Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Air

Compare Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Air side by side: Apple A14 Bionic vs Apple A19 Pro (2nm), 12MP vs 48MP camera, 3687mAh vs 3150mAh battery…

Apple

iPhone 17 Air

$1,099

12categories won

2 categories tied · 21 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max claims the overall win over the Apple iPhone 17 Air, delivering a stronger technical package across gaming and photography. In camera testing, the iPhone 12 Pro Max leads with sharper imaging, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Choose the iPhone 12 Pro Max if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 17 Air if its specific hardware strengths better fit your budget.

🔋 BatteryiPhone 12 Pro Max

iPhone 12 Pro Max wins on endurance with 3,687 mAh and 20W fast charging.

🎮 GamingiPhone 12 Pro Max

iPhone 12 Pro Max leads gaming and raw performance powered by the Apple A14 Bionic and 6GB RAM.

📸 CameraiPhone 12 Pro Max

iPhone 12 Pro Max wins photography with 12MP main imaging and 2.5x dedicated optical zoom.

🏷️ ValueTie

Both handsets sit in the exact same pricing bracket around $1099.

Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Air: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 Air
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Air
Screen size	6.7"	6.6"
Resolution	1284 x 2778Winner	1260 x 2740
Pixel density	457 ppi	457 ppi
Refresh rate	60 Hz	120 HzWinner
Peak brightness	1200 nits	2800 nitsWinner

Performance

Performance comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 Air
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Air
Chipset	Apple A14 Bionic	Apple A19 Pro (2nm)
Process node	5 nm	2 nmWinner
AnTuTu score	3,200,000Winner	2,400,000
Geekbench multi	10800Winner	8900
Maximum RAM	6 GB	12 GBWinner
Maximum storage	512GBWinner	256GB

Camera

Camera comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 Air
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Air
Main sensor	12 MP	48 MPWinner
Rear cameras	3Winner	1
Optical zoom	2.5xWinner	1x
Ultrawide	12 MP	—
Selfie camera	12 MP	24 MPWinner
Max video	4K at 60fps Dolby Vision	8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 Air
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Air
Capacity	3,687 mAhWinner	3,150 mAh
Wired charging	20 W	25 WWinner
Wireless charging	15 W	25 WWinner

Design

Design comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 Air
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Air
Weight	228 g	149 gWinner
Thickness	7.4 mm	5.5 mmWinner
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Ceramic Shield front, textured matte glass back, stainless steel design	Grade 5 Titanium mid-plate, ultra-thin ceramic back, Ceramic Shield 2 front

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 Air
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Air
Operating system	iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 18	iOS 19
OS updates	6 years	7 yearsWinner
Security updates	6 years	7 yearsWinner

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 Air
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Air
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth)	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth)
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	No
Launch price	$1,099	$1,099