Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Compare Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max side by side: Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) vs Apple A19 Pro, 12MP vs 48MP camera, 2815mAh vs 4823mAh…

Apple

iPhone 17 Pro Max

$699

16categories won

3 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, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the iPhone 17 Pro Max leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Choose the iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 12 Pro 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 17 Pro Max

iPhone 17 Pro Max provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A19 Pro and 12GB 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 $999.

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 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Screen size	6.1"	6.9"
Resolution	1170 x 2532	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, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Chipset	Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)	Apple A19 Pro
Process node	5 nm	3 nmWinner
AnTuTu score	1,120,000	2,400,000Winner
Geekbench multi	4890	8900Winner
Maximum RAM	6 GB	12 GBWinner
Maximum storage	128GB	2TBWinner

Camera

Camera comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Main sensor	12 MP	48 MPWinner
Rear cameras	3	3
Optical zoom	2x	4xWinner
Ultrawide	12 MP	48 MPWinner
Selfie camera	12 MP	18 MPWinner
Max video	4K at 60fps Dolby Vision 10-bit HDR	8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Capacity	2,815 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, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Weight	189 gWinner	233 g
Thickness	7.4 mmWinner	8.75 mm
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Surgical-grade stainless steel frame, Ceramic Shield front, textured matte glass back	Aluminum unibody, Ceramic Shield 2 front

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Operating system	iOS 14	iOS iOS 26
OS updates	6 years	6 years
Security updates	7 yearsWinner	6 years

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 17 Pro Max
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth)
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	No
Launch price	$999	$699Winner