Four different iPhones 12 each with its own peculiar characteristics for a different audience. This is the philosophy that guided the launch of the new range of Apple smartphones. iPhone 12 mini for those looking for the maximum in the smallest possible size, iPhone 12 for those aiming at the substance of the range and iPhone 12 Pro for those who want design and more top functions. Then there is iPhone 12 Pro Max. Who should be enticed by its purchase? The question that settles in our mind with every review of any product as soon as we open a box, here has hammered us consistently pro all week we handled the last of the iPhones on our list. The answer? Articulated, perhaps not conclusive, as we will say at the end.
The premise
Here too, at the beginning of the review of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the premise we made with the iPhone 12 mini is valid with a different declination, which is nothing more than an iPhone 12 with a smaller screen. Also Phone 12 Pro Max is the non-twin brother of another iPhone, iPhone 12 Pro . And as with the iPhone 12 mini we didn't repeat some things because it simply meant repeating what we had just written about the iPhone 12, here we won't repeat many of the things we wrote about the iPhone 12 Pro because most of them are simply identical. Specifically we will say (almost) nothing
iPhone 12 Pro Max, how it's done
What you have to take into account of an iPhone 12 Pro Max if you already know an iPhone 12 Pro are the dimensions and the camera , the two elements that separate the largest of the iPhones from the version presented a month ago. If this does not seem like a novelty, you are right: Apple has already made this choice when it distinguished iPhone 7 from iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 from iPhone 8 Plus by camera and size. Back then there was a smaller model with only one lens and a bigger and better model in photography thanks to the zoom; today we always have a smaller model and a bigger one that is better in photography thanks to a different sensor.
iPhone 12 Pro Max, size first of all
As we write “big” and look at the iPhone 12 Pro Max we realize that the adjective is really very appropriate; the first impression that arises upon opening the box is that of having a large telephone in front of you ; really big. The impression becomes a sensation when you start handling the phone. This happens although the dimensions of the iPhone 12 Pro Max are only relatively and not all more important than those of the iPhone 11 Pro Max (+ 3mm in length, + 0.3mm in width, +2 grams , -0.7mm in thickness); probably if you have immediately the idea of a mammoth telephone this depends on the square shape of the edges; those of previous models were rounded and made the iPhone 11 Pro Max feel less thick and heavier than it actually was. On the contrary, now iPhone 12 Pro Max “feels” more. From this point of view, the new shape penalizes iPhone 12 Pro Max when the same shape gave an advantage to iPhone 11 Pro Max or iPhone XS Max.
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The difference between iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max 
The difference in length between iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max 
The difference on the screen 
The difference in thickness and size between iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max 
The size scale of the various iPhones of the year 
The smallest (iPhone 12 mini) versus the largest (iPhone 12 Pro Max)
Feelings, grip and squared edges aside, what does it mean in practical terms to handle iPhone 12 Pro Max? The answer is: have a phone that can be used comfortably and safely with one hand . The thumb will never reach all points of the screen and it will always be necessary to use the classic tablet mode: one hand holds the phone and the other acts on the screen. And if we talk about “portability” it must be taken into account that an iPhone 12 Pro Max put in a pocket fills it and you can feel it. Ultimately if it is likely that those who have managed the size of an iPhone 11 Pro Max could also find an iPhone 12 Pro Max manageable, for many of those who they read, the new Apple phone will probably be too big .
iPhone 12 Pro Max is difficult to hold
The color Pacific Blue
This year's color for Apple is blue. We have this hue in the Apple Watch 6, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. Our iPhone 12 Pro Max is just this color, a very pleasant color . We liked the midnight green of last year's iPhone 11 Pro and we like the Pacific Blue of the 2020/21 iPhone 12 Pro just as and perhaps more. It is a color in an original and discreet time that only with a particular incidence of light reveals itself in its real chromatism that more than blue appears as a “gray-blue”. Being a color we are obviously faced with something subjective, but we believe that if you are looking for a distinctive factor compared to classic black or silver smartphones and at the same time a color that no other competitor offers, without falling into something excessively flashy, the blue iPhone is the answer to this need.
The peaceful blue color 
A discreet and little flashy 
Pacific blue vs iPhone 12 blue
The protruding camera
Constructively speaking, iPhone 12 Pro Max also has another significant element: the camera group that protrudes more than that of the iPhone 12 Pro . This is the consequence of the larger sensor which we will talk about a little below; to fully cover the pixel area, the Wide lens must be farther away from it and to be farther away, while maintaining the same thickness as the phone, it must protrude more. The difference between iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max can be felt by touch and by sight. By keeping the back of the phone on the desk, you have a further confirmation of the inclination that the iPhone takes. Even the leather case that accompanies our iPhone 12 Pro Max unlike the one for the iPhone 12 Pro is designed for the most protrusion; has a protective plastic rim around the hole for the camera that rises by one millimeter.
