iPhone 12 Pro Max Vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Which One Is Better?

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When it comes to high-end mobile devices, there aren’t many smartphones that can compete with Apple’s Pro iPhones. The iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max both offered minor improvements over their predecessors and stood out in a crowded market this year, so we may expect more of the same in the future. The most complete and expensive iPhone in the 2020 price range was the iPhone 12 Pro Max. That’s because it offers a lot: the screen is enormous, the cameras are excellent (and the key distinction from the 12 Pro), and the entire performance is outstanding.

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is large in both form and personality. Improved performance, battery life, and camera quality, as well as new features like Always-On Display and Dynamic Island, make the updated design stand out, especially in this larger version. Do the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max stand out from the crowd in light of the fact that Samsung, Vivo, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Google, and Oppo have all just entered the market as potential competitors? Let’s take a look at this in great detail.

iPhone 12 Pro Max Vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Comparison Table

Features	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 14 Pro Max
Launching Year	2020	2022
Brand	Apple	Apple
Model Name	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 14 Pro Max
Series	iPhone 12 Series	iPhone 14 Series
Online Pricing Range	₹1,19,000	₹1,39,000
Customer Ratings	4.5/5	4.5/5

iPhone 12 Pro Max Vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Detailed Analysis

Design

A gleaming new design, more in line with the most recent iterations of the iPad Pro and iPad Air, was introduced with the iPhone 12 Pro Max of 2020. This design tweak, which left the speakers, buttons, and Lightning port mostly in their original locations, had a number of advantages. The primary difference is that the 12 Pro Max’s screen is even larger than the 6.5-inch screen on the 2019 iPhone 11 Pro Max, yet taking up essentially the same amount of space. The 12 Pro Max is actually a little bit thinner than its predecessor if you’re keeping track.

While Apple hasn’t gone full Samsung just yet, the smooth surgical-grade stainless steel band edge around the iPhone makes the screen bezel seem smaller. All of Apple’s efforts to make the iPhone 12 Pro seem like a jewel are highlighted by the greater size. The cameras and shiny logo are set off by gold ring accents on the glass, frosted laminated back. There are four color options for the 12 Pro Max: Graphite, Silver, Gold, and the brand-new Pacific Blue. You’ll either love or hate the highly gold, gold jewelry-style material. But at least the much more neutral frosted glass back does help tone things down a little.

We adored the new, rich design of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple has done a fantastic job of transforming it into a functional and visually stunning feature, despite the fact that it is a hardware limitation. Features from some third-party apps, like FaceID, Amazon Prime Music, and phone conversations, seamlessly merge in with those from the native apps. To provide a better user experience, more app developers are aiming to offer distinctive, vibrant features. The pill-shaped front camera module, which also contains the recognizable FaceID security mechanism, is where we immediately detect a visual shift. The business has trademarked the term “Dynamic Island” to describe its preferred method of interface design for its displays.

The triple-camera module on the rear of the iPhone 14 Pro Max is slightly larger than the model it replaces. It boasts a larger sensor for improved photography in low light. The rest of the device is protected by a tough matte Ceramic Shield glass cover that does a great job at preventing fingerprint smudges, but the enormous protruding camera module eventually gathers dust. Having said that, the model in space grey looks stunning in the sunlight. Apple also provides the product in three additional colors: deep purple, gold, and silver. Only the 14 Pro models come in deep purple. The Ceramic Shield, which is marketed as the toughest mobile protective equipment in the industry, is also used to shield the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s display on the front. Recycled or sustainably sourced minerals are among the materials utilized in the phone’s interior and external components.

Display

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is identical to the iPhone 12 Pro in all respects except for the cameras. Although the display is significantly larger, the brightness, color, and pixel density are all rather similar. Additionally, not a lot more information is automatically displayed on the huge screen. That’s unfortunate because this device is approaching tablet territory in terms of size, and I wish Apple would permit software developers to make better use of all this space.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max still has a 60Hz refresh rate display, which is disappointing considering that nearly all Android phones above this price level now have 120Hz displays. This was somewhat acceptable on the ordinary 12, but We believe it to be a miss on the 12 Pro and especially the Pro Max. It is the most expensive iPhone with the largest battery, and the display shouldn’t be even slightly behind the competition.

