In 2019, the iPhone 11 Pro Max was the best iPhone in its day. It was therefore not until 2020 that a new king arrived on the throne, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which impresses even more. Here are all their differences: comparative.
To date, it is impossible to do better than the iPhone 12 Pro Max when it comes to the iPhone. The beast is indeed the most powerful of all Apple models, but also has the most capable camera and the largest screen. However, many commonalities remain with the previous edition, namely the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
In this comparison, we will therefore analyze the technical sheets of each of our two opponents and reveal to you which of their differences should be taken into account in making your choice. So, iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max, which is right for you? Let’s go.
Key Specification
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
 |  | |
| CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE | |
| Released | Sep 2019 | Oct 2020 |
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) |
| Display Size | 6.5 inch | 6.7 inch |
| Memory | 4 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage | 128-512 GB | 128-512 GB |
| Camera | 12MP + 12MP + 12MP | 12MP + 12MP + 12MP |
| Fingerprint Sensor Position | Face ID | Face ID |
Design
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
| Dimensions | 158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm |
| Weight | 226 grams | 228 grams |
| Screen Resolution | 1242 x 2688 pixels | 1284 x 2778 pixels |
| Pixel Density | 458 ppi | 458 ppi |
| Color | Matte Space Gray, Matte Silver, Matte Gold, Matte Midnight Green | Silver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue |
| Display Type | OLED | OLED, HDR10 |
The iPhone 11 Pro Max follows the design guidelines introduced by the iPhone 6, with a slender and curved format that contrasts with the more austere appearance of iPhone 4 and later. Nevertheless, right angles are back on the front of the stage at Apple with the iPhone 12 Pro Max and we also find them for example on the fourth-generation iPad Pro. The result is a more serious appearance, but this is only our opinion and everyone will probably have a different opinion.
Indeed, apart from the pure dimensions for the iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max (160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm vs 158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm) which will divide the little hands and the followers of the phablets more and more in vogue, there is no difference that will be unanimous on the side of the format for our comparison. Except maybe one more color: Pacific Blue exclusive to iPhone 12 Pro Max and 12 Pro, which replaces Midnight-Green seen on iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone 11 Pro. To the delight of our peepers: the result is sublime, without exaggerating.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max was already doing very well with its 6.5-inch Super Retina 2K OLED touchscreen, capable of displaying sixteen million different colors. But once again, it was overtaken by the iPhone 12 Pro Max on this point. Indeed, the panel of the latter measures this time 6.7 inches, or 0.2 inches larger than the iPhone 11 Pro Max, for a definition of 2,778 x 1,284 pixels for the 2020 model, against 2,688 x 1,242 pixels for the 2019 model.
In fact, the difference is minimal, especially since, in terms of pixel density, the result does not change (458 PPI for both iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max).
For the rest of our screen comparison, we will note that the iPhone 11 Pro Max and the iPhone 12 Pro Max both have the right to the True Tone display which changes the colors of the screen according to your environment for better visual comfort, but also enhanced protection against scratches from Corning. With the difference that on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, it is the latest generation of the brand’s robust glass that covers the panel: the Victus.
Performance
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
| Processor | Hexa core 2.65 GHz | Hexa-core 2×3.1 GHz |
| GPU | Apple GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| RAM | 4 GB | 6 GB |
| Internal storage | 64 GB | 128-512 GB |
| Storage expansion | No | No |
| OS | iOS v13.0 | iOS 14.1 |
As the name suggests, the iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max are the most powerful devices in their family. Logically, the most recent version also does better than the previous one. But how different are they? To find out, we can already compare the processor: the iPhone 12 Pro Max, for its part, has an Apple A14 Bionic 20% more efficient than the Apple A13 Bionic installed in the iPhone 11 Pro Max, all the more that the A14 SoC from the factories of Taiwanese subcontractor TSMC is engraved with an accuracy of just five nanometers, two less than the A13 CPU.
The A14 Bionic chip offers 6 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz GHz with a turbo mode that can reach 3.1 GHz. We can therefore say without hesitation that the iPhone 12 Pro Max is really very fast. It can thus launch dozens of applications at the same time without rowing and will satisfy even in the most demanding graphics thanks to its equally powerful GPU. Not to mention its compatibility with the new 5G standard, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max is 4G only.
What about RAM? In the iPhone 11 Pro Max, 4 GB are integrated, which was already more than enough. In the iPhone 12 Pro Max, on the other hand, we are lucky to be able to count on 6 GB of RAM: almost as much as a laptop! At this level, it is already very difficult to compare the differences between the two for an average user who does not push his iPhone to the limits every day.
