Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro

Compare Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro side by side: Apple A14 Bionic vs Apple A20 Pro, 12MP vs 48MP camera, 3687mAh vs 4288mAh battery, $1099…

Apple

iPhone 18 Pro

$1,199

12categories won

2 categories tied · 17 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Apple iPhone 18 Pro takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Apple iPhone 18 Pro proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the iPhone 18 Pro leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 18 Pro. Choose the iPhone 18 Pro if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 12 Pro Max if its lower retail price better fit your budget.

🔋 BatteryiPhone 18 Pro

iPhone 18 Pro takes battery honors offering 4,288 mAh.

🎮 GamingiPhone 18 Pro

iPhone 18 Pro provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A20 Pro and 12GB RAM.

📸 CameraiPhone 18 Pro

iPhone 18 Pro takes photography with 48MP optics and 4x optical telephoto capabilities.

🏷️ ValueiPhone 12 Pro Max

iPhone 12 Pro Max provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $1099 vs $1199.

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 Pro: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 18 Pro
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18 Pro
Screen size	6.7"	6.3"
Resolution	1284 x 2778Winner	1206 x 2622
Pixel density	457 ppi	460 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 Pro
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18 Pro
Chipset	Apple A14 Bionic	Apple A20 Pro
Process node	5 nm	2 nmWinner
AnTuTu score	3,200,000	—
Geekbench multi	10800	—
Maximum RAM	6 GB	12 GBWinner
Maximum storage	512GB	2TBWinner

Camera

Camera comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 18 Pro
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18 Pro
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	4K at 120 fps

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 18 Pro
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18 Pro
Capacity	3,687 mAh	4,288 mAhWinner
Wired charging	20 W	—
Wireless charging	15 W	25 WWinner

Design

Design comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 18 Pro
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18 Pro
Weight	228 g	211 gWinner
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, Ceramic Shield back

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 18 Pro
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18 Pro
Operating system	iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 18	iOS 27
OS updates	6 years	—
Security updates	6 years	—

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 18 Pro
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 18 Pro
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth)	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	No
Launch price	$1,099Winner	$1,199