The two camera groups; that of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is visibly larger … 
… and thicker 
In comparison in the “desk test”
The best screen on the market
Whether iPhone 12 Pro Max is that big depends on Apple's willingness to put the largest screen possible in this phone. We are talking about a 6.7-inch display with a resolution of 1284 × 2778 based on OLED technology, judged the best in the world today by a specialized site such as DisplayMate. You don't have to have specific measurement systems or be a great expert to come to the conclusion that, if not the best in the world, the almost completely borderless screen of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is a fantastic component . The brightness (up to 1200 nits, the same as the iPhone 12 Pro), the size and definition (458ppi, the same as the iPhone 12 Pro) are perfect for reading text. Brightness, color fidelity, black intensity, contrast are absolutely amazing. The larger size also allows for more text on the screen.
iPhone 12 Pro allows you to have a wider view of the interface 
and to have more text 
In this photo can be seen when you have more text margin to read in the comparison between iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max
Watching a movie on the iPhone 12 Pro Max is by no means a fallback or a pain as it could be with other devices with a smaller screen. The Apple smartphone can be considered an excellent tool for watching a movie or a series while traveling, sitting in an armchair or even lying in bed for image quality and size.
Too bad that here, as in the other iPhone 12, the 120 Hz technology is missing ; This is not a limit in itself regarding the functionality of the phone, but a penalty if you want to compare the iPhone 12 Pro Max with the best competitors. In fact, a screen with a lower refresh rate gives the impression of a slower phone.
Performance and usability
We do not dwell on performance in terms of benchmarks. iPhone 12 Pro Max is as fast, decimal plus or decimal minus, as fast as an iPhone 12 Pro or even an iPhone 12 mini . The processor is the same and the performance is therefore the same. It is possible, but we cannot provide direct testimony, that the 6 GB of RAM compared to the 4 GB of RAM of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini can change something when it comes to opening multiple applications or managing programs with high demands. made of graphic calculation.
The dimensions, rather, influence the speed with which some actions are carried out . It is possible that in part this impression is due to the size of our hands and some insecurity we felt in handling a phone the size of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, but in general we found ourselves being more snappy and ready with an iPhone. 12 Pro in consulting mail, replying to messages, scrolling web pages and even taking photos.
One-handed typing is pretty complicated on iPhone 12 Pro Max
The camera
In the iPhone 12 mini, the elephant in the room, what differentiates that phone more than anything else from the iPhone 12, is the size. In the iPhone 12 Pro Max the size is an important distinction, but in the end it is the camera the technical element that could shift the judgment and recommend the purchase of this model instead of the iPhone 12 Pro also helping to withstand dimensions that aren't as comfortable as possible for a smartphone.
The technique
Let's start from an assumption: the system of the cameras of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is actually largely the same as that of the iPhone 12 Pro . The front ones are identical (now capable of shooting in night mode) and the rear ultra wide-angle lens is identical. Instead, while asserting very similar, the zoom lens has two differences to take into account.
The first is that the “tele” of the iPhone 12 Pro, as per tradition, is 2X, equivalent of a 52mm while on the iPhone 12 Pro Max it is a 2.5X equivalent of a 65mm . This potentially means portraits with a sharper blur and also an ability to bring distant objects closer, albeit modestly, than iPhone 12 Pro is able to. practical rmini iPhone 12 Pro Max can create a different scene composition.
The second difference is in the fact that the zoom of the iPhone 12 Pro Max has an aperture of f2.2 that of the iPhone 12 Pro is instead of f2.0 . Here too, translating into practice, we can say that the zoom of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, compared to that of the iPhone 12 Pro, has a lower sensitivity to light than light and therefore gives rise to the risk of more blurred photos.
The new Wide camera But the real news and the most important advantages of the iPhone 12 Pro Max are in the Wide camera . Like that of the iPhone 12 Pro it now has an aperture of f1.6 (iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max had an aperture of f2.0) but that of the iPhone 12 Pro is based on a sensor that is physically larger , for the greater 47% accuracy . This, on paper, allows you to acquire more light and therefore improve shots in low light. Let's talk about shots with less noise and better dynamic range.
The difference in size between the sensors represented graphically
Finally, Apple for the first time uses a stabilization system that operates directly on the sensor instead of on the lens. This is a technology that we have seen on several mirrorless: four magnets (in the case of the iPhone) produce quick adjustments that cancel or limit vibrations and therefore also the number of blurred photos.
In fact
If on paper this should translate into a significant advantage for the iPhone 12 Pro Max over all the other iPhone 12s, in reality in practice for now the advantage is modest . We would even say imperceptible in the vast majority of situations. At least this is what we can see after several tests we have put together this week.
