Should I Buy the iPhone 12 Pro or the iPhone 12 Pro Max?

Since Apple announced the release of the new iPhone 12 on October 13th, people have been scrambling to find out more about the incoming line of devices.

The previous model, the iPhone 11, came in a similar lineage with the iPhone 11, the iPhone 11 Pro, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max. However, the iPhone 12 is paired with the iPhone 12 Pro, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, and the iPhone 12 Mini.

We know. It's exciting.

This shift in the lineage among other groundbreaking technological updates caused mass chaos on social media. Everyone was wondering what the differences between the four (rather than three) models would be.

The most confusing differentiation came between the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. If you, like many people out there, are confused about the differences between these two devices, keep reading.

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max

Both devices should be familiar to you, especially if you're a previous Apple user who owned a phone in the iPhone 11 lineage. The 'Pro' and 'Pro Max' version of the phone came from two different perspectives. People either thought that they were too hyped or too underappreciated.

Both of these editions are more expensive than the baseline model. With Apple's rising prices, it seems that people wanted to be sure that the newer, more expensive models were worth the upsell.

Let's dig into the features of each model and discuss which one is the right one for you to buy.

The Price

One of the very first things that people look at when they're considering buying a new phone is the price point. Unfortunately, as we mentioned earlier, it seems that Apple's products are getting more and more expensive.

However, as far as we're concerned, these prices are reasonable for what you get. (We'll dive more into value later.)

The iPhone 12 Pro starts as low as $999, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max starts as low as $1099. The difference is $100.

That large yet marginally small difference leaves buyers questioning whether or not the extra $100 is worth the upgrade.

Let's continue talking about the value that you get for each price.

The Design

As you can probably tell in photos, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is larger in size than the iPhone 12 Pro.

The iPhone 12 Pro is ideal for people who are one-handed phone users. With its 6.1-inch display, the iPhone 12 Pro is just small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. The phone measures 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.29 inches and weighs 6.6 ounces.

On the other hand, the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display that may be more fit for those of you who are using both hands. The device measures 6.33 x 3.07 x 0.29 inches and weighs 8.03 ounces.

As you can tell, both phones have a nice weight to them. However, the iPhone 12 Pro Max takes the cake in terms of size and weight. This makes it the ideal choice for those of you who are looking for a large-scale experience.

Both phones have a stainless steel bands around the exterior as well as matte glass, which is resistant to finger prints.

Both the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max have returned to the old, straight edges from a few generations before. With this old edition, Apple has also added in a new ceramic shield. This added piece of protection gives your phone a shield for four times the drop distance as the iPhone 11.

Both phones have an IP68 rating, meaning that they can be submerged in six meters of water for thirty minutes

The Display

Apple is the king when it comes to displays. We all know it.

Even with their phones, they find a way to make bright, rich displays that beat out most modern televisions.

When discussing the displays of the Pro and Pro Max, we should jump back to the dimensions of each phone. Obviously, the Pro Max does have an edge on the Pro when it comes to size.

Although, unless you're an avid video watcher or use your phone to review important documents, we're sure that you'll do fine with the Pro.

In terms of the display quality itself, both phones offer a about the same color reproduction. However, because of the larger screen and amped up specs, the Pro Max has slightly better color reproduction.

Although, if you're worried about brightness rather than looks, you should opt for the iPhone 12 Pro. The Pro version of the iPhone 12 is actually brighter than the Pro Max.

The Cameras

Both the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have three rear-facing cameras. Likewise, they also have the same added features such as Night Mode and Smart HDR 3.

In terms of video, both the Pro and Pro Max shoot in 4K via Dolby Vision video.

Now, let's get to the differences.

If you're passionate about photo and/or video, you should likely opt for the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The wider main camera lens lets more light into your photos and videos, allowing for a brighter, clearer picture.

Plus, the iPhone 12 Pro Max lets you zoom in even further on the pictures and videos that you're taking. The iPhone 12 Pro offers a 2.0x optical zoom and a 10x digital zoom, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers a 2.5x optical zoom and a 12x digital zoom.

The Performance

If you're looking to use your phone for a variety of things, you need great performance. Any video gamers out there? Listen up!

Both the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are powered by Apple's 5nm A14 Bionic chip as well as 6GB of ram. Because of this great similarity, both versions offer about the same in terms of performance.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is only slightly better at registering the material brought up on screen with a frames per second value only three seconds higher than the iPhone 12 Pro.

The Battery

Other than the size of the devices, the battery life is the only noticeable difference between the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 Pro offers 2,815 mAh battery, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers 3,687 mAh battery.

In battery life tests between the phones, the iPhone 12 Pro Max beats out the iPhone 12 Pro by an average of an hour and a half.

This means that - if you're looking for battery life - it's probably worth the extra $100 to go for the iPhone Pro Max. However, if you're not on your phone much, you'll probably be okay to go down to the iPhone 12 Pro. It's likely going to make it through the day, even if you're a moderate phone user.

As you're contemplating battery life, keep in mind that the iPhone 12 uses 5G. This takes up more battery life than a phone with 4G would. So, if the battery life doesn't look impressive against other 4G devices, you should consider the use of 5G.

Many people who have already invested in the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max rave about the battery lasting for days. This makes it a great choice for those of you who always seem to forget to plug in your phone at night.

The Extra Features

The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are compatible with wireless charging devices. However, a wireless charger does not come with either device. Instead, you'll receive a USB-C to lightning cable without a brick to go with it.

You could invest in a wireless charging device, but you should keep in mind that wireless charging is nowhere near as fast as wired charging. So, if you're looking for a quick charge, this may not be the best choice.

Both phones also come with 5G connection, as we mentioned before. The faster speed paired with the great graphics from each phone will give you an Apple experience like never before. This is the first Apple phone in a while where people can see the difference upon turning on their new device.

The Review

Overall, both the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are great updates for Apple users who need more out of their device.

If you're trying to choose between the devices, there aren't many differences to examine. The iPhone 12 Pro is probably going to be your choice if you're looking for a compact yet powerful device that is comparable to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. In addition, the iPhone 12 Pro is better for those who aren't willing to pay the extra $100 for a larger device with more battery life.

However, if you're set on a larger phone with more battery life to get you through your day, you should go with the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The extra $100 may be worth it if you're on your phone for extended periods of time throughout the day.

Getting the Right Phone

We hope that all of these details and comparisons have helped you make your decision on whether you should go for the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max.

As you're collecting cables and chargers for your new phones, feel free to check out our fast charging cable bundle which is compatible with the iPhone 12. Since the iPhone 12 does not come with a block, you're going to need one.