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Even though these two appear to be nearly identical, the 13 Pro Max has some significant internal improvements that could make it the most anticipated iPhone update ever!
There are two primary causes for this: First, the 13 Pro Max’s battery capacity has been significantly increased, allowing it to run for up to two days between charges; second, a 120Hz ProMotion display is included, which provides incredibly smooth scrolling and improves the whole experience.
It’s likely that you found these words after searching for iPhone 13 Pro Max vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max on Google, coupled with a question like “which is better?” or “What’s the difference?” Or perhaps you didn’t. In any case, you have a valid question, and the reason you’re here is to find out if switching from your iPhone 12 Pro Max to Apple’s marginally upgraded model is worthwhile.
How Much Better Is Apple’s Best iPhone?
Though it has better cameras and a longer battery life than the previous model, is Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro Max really worth upgrading from the excellent iPhone 12 Pro Max?
At its September 2021 event, Apple unveiled the iPhone 13 Pro Max, a gadget that bears a striking resemblance to the iPhone 12 Pro Max from the previous year and is priced similarly. Naturally, the beauty of these smartphones lies beyond their surface level; they are equipped with potent processors and cameras that capture situations with astounding clarity. Is it better for someone contemplating a purchase to get the newest model with the newest technology or to save a little money by getting the older model?
A significant redesign was introduced by Apple with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which gave the flagship model a striking, flat-edged look that was unprecedented at the time. As a result of the amazing design, rival devices like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 are now emulating the aesthetic. Along with being the largest iPhone ever made by Apple, the iPhone 12 Pro Max set new standards with its 6.7-inch OLED screen shielded by extremely durable ceramic shield glass. The design and screen technology of all iPhone 12 models are identical, but what sets Apple’s largest phone apart is its unique image sensor, which is larger than that of its brothers and provides noticeably better low-light performance.
iPhone 12 Pro Max Vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max Specs
Processor, Battery, Storage and Price
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is equipped with a faster A15 processor, although Apple wasn’t completely clear about how much better it is. The battery life has improved as well, lasting up to eight hours longer when compared to the iPhone 12 Pro Max, according to Apple’s tests. That means longer video recording when using the new cinematic options, such as the ability to automatically rack focus to add a dramatic effect to any video. Storage caps out at 1TB, double the maximum on offer with the iPhone 12 Pro Max. This greater capacity option will come in handy if recording in ProRes, since the video format can rapidly consume storage space. Overall, and considering the iPhone 13 Pro Max exceeds the iPhone 12 Pro Max in several areas, including the camera, screen, display, and storage, while holding the price at $1,099, this is an easy upgrade if it is within the budget. Apple hit it out of the park with the iPhone 13 Pro Max, offering a fantastic smartphone at a great price.
Display and Design
An improved display is among the most anticipated new features of the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Both devices have a 6.7-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 1284 x 2778 pixels. The only difference is that Apple has now added 120Hz ProMotion to the 13 Pro Max, allowing for better scrolling.
When compared to the 120Hz iPhones, the screen refreshes 60 times per second on the 12 Pro Max and earlier models, making them appear choppy.
When using the phone outdoors, the brightness of the display matters. The 13 Pro Max boasts a brighter display with a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, whereas the previous model could only achieve 800 nits.
Battery and Charging
Although the iPhone 13 Pro Max receives the largest battery upgrade over the previous generation, all iPhone 13 models receive some sort of boost.
Compared to the 12 Pro Max, which had a 3,687mAh cell, the 13 Pro Max has a 4,352mAh battery. That’s an over 20% gain in battery life—the largest one on an iPhone since the iPhone 11 Pro Max, coincidentally!
And how long does a battery last? According to official company statistics, the iPhone 13 Pro has a 2.5-hour longer battery life than the iPhone 13 Pro Max. And just take a peek at the official battery life predictions for streaming video:
- iPhone 13 Pro Max: 25 hours
- iPhone 12 Pro Max — 12 hours
Cameras
While they look quite familiar, the three cameras on the iPhone 13 Pro Max are visibly bigger, and the reason for that lies in the all-new and bigger sensors that they use. First, though, here is a quick camera comparison with the iPhone 12 Pro Max:
- Wide (main) camera: 26mm on both, f/1.5 aperture on 13 Pro Max vs f/1.8 aperture on 12 Pro Max
- Ultra-wide camera: 13mm on both, f/1.8 aperture on 13 Pro Max vs f/2.4 aperture on 12 Pro Max
- Telephoto camera: 3X zoom, or 77mm on 13 Pro Max vs 2.5X zoom on 12 Pro Max
According to Apple’s advertisement, the ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 13 Pro Max can collect up to 92% more light than the wide camera, which is an incredible 2.2X increase in nighttime light capture for both images and movies. This benefit stems from the use of larger sensors. The 13 Pro Max’s primary camera has a 1/1.65″ sensor, while the 12 Pro Max’s has a 1/1.9″ sensor.
iPhone 13 Pro Max pros and cons
Pros
- Amazing battery life
- A super bright display with great colors
- The fastest performance of any phone
- Improved camera
- The best video quality of any phone
Cons
- Lacks fast charging
- The size is a bit extreme and it is a heavy phone
- Cinematic Mode needs some more polish
- No USB-C makes life more complicated
iPhone 12 Pro Max pros and cons
Pros
- The largest and toughest display on an iPhone yet
- A great camera system
- Double the base storage of its predecessor
- Futureproof 5G support with bands record
- The best water-resistance on a general-purpose phone
Cons
- Static 60Hz display refresh on a $1099 phone
- Blocky and heavy compared to its peers
- Expensive $599 body repair if you crack the rear
- No power adapter in the box; slow charging
Which should you buy?
