Differences Between iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max, and Which One to Choose
Detailed Comparison of iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max
Here is detailed information on how iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max differ in various important aspects. It will provide you with a more comprehensive understanding when choosing to purchase or upgrade your phone.
Design
Overall, the differences between iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max in terms of design are negligible. At first glance, many people will find it difficult to distinguish between these two phone models. The only difference in design is in the color options and the notch at the top of the screen.

Both phones feature sleek and square-edged stainless steel frames, contributing to a bold, powerful, and luxurious appearance. The iPhone 12 Pro Max comes in color options such as Gray, Blue, Gold, and Silver.
For the iPhone 13 Pro Max, it has been adjusted to be about 20% lighter than its predecessor. Additionally, the notch has been optimized to increase the display area on the screen. The iPhone 13 Pro Max introduces users to a new color variant: Sierra Blue.
Screen Quality
When comparing the screens of the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max, there is no difference in size. Both have a 6.7-inch display. However, because the notch on the iPhone 13 Pro Max is smaller, the display space will be more expansive. This contributes to enhancing the screen usage experience compared to the previous generation.
Both of these phones are equipped with premium OLED panels by Apple. They also support HDR10 and Super Retina XDR technologies, ensuring high-quality visuals. Images and details on the screen are displayed vividly, realistically, and accurately. You'll see every detail and color accurately from various angles.
In addition, when comparing the screen quality of iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max, the refresh rate cannot be ignored. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a refresh rate of 60 Hz, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max excels its predecessor with the Promotion display technology boasting a 120 Hz refresh rate. This makes every swipe and touch on the iPhone 13 Pro Max smoother and more responsive.
Furthermore, you'll notice that the transition effects on the iPhone 13 are smoother as well. This is perfect for those who enjoy watching movies and especially playing games, as it enhances the user's relaxation experience significantly.
Camera System
When it comes to the camera system, it's a factor that Apple always pays attention to and emphasizes. A notable feature on the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the new telephoto camera, which allows the phone to achieve up to 3x optical zoom.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max also features an ultra-wide camera with a 12 MP resolution. When comparing the differences between iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max in terms of the camera, you can see that there are new improvements in night mode photography. The ability for automatic focus and close-up shots as close as 2 cm. The main 12 MP camera with a larger and more sophisticated sensor compared to its predecessor.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max also features a triple camera setup with 12 MP resolution. However, in terms of features, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a slight edge. In addition to having a larger sensor size, it also captures up to 92% of light, resulting in clearer and well-lit photos.
Apple has added many useful features to the iPhone 13 Pro Max such as Cinematic Mode, Photographic Styles, ProRes, Smart HDR 4, and Macro photography. All of these will enhance the user's shooting and recording experience, making it more high-quality and professional.
Processing Performance
Comparing the processing performance of the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max is also of great interest. The iPhone 12 Pro Max impressed users with its powerful performance, equipped with the A14 Bionic chip by Apple. It delivers incredibly stable and smooth processing power. When it was first introduced, it was one of the top-rated chips globally. To this day, it continues to provide users with the most stable user experience.

As for the iPhone 13 Pro Max, Apple has equipped it with the Apple A15 Bionic chip. Naturally, this new improvement brings significantly superior performance. Besides ensuring powerful performance, it also helps conserve energy consumption, resulting in longer-lasting phone operation.
What's particularly noteworthy when comparing the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max is the chip. The iPhone 13 Pro Max features an enhanced chip with 6 cores, manufactured on a modern 5nm process. This means it will deliver speeds about 50% faster than some other chips. Additionally, with 15 billion transistors, the GPU and CPU operate up to 50% faster. This allows users to comfortably experience many heavy games and applications.
Internal Storage and RAM
The storage capacity or internal memory and RAM are also factors of concern when users compare the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max, as well as when they are undecided on which model to buy. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is equipped with 6GB of RAM and a maximum internal memory of 512GB. Overall, this is a decent capacity that helps users have ample storage space and multitask comfortably. It effectively limits the occurrence of stuttering or lag while using the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
On the other hand, the iPhone 13 Pro Max takes a superior step compared to its predecessor. Apple has upgraded the internal memory capacity of the device to 1TB. As for the RAM capacity, it remains the same as the iPhone 12 Pro Max at 6GB.
This is very suitable for users who need a phone with huge storage capacity. It's perfect for those who frequently take photos, shoot videos, and use many resource-intensive applications. For those involved in creative content creation and design work requiring extensive data storage, who are undecided whether to buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max or 13 Pro Max, this is the answer.
Battery Life and Charging Technology
Previously, iPhones were often criticized by users for their battery life. However, with the introduction of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the battery capacity has been significantly improved. According to reviews, users can continuously watch videos for up to 12 hours on this device. This is considered a surprising improvement, meeting users' entertainment needs. So how do the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max compare in terms of battery and charging technology?

