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iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB — A14 · iOS · 256GB
Apple

iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB

A14 · iOS · 256GB

85
/ 100
From $1,199
VS
iPhone 17 Pro Max wins by 11
iPhone 17 Pro Max — A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68
Apple

iPhone 17 Pro Max

A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68

96
/ 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 96. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max 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 Max if…

  • ✓A19 Pro chip
  • ✓Up to 39 hours video playback
  • ✓Up to 2 TB storage
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Photography

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Stills and video quality across lenses

iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on camera (95 vs 84).

Battery life

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Screen-on time and charging

iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on battery (92 vs 79).

Performance

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps

iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on cpu (98 vs 85).

Display

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Panel quality, brightness, refresh rate

iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on display (95 vs 82).

Value for money

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

iPhone 17 Pro Max more score per dollar ($1,199 vs $1,199).

iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB 85
vs
96 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
96
cpu 98
gpu 96
camera 95
battery 92
display 95
design 95

Specs side-by-side

iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB versus iPhone 17 Pro Max — full spec comparison
Spec iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB iPhone 17 Pro Max
Chipset
A14
Apple A19 Pro chip
Storage
256GB
256 / 512 GB / 1 / 2 TB
OS
iOS 14
iOS 26
Release year
2020
—
Display
—
6.9″ OLED, 2868×1320 at 460 ppi
Battery (video)
—
Up to 39 hours
Charging
—
50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W
Weight
—
233 g
IP rating
—
IP68 (6 m, 30 min)

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
  • +A19 Pro chip
  • +Up to 39 hours video playback
  • +Up to 2 TB storage
Cons
  • −Premium price
  • −Weighs 233 g
  • −Wired charging requires 40W+ adapter

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 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 Max worth the price? +

At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 96 — 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.

Which is better for photography, iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +

iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on camera (95 vs 84). Stills and video quality across lenses.

Which is better for battery life, iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +

iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on battery (92 vs 79). Screen-on time and charging.