All new iPhone 12 models presented by Apple come with 5G connectivity and an A14 Bionic chip. But Apple still considers its Pro models to be the cream of the crop, and the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max want to continue that tradition.
While the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max share many of the key features that the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini emphasize there are several key differences, from the number of camera lenses on the Pro models to the materials you use.
Here’s an overview of what to expect from the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Max. You can also check out our showdown between iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro to take a closer look at the differences between the latest iPhone models.
iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max specs
iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max
Price
$999 $1,099
Display
6.1 inches OLED (2532 x 1170) 6.7 inches (2778 x 1284)
Colors
Silver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue Silver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue
CPU
A14 A14
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Rear camera
12MP wide (f/1.6), 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.4), 12MP telephoto (f/2.0) 12MP wide (f/1.6), 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.4), 12MP telephoto (f/2.2)
Front camera
12MP TrueDepth (f/2.2) 12MP TrueDepth (f/2.2)
5G
sub-6Ghz, mmWave sub-6Ghz, mmWave
Battery
Up to 11 hours video streaming Up to 12 hours of video streaming
Size
5.78 x 2.82 x 0.29 inches 6.33 x 3.07 x 0.29 inches
Weight
6.66 ounces 8.03 ounces
Price and availability of the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max
Apple kept prices the same for the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, which is good news considering the number of feature packs on the new phones. The iPhone 12 Pro costs $ 999, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max costs $ 1,099.
However, you will have to wait longer to get your hands on an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Pre-orders for the larger of Apple’s two Pro models won’t start until Nov. 6, and the phone will ship on Nov. 13.
The iPhone 12 Pro will then be in stores, and sales will start on October 23. You can pre-order the iPhone 12 Pro on October 16.
Design and display of iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max
Apple distinguishes its Pro phones from normal iPhone models with premium materials. The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Max means a stainless steel strap and a glass back. On the front, the Pro models use the same Ceramic Shield material as the iPhone 12, making the new phones four times more likely to survive a fall, according to Apple.
This year’s Pro models have larger screens than before, with the iPhone 12 Pro growing to 6.1 inches, up from the iPhone 11 Pro’s 5.8 inches (it also happens to have the same screen size as the iPhone 12.) The iPhone 12 Pro Max has the largest screen ever on a 6.7-inch iPhone.
These displays are Super Retina XDR displays and the iPhone 12 Pro Max, in particular, offers the highest resolution for an iPhone at 2778 x 1284. The iPhone 12 Pro has a relatively modest resolution of 2532 x 1170. You’ll find a faster refresh rate on the iPhone 12 Pro models, such as the 120Hz frequency compatible with the Galaxy S20 family and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Instead, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max update will be displayed on a more conventional 60Hz frequency.
As with previous Pro models, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max has IP68 water resistance, which means you can drop them in up to 6 meters of water for half an hour without any problem.
It has new color options with the new phones, a change of pace as the standard iPhone 12 is the most colorful of the various Apple phones. Both Pro models are available in silver, graphite, gold, and a new Pacific Blue option that replaces the Midnight Green offered for the iPhone 11 Pro.
IPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max cameras
The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max appear to have the same camera setup: three rear lenses using a LiDAR sensor. But while every phone has wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, and telephoto lenses, Apple has slightly changed the optics.
On the iPhone 12 Pro, the main camera now has an aperture of f / 1.6, which should let in more light when taking photos or videos. (Apple promises a 27% improvement.) The iPhone 12 Pro Max has the same 12MP camera with the same aperture, but the sensor itself is larger, which means an even bigger improvement for low-light photos.
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| Image Credit: Apple |
Both phones have the same 12MP ultra-wide angle lens with an f / 2.4 aperture and a 120-degree field of view. But the telephoto lenses are different: the iPhone 12 Pro has an f / 2.0 aperture while the iPhone 12 Pro Max is f / 2.2. More specifically, they have different focal lengths: 52mm for the iPhone 12 Pro and 65mm for the iPhone 12 Pro Max. This leads to different zoom options, with the iPhone 12 Pro offering a 4x optical range to the 5x range of the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The LiDAR sensor measures the distance from the light and calculates the pixel depth of a scene. That improves focus times and makes it easier to stay focused in low light. It also enables functions such as portrait shooting in night mode.
On the iPhone 12 Pro models, you can take photos in night mode with the ultra-wide-angle and TrueDepth lenses and the main camera and telephoto lens. A new time-lapse function in night mode allows longer exposures and brighter frames when taking time-lapse photos in low light on a tripod. Smart HDR 3 continues to bring out the details of faces, even when the subject in the photo is backlit.
iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max Video Recording
In terms of video recording, both iPhone 12 Pro models can record Dolby Vision HDR video as part of the phone’s support for HDR video recording.
The most interesting feature for some photographers will not be available at launch. But later this year, Apple ProRAW will add the RAW image file format to Apple’s multi-frame image processing. With ProRAW, you have full control over color, details, and dynamic range by editing them directly in the Photos app.
Performance of iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max
Both the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max has the same A14 Bionic processor that powers the rest of the iPhone 12 line. That means a 5-nanometer chip that contains 40% more transistors than the A13, which should boost both performance and energy efficiency.
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| image credit: Apple |
To that end, the A14 Bionic is expected to have up to 50% faster CU and the 4-core GPU is designed to be up to 50% faster than other graphics processors. Apple has also doubled the number of cores in the A14’s neural engine, making that portion of the chipset 80% faster. That means a boost in functions that depend on artificial intelligence and AI.
iPhone 12 Apple Event A14
You will also find 5G support on both the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max, as with any iPhone 12 model. That means compatibility with any 5G network – Apple says it will ship the iPhone to more than 100 carriers in more than 30 regions.
In its testing, Apple says that new iPhones can reach maximum download speeds of 3.5Gbps under ideal conditions, although you’re unlikely to regularly experience that kind of performance. Just know that downloads will be faster, latency will improve, and app makers will have a next-generation a network that ultimately supports the kind of experiences no one could have imagined before.
IPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max Charging And Maximum Battery Life
Apple never reveals the batteries’ size in its iPhones, a tradition that continues with the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The battery sizes are rumored to be 2775 mAh and 3687 mAh for the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, respectively, but we will have to wait for disassembly to confirm that. We now know that Apple says the iPhone 12 Pro can support 17 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max can provide 20 hours.
5G can extend your battery life, but that’s why Apple says its new phones have a smart data mode that determines when 5G is needed. If it’s the kind of activity that doesn’t take advantage of faster speeds, the iPhone 12 Pro will be smart enough to use LTE while also extending battery life.
When it comes time to charge your phone, the iPhone 12 Pro follows the lead of the iPhone 12 with MagSafe Charging Stand, in which magnets help secure the iPhone securely to compatible wireless charging pads (as well as other accessories). IPhone 12 Pro supports charging speeds of 15W via MagSafe, while other Qi-compatible charges are higher than 7.5W.
For wired charging, you can charge the iPhone 12 Pro to 50% in 30 minutes, but for that, you need a 20W charger, which is sold separately. Apple does not supply a charger with the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Phone Max, a move Apple says is to help the environment. That it will help Apple sell more accessories is also something the company has probably thought of.
IPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max Outlook
The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are at the top of Apple’s phone line-up for a reason: they expand the functions that the company introduced on other iPhones with even more possibilities. The camera settings only in the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max figures distinguish these two phones from other top camera phones.
Of course, we’ll have to spend some time with the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max before sharing our impressions about the changes Apple has made. However, it’s an impressive array of updates for those who demand more from their smartphones on paper.
