iPhone 16 Pro Max vs 12

Direct side-by-side battle analyzing display brightness, chipset benchmark percentiles, multi-camera arrays, battery capacity, and charging speeds.

Smartphone Battle

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· 2024

iPhone 16 Pro Max

$1199

80.0/ 100

Overall

Exceptional

BeastScore

80.0

Benchmark

Performance80/100

Camera85/100

Battery78/100

· 2024

12

$799

79.9/ 100

Overall

Exceptional

BeastScore

79.9

Benchmark

Performance90/100

Camera84/100

Battery86/100

Which Phone Should You Buy: Key Reasons & Hardware Advantages

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Reasons to buy iPhone 16 Pro Max:

✓48MP primary camera sensor with 4K/120fps video recording
✓6.9" display with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate

Reasons to buy 12:

✓22g lighter chassis (205g) optimized for one-handed ergonomics
✓$400 lower launch MSRP ($799 vs $1199)
✓Larger 5,000 mAh battery capacity (+315 mAh more capacity)

How Do the Specifications Compare Side-by-Side?

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Specification	iPhone 16 Pro Max	12
1. Display & Screen
Screen Type & Tech	LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED	AMOLED / OLED display
Screen Size	6.9"	6.7"
Resolution & Density	2868x1320 (460 ppi)	N/A
Refresh Rate	120 Hz ProMotion	60 Hz
Brightness	2,000 nits peak	N/A
Screen Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Scratch-resistant glass
2. Platform & Performance
Chipset / Processor	High performance SoC	High performance SoC
CPU Cores	Multi-core high performance	Multi-core high performance
GPU Graphics	Integrated Graphics	Integrated Graphics
Operating System	iOS 18	Android
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory	8 GB	12 GB
Internal Storage	256GB / 512GB / 1024GB	256GB
Storage Speed	High-speed flash	High-speed flash
Card Slot	No	No
4. Main Camera Optics
Primary Camera	48 MP, f/1.78, OIS, Sony IMX903	50 MP
Telephoto Zoom	12 MP (5x optical zoom), f/2.8, OIS	None (Digital zoom only)
Ultrawide Camera	48 MP, f/2.2	N/A
LiDAR / Depth	None	None
5. Video Recording Capabilities
Main Camera Video	4K@60fps1080p@240fpsHDR	4K@60fps1080p@240fpsHDR
Front Video	4K@60fps1080p@60fpsgyro-EIS	4K@60fps1080p@60fpsgyro-EIS
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens	12 MP, f/1.9	32 MP
7. Body & Dimensions
Dimensions	163 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm	N/A
Weight	227 g	205 g
Build Materials	Glass front, metal/glass frame	Glass front, metal/glass frame
SIM Type	Nano-SIM / eSIM support	Nano-SIM / eSIM support
Water Resistance	IP68	Not certified
8. Battery & Charging
Battery Capacity	4,685 mAh	5,000 mAh
Wired Fast Charging	27W wired fast charging	N/A
Wireless Charging	25W wireless charging	Not supported
Reverse Charging	Reverse wireless charging	Reverse wireless charging
9. Sound & Audio
Loudspeaker	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers
3.5mm Headphone Jack	No	No
10. Connectivity & Comms
Wi-Fi Standard	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 7 / 6E tri-band
Bluetooth	5.3	Bluetooth 5.3+
USB Port & Speed	USB-C 3.0	USB Type-C
NFC	Yes (contactless payment)	Yes
11. Sensors & Security
Sensors	Biometric fingerprint/face, accelerometer, gyro, compass	Biometric fingerprint/face, accelerometer, gyro, compass
Satellite Features	Emergency SOS via satellite (select markets)	Emergency SOS via satellite (select markets)
12. Colors & Overview
Colors	Standard finishes	Standard finishes
Launch Price	$1199	$799

Editorial Lab Verdict

iPhone 16 Pro Max edges ahead with a BeastScore of 80.0/100

After comprehensive hardware benchmark comparisons, iPhone 16 Pro Max ranks as the overall top pick in this matchup. Key differentiators include its advanced processor architecture and verified 85/100 camera rating.

When to buy iPhone 16 Pro Max:

Higher overall BeastScore: 80.0 vs top rival 79.9 · Significantly faster wired charging: 27W vs max 0W

When to buy 12:

Larger battery capacity: 5,000 mAh (+315 mAh more) · More system memory: 12GB RAM vs max 8GB

Quick Answers

Frequently Asked Questions: iPhone 16 Pro Max vs 12

Which phone is better: iPhone 16 Pro Max or 12?

iPhone 16 Pro Max leads with an overall BeastScore of 80.0/100 compared to 12 (79.9/100), driven by advantages in Higher overall BeastScore: 80.0 vs top rival 79.9 and Significantly faster wired charging: 27W vs max 0W.