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iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB — A14 · iOS · 128GB
Apple

iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB

A14 · iOS · 128GB

85
/ 100
From $1,099
VS
iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB wins by 2
iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB — A15 · iOS · 128GB
Apple

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB

A15 · iOS · 128GB

87
/ 100
From $1,099
Specdex verdict

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB lands at 85 and iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB at 87. That puts iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB if…

  • ✓iOS ecosystem
  • ✓Long update support
  • ✓Polished hardware

Pick iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB if…

  • ✓iOS ecosystem
  • ✓Long update support
  • ✓Polished hardware
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Photography

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB

Stills and video quality across lenses

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB leads on camera (86 vs 84).

Battery life

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB

Screen-on time and charging

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB leads on battery (81 vs 79).

Performance

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB

Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB leads on cpu (87 vs 85).

Display

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB

Panel quality, brightness, refresh rate

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB leads on display (84 vs 82).

Value for money

Tie

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.

iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB 85
vs
87 iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB

Score breakdown

iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB
85
cpu 85
gpu 83
camera 84
battery 79
display 82
design 85
iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB
87
cpu 87
gpu 85
camera 86
battery 81
display 84
design 87

Specs side-by-side

iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB versus iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB — full spec comparison
Spec iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB
Chipset
A14
A15
Storage
128GB
128GB
OS
iOS 14
iOS 15
Release year
2020
2021

iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB

Pros
  • +iOS ecosystem
  • +Long update support
  • +Polished hardware
Cons
  • −Premium pricing
  • −Limited customization
  • −Lightning/USB-C split across generations

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB

Pros
  • +iOS ecosystem
  • +Long update support
  • +Polished hardware
Cons
  • −Premium pricing
  • −Limited customization
  • −Lightning/USB-C split across generations

FAQ: iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB vs iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB

Which is better, iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB or iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB? +

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB scores 87 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB worth the price? +

At $1,099, iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB delivers a Specdex score of 85 — strongest in cpu.

Is iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB worth the price? +

At $1,099, iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB delivers a Specdex score of 87 — strongest in cpu.

Does iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB or iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for photography, iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB or iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB? +

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB — leads on camera (86 vs 84). Stills and video quality across lenses.

Which is better for battery life, iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB or iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB? +

iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB — leads on battery (81 vs 79). Screen-on time and charging.