Since the iPhone X was launched, Apple has been criticized for increasingly confusing naming of its mobiles. This fall they have launched four different versions of the iPhone 12, with a brand new iPhone mini in the pot, so one would think the confusion was complete. Should you choose the smallest, or the regular 12, or 12 Pro – or what about Pro Max?
With the iPhone 12 Pro Max, it’s very easy. The key word is max: This is the biggest iPhone, in fact Apple’s biggest ever. It is also the best in terms of battery life and the camera. Admittedly, the price is also the highest, starting at NOK 14,000.
If you get maximum value for money? At least you do not get a better iPhone – but the Max model is definitely not for everyone.
Both Pro models have a nice design with a matte back and an edge of steel. Photo: Kirsti Østvang view more
Election qual
We think many who consider the iPhone 12 Pro Max wonder if it is worth paying the extra thousand bucks it costs over the “little brother” iPhone 12 Pro.
Since the Max model shares many of the same features as the iPhone 12 Pro, we only consider the main differences in this test. If you want to read more about how the phone is used – about the performance, 5G and the new MagSafe solution – read the thorough review by colleague and mobile guru Pål Joakim her.
iPhone 12 Pro Max as mentioned Apple’s biggest iPhone ever. The screen is 6.7 inches large, up from 6.5 inches in last year’s model that it replaces, iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Physically, the newcomer is slightly taller and wider, but thinner. Due to the new design with straight edges, it feels noticeably larger, at the same time it no longer feels like it will slip out of the hand like its predecessor with the round edges.
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But there is still no one-handed mobile like the iPhone 12 Pro; the little brother is far more handy – and then we have the iPhone 12 mini which is even more compact.
In normal times we would recommend you to go to a store to know if it is getting too big (we suspect some will think so), but due to the corona pandemic it can be challenging. But there is at least something to be aware of before you buy.
However, large size also means that you get a large screen area to frolic on. There is room for more content on the screen, and in our opinion it is easier to type on the larger keys.
Max also has a larger battery, and brilliant battery life. On a normal home office day, I had just over 40 percent left at bedtime around 23, with a screen time of 5.5 hours.
Although wireless charging is also faster than before, it is still not for you who have a bad time, as we proved in our test of the iPhone 12 Pro. However, Apple’s new MagSafe charger makes it very easy.
NICE ACCESSORIES: MagSafe opens up for lots of cool accessories for the iPhone. Apple offers a wallet that you can attach to the back of your phone, both with and without a cover. Photo: Kirsti Østvang view more
Maintains high quality
In use, Pro Max is like all other iPhones we have tested: lightning fast. Do you live in the right part of the country you might be able to surf with the much faster 5G network. It is waterproof, and should withstand a noise better than before. And yes – you can call with it.
All in all, you get a solid user experience with Apple’s mobiles, regardless of whether it comes to operating system, apps and functionality. Things just work – at least in the Apple realm.
Another thing we have noticed: there is a bit more impact in the speakers of the Pro Max compared to the iPhone 12 Pro.
LIGHTNING: Apple still uses the Lightning connector in the iPhone 12 models, although several iPads now come with USB-C. Photo: Kirsti Østvang view more
Better triple camera
For the first time in many years, Apple has chosen to separate the cameras in the two top models, iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max.
Both have a triple camera system like last year’s models, with wide angle, ultra wide angle and telephoto. This year, both have got something new called a lidar sensor, which helps with autofocus in the dark and mapping the depth of the image you are going to take.
However, the Max model has a few things the iPhone 12 Pro does not have:
The main camera aka wide angle has been given a much larger image chip with new image stabilization that stabilizes the sensor instead of the lens, so-called sensor-shift stabilization.
With a larger sensor, it can collect more light, so it takes pictures with better dynamic range and better pictures in poor lighting than any other iPhone.
