's available in Silver, Gold, Graphite, and Pacific Blue finishes. The design is characterized by flat edges and a generally premium aesthetic.

Screen Quality

The device boasts a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 1284 x 2778 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 458 ppi. The OLED panel delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast with a ratio of 2,000,000:1. It supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision, offering a wide color gamut (DCI-P3), and has a typical brightness of 800 nits with a peak brightness of 1200 nits for HDR content. The screen includes features such as True Tone display, Haptic Touch, an oleophobic coating, and is protected by a scratch-resistant Ceramic Shield. It maintains a standard 60Hz refresh rate. There is a medium-sized notch present on the display.

Camera Performance

The iPhone 12 Pro Max features a triple-lens rear camera system. The primary 12MP lens (Sony IMX603) has an f/1.6 aperture and 1.7µm pixels. The 12MP ultra-wide lens (Sony IMX372) has an f/2.4 aperture and 1.4µm pixel size and 120° field of view. The telephoto lens is also 12MP (Sony IMX590) with f/2.2 aperture and 1.0µm pixel size. The rear camera setup includes optical image stabilization on both the main and telephoto lenses, allowing for 5x optical zoom out and up to 12x digital zoom. The phone captures 4K video up to 60fps with HDR and stereo sound. It also offers features like audio zoom, slow-motion recording at 1080p up to 240fps, and time-lapse capabilities. The front-facing 12MP camera (Sony IMX514) with an f/2.2 aperture supports Night mode, Smart HDR 3, and HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 30 fps. The rear camera has a DxOMark main score of 131, with 131 for photos and 130 for video, while the selfie camera has a main score of 132, photo score of 127 and video score of 140.

Software Experience

The iPhone 12 Pro Max ships with iOS 14.1, and is upgradeable to iOS 18. The operating system provides a smooth user experience, offering a wide range of apps and services within the Apple ecosystem. iOS is known for its ease of use, regular updates and tight integration with Apple's hardware.

Battery Performance

The phone is powered by a 3687 mAh Li-Ion battery, which is not removable. It supports 20W fast charging, although the charger is not included in the box. Wireless charging is supported through MagSafe at up to 15W, and Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W.

Value for Money

The iPhone 12 Pro Max sits in the "high price" category. Available in 6GB RAM configurations with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage, it's priced accordingly. For example, the 6GB/256GB model ranges from roughly $410 to $526, and the 6GB/512GB version can vary from approximately $500 to $628, depending on the region. The device provides top-tier performance with its A14 Bionic chip, a high-quality camera system, and premium build; however, it comes at a premium price point which may not suit all budgets.