My iPhone 11 Pro Max was a great phone. I didn’t own a iPhone XS Max, so for me, the iPhone 11 Pro Max was literally a large step up from the iPhone X. But, if you really look at the iPhone 11 Pro Max, it was a small step forward from the iPhone XS. And the iPhone XS was a small step forward from the iPhone X, aside from the introduction of the Max size. Even the iPhone X, once you look past the revolutionary edge-to-edge display, was just a step forward from the iPhone 7, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6. My point is, until now, the iPhone has been the same rounded edge design for over 6 years. But, what is old is new again.
Design
If you remember the iPhone 4/4s and the iPhone 5/5s, then you remember the flat edge design of those phones and how they felt in your hand. Once the iPhone 6 was released in 2014, Apple shifted to the rounded edge design for the next 6 years.
The glass front and back design of the iPhone 12 is reminiscent of the iPhone 4/4s, but the look and feel of these devices are more like the iPhone 5/5s. The flat stainless steel edges are very sleek, especially in the new Pacific Blue colour. The rear glass for the Pro models is once again a matte finish like the 11 Pro models and looks great.
Overall, this change in design is a wonderful return to the iPhone of old.
Display
The iPhone 12 Pro displays are not dramatically different from last years models, except for the fact that because the edges of the display no longer needs to curve to match the curved frame, the display looks flatter and makes the phone feels thinner. This also results in less bezel around the screen, which is nice but not glaringly obvious.
The display also has, what Apple is calling, Ceramic Shield. Apple has infused nano-ceramic crystals into the glass making it the toughest display in a smartphone ever. I am not willing to test this out, but from drop test videos I’ve seen on YouTube, the display does seem tough and is much more resistant to scratches and cracking.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has the largest display ever on an iPhone at 6.7-inches. That’s .2-inches larger than the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Having comes from using the 11 Pro Max, I didn’t really notice the larger size of the device in my hand, and I don’t really see the difference in display size when using it. But, when I did a side-by-side comparison with the 11 Pro Max, the extra .2-inches does make a size difference.
Overall, the iPhone 12 Pro Max display gets a nice upgrade in size and durability. However, the notch is still the same size and a 120Hz, or Pro-Motion, display is still not to be found.
Cameras
Here is where the biggest differences are with this year’s Pro Max model. Unlike last year’s iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, the 12 Pro Max has a different rear camera module than its smaller Pro sibling. Both 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max models have a 3 lens array, just like last year’s Pro models, but with the addition of a LiDAR sensor. However, the 12 Pro Max uses larger image sensors and ultimately this makes for larger lenses and a larger camera bump. If you look at the Pro models from last year, the two models had the same camera module and same camera bump size. This year, Apple took advantage of the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s size and the camera bump is larger than the smaller Pro. This year, if you go for the Pro Max, you are getting the best camera on an iPhone.
Additional upgrades to the camera this year, that span both Pro models, are night mode for every camera lens, a new HDR 3 algorithm, Dolby Vision HDR for video recording and coming with iOS 14.3, a new Apple ProRAW format for photos. These are all great improvements and provides great tools for getting incredible photos and videos.
5G
Theoretically, 5G is great and is going to have a bright future. I mean who doesn’t want ultra high-speed internet access while on the go? But, right now 5G isn’t widely available and where it is available, you might only be getting slightly faster than LTE speeds, at best. I’ve tested the 5G in my area and only once did I get above 100Mbps. On average, I’m getting about 40-50Mbps which is what I was averaging with LTE. I know this is not an issue with the iPhone but with wireless carriers. The point I want to drive home is that 5G isn’t a robust enough service for it to be a selling point for any 5G smartphone. Not until average speeds reach above 200-300Mbps, or when ultra-wide band 5G becomes more widely available, 5G is just a nice to have, when you can get it.
The Rest
As it is every year, the newest iPhone models have the newest Apple processors. The A14 has a 16-core neural engine that’s 80% faster than the A13 and a new image signal processor for the improved video and photos. What does that mean as a user? Well, the A13 was already the fastest, most powerful chip, and Apple just lapped the competition.
Apple has also rebranded Magsafe and given the name to a new magnetic charging system. Once the name of chargers for Apple’s MacBook lines, Magsafe is now on the back of the iPhone 12 lineup. Essentially, it’s just a ring of magnets that sit around the wireless charging coil on the back of the phone to help lineup wireless chargers, or cases, or car mounts, or wallet. It’s a great idea, but definitely not a major selling point. For charging, Magsafe is wonderful as it helps align the charger to the sweet spot on the back of the phone. As for the wallet, it seems from other reviews, Apple missed the mark as it too easily slides off the back of the iPhone.
Finally, there are no EarPods or a charger in the box. I am just going to mention it as there’s already a lot of noise about this.
The Best iPhone Available
It goes without saying, every new iPhone is the best iPhone ever. The A14 chip guarantees the iPhone 12 lineup is still the most powerful lineup on the market. But, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the best of the best. The design is sleek and a nice throwback to the iPhone 4. The larger 6.7-inch display is gorgeous, but only slightly more spacious than last years 11 Pro Max. The new camera system is powerful and has features and benefits the other iPhone 12 models don’t have. 5G is still too new for it to be a killer feature, and I think the same can be said with Magsafe, but both are nice to haves.
The iPhone 12 family makes what’s old new again, while bringing advancements that’s both revolutionary and evolutionary. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is hands down the best smartphone on the market, but only by beating the iPhone 11 Pro Max from last year.