Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18

Compare Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18 side by side: Apple A14 Bionic vs Apple A20 (2nm TSMC), 12MP vs 48MP camera, 3687mAh vs 3800mAh battery…

Apple

iPhone 18

$899

14categories won

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

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Apple iPhone 18 takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Apple iPhone 18 proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. In camera testing, the two devices offer similar flexibility, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 18. Choose the iPhone 18 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 18

iPhone 18 takes battery honors offering 3,800 mAh alongside 35W charging.

🎮 GamingiPhone 18

iPhone 18 provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A20 (2nm TSMC) and 12GB RAM.

📸 CameraTie

Both camera setups are closely matched for daily street photography and low-light shooting.

🏷️ ValueiPhone 18

iPhone 18 wins on budget and value at $899 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 18: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 18
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18
Screen size	6.7"	6.3"
Resolution	1284 x 2778Winner	1179 x 2556
Pixel density	457 ppi	447 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 18
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18
Chipset	Apple A14 Bionic	Apple A20 (2nm TSMC)
Process node	5 nm	2 nmWinner
AnTuTu score	3,200,000	3,200,000
Geekbench multi	10800	10800
Maximum RAM	6 GB	12 GBWinner
Maximum storage	512GB	512GB

Camera

Camera comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 18
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18
Main sensor	12 MP	48 MPWinner
Rear cameras	3Winner	2
Optical zoom	2.5x	—
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 18
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18
Capacity	3,687 mAh	3,800 mAhWinner
Wired charging	20 W	35 WWinner
Wireless charging	15 W	25 WWinner

Design

Design comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 18
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18
Weight	228 g	172 gWinner
Thickness	7.4 mm	7.6 mm
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Ceramic Shield front, textured matte glass back, stainless steel design	Grade 5 Titanium frame, Ceramic Glass front and back

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 18
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18
Operating system	iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 18	iOS 20
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 18
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18
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	$899Winner