But as the benchmarks show, effectively the iPhone 12 Pro Max beats the iPhone 11 Pro Max with herculean speeds. Note also that the Neural Engine, artificial intelligence network integrated into the A13 and A14 chips, has been improved in that of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. For example, the result is 30% less energy consumption, hence the battery capacity is reduced.
Camera
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
| Rear | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide) 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm (ultrawide) 12 MP f/2.0, 52mm(telephoto) | 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide) 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm (ultrawide) 12 MP f/2.2, 65mm(telephoto) |
| Front | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm(wide) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6″ |
| Video recording | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
Obviously, we couldn’t start this iPhone 11 Pro Max vs iPhone 12 Pro Max comparison without telling you about what is probably the most serious asset of the pair: their rear camera unit. So imposing, it is indeed recognizable among a thousand and makes them real photophones. But the iPhone 12 Pro Max is on this point better supplied than the iPhone 11 Pro Max. The difference is due to a single sensor, only present on the iPhone 12 Pro Max: the LiDAR.
This radar, also called ToF (for Time of Flight, which means a time of flight in English), specializes in measuring distances and offers dozens of applications mainly for professionals. For example, it is he who makes it possible to map a room in three dimensions by modelling the furniture to the nearest centimetre. The augmented reality, too, makes the most of this unique component of its kind, with more close to real immersions.
For the rest, the iPhone 11 Pro Max does not have many differences with its successor: it is also entitled to a wide-angle lens, an ultra-wide-angle and a telephoto lens dedicated to macro. Respectively, their characteristics are twelve megapixels with opening f / 1.8, of the same definition and with f / 2.4 and field of view at 120 °, and finally still 12 megapixels with opening f / 2.2 for optical zoom up to 2x and digital up to 10x.
It’s the same for the front camera, except that here we are entitled to “Portrait mode” with bokeh effect. But the iPhone 12 Pro Max in our comparison also benefits from the same advantages, in addition to Night mode and Deep Fusion mode, again for the front camera.
Multimedia
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
| Headphone jack | Lightning | Lightning |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Audio Features | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos |
| FM Radio | No | No |
Battery Life
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
| Capacity | 3969 mAh | 3687 mAh |
| Type | Li-ion | Li-ion |
| Quick Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| User Replaceable | No | No |
iPhone Max 11 Pro 12 Pro Max: the battery lithium-ion battery not removable on each model. Indeed, there is a small difference here since the iPhone 11 Pro Max would hold eighteen hours in a row in offline video playback for eleven hours in streaming, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers twenty hours. of video playback and twelve hours of streaming. A key element for those who do not have an external battery. If the iPhone 12 Pro Max does better at this level than the iPhone 11 Pro Max, the latter still offers excellent battery life.
In terms of figures, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is counting on 3,969 mAh while the iPhone 12 Pro Max is entitled to “only” 3,687 mAh (note, the information is not official, but come from resellers). A difference which should not, however, work against the iPhone 12 Pro Max, for the same reasons. Note also that the iPhone 12 Pro Max is compatible with MagSafe wireless charging, which is magnetic. The MagSafe allows the iPhone to take advantage of various compatible accessories, such as chargers, holders or other more varied objects. The wireless charging of the iPhone 11 Pro Max is classic and therefore not magnetized.
Connectivity
| | iPhone 11 Pro Max | iPhone 12 Pro Max |
| SIM | Dual SIM, GSM+GSM | Dual SIM, GSM+GSM |
| Network Support | 4G, 3G, 2G | 5G, 4G, 3G, 2G |
| Bluetooth | v5.0 | v5.0 |
| Wifi | Wi-Fi 802.11, a/ac/ax/b/g/n/n 5GHz | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| GPS | Yes with A-GPS, Glonass | Yes with A-GPS, Glonass |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Sensors | Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
Conclusion!
To conclude, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is therefore for us a real performance monster on all decks: imaging with LiDAR, A14 processor, 5G, 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB in basic storage, MagSafe, etc. No negative point is to be detected.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max, on the other hand, is the loser in our review, as it’s (a bit) less powerful and doesn’t have access to 5G. Still, it’s still a great option since it’s more affordable than the iPhone 12 Pro Max. A good choice, in short, if you want a big-screen iPhone with great photo capabilities, without the need for the latest Apple technology.
