iPhone 12 Pro Max: When the iPhone 12 Pro Max arrived in late 2020, it was Apple’s largest and most daring leap forward at the time.
It revived the flat-edge design to fashion, filled it with a supersize screen, and sported what were some lustworthy camera upgrades for mobile photographers. This phone still holds up surprisingly well, even in 2025.
Let’s look back at what made the iPhone 12 Pro Max a fan favorite, and how it fares in a world that has become even more tech-hungry.
Design: Pleasing to look at even While Not Groundbreaking
Apple got rid of the rounded edges of its older iPhones, returning to the classic flat-edged frame with the 12 series.
The 12 Pro Max dialed it up a notch — stainless steel edges, a matte glass back and a weighty premium in-hand feel that shouts flagship.
At 6.7 inches, it was the largest iPhone ever at launch, and even today, it’s a behemoth.
It may feel a little ungainly to use with one hand for some, but if you’re a fan of big-screen phones, it is a real sweet spot.
Color choices like Pacific Blue also added that extra touch of class.
Deck: Big, Bright and Beautiful
Phone has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with HDR10, Dolby Vision and is the most color accurate in the industry.
Text is razor-sharp, blacks are inky deep, and the brightness is exceptionally legible in bright sunlight.
And while it’s missing ProMotion (no 120Hz refresh rate here — that arrived with the 13 Pro series), it still feels fast, thanks to Apple’s quick-like-a-bunny iOS animations.
Watching videos, playing games or editing photos on this screen still feels like a treat in 2025.
Performance: The A14 Bionic Never Says “Die!”
Running on the A14 Bionic chip, this bad boy was ahead of its time by miles.
Even today it’s able to rip through everything from heavy multitasking and 4K editing down to gaming sessions in Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile without ever getting upset.
When you have a number of 6GB RAM, it is not the numbers — it is the optimization that Apple does. Apps open instantly, and the overall system performance feels just as snappy as it was on day one. And if you’re on iOS 17 or newer, you’re continuing to get regular updates and features.
Even Today, a Pro-Level Camera System
The rear triple-camera setup consists of:
12MP wide (f/1.6)
12MP ultra-wide
12MP telephoto with 2.5x zoom
LiDAR scanner for Night mode portraits and AR
And photos are luscious, sharp and balanced. All cameras have a Night Mode, which puts the iPhone 12 Pro Max ahead for low-light shooting.
Video, as always with Apple, is industry-leading — you have Dolby Vision HDR video recording in your pocket.
Selfies? Sharp, natural, and social media-ready straight from the shutter.
Battery Life & Charging: Good But Not Great
The 12 Pro Max, which had a 3,687mAh battery, had pretty strong battery life — typically a full day of moderate to heavy use.
I can still make it through the day on one now, along with bigger units after a little battery health degradation.
It charges over Lightning, rather than USB-C, and it works with 20W fast charging as well as MagSafe wireless charging.
It’s not exactly blazing fast on 2025 standards, but it’s enough to be useful and get work done.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Beautiful design, durable construction, and premium materials
Stunning OLED screen (with HDR)
A14 Bionic still strong in 2025
Superb camera system with LiDAR and Dolby Vision
Still receiving iOS updates
Plenty of MagSafe accessories still compatible
Cons:
Sitting at 60Hz, no high refresh rates
Hefty and hard for little hands
Lightning port feels outdated
Battery health can deteriorate over time
Not USB-C, which will limit the cable selection
iPhone 12 Pro Max: Final Thoughts: Still A Rockstar in 2025
The iPhone 12 Pro Max may be a couple years old, but don’t be mistaken — it can still be a beast.
And from its svelte glass-and-metal build to its dependable performance and photo-taking skills, this phone stands up well next to a lot of new midrange options.
If you are a person in need of a refurbished iPhone that doesn’t seem recycled, or you rather have a really good iOS experience for a song, the 12 Pro Max is still cool, and smart.