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Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Silver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue
Apple

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

8.5/10 UpPhone score

The iPhone 12 Pro Max brought Apple's largest display and most powerful 5G performance to 2020, pairing a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with the A14 Bionic chip and an impressive 5x optical zoom camera system.

Verified for iOS
Storage
Screen
6.7"
Chip
Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)
Camera
12 MP
Water
IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 6m for 30 min)
The verdict, & two little voices

Should you actually get the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max?

The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
UP
Our takeEditorial
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is a capable large-screen flagship that has aged reasonably well. Its 5x optical zoom camera remains a genuine differentiator, the 6.7-inch Dolby Vision OLED display is excellent, and the A14 Bionic handles day-to-day workloads without struggle. The absence of ProMotion is the most noticeable hardware gap versus the 13 Pro series, and the Lightning connector is an ongoing inconvenience. At $361.99 certified pre-owned from Verizon, it offers large-screen Apple hardware at a meaningful discount — particularly attractive for buyers prioritizing zoom range over display refresh rate.
UpPhone Team
The Optimist
“The iPhone 12 Pro Max deserves more credit than it gets in 2025. That 5x optical zoom is genuinely impressive — more reach than the 13 Pro Max that succeeded it — and the sensor-shift OIS on the main camera was a Pro Max exclusive feature that produced noticeably stabilized images. The A14 Bionic is still fast, the 6.7-inch Dolby Vision OLED is still beautiful, and MagSafe is still convenient. At $362 certified pre-owned, you are getting a very capable large-screen Apple flagship for real money. The 5x zoom alone makes this worth considering over the 13 Pro series for telephoto shooters.”
— the angel on your shoulder
The Cynic
“The iPhone 12 Pro Max is five years old, and the list of things it lacks relative to current standards is growing. No ProMotion — you're capped at 60Hz while everything around it runs at 120Hz. Lightning connector is a dead standard. No USB-C. The 128 GB storage is fixed and increasingly constraining. The 228g weight is on the heavy side even by large-phone standards. And while 5x optical zoom sounds great, the overall camera pipeline has been significantly refined in subsequent generations. This is an aging device, and the value proposition depends on how much you discount for age.”
— the devil in your other ear
Our take

The iPhone 12 Pro Max brought Apple's largest display and most powerful 5G performance to 2020, pairing a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with the A14 Bionic chip and an impressive 5x optical zoom camera system.

Launched in November 2020, the iPhone 12 Pro Max was Apple's most ambitious smartphone to date at the time — a large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with Dolby Vision HDR and a peak brightness of 1200 nits, housed in a flat-edge surgical-grade stainless steel and textured glass design. At 458 PPI, the display delivers razor-sharp detail across every pixel. While this model predates ProMotion, the display quality remains excellent for everyday use, video, and photo review.

The Apple A14 Bionic chip, manufactured on a 5nm process, was Apple's first chip built on that node — a significant generational leap in efficiency and performance. With 6 GB of RAM, the iPhone 12 Pro Max handles multitasking, gaming, and computational photography without issue. The rear camera system features three 12 MP lenses including a telephoto sensor delivering an impressive 5x optical zoom — actually exceeding the 3x zoom of the 13 Pro Max — making it a standout feature for this generation.

MagSafe wireless charging at 15W is supported (Qi2 requires iOS 17.4), 5G connectivity is onboard, and IP68 protection rates this phone to 6 meters for 30 minutes. Available as a Verizon Certified Pre-Owned device starting at $361.99, the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers a large-screen Apple flagship experience at an approachable price point.

What we love
  • 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with Dolby Vision HDR and 1200 nits peak brightness
  • Impressive 5x optical zoom telephoto camera — exceeds the zoom reach of the 13 Pro lineup
  • Apple A14 Bionic 5nm chip with 6 GB RAM delivers strong performance
  • MagSafe 15W wireless charging and PD2.0 wired fast charging
  • IP68 water resistance rated to 6 meters for 30 minutes
  • 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 6 support
  • Stereo speakers and Face ID biometrics
What we don't
  • No ProMotion — display is capped at 60Hz unlike the 13 Pro models
  • Lightning connector limits data speed and accessory compatibility
  • 228g weight is substantial for a daily carry phone
  • 128 GB non-expandable storage fills up with video and photo libraries

