Choosing the best iPhone for your needs and saving the right amount of money while doing it is not an easy thing. You could choose a model from the new generation or you could opt for an older iPhone which is still on sale in order to save more money. The new iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max are sold with the same listing price tag because we are talking about the base Pro variant of the new series and the highest-end variant of the old series. But given that the price is the same, which one should you choose? It depends on your actual needs: here is a comparison between their specifications which will answer this question in the best possible way.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro vs Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
| Apple iPhone 13 Pro | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm, 204 g |
160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm, 228 g |
| DISPLAY | 6.1 inches, 1170 x 2532 pixels (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.7 inches, 1284 x 2778p (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED |
| PROCESSOR | Apple A15 Bionic hexa-core 3.22 GHz | Apple A14 Bionic hexa-core 3.1 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 512 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB – 6 GB RAM, 1 TB | 6 GB RAM, 512 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | iOS 15 | iOS 15 |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS |
| CAMERA | Quad 12 + 12 + 12 MP + TOF 3D LiDAR scanner, f/1.5 + f/2.8 + f/1.8 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 |
Quad 12 + 12 + 12 MP + TOF 3D LiDAR scanner, f/1.6 + f/2.0 + f/2.4 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 |
| BATTERY | 3125 mAh, fast charging 20W and Qi wireless charging 7.5W | 3687 mAh, Fast Charging 22W, Qi wireless charging 7.5W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | 5G, optional dual SIM, optional eSIM, MagSafe 15W, IP68 waterproof | 5G, optional dual SIM, optional eSIM, MagSafe 15W, IP68 waterproof |
Design
The iPhone 13 Pro comes with an important improvement when it comes to aesthetics: a smaller notch. The notch of the new iPhone is 20 percent smaller if compared to the old generation. On the other hand, the iPhone 13 Pro has a thicker body and a more protruding camera module because it packs more advanced sensors. But it is also more compact thanks to its smaller display, and it is also lighter with a weight of 204 grams. Given that it comes with a smaller notch and compact dimensions, I actually prefer the iPhone 13 Pro.
Display
The iPhone 13 Pro has a more advanced display thanks to a single addition: the high 120 Hz refresh rate. The iPhone 12 series is the latest one coming only with a standard refresh rate, while the Pro variants of the iPhone 13 series are the first Apple phones with a high refresh rate. The iPhone 13 Pro also provides a higher brightness. But there is an important detail that may let you choose the iPhone 12 Pro Max: its bigger display size. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is more suitable for productivity because of its 6.7-inch display, while the iPhone 13 Pro has a compact 6.1-inch panel. Both the displays are Super Retina XDR OLED panels with HDR10, Dolby Vision, and a 1170p resolution, but the 13 Pro has a higher average brightness.
Specs & Software
If you desire to get higher performance, then go for the iPhone 13 Pro without thinking twice. It has a more powerful Apple A15 Bionic chipset which provides up to 50 percent better CPU performance and even better GPU performance. The memory configurations are the same, but the iPhone 13 Pro adds a fourth variant with 1 TB of internal storage. Another important advantage of the iPhone 13 Pro is the presence of iOS 15 out of the box, that is the reason why it will get one year more of software support. But note that despite the iPhone 13 Pro providing higher performance, the iPhone 12 Pro Max may remain a better phone for productivity due to its bigger display and battery.
Camera
The iPhone 13 Pro has important improvements on the camera front. First of all, the sensors come with brighter focal apertures. Further, on the 13 Pro, there are a few additional features improving the photo and video quality. The camera hardware is not very different, but the few changes alongside the new software make the difference.
Battery
Thanks to its bigger dimensions, the iPhone 12 Pro Max packs a bigger battery and has longer battery life. The capacity of its battery is 3687 mAh, while the iPhone 13 Pro has just 3095 mAh. The difference in terms of battery life is important, while the charging speeds are exactly the same, but the 13 Pro naturally charges faster because of its smaller battery capacity.
Price
You can currently buy the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max for less than €1100/$999. You can usually find better street prices for the iPhone 12 Pro Max because it is an older device, while the 13 Pro has been on sale just for a few weeks. The advantages of the iPhone 12 Pro Max are its bigger display and its bigger battery, but for the rest, the iPhone 13 Pro is superior. It has a smaller display, but it comes with a better processor, better cameras, and iOS 15 out of the box.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro vs Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max: PRO and CONS
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
PRO
- Smaller notch
- Better chipset
- More advanced cameras
- More compact
- iOS 15 out of the box
- 120 Hz refresh rate
CONS
- Smaller battery
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
PRO
- Thinner
- Better prices
- Bigger battery
- Wider display
CONS
- Bigger dimensions