The 6.7-inch OLED display inside the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is gorgeous. The colors are rich, vibrant, and punchy, the blacks are gorgeous and dark, and there is enough brightness. Although the size and resolution of the 14 Pro Max, which are 2796 x 1290 pixels, are almost identical to those of the iPhone 13 Pro Max, and many of the same features are included, there is now a peak brightness of 2000nits.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s availability of Always-On Display technology, made possible by the decrease in bottom refresh rate, is more interesting, nevertheless. This works perfectly with the iOS 16 Lock Screen customization options; more on that in a moment. It enables some information to persist on display in a darkened state even when the screen isn’t on.

Camera Performance

The iPhone 12 Pro Max stands apart from the rest of the iPhone 12 range thanks to its larger size and its superior camera system compared to those of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. Three cameras—a wide, an ultrawide, and a telephoto lens—along with a LIDAR sensor that enables portrait photographs on the wide camera in Night mode—are the same as they are on the 12 Pro. Now that night mode is accessible at all three zoom levels; the iPhone 11 has improved. Similar to the ultrawide cameras on the 12 and 12 Pro, the ultrawide on the 11 Pro is noticeably improved. We find having an ultrawide useful and enjoyable; however, it only produces average images when compared to the primary camera. In order to lessen vibrations, the 12 Pro Max employs sensor-shift stabilization, which involves moving the sensor itself. While the technology on the 12 Pro Max is somewhat more effective than the OIS on the 12 Pro at minimizing a wider range of vibrations, Apple tells me that the switch to sensor-shift stabilization on the 12 Pro Max was more about making this sensor size operate to its standards than overall performance.

There are high expectations for the camera if you are going to spend more than one lakh rupees on the phone. And it’s safe to conclude that the iPhone 14 Pro, which offers a significant camera increase over the iPhone 13 Pro, does not let users down. The 48 MP main sensor, which is 65 percent larger than that of the iPhone 13 Pro, is the star of the show. Upgraded 12 MP ultrawide and 12 MP telephoto cameras with 3x optical zoom are included with the primary camera. Last but not least, the upgraded 12 MP front camera now has autofocus.

The 48 MP primary camera on this smartphone produces some of the greatest pictures we’ve ever seen in daylight. Images taken in daylight are very detailed, and the Photonic Engine helps to increase dynamic range, producing great results. Additionally, the camera reproduces natural-looking colors while keeping a great, vivid appearance. The primary camera’s main camera maintains color constancy with the 12 MP ultrawide unit. Although we did notice a small amount of oversaturation in some pictures, it also catches a tonne of detail and has superb exposure. The ability of the sensor to catch more light advantages the ultrawide camera, which also functions as a macro camera. In terms of keeping consistency in terms of both colors and detail, the three lenses perform a fantastic job overall. The iPhone 14 Pro’s main camera captures detailed images with Apple’s exceptional dynamic range and little to no noise at night.

While Apple’s Cinematic Mode supports 4K HDR footage at 30fps and 24fps, the iPhone 14 Pro can capture 4K video at 60 frames per second in ProRes. Since we’re talking about cameras, you’ll be happy to know that the front camera has also received a significant boost and now enables autofocus. The quicker aperture of the new TrueDepth camera, according to Apple, aids in taking better selfies in low light. Selfies taken in broad daylight feature a lot of information, are quite sharp and have vibrant colors. Natural skin tones, precise edge detection, and subject separation provide for attractive portrait selfies.

Performance

The Pro Max has Apple’s A14 processor, which also powers the other iPhone 12 models. It is quicker than last year’s CPU at loading games and apps, but it really concentrates its strength on making sure the iPhone can handle the picture and video processing you’ll be asking it to do. It is now being asked to do a lot because of those cameras.

