Cyberlayman has already tried iPhone 12 Pro Max. A “technical” test, a review we did shortly after the launch (and after that of iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini ) that we hope has served to support the purchase for all our readers to whom we have tried to explain the operation of this phone, its features, its usability. Now at a distance after a month of use, alas limited by the lockdown which has passed for more in the red zone, therefore without moving and without the possibility of testing the device for periods of time sustained outside, we write a reflection, meaning by this more that a passage function by function, detail by detail, a collection of thoughts.
This writer has been lucky enough to have owned or tried all Apple phones so far , including the first iPhone 2G and this is where our thoughts will develop. We will try to make this experience available to those who read this, avoiding as much as possible to face or deepen what was written in our previous reviews.
The almost empty box
According to a report by ClearItWaste, Italy is the thirteenth in the world for electronic waste, with 42 kg per year per family, the equivalent of 15 27-inch monitors. We are beaten by the Norwegians (57 kg per family) and the British (55 kg).
Why this data? The answer is simple: the surprise of finding the iPhone 12 Pro Max in a thinner box without power supply and headphones but only with the USB-C cable to Lightning, compared to the more expensive version of the phone (the test version provided by Apple has 512 GB of memory and costs 1,639 euros) is to be interpreted. The box is smaller (flat and wide) and according to Apple this also reduces space and allows you to carry more while polluting less. But above all the phone wants to have a lower environmental impact and, given that chargers typically last longer than phones, and the headphones on this device are usually used wireless, Apple has decided to take a decisive step in line with its environmental policy. Use the old ones or buy them separately and keep them because the next phones will also be without.
Is it too big?
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is great. Indeed, according to the “voice of the network” “Such a large phone makes no sense”. True, the 12 Pro Max has the largest display ever made for an iPhone: Super Retina XDR with edge-to-edge OLED technology with 60hz refresh and reaches 6.7 inches. But Apple has managed to increase the screen by increasing the size of the body imperceptibly. Is the phone too big? Complaining about this is like complaining that the iPhone 12 Mini is too small or maybe that it has a shorter battery life than other iPhones. A smaller phone obviously has a smaller battery. You don't buy it because you want a lot of autonomy, you buy it because you want it to be small.
Then to say that it does not fit in your pocket because it is “too big” and another consideration that does not take into account that there are other iPhone Pros and not Pros that are more pocket-sized. And then it also depends on the size of the clothing: it certainly does not fit in the pocket of a ten-year-old child.
You buy the Pro Max precisely because it has a large screen . Otherwise you take the 12 Pro. Why not imagine that the size of the phone also responds to a question of function as well as form factor? It's a great phone for people who need a big phone (and whoever signs this article is one of them): because of the size of your hands, because we do things that require more screen space, or because you have disabilities that are helped. from a larger screen.
With iPhone 12 Pro Max you can change the font size across all apps and have more space (if you make small fonts) or more help for life (if you make larger fonts). Other smaller phones do not allow this.
Furthermore, with the Pro Max it physiologically improves the accessibility for disabled people of the iPhone , thanks to its larger size. Accessibility is something that Apple sees as a continuum and that it has grafted across all functions and applications, following a path of assistance to people with disabilities to allow them access to technologies since 1985, five years earlier. that the regulations for the accessibility of electronic tools were approved in the US: “It is something that is part of our DNA, it is not a requirement of the law,” a manager from Cupertino told us some time ago. Being able to take advantage of technologies such as Lidar and voice over with artificial intelligence that recognizes scenes to help the blind understand where they are and where the obstacles are is revolutionary.
Autonomy
The autonomy is very high , it allows you to get to the end of the day and leave the iPhone 12 Pro Max even on all night to find it the next morning still charged enough to start the morning. Is this a typical use? We used the phone for everything as usual, but we certainly didn't go around because of the aforementioned lockdown, so the connection cell is always the one that lights up the house, the WiFi is close and with strong signal so there is no excess radio transmission, and many mini-controls of the phone were not there because they are not needed, having the computer on. However, the phone has replaced the use of the iPad at home for many functions including music and videos, some movies on Netflix, but also reading ebooks, PDFs and newspapers in the morning. And all this without giving us battery problems.
Photo and video
We have kept this section on purpose at the bottom. If you want even in a provocative way. In fact, what they say is that the iPhone 12 Pro Max is only useful if you are passionate about photography and video. Of course, the larger and stabilized sensor allows you to do more. And we have seen that there is also the larger screen which helps to do a lot. We did a lot of post-production of our images, which we have long since transferred to the iPad Pro, directly to the phone. And this in our opinion is the real revolution, together with the fact that the A14 Bionic sensor married with larger photoreceptors and with the compensation of micro-movements making the sensor itself floating adds not only stops of brightness but also quality to the image especially in low light.
Is it a sea change compared to the iPhone 12 Pro? No, at least not for a non-professional . If you have to do a professional photo or video shooting set for work, then you definitely need the 12 Pro Max. The extra margins it allows you are considerable but must be exploited. Not to mention that for photography and video professionals have always followed a rule: you buy equipment without looking at the price tag. In the hands of a pro who has to record Dolby Vision HDR video in minimal conditions even one more stop is needed, ditto for photography. It is like a car prepared for rally races: in the hands of a driver who knows how to exploit its characteristics to the last crumb it becomes fundamental.
In the hands of the enthusiast or the ordinary user, we believe that the iPhone 12 Pro Max does not make a big difference compared to other phones. It is not in fact the iPhone 12 Pro Max that makes you take better photos. Sure, it helps, but even a 12 Pro takes incredible photos and we challenge you to tell the difference with the naked eye : which one was taken with which. The yield is almost identical, only with the Max it is slightly easier even in more critical situations. But, to stay in the metaphor of the car prepared for a rally, if one is not a professional driver he does not even know how to push it to the limit and then it is better to use a good sedan that costs much less.
Our opinion
iPhone 12 Pro Max has important dimensions but also an exceptional screen and important news regarding the video and photographic sector. Even if the processor is the same as the 12 Pro non-Max version, the Max manages to do something more because it can really be the center of our digital life because it is convenient for reading, viewing photos or videos, and does not tire the eyes. . In these days we have continued to use our fifth generation iPad mini, the device we use most for media consumption at home and outside, but we are beginning to think that iPhone 12 Pro Max is able to replace it almost completely; with a small Bluetooth keyboard and the device becomes a more than worthy “on the road” workstation.
In short, the large screen with the computing power and flexibility of iOS allows you to do a lot. If anyone wonders if it can replace the MacBook or iPad Pro with keyboard the answer is “no but it can be used profitably for many productivity tasks . In practical terms, anyone who thinks about a professional use of the phone and knows how to take advantage of all its advanced features can buy iPhone 12 Pro. The photographic one is on standby for now, but size and battery are a strong point already now. Were it not that the Max is also such for the price, these are two factors that could tempt anyone.
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.
