Apple Insider has spent all day testing the new iPhone 12 Pro Max to experience some of its best new features and how they work in the real world.
New design
Basically, the iPhone 12 Mini , iPhone 12 , iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max all share the same design, only with the difference in size and camera cluster with flat design, square edges similar to iPhone 5, face Previously covered with Ceramic Shield, the Pro models also come in an eye-catching new Pacific Blue option.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the biggest iPhone Apple has ever made, using a 6.7-inch screen, though it doesn't look too different from its predecessor, the 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max .
The highlight, however, are some other subtle design changes that Apple has made. Both the side button and the volume button have been moved down slightly. This makes it easier to use while holding the phone and is certainly a notable and welcome change. While the handset is absolutely huge, this design change makes that size a little more pleasant.
Basically, the iPhone 12 Mini , iPhone 12 , iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max all share the same design, only with the difference in size and camera cluster with flat design, square edges similar to iPhone 5, face Previously covered with Ceramic Shield, the Pro models also come in an eye-catching new Pacific Blue option.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the biggest iPhone Apple has ever made, using a 6.7-inch screen, though it doesn't look too different from its predecessor, the 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max .
The highlight, however, are some other subtle design changes that Apple has made. Both the side button and the volume button have been moved down slightly. This makes it easier to use while holding the phone and is certainly a notable and welcome change. While the handset is absolutely huge, this design change makes that size a little more pleasant.
Battery capacity extremely "buffalo"
As the biggest iPhone, it's not surprising that the iPhone 12 Pro Max also has the largest battery. Apple has rated the iPhone 12 Pro Max with comparable battery life to the iPhone 11 Pro Max - 20 hours of video playback, 12 hours of video playback, and 80 hours of audio playback - but if you're not on 5G, these numbers will pull a little longer. The phone passed a lot of tests with barely any effect on battery life.
For comparison, the iPhone 12 Pro only got 17 hours of video playback, 11 hours of video streaming and 65 hours of audio streaming.
As the biggest iPhone, it's not surprising that the iPhone 12 Pro Max also has the largest battery. Apple has rated the iPhone 12 Pro Max with comparable battery life to the iPhone 11 Pro Max - 20 hours of video playback, 12 hours of video playback, and 80 hours of audio playback - but if you're not on 5G, these numbers will pull a little longer. The phone passed a lot of tests with barely any effect on battery life.
For comparison, the iPhone 12 Pro only got 17 hours of video playback, 11 hours of video streaming and 65 hours of audio streaming.
Wide angle camera
The most notable factor with the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the camera. Apple has a 47% larger sensor in this large phone, and this really gives the phone an admirable ability to take pictures.
In terms of design, you can easily see the difference. The camera module on the iPhone 12 Pro Max is larger in size and also protrudes a bit more. All for larger new sensor handling and upgraded sensor-shift stabilization.
Thanks to the new larger sensor on wide-angle cameras, more light can be captured, resulting in less noise in low-light conditions, while the ISO also increases. iPhone 12 Pro has the highest ISO of 5,808 and 12 Pro Max has the highest ISO of 7,616. Improved light sensitivity means better photos in low light.
The ultimate benefit of the new sensor is the increased depth of field compared to the iPhone 12 Pro. In a few snapshots around the office, Apple Insider noticed multiple bokeh blurs in the foreground and background, which results in better subject isolation and better overall photos.
The most notable factor with the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the camera. Apple has a 47% larger sensor in this large phone, and this really gives the phone an admirable ability to take pictures.
In terms of design, you can easily see the difference. The camera module on the iPhone 12 Pro Max is larger in size and also protrudes a bit more. All for larger new sensor handling and upgraded sensor-shift stabilization.
Thanks to the new larger sensor on wide-angle cameras, more light can be captured, resulting in less noise in low-light conditions, while the ISO also increases. iPhone 12 Pro has the highest ISO of 5,808 and 12 Pro Max has the highest ISO of 7,616. Improved light sensitivity means better photos in low light.
The ultimate benefit of the new sensor is the increased depth of field compared to the iPhone 12 Pro. In a few snapshots around the office, Apple Insider noticed multiple bokeh blurs in the foreground and background, which results in better subject isolation and better overall photos.
Telephoto lens
Wide-angle cameras aren't the only camera component to get an upgrade. Apple has also upgraded the telephoto lens from the 52mm lens to the 65mm equivalent, which offers 2.5x optical zoom compared to only 2x optical zoom on the iPhone 12 Pro.
This will even increase maximum digital zoom, from 10x to 12x maximum. When recording video, you can 7X digital zoom instead of being limited to 6X.
Wide-angle cameras aren't the only camera component to get an upgrade. Apple has also upgraded the telephoto lens from the 52mm lens to the 65mm equivalent, which offers 2.5x optical zoom compared to only 2x optical zoom on the iPhone 12 Pro.
This will even increase maximum digital zoom, from 10x to 12x maximum. When recording video, you can 7X digital zoom instead of being limited to 6X.
RAM
The last thing I want to mention is the increase in RAM, from 4GB to 6GB. The iPhone 12 Pro Max isn't the only iPhone 12 with 6GB of RAM, but it clearly offers significant benefits. With iPhone 11 Pro Max, when completing many tasks sometimes background apps need to reload after opening, but iPhone 12 Pro Max has fixed this problem.
Apple Insider has tried to open as many apps as possible and let them load. Then they tried exporting the 4K HDR video and going back to try opening all those apps again to see if they had to reload on their own, and everything was great, the apps used very smoothly. They also frequently switch between a lot of taps and apps, but that shouldn't make it difficult for the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The last thing I want to mention is the increase in RAM, from 4GB to 6GB. The iPhone 12 Pro Max isn't the only iPhone 12 with 6GB of RAM, but it clearly offers significant benefits. With iPhone 11 Pro Max, when completing many tasks sometimes background apps need to reload after opening, but iPhone 12 Pro Max has fixed this problem.
Apple Insider has tried to open as many apps as possible and let them load. Then they tried exporting the 4K HDR video and going back to try opening all those apps again to see if they had to reload on their own, and everything was great, the apps used very smoothly. They also frequently switch between a lot of taps and apps, but that shouldn't make it difficult for the iPhone 12 Pro Max.