iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max Review

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max

Both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 11 Pro Max were Apple’s leading devices when they were launched in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

And despite being superseded by the iPhone 13 Pro Max, each remains among the best smartphones out there, with superb screens, massive battery life and design chops to match.

Read on and we’ll tell you how they match up in our iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max head-to-head.

Overall Winner in snapshot: iPhone 12 Pro Max

The newer iPhone 12 Pro Max wins out thanks to its sharper design, improved A14 Bionic chipset, 5G access and toughened Ceramic Shield protection.

However, the iPhone 11 Pro Maxruns it close and is still a brilliant option for anyone after a large, specced up handset without paying very top whack.

Compare iPhone 12 Pro Max deals

Compare iPhone 12 Pro Max deals at Moneysupermarket and you’ll find plenty of excellent contracts available, all more affordable than buying the hot off the press iPhone 13 Pro Max deals.

Right now you can get the iPhone 12 Pro Max for £145 up front and £48 per month, with unlimited calls and texts, plus 100GB of 5G data from Three.

Compare iPhone 11 Pro Max deals

Compare iPhone 11 Pro Max deals and you’ll find that its age makes it a lot less expensive than the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Pay Monthly, Pay As You Go and SIMO plans has it for £159 up front and then just £32 a month for 24 months, with 100GB of 4G data and unlimited calls and texts.

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max: What are the key differences?

The main difference between the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the iPhone 11 Pro Max is design.

The former has a squared off look that looks more refined, giving it a premium feel. Elsewhere, the screen is slightly larger, while the inclusion of the A14 Bionic chipset means performance is better too.

5G is also a major addition, meaning the iPhone 12 Pro Max can access the fastest available networks.

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max design

While the iPhone 11 Pro Max comes with a now dated rounded design, the squared off, industrial finish of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is refreshingly modern and sits alongside the other iPhone 12 models.

This puts it well ahead of its older stablemate and makes it one of the best looking smartphones currently available.

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max camera

Although aesthetically, the triple lens camera system on both phones look the same, there are some key differences.

The iPhone 11 Pro Max has three 12MP lenses, dual optical image stabilisation and Smart HDR for making pics look the part, as well as 4x optical zoom.

While it still produces impressive shots, the lenses on the iPhone 12 Pro Max are superior, with better aperture and a new Night Mode for taking improved images in low light using AR tech.

Smart HDR3 and 5x optical zoom mean that even the most callow of photographers will be able to discern the difference.

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max screen display

The iPhone 12 Pro Max comes with a larger 6.7-inch screen compared with the iPhone 11 Pro Max’s 6.5-inch effort.

However, each feature Super Retina OLED tech, making colours pop and games and videos look superb.

What makes the iPhone 12 Pro Max stand out, though, is Ceramic Shield, Apple’s cutting edge protection designed to prevent dreaded screen smashes. It’s great and is worth paying extra for.

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max battery life and performance

While the battery performance of both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 11 Pro Max are similar, with 20 hours of video playback, the iPhone 12 Pro Max comes with support for MagSafe, Apple’s newest wireless charging standard that allows for faster charging without having to plug into mains power.

In terms of performance, the more powerful A14 chipset in the iPhone 12 Pro Max is better than the older A13 chip in the iPhone 11 Pro Max, meaning better support for newer apps and a snappier overall performance in day-to-day use.

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max software

Both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 11 Pro Max support iOS 15. Apple is committed to bringing updates to both phones for years to come, but by dint of being the newer model, the iPhone 12 Pro Max will get iOS updates for longer.

If you don’t like upgrading your phone every two years, this makes it more appealing.

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max verdict

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is a better phone in almost all ways.

However, with great, affordable deals available, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is still excellent value, with a better camera and more impressive specs than many current top end rivals.

Even so, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is a solid option if you want great specs, something even newer and a device that will last for years.