By switching to sensor stabilization, you can take sharper pictures and more stable video because the sensor is lighter than the lens and the adjustments can thus be made faster. This is technology we have so far only seen in mirrorless system cameras, even though these use a combination of the two solutions.
The telephoto camera has an even greater range of 2.5x versus 2x. So you can either zoom in a little closer or stand a little further away when you zoom.
BIGGER: You can see that the cameras are larger on the iPhone 12 Pro Max compared to the smaller version. Photo: Kirsti Østvang view more
Whether Pro Max takes much better pictures than iPhone 12 Pro? We observe that US reviewers do not completely agree on whether the difference is noticeable or not (Youtuber Brands Brownlee mean no, Nilay Patel i The Verge clearly means yes).
It probably depends a bit on the eye that sees. If you do not have “pixel peeping” as a hobby, we think you will think they take quite similar pictures, especially in daylight. We had probably hoped there were bigger differences, but they are certainly present.
In situations where there is poor lighting or for photography with a lot of movement, typically of children or pets, the Max model takes pictures with better dynamics. The optical quality especially at the edges is also better.
We think you will see the biggest differences when it is really contrast-filled outside with sun, but the weather gods have not been on our side this week, unfortunately. However, here are some examples:
If we zoom in on these graffiti images, we see that the image becomes sharper and more detailed with the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
We see the same thing when we look closely at this evening picture taken in night mode. The differences are especially noticeable at the edges.
One thing we notice is that the Max almost constantly has a slightly higher ISO. Because it has a larger chip, it probably allows both higher ISO and shorter shutter speeds.
The camera enhancements to the 12 Pro Max also mean that it spends less time taking pictures in night mode (preferably one second against two or three on the 12 Pro).
Another advantage of choosing the Max model is the extra zoom, although we could wish for even more (Samsung S20 Ultra has 4x, for example). We think the extra focal length makes it even better in portrait images – the background becomes more blurred.
Here we stand from the same place and take a portrait photo with Pro Max and 12 Pro, respectively.
However, Pro Max is not consistently better. The larger sensor seems to make things that are not 100% in focus more blurred, as in this picture below, where the leaves on the plant are sharper in the picture taken with the iPhone 12 Pro.
You can see a selection of photos taken with the iPhone 12 Pro Max in the album below.
One thing that has not been launched yet is Apple’s new raw format ProRAW. This will give you more opportunities to edit the image without destruction after it is captured, and it will only be available on the Pro models. We will of course take a look at this when it is launched later this year.
Conclusion
Where we think the iPhone 12 Pro ends up a bit between two chairs; it’s too similar to the regular iPhone 12 edition, but costs only a thousand bucks less than 12 Pro Max – we think Apple hits the mark with the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Here you get brilliant battery life and the best iPhone camera – which in turn is one of the very best and most user-friendly mobile cameras on the market, and perhaps the very best when it comes to video.
But as we pointed out in our test of the iPhone 12 Pro, these are expensive phones, and we think Apple is doing a blunder by shipping them with 60 Hz screens this year, which gives a weaker perceived performance and is less comfortable to look at than screens with higher frame rates. As long as you have not tried it, you will not miss it, and it would probably affect the battery life negatively – but we know that Apple can. Had it not been for the two things, this would have been a full pot.
There is no point in running and buying if you already have an iPhone 11 Pro Max. If you are upgrading from an older Apple mobile, we think you will enjoy the improvements especially when it comes to low light photography and night mode – as long as you are ready for the size.
– Extremely high performance – Very good battery life – Very robust construction with extra strong glass and very good water resistance – Very good camera, especially on video – Magnetic back opens for a lot of exciting accessories – Very fast and precise face unlocking – The Lidar sensor opens up many exciting third-party apps – Apple has a tradition of updating the phones with new features for 5-6 years – Very good image quality on the screen…
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-… but still only 60 Hz – Not universal with zoom on the camera – Not so fast charging either with cable or wireless – No one charges in the box – High price