In the photo taken by iFixit who disassembled iPhone 12 Pro Max it is clearly seen at the bottom of the X-ray image the sensor size difference of the Wide lens
In the sunlight
In the most common situation, the shot with good light, iPhone 12 Pro (but we could also include iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini in the comparison) and iPhone 12 Pro Max take the exact same Images. We are talking, of course, of very pleasing photos with an excellent dynamic range, well exposed. Despite the larger sensor that technically should reduce the depth of field, there are no images with out-of-focus planes. But in the end, despite all these advantages that we have already highlighted during the review of the iPhone 12 Pro, there is no reason to buy an iPhone 12 Pro Max for “normal” shots.
Into the dark
But if it is understandable that when the light is good the differences may not exist, it is less easy to understand because in the face of a sensor almost twice the size and a much more sophisticated stabilizer even when the light is poor the differences are few. Just look at the shots that we attach to the review to understand it; you have to push iPhone 12 Pro Max in extreme conditions to notice some small difference in terms of noise and of definition. The greatest and most perceptible difference is obtained from the fact that the night mode is activated less frequently and with reduced exposure times ; where iPhone 12 Pro takes two seconds to shoot, iPhone 12 Pro Max takes only one. Even on some occasions it shoots without night mode where instead iPhone 12 Pro is forced to use this technology. In the end, however, the result is more or less the same; both the photo taken with the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the one taken with the iPhone 12 Pro are equally pleasant but not easily distinguishable.
Night mode in iPhone 12 Pro; two seconds of exposure 
Night mode in iPhone 12 Pro Max; a second of exposure. Also note the better image stabilization
Why?
The answer to all this is in our opinion in the design of the photo module of the iPhone 12 which entrusts the A14 processor with a fundamental role in the construction of the images . This is a question we have already discussed when we debated the effect and considerations that must be made around computational photography (photography or artificial representation of reality decided against our will by an artificial intelligence?) And which is also topical again. here. The action of the image processing module is so powerful and decisive as to minimize the hardware advantage of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, leveling the comparison with the iPhone 12 Pro .
The processor, the same for both phones and the underlying logic, also the same, regulate almost everything in total autonomy : the color by hue and temperature, the chromatic range, exposure, noise suppression and to increase detail merge more shots on the fly with Deep Fusion (which with iOS 14 is always active); finally they apply HDR where they catch an excessive contrast, opening the shadows and softening the lights. This is not to mention how much the Neural Engine, the machine learning system and the GPU affect the identification and construction of the shots depending on the objects and the landscape that is identified by the artificial intelligence.
Who has an iPhone 12 after taking an image will realize that for a few fractions of a second the photo looks different from how it becomes later. It is in that fraction of a second that the processor applies the millions of calculations necessary to make the photo what it will be, trying to ensure that the result of the shot is as close as possible to what the eye and brain together have perceived in the frame. but to do so it has to overcome the limitations of the processor on the one hand and build the scene on the other. In this context the size of the sensor and its sensitivity to light become much less relevant than they could be.
Waiting Apple Pro RAW
Our suspicion is that bringing home tangible benefits from the iPhone 12 Pro Max requires a fundamental step: the introduction of Apple Pro RAW . With a native shot it is very likely that the larger sensor size can be decisive for those looking for the highest quality in photos: excluding the mass of calculations and image processing applied by the processor that the advantages of the sensor can emerge clearly. After all, Sebastiaan de With, one of the developers behind the excellent Halide application, comes to these conclusions, a program that bases much of its success on the possibility of optimizing photographic shots using manual controls and shooting in RAW.
We reserve the right to do other tests when iOS 14.3 (which today has Apple Pro RAW in beta) will be updated to the final version to evaluate the real advantages of a sensor that is about 50% larger. Even at that moment, in any case, we suspect that iPhone 12 Pro Max will be interesting only in specific contexts and for a specific audience, namely “Pro” photographers, meaning by this term all those who assign smartphone photography a prominent role in the purchase choice and claim independence from A14 processor support in image processing.
2.5X zoom
We mentioned that the zoom lens now has a multiplier of 2.5X . In practice we have a focal length (full frame equivalent) of 65mm. This in terms of approaching the subjects is entirely relative ; if there is any small advantage, it is not such as to be the reason for buying the iPhone 12 Pro Max compared to the 2X of the iPhone 12 Pro. Some progress can be seen by applying the portrait mode with one background more detached from the subject than it is with the 56mm.
When using the zoom, one aspect that is not too publicized must also be taken into account: the camera when the light is not particularly good switches from the sensor of the 2.5X lens to that of the wide lens making a crop . This is because Apple believes that the zoom lens with its aperture of f2.2 bringing less light and more noise to the sensor than what happens with the 56mm lens, which in addition has a magnetic suspension stabilizer, is less efficient. This operation is completely automatic and cannot be controlled by the user. As often happens on other occasions, Apple decides which one is “good for us” and applies it regardless of whether we want it or not.