The iPhone 12 Pro Max debuted with fast charging technology of up to 20W. Thanks to this factor, the device can recover up to 50% of its battery in just 30 minutes. Not only does it shorten the charging time, but it also effectively saves users' time.
Moving on to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, the battery life has been further extended. It is known to provide more than 2.5 hours of additional usage compared to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The fast charging power remains at 20W, but the speed seems to have been improved. This brings convenience to the phone usage, as users don't have to wait too long to fully charge the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Comparison of iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max in terms of pricing
When considering whether to buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max or 13 Pro Max, the price is also a significant factor to consider. At launch, the iPhone 12 Pro Max had a starting price of $1100 (around 26 million VND). This price was for the 128GB version of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. In 2021, the iPhone 13 Pro Max also had a starting price of $1100. The fact that the price did not increase for the new generation of phones has made users very pleased.
As of now, the iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB is priced at around 25 to 29 million VND. Meanwhile, the iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB will be slightly higher in price, ranging from 29 to 34 million VND. Note that these prices may gradually increase or decrease over time.
Summary table of specifications for iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max
A summary table comparing the technical specifications of the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max will help users make quick assessments. Here are all the basic information about the specifications of these two devices. Refer to this to understand the main differences and whether to buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max or 13 Pro Max.
Tiêu chí đánh giá | iPhone 12 Pro Max | iPhone 13 Pro Max |
Kích thước và trọng lượng | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm 226 gram | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7 mm 238 gram |
Màn hình | Super Retina XDR OLED 6.7 inch | Super Retina XDR OLED 6.7 inch |
Độ phân giải | 1284 x 2778 pixel | 1284 x 2778 pixel |
Mật độ điểm ảnh | 458 ppi | 458 ppi |
Chip xử lý | A14 Bionic | A15 Bionic |
RAM | 6 GB | 6 GB |
Bộ nhớ trong | 128GB/ 256GB/ 512GB | 128GB/ 256GB/ 512GB/ 1TB |
Camera | 12 MP + 12 MP + 12 MP | 12 MP + 12 MP + 12 MP |
Dung lượng pin | 3.687 mAh | 4.352 mAh |
Sạc nhanh và MagSafe | Hỗ trợ sạc nhanh 20 W Hỗ trợ sạc không dây MagSafe | Hỗ trợ sạc nhanh 20 W Hỗ trợ sạc không dây MagSafe |
Hỗ trợ 5G | Có | Có |
Phiên bản màu sắc | Bạc, Than chì, Gold, Xanh dương | Than chì, vàng, bạc, xanh rừng thông, xanh lá |
Should you buy iPhone 12 Pro Max or 13 Pro Max?
Finally, after comparing the differences between the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max in various aspects, users may wonder which one to buy. This largely depends on users' preferences, needs, and economic conditions.
If you have a good budget and want to own a device with many superior improvements, then choosing the iPhone 13 Pro Max is advisable. However, if you have a lower budget but still want to use a phone with stable performance, then choosing the iPhone 12 Pro Max at this time is quite suitable.
Overall, both devices can be used stably for 2 to 3 years without worrying about errors. Additionally, the design does not become outdated like other phone models. If you are currently using an iPhone 11, you can consider upgrading to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. It will allow you to experience many features and notice significant differences.
On the other hand, if you are using the iPhone 12 Pro Max, it is not necessary to upgrade to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Generally, the differences when comparing the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max in terms of new improvements are not significant. Moreover, it helps you save some expenses for phone upgrades.
However, if you have a good financial situation and want to experience something new, you may choose a new phone model. Whether it's the iPhone 12 Pro Max or 13 Pro Max, it's still a worthwhile product to buy, providing you with a good user experience. You won't be disappointed with your choice of an Apple phone.
Conclusion
Above are the differences in comparing iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max. Hopefully, you have answered whether to buy iPhone 12 Pro Max or 13 Pro Max. Wish you will choose the most suitable phone to use. If you have any other questions about these two phone models, please comment below!
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