iPhone 16 Pro Max

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max: A Huge Leap Forward

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max: A Huge Leap Forward

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: Should You Upgrade?

 

If you’re still rocking the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers some exciting advancements. Let’s compare the two.

 

Display: Small but Noticeable Upgrade

iPhone 12 Pro Max: 6.7” Super Retina XDR OLED, still a great display.

iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.9” Super Retina XDR OLED with improved brightness, contrast, and color depth. The increase in size and quality is great for media consumption.

 

Performance: A17 Pro vs. A14 Bionic

iPhone 12 Pro Max: Powered by the A14 Bionic chip, which remains solid but is showing its age with today’s high-demand apps.

iPhone 16 Pro Max: The A17 Pro chip offers faster processing, better efficiency, and superior graphics performance, perfect for power users and future-proofing.

 

Camera: Significant Upgrade

iPhone 12 Pro Max: 12MP triple-camera system, good for everyday photos.

iPhone 16 Pro Max: 48MP main camera, enhanced low-light performance, and AI-driven photography. The camera upgrade is significant, providing far better detail, zoom, and low-light shots.

 

Battery Life: More Efficient

iPhone 12 Pro Max: Good battery life, but as the device ages, you may notice quicker draining.

iPhone 16 Pro Max: Improved efficiency thanks to the A17 Pro chip, offering longer-lasting battery life throughout the day.

 

5G Connectivity

Both: Both phones support 5G, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max has more optimized 5G performance for faster, more stable connections.

 

Recommendation:

If you’re looking for the latest features, faster performance, and a significant camera upgrade, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a worthy upgrade. However, if you want a great alternative without jumping to the newest model, consider the iPhone 13 Pro Max. It offers strong performance with the A15 Bionic chip, an excellent camera system, and a large OLED display at a lower price point.

 

Need help choosing the right iPhone? Use the Plug Find Your iPhone Tool for personalized recommendations!

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Compare Specs

iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro Max Sale price$9,999.99
iPhone 12 Pro Max Pacific Blue 128GB (Unlocked) - Plug.tech
iPhone 12 Pro Max (Unlocked) Sale priceFrom $399.99 Regular price$1,099.99
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro Max Sale price$9,999.99
iPhone 12 Pro Max Pacific Blue 128GB (Unlocked) - Plug.tech
iPhone 12 Pro Max (Unlocked) Sale priceFrom $399.99 Regular price$1,099.99
Color Options

Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, Black Titanium, White Titanium

Pacific Blue, Silver, Graphite, Gold

Display

Super Retina XDR display
6.9-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display
Dynamic Island
ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz
Always-On display

Super Retina XDR display
6.7-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display1
HDR Display
2778-by-1284-pixel resolution at 458 ppi
2,000,000:1 contrast ratio

Camera

Pro camera system (48MP Fusion, 48MP Ultra Wide, and 12MP Telephoto)
Fusion: 48MP, ƒ/1.78 aperture
Ultra Wide: 48MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture
Telephoto: 12MP, ƒ/2.8 aperture
Second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization
.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x optical zoom options

Pro 12MP camera system (Main, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto)
Main: ƒ/1.6 aperture
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture
Telephoto: ƒ/2.2 aperture
Sensor-shift optical image stabilization

Video Recording

4K Dolby Vision video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps, 100 fps (Fusion), or 120 fps (Fusion)

4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps
Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps

Power and Battery

Video playback - Up to 22 hours
Audio playback - Up to 80 hours

Built-in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery
MagSafe and Qi wireless charging

5G Compatible

yes

yes