The iPhone 13 Pro Max vs. The iPhone 12 Pro Max: Should You Upgrade?
Finally, Apple has announced its highly anticipated iPhone 13 Pro Max along with other models namely iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and the iPhone 13 mini.
However, the 13 Pro Max version of the iPhone is likely to steal the show. After all, these models come with camera improvements and a whopping ITB storage. But is this the only reason you need to upgrade from iPhone 12 Pro Max to iPhone 13 Pro Max?
In other words, many iPhone users will be wondering whether it is worth switching to the latest model. While it might be easier for those with iPhones that are a couple of years old or older, it is challenging for those who are already using the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
We hope that this brief comparison will help you make an informed decision.
Display and Design
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is available in four new colours—gold, silver, graphite and sierra blue. One of the most attractive new features of this latest edition is a display upgrade.
While the screen size and resolution have remained unchanged, its 6.7-inch OLED panel features a resolution of 1284 x 2778 pixels, but what’s interesting is that Apple is finally providing 120Hz ProMotion for super-smooth scrolling on the 13 Pro Max. Previous iPhones models run at 60 Hz, meaning that the screen refreshes 60 times each second compared to 120 times on the new model, and this rapid refresh rate makes your interactions smoother with the screen.
This is a key feature and definitely makes a difference when it comes to choosing between Pro iPhone and the non-Pro model which still has 60 Hz.
As far as the design concern, there are no major changes as it comes with the same flat sides, same overall look, however, the 13 Pro Max is a bit heavier and a bit thicker. It has also been launched in new colours, unlike the regular iPhone models.
Face ID is also available, but this time it comes in a 20% small size for the notch that now gets reduced in the way on the 13 Pro Max.
Battery and Charging:
The battery is one of the biggest USPs of the iPhone 13 Pro Max. While all iPhone 13 models come with some sort of battery improvement, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has the biggest one. And this one is really amazing.
While Apple hasn’t revealed the exact battery capacity for the 13 Pro Max, it is speculated to be a 4,352mAh battery.
According to Apple, the iPhone 13 Pro ensures 2.5 hours battery life increase over iPhone 13 Pro Max.
But there is no charger in the box, meaning that you need to spend some more bucks to buy it.
Cameras:
The iPhone 13 Pro Max has three all-new cameras. Here is how it goes versus iPhone 12 Pro Max
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
| Wide Camera | f/1.5 aperture | f/1.8 aperture |
| Ultra Wide Camera | f/1.8 aperture | f/2.4 aperture |
| Telephoto Camera | 3X Zoom | 2.5 X Zoom |
The iPhone 13 Pro Max wide camera is now able to capture up to 2.2X more light at night for both videos and photos, and the ultra-wide camera can get up to 92% more light, so major upgrades here too.
Plus, the iPhone 13 series comes with a new feature called Photographic Styles.
These are generally photo filers on steroids; you can do edits in real-time and you can see the results using the viewfinder. Plus, you can go for a more vibrant look or a different style, and you can make your iPhone remember that personal preferences to be used across all your photos.
The 13 Pro Max also lets you capture a macro photo at a distance as close as just 2cm for outstanding close-ups.
The same feature can be used when you are looking to shoot macro videos.
Just like the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is also equipped with a LiDAR scanner. The main use of that scanner is for AR, and Apple is yet to meet its full potential.
Apple A15 Chip:
Apple A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 Pro Max is said to be the fastest smartphone chip in the industry. And it all translates into the superfast performance of CPU, AI and GPU as well as camera ISP.
Interestingly, this year, Apple doesn’t perform a direct comparison in speeds between the A15 vs. A14 chips, but it instead compares the A15 against arch-rival Android, which sounds strange. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is powered by an A14 chip.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is also supposed to have the same 6GB of RAM as the iPhone 12.
GPU:
Apple assures that the iPhone Pro models are equipped with the fastest graphics performance on any smartphone to date.
Storage:
Apple is ditching the 64GB storage option for all phones starting under the iPhone 13 flagship. The iPhone 13 Pro’s storage capacity goes from 128 GB up to 1 TB that is double the storage in the last year’s Pro models.
5G and Connectivity:
The iPhone 12 Pro Max were one of the first Apple devices to offer 5G connectivity. The iPhone 13 Pro and Max also have the same 5G capacities as the same models.
Our Verdict: Should You Upgrade from iPhone 12 Pro Max to iPhone 13 Pro Max?
Frankly speaking, it is not a plain YES or NO if you should upgrade your iPhone 12 Pro Max to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. This is because of many reasons. Firstly, the A14 chip in the 12 Pro Max is still powerful to run any processing task. Besides, there are no significant changes in design or screen sizes. In fact, both models share a lot of similarities.
The improved battery life and the power saving ProMotion could be useful for someone who uses their iPhone for a significant amount of time. If you are an avid photographer or videographer, then the iPhone 13 Pro Max could be worth your investment. The 1 TB option is an even major bonus, as that you can store hours of footage shot on an iPhone during a filming session.
The average iPhone user might not see that much advantage in switching to a year-newer phone. For those who are after power, camera, and storage capacity, the iPhone 13 Pro Max can be a great buy for them.
