Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone XS Max
The Verdict
iPhone 12 significantly outperforms the iPhone XS Max despite costing $300 less. Processing power favors the A14 Bionic chip, delivering faster performance and better efficiency than the older A12. Display technology shows meaningful improvement: the iPhone 12's Super Retina XDR OLED reaches 1200 nits brightness versus 725 nits, with enhanced color accuracy and contrast. Camera capabilities are comparable in raw megapixels, though the iPhone 12's larger f/1.6 aperture and computational photography advantages provide superior low-light performance. Battery capacity slightly favors the XS Max at 3174 mAh, but the iPhone 12's efficient A14 chip compensates. Connectivity is decisive: the iPhone 12 includes 5G and Wi-Fi 6, while the XS Max lacks 5G entirely. Modern software support also strongly favors the iPhone 12. At $799, the iPhone 12 represents exceptional value and is the clear choice for anyone comparing these models.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 if…
- →First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- →Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- →Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
Buy the Apple iPhone XS Max if…
- →Largest iPhone display at the time (6.5 inches)
- →Dual SIM with eSIM support introduced
- →Gorgeous Super Retina OLED display
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12
Pros
- First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
- A14 Bionic delivers excellent performance and efficiency
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording is a first for any smartphone
Cons
- 60Hz display when competitors offered 90Hz or 120Hz
- Small 2815 mAh battery offers mediocre battery life
- 64 GB base storage is inadequate in 2020
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto lens — only dual camera
Apple iPhone XS Max
Pros
- Largest iPhone display at the time (6.5 inches)
- Dual SIM with eSIM support introduced
- Gorgeous Super Retina OLED display
- A12 Bionic with first 7nm mobile chip
- Stereo speakers with wide sound
Cons
- No ultrawide camera
- 5W charger in the box
- Very expensive starting at $1099
- No Night mode in camera
- No Wi-Fi 6 support
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Apple iPhone XS Max |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | iOS 12 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 208 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Stainless steel frame, glass back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 7 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | — |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 3174 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 7.5W Qi |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina OLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2688 x 1242 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 725 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz + 4x1.6 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Apple GPU (4-core) |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple A12 Bionic |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | Lightning |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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