Both are old now that the iPhone 14 range is here, and both are likely to be discounted significantly in light of the newer iPhone family. So which is the better bet?
There’s plenty to cover, so without further ado, let’s dive straight into the showdown.
iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: at a glance
- Near-identical looks. iPhone 13 Pro Max thicker, heavier, new Sierra Blue colour
- 20 per cent smaller notch on iPhone 13 Pro Max
- 13 Pro Max has a 120Hz ProMotion display vs 60Hz on the 12 Pro Max
- Pro Max has updated cameras with faster aperture and 3x zoom
- New Cinematic Mode on the iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Faster Apple A15 Bionic processor on the 13 Pro Max
- Battery life is up to two and a half hours longer on the iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: design
The differences between the iPhone 13 Pro Max and its predecessor may be difficult to discern. Ultimately, the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max have nearly identical dimensions and a virtually imperceptible 0.3mm larger and slightly heavier (240g vs. 228g) body. Both models have nearly identical overall stainless steel designs.
If you look more closely, though, you’ll see some differences. For example, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a screen notch that is 20% narrower than the previous model. The iPhone 13 Pro Max adds a new shade called Sierra Blue, which is substantially lighter than the dark Pacific Blue option for the iPhone 12 Pro Max, even though they both have the same gold, silver, and graphite colors.
iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: screen
The reduced notch on the iPhone 13 Pro Max has previously been discussed, but there is a more significant difference between the two OLED panels underneath. The iPhone 13 Pro Max surpasses the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s 60Hz refresh rate with a 120Hz screen, but has the same 6.7-inch screen size and 1284 x 2778 resolution.
The primary difference you’ll notice is a smoother scrolling experience. This isn’t a huge upgrade that will change the game, but once you get used to it, it’s the kind of subtle feature you won’t want to give up.
In addition to having a quicker refresh rate, the iPhone 13 Pro Max also boasts Apple’s ProMotion function, which allows it to change its refresh rate based on the application, from 120 Hz to as low as 10 Hz. By doing this, you may avoid wasting any additional battery life by turning off the quicker refresh rate when you’re only viewing static text, for example.
The brightness of the displays is another significant distinction; the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a display that is 28% brighter than the previous model, improving visibility outside on sunny days.
iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: camera
The iPhone 13 Pro Max comes with some noticeable camera changes. For starters, the main wide camera has an f/1.5 aperture on the iPhone 13 Pro Max, versus the f/1.8 aperture on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The ultra-wide camera on the 13 Pro Max has an f/1.8 aperture versus its predecessor’s f/2.4 camera, while the telephoto camera on the iPhone 13 Pro Max has 3x optical zoom versus 2.5x on the 12 Pro Max. Perhaps more exciting is the fact that, thanks to its larger sensor, the 13 Pro Max’s main camera now captures up to 2.2x more light for both photos and videos, while the ultra-wide camera sucks in a whopping 92 percent more light. This means that low-light shots are noticeably better on the newer iPhone 13 Pro Max compared to the 12 Pro Max. Not only that, but you can also capture macro shots on the 13 Pro Max thanks to the ultra-wide camera’s new auto-focus system that lets you capture subjects just 2cm away. There are noticeable improvements with video too, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max featuring a Cinematic Mode that has a rack focus and manual focus feature that adds a more professional quality to your shots. You can, impressively, also change the focus of a previous recording, which could be game-changing for mobile creators, though it will probably be an underused feature for the average casual user.
iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: power
It’s no surprise to hear that the iPhone 13 Pro Max (along with its mini, 13, and 13 Pro siblings) was, at the time of launch, the fastest iPhone ever made, not to mention the most powerful smartphone in the world when it comes to raw specs. The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s A15 Bionic chip boasts a six-core CPU and four high-efficiency cores, which were 50 percent faster than the competition at the time of launch, while the new GPU was 30 percent faster than rivals. A 16-core neural engine also means that machine learning skills are boosted too, unlocking iOS features like Live Text in Camera and a 3D Maps navigation feature. Compared to the likes of the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s A14 Bionic processor, the gap is less, and while the newer handset obviously wins out on raw power, you could happily use the iPhone 12 Pro Max without feeling that you’re short of power. While both handsets come with 6GB and 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage options, the iPhone 13 Pro Max also has a gargantuan high-end 1TB variant for media hoarders and power users.
