iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB
A14 · iOS · 256GB
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue)
A19 Pro · 256GB · Deep Blue
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB lands at 85 and iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) at 98. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) 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 256GB (Deep Blue) if…
- ✓Apple A19 Pro silicon
- ✓120 Hz ProMotion (Pro/Air)
- ✓Apple Intelligence Gen 2
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB | iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A14 | A19 Pro |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| OS | iOS 14 | iOS 19 |
| Release year | 2020 | 2025 |
| Color | — | Deep Blue |
iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB
- +iOS ecosystem
- +Long update support
- +Polished hardware
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited customization
- −Lightning/USB-C split across generations
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue)
- +Apple A19 Pro silicon
- +120 Hz ProMotion (Pro/Air)
- +Apple Intelligence Gen 2
- −Still Lightning-free, USB-C only
- −Premium pricing
- −AI features require online offload for some tasks
FAQ: iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB vs iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue)
Which is better, iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue)? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) 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 256GB (Deep Blue) worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) 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.