iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Shop iPhone
iPhone 12
Starting at
£170.00£649.00 new
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Starting at
£1,209.00What's the difference between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 17 Pro Max?
iPhone 12 vs 17 Pro Max comes down to the chipset, RAM and battery. Refurbished, the iPhone 12 starts at £170, £1039 less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the newer model, released in 2025.
Refurbished from
Chipset
RAM
Battery
Screen size
Screen type
- Chipset: Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) on the iPhone 12, Apple A19 Pro on the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
- The iPhone 17 Pro Max has more RAM: 12 GB vs 4 GB.
- Battery: 2815 mAh on the iPhone 12, 4823 mAh, 5088 mAh on the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max specs
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 17 Pro Max differ in several key areas that suit different users. The iPhone 12 is a compact device with a 6.1 inch screen and 4 GB of RAM, ideal for everyday use and those who prefer a lighter phone. The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers a much larger 6.9 inch display with a higher refresh rate and more RAM, suited for users who want a roomier screen and stronger performance for multitasking. The 17 Pro Max also has significantly higher camera megapixels and a larger battery capacity, making it better for photography and longer use between charges. Storage options vary from 64GB on the iPhone 12 up to 2TB on the 17 Pro Max, fitting a range of needs.
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max price
Colour
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max battery life and software updates
Battery capacity and software support are important for how long a phone lasts and stays current.
Battery Capacity
The iPhone 12 has a 2815 mAh battery, suitable for typical daily use. The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers much larger batteries of 4823 mAh and 5088 mAh, which provide longer usage time before needing a charge. This suits users who spend more time on their phone without easy access to charging.
Software Updates
This means users of either phone will have access to current features and security patches.
Battery
Foldable
Ip rating
Software updates
Wireless charging
Year of release
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max performance
Performance depends on the chipset, RAM, and storage options. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has more powerful hardware and larger storage capacities, which benefit users running demanding apps or storing lots of data.
Chipset and RAM
The iPhone 12 runs on the Apple A14 Bionic with 4 GB of RAM, supporting everyday tasks and standard app use smoothly. The iPhone 17 Pro Max uses the Apple A19 Pro chipset paired with 12 GB of RAM, which helps keep many apps open and running at once and improves performance in intensive tasks.
Storage Options
Storage for the iPhone 12 starts at 64GB and goes up to 256GB, suitable for general users. The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers much larger options from 256GB up to 2TB, which is ideal for those who need to store large files, apps, or media.
Chipset
RAM
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max screen
Screen size, resolution, and refresh rate affect the viewing experience. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a larger, higher-resolution screen with a faster refresh rate, making it more suited for immersive video and smooth scrolling.
Screen Size and Resolution
The iPhone 12 has a 6.1 inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen with a resolution of 1170 x 2532 pixels. This size fits comfortably in one hand and suits everyday use. The iPhone 17 Pro Max features a larger 6.9 inch Super Retina XDR screen with 2868 x 1320 pixels resolution, offering more room for videos, games, and multitasking.
Refresh Rate
The iPhone 12's screen refreshes at 60 Hz, which is standard for smooth viewing. The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers a 120 Hz refresh rate, doubling the frames per second for smoother motion. This benefits users who prefer fluid animations and responsiveness, especially in gaming or scrolling.
Refresh rate
Resolution
Screen size
Screen type
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max camera
Camera quality is a key consideration for many buyers. The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers higher megapixel counts on both front and main cameras, which affects image detail.
Camera Resolution
The iPhone 12 has 12 megapixels on both the front and main cameras, capturing good quality photos and selfies for everyday use. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has 18 megapixels on the front camera and 48 megapixels on the main camera, providing more detail and clarity for photography enthusiasts or users who want sharper images.
Camera type
Front camera
Main camera
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max size and design
Other differences include physical dimensions, connectors, and weight, which impact handling and compatibility with accessories.
Physical Size and Weight
The iPhone 12 measures 146.7 mm in height, 71.5 mm in width, and 7.4 mm in depth, weighing 164 g. Its compact size suits users looking for a lighter, more pocket-friendly device. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is larger and heavier, at 163.4 mm tall, 78 mm wide, 8.8 mm deep, and 233 g in weight, offering a more substantial feel that fits those who prefer bigger phones.
Connector Type
The iPhone 12 uses a Lightning connector, common in earlier iPhones. The iPhone 17 Pro Max features a USB-C connector, which is widely used across many devices and may simplify cable use for those with USB-C accessories.
Network and SIM
Both phones support 5G mobile networks and use a combination of physical SIM and eSIM, giving flexibility for network choices.
Carrier compatibility
Connector
Depth
Height
Mobile network
SD card slot
SIM card
Weight
Width
iPhone 12 or iPhone 17 Pro Max: which should you buy?
Buy the iPhone 12 if
- you want to spend less: it starts at £170, £1039 less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max
- you want an OLED screen
- you want a lighter build (162 g vs 233 g)
Buy the iPhone 17 Pro Max if
- you want more RAM (12 GB vs 4 GB)
- you want a bigger screen (6.9 inch vs 6.1 inch)
- you want a smoother screen (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
What our customers say
Customers say the iPhone 12 looks like new with clean glass and perfect frames, often feeling like a new phone. The battery is reported to feel like new too, supporting smooth performance for everyday apps, multitasking, and photo editing. Many customers appreciate the compact size and reliable speed of the A14 Bionic chip. The iPhone 12 is praised for its reasonable price and solid performance for general use, with storage options up to 256GB suiting most needs.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is described as working well with excellent battery health at 100 percent and high-quality condition that looks like new. Users highlight ease of moving apps to the device and appreciate the larger screen and stronger performance. Some mention the phone's size and weight in passing, while others note the high-resolution cameras and smooth operation. Storage options up to 2TB offer ample space for users with extensive media or apps.
The iPhone 12 suits those wanting a lighter, compact phone with dependable performance and a good camera for everyday use. The iPhone 17 Pro Max fits users who want a larger screen, more RAM, higher resolution cameras, and extensive storage for intensive use and photography.
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max FAQs
iPhone 12 vs 17 Pro Max comes down to the chipset, RAM and battery. Chipset: Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) on the iPhone 12, Apple A19 Pro on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has more RAM: 12 GB vs 4 GB.
The iPhone 12 is cheaper refurbished, from £170 compared with £1209 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The iPhone 12 has 2815 mAh and the iPhone 17 Pro Max has 4823 mAh, 5088 mAh.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a higher-resolution main camera: 48 megapixels vs 12 megapixels.
The iPhone 12 is still supported and can run iOS 27. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is still supported and can run iOS 27.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max adds more RAM (12 GB vs 4 GB), a bigger screen (6.9 inch vs 6.1 inch) and a smoother screen (120 Hz vs 60 Hz). Refurbished, it costs £1039 more (from £1209 vs £170).
Refurbished, the iPhone 12 comes in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB.
