Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy M54 5G
The Quick Answer
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro Max commands a $700 premium over Samsung's Galaxy M54 5G, and the difference in execution justifies much of that gap.
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro Max commands a $700 premium over Samsung's Galaxy M54 5G, and the difference in execution justifies much of that gap. The iPhone delivers a superior 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 1200 nits peak brightness and a more refined 60Hz experience, while the M54 counters with a 120Hz Super AMOLED Plus panel at 1000 nits and sharper 2400x1080 resolution. Camera systems diverge significantly: the iPhone's 12 MP setup with sensor-shift OIS and 2.5x telephoto produces more refined results and 4K Dolby Vision video at 60fps, whereas the M54's 108 MP main sensor offers higher resolution but 30fps 4K limitations. Performance heavily favors Apple's A14 Bionic, which outpaces the Exynos 1380 substantially. Battery capacity shifts the advantage to Samsung with 6000 mAh versus 3687 mAh, though the iPhone charges faster at 20W plus 15W MagSafe wireless. Build quality strongly favors the iPhone with IP68 rating, stainless steel frame, and Ceramic Shield durability against the M54's plastic construction and zero water resistance. For professionals or premium users, the iPhone 12 Pro Max remains the superior choice. Budget-conscious buyers seeking extended battery life should seriously consider the Galaxy M54 5G.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max if…
- →Large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display
- →Sensor-shift OIS exclusive to Pro Max
- →Excellent battery life for an iPhone
Buy the Samsung Galaxy M54 5G if…
- →Massive 6000 mAh battery provides exceptional multi-day endurance
- →120Hz Super AMOLED Plus display is vibrant and smooth
- →108 MP main camera captures detailed daylight photos
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Pros
- Large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display
- Sensor-shift OIS exclusive to Pro Max
- Excellent battery life for an iPhone
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording
- 5G support across sub-6 and mmWave
Cons
- No 120Hz ProMotion display
- Heavy at 226 g
- 60Hz refresh rate felt dated in 2020
- Lightning port
- No charger included in the box
Samsung Galaxy M54 5G
Pros
- Massive 6000 mAh battery provides exceptional multi-day endurance
- 120Hz Super AMOLED Plus display is vibrant and smooth
- 108 MP main camera captures detailed daylight photos
- 5G connectivity for future-proof network access
- MicroSD expansion for additional storage
Cons
- Only 25W charging is slow for the 6000 mAh battery
- Exynos 1380 is a mid-range chip — struggles with heavy gaming
- No IP rating for water or dust resistance
- Plastic build feels cheap for the price
- 8 MP ultrawide and 2 MP macro are filler cameras
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy M54 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 226 g | 199 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, Ceramic Shield front | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm | 166.4 x 77.3 x 8.4 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, sensor-shift OIS | 108 MP, f/1.8, PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 32 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.2, 2.5x optical zoom | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3687 mAh | 6000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super AMOLED Plus |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz + 4x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Samsung Exynos 1380 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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