iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Which should you buy?

Do you want to know the difference between the new iPhone 13 Pro Max and the previously released iPhone 12 Pro Max? Or better, you want to know which one to buy! You might want to upgrade to this new model but must consider the point if the specifications remain the same. This article can be the deciding factor for your next big purchase.

The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, Apple’s latest high-end smartphones that will succeed the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, have been unveiled. The news was revealed at Apple’s September product launch event, which also saw the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini release.

Let’s dive into the article without further ado.

Basic Different that You Must Know! Between iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max

1. Price

In the United States and Australia, the iPhone 13 Pro Max will cost the same as the iPhone 12 Pro Max did the previous year, while the UK will cost £50 less. The iPhone 12 Pro Max was released with 128GB of storage for $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849, 256GB for $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,019, and 512GB for $1,399 / £1,399 / AU$2,369 at launch. The iPhone 12 Pro Max did not have a 1TB variant, unlike the new iPhone 13 Pro Max.

2. Design

The variation between the iPhone 13 Pro Max and its predecessor may be challenging to notice. After all, the general stainless steel style is nearly the same, and their proportions are nearly identical, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max measuring 0.3mm thicker and somewhat heavier at 240g compared to the 228g weight of the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

However, if you observe closely, you’ll see a few variations, such as the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s significantly narrower (20% narrower, to be exact) screen notch. In addition, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 12 Pro Max come in similar Gold, Silver, and Graphite colours, the iPhone 13 Pro Max adds a new shade, Sierra Blue, that is notably lighter than the dark Pacific Blue option on the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

3. Screen

While the iPhone 13 Pro Max comes with the same 6.7-inch screen size and 1284 x 2778 resolution as the iPhone 12 Pro Max, it features a 120Hz refresh rate, outperforming the 60Hz revival rate of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The most significant difference you’ll notice is a smoother scrolling experience, which, while not a game-changer, is the kind of subtle feature you won’t want to give up if you’ve grown accustomed to it. Aside from the increased refresh rate, the iPhone 13 Pro Max also boasts Apple’s ProMotion feature, which allows you to set the refresh rate from 120Hz to as low as 10Hz, depending on your needs. This keeps any excess battery from being wasted on a quicker refresh rate that isn’t needed.

4. Camera

There are some significant camera changes with the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s primary wide camera sports an f/1.5 aperture vs an f/1.8 aperture on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. In addition, the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s ultra-wide camera has an f/1.8 aperture vs its predecessor’s f/2.4 aperture, while the telephoto camera offers 3x optical zoom versus 2.5x on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Perhaps more interesting is that the 13 Pro Max’s primary camera now catches up to 2.2x more light for both images and videos due to the giant sensor ever utilised in an iPhone, while the ultra-wide camera suckers in a stunning 92 per cent more light. As a result, low-light photographs on the newer iPhone 13 Pro Max are anticipated to be noticeably better than on the older iPhone 12 Pro Max. Also, owing to the ultra-wide camera’s revolutionary auto-focus mechanism, you can take macro images with the 13 Pro Max from as close as 2cm away.

There are also notable enhancements in video, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max introducing a new Cinematic Mode that includes a rack focus and manual focus function to give your shots a more professional look. You may also modify the emphasis of a prior recording, which could be a game-changer for mobile designers but will likely be underutilised by the average casual user.

5. Power

It should come as no surprise that the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the quickest iPhone ever produced, not to mention the world’s most powerful smartphone in terms of raw specs. No other smartphone processor comes close to the power of the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s new A15 Bionic CPU. Its brand-new six-core CPU, and four high-efficiency cores are 50% quicker than the competition, while its new GPU is supposedly 30% faster than the competition. In addition, machine learning skills are strengthened thanks to a new 16-core Neural Engine, which unlocks new iOS 15 features, including Live Text in Camera and a new 3D Maps navigation tool.

The gap is undoubtedly smaller when compared to the A14 Bionic CPU found in the iPhone 12 Pro Max. While the newer handset wins out in sheer power, you could gladly spend another year with the iPhone 12 Pro Max without feeling like you’re running out of juice. While both phones have 6GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB of storage, the iPhone 13 Pro Max boasts a massive 1TB storage option for media hoarders and power users.

6. Battery Life

Because the iPhone 13 Pro Max does have a little larger battery than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple claims that the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s battery life is projected to be longer. Almost two and a half hours than the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s, which is a significant boost in battery life. But we have learned that the charging speed is unchanged, with both handsets enabling 20W fast charging, which should get you up to 50% in about half an hour.

You’d expect phones to improve with each iteration, but the differences between the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 12 Pro Max are striking. Better storage options, a quicker processor, and camera enhancements would be enough to justify the investment. With better battery life and fast-refreshing displays, this is a significant improvement over last year’s model. The iPhone 12 Pro Max model was excellent, but it pales compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. And if you’re out to buy a new iPhone right now.

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Karly Wood

Karly Wood is a journalist based in Ohio who specializes in covering Apple and technology trends. With a varied experience in reporting on public safety, government, and education, her insights bridge multiple disciplines, providing readers with a well-rounded perspective on today's technological advancements. If you need to contact me, you can reach me at [email protected] or through (Facebook)

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