Apple
iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB
A14 · iOS · 256GB
85
/ 100
From $1,199
VS
iPhone 17 Pro Max wins by 13
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro Max
A19 Pro · 6.9″ LTPO · Titanium
98
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict
iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB lands at 85 and iPhone 17 Pro Max at 98. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max ahead by 13 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 Max if…
- ✓Industry-leading A19 Pro silicon
- ✓New vapor-chamber cooling
- ✓Apple Intelligence Gen 2
iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB 85
vs 98 iPhone 17 Pro Max
Score breakdown
iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB
85 cpu 85
gpu 83
camera 84
battery 79
display 82
design 85
iPhone 17 Pro Max
98 cpu 100
gpu 98
camera 98
battery 90
display 95
design 96
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A14 | Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) |
| Storage | 256GB | 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB |
| OS | iOS 14 | iOS 19 |
| Release year | 2020 | — |
| Display | — | 6.9″ LTPO OLED, 120Hz, 2868×1320 |
| RAM | — | 12 GB |
| Rear camera | — | 48 MP + 48 MP UW + 48 MP 6× tele |
| Battery | — | 4800 mAh |
| Charging | — | 45W wired, 30W MagSafe |
| Weight | — | 232 g |
| IP rating | — | IP68 |
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 Max
Pros
- +Industry-leading A19 Pro silicon
- +New vapor-chamber cooling
- +Apple Intelligence Gen 2
Cons
- −Premium price
- −Weight crept up with titanium chassis
- −Still 45 W charging ceiling
FAQ: iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Which is better, iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 13. 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 Max worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max 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.