Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Compare Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max side by side: Apple A14 Bionic vs Apple A19 Pro, 12MP vs 48MP camera, 3687mAh vs 4823mAh battery…

Apple

iPhone 17 Pro Max

$699

14categories won

4 categories tied · 22 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. For battery longevity and charging speed, the iPhone 17 Pro Max takes the lead, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the clear choice for demanding 3D gaming and heavy multitasking. Choose the iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 12 Pro Max if its specific hardware strengths better fit your budget.

🔋 BatteryiPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 17 Pro Max takes battery honors offering 4,823 mAh alongside 42W charging.

🎮 GamingiPhone 12 Pro Max

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

📸 CameraiPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 17 Pro Max takes photography with 48MP optics and 4x optical telephoto capabilities.

🏷️ ValueiPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 17 Pro Max wins on budget and value at $699 compared to $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 Pro Max: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Screen size	6.7"	6.9"
Resolution	1284 x 2778	1320 x 2868Winner
Pixel density	457 ppi	458 ppi
Refresh rate	60 Hz	120 HzWinner
Peak brightness	1200 nits	3000 nitsWinner

Performance

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

Camera

Camera comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Main sensor	12 MP	48 MPWinner
Rear cameras	3	3
Optical zoom	2.5x	4xWinner
Ultrawide	12 MP	48 MPWinner
Selfie camera	12 MP	18 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 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Capacity	3,687 mAh	4,823 mAhWinner
Wired charging	20 W	42 WWinner
Wireless charging	15 W	25 WWinner

Design

Design comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Weight	228 gWinner	233 g
Thickness	7.4 mmWinner	8.75 mm
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Ceramic Shield front, textured matte glass back, stainless steel design	Aluminum unibody, Ceramic Shield 2 front

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Operating system	iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 18	iOS iOS 26
OS updates	6 years	6 years
Security updates	6 years	6 years

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Pro Max
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	$699Winner