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The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the largest, heaviest and most expensive version of Apple’s smartphone for 2020, a beast in every dimension.
The top-end iPhone costs from £ 1,099 and sits above the 12 Pro (£ 999), 12 (£ 799) and 12 mini (£ 699).
The 12 Pro Max has the same fresh design as the rest of the iPhone 12 range: square sides, full-screen front with slimmer bezels, and a frosted glass back. It has the same drop-resistant “Ceramic Shield” technology covering the display and the new MagSafe magnetic attachment system on the back for wireless chargers and accessories, but that’s where the physical similarities end.
The huge OLED screen measures 6.7 inches diagonally, which outshines all other iPhones and rivals Android superphones like the 6.78-inch OnePlus 8 or the 6.9-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
The screen is impressive. Bright, sharp, and almost like a tablet in that giant size. Watching HDR video is fantastic, and there’s a nice set of stereo speakers too.
Holding it generally requires two hands, just like its superphone proficiency. It’s very wide and weighs 226g, 18g heavier than the Note 20 Ultra, 39g heavier than the smaller 12 Pro, or 64g heavier than the regular iPhone 12.
Thanks to the hard edges, the 12 Pro Max was significantly easier for me to grip than its rounded and equally heavy predecessor, the iPhone 11 Pro Max. I was able to use it with one hand with a bit of finger gymnastics and didn’t suffer from the hand pain I felt when trying to grab the 11 Pro Max bar of soap.
specs
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Screen: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED) (458ppi)
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Processor: Apple A14 Bionic
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RAM: 6GB
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Storage: 128, 256 or 512 GB
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OS: iOS 14
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Camera: 12MP triple rear cameras with lidar, 12MP front camera
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Connectivity: 5G, wifi 6, NFC, Bluetooth 5, Lightning, ultra-wideband and GPS
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Waterproof: IP68 (6 meters for 30 minutes)
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Dimensions: 160.9 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm
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Weight: 226g
Superior performance, 5G and two-day battery
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has the same A14 Bionic processor as the regular 12, 12 Pro and iPad Air, and has 6GB of RAM with an initial storage of 128GB, double the 64GB of the iPhone 12. Performance is equally excellent in all aspects: agile, elegant and fast to process photos, videos or when you play. Speeds in 5G were similar, with slightly better reception than the iPhone 12 Pro and a negligible impact on battery life.
Battery life is class leading with more than 48 hours between charges (eight hours longer than iPhone 12) with the screen on for more than seven hours. The phone will last from 7 a.m. on day one to 7 a.m. on day three using 5G for about five hours, with the remainder being spent on Wi-Fi.
It takes 30 minutes to charge the battery to 50%, 73 minutes to reach 90%, but two hours and 13 minutes for a full charge with a cable and a £ 19 Apple 20W USB-C power adapter, or more than three hours with MagSafe Wireless Charger.
Sustainability
Apple does not provide an expected battery life for the iPhone 12 Pro Max; Smartphone batteries typically last for at least 500 cycles while maintaining at least 80% capacity, but can be replaced for £ 69. An out-of-warranty service costs £ 566.44, which includes the display. The iPhone 12 Pro Max was awarded six out of 10 for repairs by the specialist iFixit.
The 12 Pro Max uses 100% recycled tin in its main board solder, 99% recycled tungsten, 98% recycled rare earth elements, and at least 35% recycled plastic in many other components. Apple is also using renewable energy for the final assembly of the machine and breaks down the environmental impact of the phone in its report.
It also offers free and trade-in recycling schemes, even for non-Apple products. The 12 Pro Max does not ship with headphones or a power adapter, which reduces its carbon footprint.
iOS 14
The 12 Pro comes with the same version of iOS 14.2 as the 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and all other iPhones from 2015 or later. This includes visual overhaul of the home screen with widgets and App Library folders, improved privacy tools, and the new Translator app. For more information, see the iOS 14 overview and the iPhone 12 review.
You can expect more than five years of software support, including security fixes and updates to the version of iOS, which is longer than any other smartphone manufacturer.
Camera
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has the same selfie camera and ultra-wide camera as the 12 and 12 Pro, which work just as well, but with different main and telephoto cameras on the back.
The telephoto camera has a 2.5x longer optical zoom, instead of 2x. Any increase in range is welcome, but it pales in comparison to competing 4x / 5x optical zooms. The lens is a bit slower than the 12 Pro, which is worse in low light. But both smartphones switch to the more light-sensitive main camera in low-light conditions anyway.
The main camera has the same 12-megapixel resolution but a 47% physically larger sensor, collecting up to 87% more light than its predecessor.
In good light, it takes photos that are indistinguishable from the 12 Pro: highly detailed with good color accuracy and control of high-contrast scenes.
When the light level begins to drop at dusk, the larger sensor captures much brighter, more detailed, and less noisy images that are a marked improvement over other iPhones. The same goes for indoor shots on dull winter days. The dedicated night mode is also needed less frequently, and when activated it captures photos faster than the regular 12 Pro.
For point-and-shoot photographers, you get a clearer image. For enthusiasts, the larger sensor offers much more potential for detail when shooting RAW formats, including Apple’s new ProRAW format that is due out soon with a software update.
The 12 Pro Max also has the same lidar (light and range detection) scanner on the back for night mode portraits and faster autofocus. The 12 Pro Max can record 4K video at 60 frames per second, and also in Dolby Vision HDR.
Overall, the 12 Pro Max has the best camera of any iPhone and has improved low-light performance over other iPhone 12 models. It also puts Apple on a par with major competitors, although the 2.5x optical zoom is still there. a little behind the best in the business.
Price
The iPhone 12 Pro Max costs £ 1,099 for 128GB, £ 1,199 for 256GB, or £ 1,399 for 512GB of storage.
In comparison, the 12 Pro costs from £ 999, the 12 costs £ 799, the 12 Mini costs £ 699 and the iPhone SE costs £ 399. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra costs £ 1,179 and the OnePlus 8 Pro costs £ 799.
Verdict
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is Apple’s most feature-rich smartphone this year, but it comes at a significant price point, both financially and physically.
It sits firmly in the superphone stand alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and OnePlus 8 Pro, so large that you may have a hard time fitting it in small pockets and you will almost exclusively need two hands to use it.
You get a large 6.7-inch screen, more than 48 hours of battery life, a significantly better camera, and improved design and ergonomics compared to its predecessors. It’s certainly not perfect and it costs a lot, even if it’s only £ 100 more than the smaller iPhone 12 Pro, but you’re getting a lot of phone for the money.
If you can handle its sheer size and cost, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is an incredible super phone.
Pros: very long battery, maximum performance, improved camera in low light, longer optical zoom, portraits with night mode, waterproof, wireless charging, MagSafe, Face ID, fantastic display, 5G, long software support.
Cons: without USB-C, you need your own charger, huge, super heavy, very expensive.
