Pre-orders for the iPhone 12 Pro Max kicked off on November 6, and today it has finally launched.
Because of COVID-19, only the Pro Max and the mini got pushed to a later release, so anyone who likes their phones extra-large or extra-small must have been waiting on pins and needles (yours truly included).
With that in mind, let's take another look at the Pro Max's specs.
Here are the detailed specs.
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | iPhone 12 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 6.7-inch (diagonal) OLED display, 2,778 x 1,284 pixel resolution, 458 ppi | 6.1-inch (diagonal) OLED display, 2,532 x 1,170 pixel resolution, 460 ppi |
| Display Color | Wide color (P3), 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical), max brightness 800 nits (typical), max brightness 1,200 nits (HDR) | Wide color (P3), 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical), max brightness 800 nits (typical), max brightness 1,200 nits (HDR) |
| SoC | A14 Bionic chip | A14 Bionic chip |
| Camera | Wide: 1.7µm pixel sensor, sensor-shift optical image stabilization. Telephoto: 65mm focal length, ƒ/2.2 aperture, up to 12x digital zoom | Wide: 1.4µm pixel sensor, optical image stabilization. Telephoto: 52mm focal length, ƒ/2.0 aperture, up to 10x digital zoom |
| Battery Life | Video playback: up to 20 hours | Video playback: up to 17 hours |
| Body Size | Height: 160.8 mm, Width: 78.1 mm, Depth: 7.4 mm | Height: 146.7 mm, Width: 71.5 mm, Depth: 7.4 mm |
| Weight | 226g | 187g |
The big differences come down to three things: "size," "camera," and "battery." For now, just think of it as everything getting bigger and you'll be fine.
As an aside, why is it that other news sites had hands-on photo reviews up before launch day…? Lucky them.
Anyway, here it is in the flesh.
A Presence That Deserves the Name "iPad micro"
This is the iPhone 12 Pro Max as it arrived.
Starting with this generation the box has gotten smaller, and the AC adapter and earbuds are no longer included.
Inside you'll find a USB-C cable, a smaller manual, and the familiar Apple stickers.
Because the box is more compact, more units can be shipped at once, which cuts down on transport costs.
The earbuds are likely no longer included because, with products like the company's own AirPods, more and more people are going wireless and don't need them.
As for the AC adapter, a small one will charge slowly, so you may need to pick up a high-output adapter at the same time.
Once you actually pick it up, you can tell it's pretty big.
It sits somewhere between a tablet and a phone, big enough that the word "phablet" comes flooding back to mind.
That said, after just a few minutes I found myself thinking, "Actually, is it really that big?"
If you're already using a large phone like a Galaxy Note or a Xiaomi Mi Note, you should be fine with this one.
Still, since it's both heavy and big, one-handed use is pretty rough.
Compared with the iPhone 8.
Looking at them side by side, the 8 starts to feel really small.
A Presence That Deserves the Name "iPad micro"
Compared with the iPhone 11 Pro, aside from the LiDAR Scanner and the sides, there isn't a huge visual difference, but if you look closely you might notice the camera is a little bigger.
The Max is the only model with a larger image sensor, so it should let you have more fun with photography.
The sides are stainless steel, reflecting like a mirror.
It's a material used only on the Pro lineup, and according to Apple it's of medical grade. Drop tests posted in overseas videos suggest it does have a fair amount of durability after all.
The display side also uses a high-durability glass called Ceramic Shield, making it harder to crack if dropped.
In terms of how it feels in hand, one-handed use is tough, so you'll mostly be using it with both hands.
The size of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is one thing, but what really stands out is the size of the camera sensor.
It's the only model in the 12 series with a larger camera sensor, and you can especially expect better image quality in low light.
Putting On the Genuine Silicone Case and Screen Protector
Along with my order, I also picked up Apple's outrageously expensive genuine silicone case.
There's a "circle" around the middle that holds the magnet for MagSafe.
Since it's a magnet, I figured it would stick to the fridge — but no, not at all.
For the screen protector, I considered going with the official Belkin premium product, but 5,000 yen for a single sheet of film felt way too steep, and I knew I'd be devastated if I botched the install, so I went with one from NIMASO.
It's glass, and it's easy to apply cleanly.
Because the iPhone 12 series has flat sides like the iPhone 4, applying a film is much easier than on the iPhone 11.
Honestly, even a 100-yen-shop screen protector will do the job.
If you care about feel and durability, you can get a pretty decent one for a few thousand yen, so just grab whatever and call it a day.
Bigness Solves Everything!?
As the saying goes, "the larger contains the smaller," so for those who think "if my daily companion is going to be by my side every day, it might as well be huge!" — this iPhone is right up your alley.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro official site
https://www.apple.com/jp/iphone-12-pro/
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