Apple
iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB
A14 · iOS · 512GB
85
/ 100
From $1,299
VS
iPhone 17 Pro Max wins by 11
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 512GB 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 512GB 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
iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB 85
vs 96 iPhone 17 Pro Max
Score breakdown
iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB
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
| Spec | iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A14 | Apple A19 Pro chip |
| Storage | ▲ 512GB | 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 512GB
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 512GB vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Which is better, iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB 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 512GB worth the price? +
At $1,299, iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB 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 512GB 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.