Additionally, there is 5G connectivity, which, depending on where you live, will either transform your world or not have an immediate impact on it. While 5G connectivity does become available, the Pro Max moves quickly, just as we discovered when reviewing the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. You may be able to obtain download and upload rates in the hundreds of Mbps range rather than just tens of Mbps, depending on your environment and network.

Consider 5G as an investment in the future rather than something you will undoubtedly profit from right away. Additionally, Apple designed the iPhone 12 range to only utilize 5G when it is accessible and necessary. Having 5G turned on when your phone is in your pocket or you’re reading an email is a waste of battery life; thus, this feature helps conserve power.

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is powered by the latest A16 Bionic chipset, which provides improved performance over the A15 found in the regular iPhone 14 Plus. The iPhone 14 Pro Max runs everything smoothly, even the most demanding apps and games. We played Call of Duty Mobile for a short while on the iPhone 14 Max, and it worked flawlessly and without any noticeable heating issues.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max, as you might imagine, is 5G ready, much like every iPhone since the iPhone 12. The iPhone 14 Pro Max, on the other hand, provides a small bonus. The iPhone 14 Pro Max will support you by providing Emergency SOS via satellite connectivity if you find yourself up a mountain without any signal. The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s storage capacities begin at 128GB and can be upgraded to 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. You’ll have to make do with the amount of storage you have, as microSD expansion is not supported.

Software

Like the other iPhone 12 models, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max debuted with iOS 14, which added a number of innovations, including widgets for the home screen, App Clips, and enhanced Messages and Maps.

The software is, of course, compatible with all iPhone models starting with the iPhone 6S and onwards; thus, the majority of features aren’t unique to the iPhone 12 series. The majority of the software will be the same as any other iPhone, with a few exceptions, such as Night Mode on the front camera.

As a result, it is comfortable for those making an upgrade (though with the beauty of a larger display if upgrading from Touch ID models) and somewhat easy – albeit a more closed system – for those switching from Android. It goes without saying that the phone will now happily and without issue run the more recent iOS 15 to benefit from the improvements it offers.

The most recent version of Apple’s iOS, 16, is compatible with the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. Obviously, it’s not limited to the iPhone 14 series; it works with iPhone 8 and later generations as well. Despite this, there are plenty of functions to use, and the hardware in both the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro may be used to enhance some of these features. For instance, you can see some detail on the Always-On Display of the Pro models due to the configurable lock screens, which gives them a dimension that the normal iPhone 14 and other comparable iPhones don’t have. Additionally, there is the Car Crash Detection tool, which we briefly described but that you will hopefully never use.

Battery

The iPhone 12 Pro Max’s large size necessitates a sizable power pack. Therefore, battery life is excellent. Although Apple doesn’t specify the size of its batteries, the details are readily available. According to rumors, the iPhone 14 Pro’s battery is a little bit bigger than that of its forerunner. Furthermore, the iPhone 14 Pro can charge from 0% to 50% in 30 minutes if you purchase an Apple 20W charger since an adapter is not included in the box. Along with Qi wireless charging, the phone also supports 15W MagSafe wireless charging.

iPhone 12 Pro Max Vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Quick Results

Particulars	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 14 Pro Max	Which One Is Better?
Design	Good	Good	Any
Display	Good	Good	Any
Camera Performance	Good	Good	Any
Performance	Good	Better	iPhone 14 Pro Max
Software	Good	Better	iPhone 14 Pro Max
Battery	Good	Good	Any

Final Verdict: iPhone 12 Pro Max Vs iPhone 14 Pro Max

The CPU and GPU performance of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is identical to that of the iPhone 12 Pro, as would be expected. Although it shares its sensor with the iPhone 12 Pro, this model’s new lens assembly allows for a more impressive 2.5x magnification (equal to a 65mm lens). The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is large in both form and personality. Along with changes to the Always-On Display, cameras, performance, battery, and Dynamic Island, there is a new design that is very appealing, especially in this larger version. It is a gorgeous tablet for people who need the extra 0.6 inches of display or battery life, despite being a bit pricy, bulky, and having all the same features as its smaller sibling.

Also Read: iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 11: Which Apple Smartphone Is Best Buy For You?