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Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Comparison

A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right phone.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
9.0 / 10
Compass Score
From 74 critic reviews
Full review →
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Apple
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
8.9 / 10
Compass Score
From 63 critic reviews
Full review →
Verdict

Pros & cons

iPhone 15 Pro Max

A feature-packed phone with a sleek design but still needs extra care due to its delicate exterior.

+
Good
+ Lighter titanium design
+ Advanced gaming performance
+ Impressive 5x optical zoom
+ Long battery life
+ Clear audio quality
−
Not
− Screen easily scratches
− Slow charging
− Action Button limitations
− Heats up during heavy use
− High price

iPhone 12 Pro Max

Spec data

How they compare

Choosing the cheaper iPhone 12 Pro Max means giving up most on: Weight

iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Price (MSRP)
$1,199
Price (MSRP)
$1,099
OS
iOS
OS
iOS
Processor
Apple A17 Pro Hexa-core
Processor
Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) Hexa-core
Camera zoom
—
Camera zoom
4×
Battery life
12h 58m
GSMArena Active Use
Battery life
—
Wired charging
—
Wired charging
—
Wireless charging
15W
Wireless charging
—
Display
Color, 120Hz
2000 nits peak
Display
Color
Software support
—
Software support
—
Repairability
7/10
iFixit
Repairability
—
Weight
221g (7.8 oz)
Weight
228g (8 oz)
Fingerprint
No
Fingerprint
No
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
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Third-party data

Testing & benchmarks

iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 12 Pro Max
DxOMark v5
154
photo 153 · video 158
DxOMark v5
—
AnTuTu v10
1.42M
AnTuTu v10
—
GSMArena endurance
12h 58m
Active Use
GSMArena endurance
—
iFixit repairability
7/10
iFixit repairability
—
Physical comparison

Size & weight

Footprint · to scale
iPhone 15 Pro Max
6.3" × 3"
iPhone 12 Pro Max
6.3" × 3.1"
Thickness · to scale
iPhone 15 Pro Max
0.3"
iPhone 12 Pro Max
0.3"
Height
6.3" (159.9 mm)
Height
6.3" (160.8 mm)
Width
3" (76.7 mm)
Width
3.1" (78.1 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.3 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7.4 mm)
Weight
221g (7.8 oz)
Weight
228g (8 oz)
Screen
6.7"
Screen
6.7"

Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.

Also compared

Related comparisons

Other head-to-head matchups for the phones on this page.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
9.0
VS
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
8.9
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Compare →
Common questions

iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: FAQ

Which is better, the iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 12 Pro Max?
Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPhone 15 Pro Max earns a Compass Score of 9.0 compared to 8.9 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max. That 0.1-point gap reflects stronger reviews across the board, though individual priorities like camera quality, battery life, or price could tip the scales the other way. Scores aggregate dozens of expert opinions, so they are a useful starting point, not the final word.
Which phone is more affordable, the iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 12 Pro Max?
The iPhone 12 Pro Max launches at $1,099, which is $100 less than the iPhone 15 Pro Max at $1,199. Street prices shift after launch, so check current deals for both phones before deciding.

Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated October 2026. Suggest a correction →