Apple
iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB
A14 · iOS · 256GB
85
/ 100
From $1,199
VS
iPhone 17 Pro wins by 11
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro
A19 Pro · 6.3″ LTPO · Titanium
96
/ 100
From $1,099
Specdex verdict
iPhone 17 Pro takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB lands at 85 and iPhone 17 Pro at 96. That puts iPhone 17 Pro ahead by 11 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB if…
- ✓iOS ecosystem
- ✓Long update support
- ✓Polished hardware
Pick iPhone 17 Pro if…
- ✓A19 Pro in a compact flagship
- ✓Improved 6× telephoto
- ✓Best single-core CPU shipping
iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB 85
vs 96 iPhone 17 Pro
Score breakdown
iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB
85 cpu 85
gpu 83
camera 84
battery 79
display 82
design 85
iPhone 17 Pro
96 cpu 100
gpu 96
camera 96
battery 86
display 94
design 96
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A14 | Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) |
| Storage | 256GB | 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB |
| OS | iOS 14 | iOS 19 |
| Release year | 2020 | — |
| Display | — | 6.3″ LTPO OLED, 120Hz, 2622×1206 |
| RAM | — | 12 GB |
| Battery | — | 3900 mAh |
| Charging | — | 45W wired, 30W MagSafe |
iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB
Pros
- +iOS ecosystem
- +Long update support
- +Polished hardware
Cons
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited customization
- −Lightning/USB-C split across generations
iPhone 17 Pro
Pros
- +A19 Pro in a compact flagship
- +Improved 6× telephoto
- +Best single-core CPU shipping
Cons
- −12 GB RAM still tight for aggressive AI
- −Charging conservative
- −Pro tax over iPhone 17 Air
FAQ: iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB vs iPhone 17 Pro
Which is better, iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro? +
iPhone 17 Pro scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 11. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB delivers a Specdex score of 85 — strongest in cpu.
Is iPhone 17 Pro worth the price? +
At $1,099, iPhone 17 Pro delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.