Full specifications

Display
Size6.7"
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Resolution1284 x 2778 px
PPI458
Performance
ChipApple A14 Bionic (5 nm)
RAM6 GB
Storage128 GB
OSiOS
Cellular5G
Camera
Rear camera12 MP
Rear camera 212 MP
Front camera12 MP
VideoYes
Battery
Wireless chargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min | 15W wireless (MagSafe) | 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update
Design
Dimensions160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm
Weight228
ColorsSilver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue
Water ratingIP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 6m for 30 min)
Form factorSlate
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
BluetoothYes, 5.0
NFCYes
USBLightning, USB 2.0
Networks5G: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - A2342 | 4G: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2342 | 3G: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | 2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

What kind of display does the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max have?

The iPhone 12 Pro Max uses a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel with a resolution of 1284 x 2778 pixels at 458 PPI. The display supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision for cinema-grade color accuracy and contrast. Maximum brightness reaches 800 nits in high-brightness mode for everyday use and spikes to 1200 nits peak for HDR content, providing strong outdoor legibility. The display runs at a standard 60Hz refresh rate, unlike the ProMotion displays introduced in the 13 Pro series.

What kind of camera does the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max have?

The iPhone 12 Pro Max features three 12 MP rear cameras: a wide main sensor with a larger sensor and sensor-shift optical image stabilization (unique to the Max model), an ultrawide lens, and a telephoto camera delivering 5x optical zoom. This 5x zoom reach is a standout feature — surpassing the 3x optical zoom of the subsequent 13 Pro models. The 12 MP TrueDepth front camera enables Portrait mode selfies and Face ID. Apple's computational photography pipeline handles Smart HDR, Night mode, and Deep Fusion processing across all cameras.

What is the battery life of the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max?

The iPhone 12 Pro Max supports wired PD2.0 fast charging that achieves approximately 50% charge in 30 minutes. MagSafe wireless charging operates at up to 15W, and Qi2 charging at 15W is supported after updating to iOS 17.4. The large form factor of the 12 Pro Max accommodates a substantial battery, and Apple rated it for longer usage times than the standard and mini models — making it a strong option for users who prioritize endurance.

What processor does the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max use?

The Apple A14 Bionic is the chip inside the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Built on a 5nm process — the first smartphone chip on that node — it features a 6-core CPU, a 4-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. With 6 GB of RAM, the A14 handles all everyday tasks, photography processing, and gaming with ease. While the A14 is one generation behind the A15 found in the 13 series, it remains a capable and fast chip for the majority of use cases in 2025.

How much storage does the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max have?

This iPhone 12 Pro Max listing includes 128 GB of internal flash storage. The storage system is fast enough for ProRAW photo capture and 4K Dolby Vision video recording, which were key features Apple promoted at the time of this phone's launch. Storage is not expandable via microSD card, so the 128 GB is a fixed ceiling. Users who rely on iCloud offloading can extend their effective storage capacity for photos and documents.

What kind of speakers does the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max have?

The iPhone 12 Pro Max features Apple's stereo speaker system, with speakers at the bottom edge and in the earpiece. Tuned for the large chassis, these speakers provide a wide soundstage and respectable volume output for a smartphone. The system handles voices, music, and media playback clearly, with minimal distortion at higher volumes — making it functional for hands-free listening and video calls without headphones.

Does the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max support fingerprint or face unlock?

Face ID is the biometric authentication system on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, using the TrueDepth camera array embedded in the top notch. The system projects over 30,000 invisible infrared dots to map the user's face in three dimensions, enabling secure and fast unlocking, Apple Pay authorization, and password autofill. Face ID works in low light and adapts to gradual changes in appearance such as growing a beard or wearing glasses.

Is the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max water-resistant?

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is rated IP68 under IEC standard 60529, offering dust-tight protection and resistance to water immersion at depths up to 6 meters for up to 30 minutes. This is the highest level of water protection available on iPhones and provides meaningful assurance for everyday use around water. Apple Pay is certified for Visa, Mastercard, and AMEX on this device.

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