The dimensions and photos
There is another fundamental aspect to take into account when thinking of the iPhone 12 Pro Max as a tool for photography: the dimensions . We have already mentioned how difficult and insecure it is to operate the telephone with one hand; what is true for navigation, messages and applications is also true for the photo shoot. Shooting a scene with a 6.7-inch one-handed phone requires a certain dexterity and disregard for danger ; already with iPhone 11 Pro Max we seemed to be facing a cold-blooded operation and for which a certain thumb training was also needed; now the shutter button is even more moved and more distant, albeit slightly, from the edge and it becomes even more difficult to press it. It seems even more risky to take a selfie, especially if the idea is to do it horizontal; in this case it is also necessary to extend the arm as much as possible with an increase in the risk factor.
The battery
What the dimensions mean for the autonomy of a phone is completely understandable. We talked about it in the review of the iPhone 12 mini which in its “little body” is able to accommodate a battery of just 2227 mAh useful only to get to the end of the day with difficulty. In the impressive iPhone 12 Pro Max there is instead a 3687 mAh battery . Despite being a little less capable than that of the iPhone 11 Pro Max, Apple estimates the autonomy to be 15% more than the iPhone 12 Pro; our impression is that using the phone in the same way we can check a autonomy higher than that estimated by Apple. If with the iPhone 12 Pro in the evening we found ourselves with a charge between 25 and 30%, using more or less, time of use in hand, in the same way iPhone 12 Pro Max the remaining battery was on two occasions close to 50 % and never dropped below 40%. These results are in line with the more scientific ones conducted by some American sites. In any case, it is a figure that represents a milestone of excellence.
The battery of iPhone 12 Pro Max (right) compared to that of iPhone 12 (center) and iPhone 12 mini (left). The photo is from iFixit who disassembled all three iPhones
Charging and wireless charging
How long does a phone with such a large capacity battery take to recharge? iPhone 12 Pro Max is relatively fast when using a 20W charger like the one we found inside the 8th generation iPad 10.2. In half an hour it reaches from zero to 60%; 85% in an hour, just enough to bring the writer to the end of the day. If you want to go 100% it takes an hour and a half. Things are less good if you use the 15W Magsafe charger . In half an hour the recharge goes around 30%; it takes two hours to reach 80% and three hours to fully charge. In practice, more or less what requires charging using a 12W charger with a normal Lightning cable on USB-2.
In conclusion
iPhone 12 Pro Max is the perfect alter ego of the iPhone 12 mini. While iPhone 12 mini is the perfect smartphone for those who favor dimensional minimalism even at the cost of losing some functions, iPhone 12 Pro Max is the smartphone for those who want everything , including a device that is capable of to do things that technically would be reserved for other devices like a tablet. Size, weight, stand up mine however require the ability to adapt to a phone that is indisputably large. The adaptation will not be so difficult for those who have been used to managing an iPhone Plus or any iPhone Pro Max; in exchange you will get tangible benefits if the comparison is a model that is at least a couple of years old. In addition you will have the possibility of using a phone with an exceptional screen. At the same time, however, the size of the iPhone 12 Pro Max could be unreasonable for those looking for the best compromise between functions and dimensions and perhaps in the past has handled smaller devices.
Also because for now in exchange for a necessary and probably not easy adaptation and a higher cost you get little more than an iPhone 12 Pro : essentially only the much-praised 6.7-inch display and increased battery life. The advantage determined by the photographic module at the moment is instead essentially a bet on the future , a bet that given the technical conditions has a good chance of being also won a as soon as Apple Pro RAW takes full control of the processor over the way iPhone captures and processes photos.
Even at that moment, however, only those who are not willing to give up even a fraction of the possibilities offered by photography on smartphones and judge the quality of the photos by comparing them pixel by pixel could derive real and concrete profit from it. In our opinion, therefore, an altogether modest number of people. For this reason, our advice, before buying is to weigh (in the strict sense of the term) an iPhone 12 Pro Max very well and then evaluate if you are among them.
Pro
Cons
Prices and availability
iPhone 12 Pro Max is available in three memory capacities and in four colors from this page of the Apple Store online: it starts from 1,289 euros for the 128GB model, 1,409 euros for the 256GB model and finally costs 1,639 euros for the 512GB top model. .
Alternatively, it is also available for purchase from this Amazon page, even at slightly discounted prices compared to Apple's list prices, with the possibility of dividing the payment into 5 smaller installments, without costs or interest, without having to present a paycheck. and without having to start a financing procedure.
Everything you need to know about the new iPhone 12 is summarized here. On the macitynet pages you will also find the reviews of iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini.
