Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max review: specs, battery & used prices
Hands-on-style overview of the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max with Apple A14 Bionic: screen, cameras, battery, performance and what it costs used.
Summary
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is Apple's 2020 large flagship: a 6.7-inch OLED at 60 Hz, the A14 Bionic, and a triple 12 MP camera system with sensor-shift stabilisation introduced that year. It launched at $1,100; 6/256 GB units now sell for around $274 with a four-sale sample — the oldest large-screen Pro iPhone in the catalog, priced accordingly.
Display and design
The 6.7-inch OLED runs at 60 Hz with an 800-nit peak — screen quality 39/100 on our axis, the missing ProMotion being the headline aging marker — in a 226 g stainless-framed body with compactness at 65/100 and IP68 sealing.
Performance
The A14 Bionic still performs with dignity: gaming 34/100 on our axis handles most titles, and everyday responsiveness at 75/100 remains smooth. iOS support status — not raw pace — is the real limit for buyers entering at this generation.
Camera
The camera system brought sensor-shift stabilisation to the 12 MP main sensor, joined by a 2.5x telephoto and an ultrawide, with video to 4K at 60 fps and Dolby Vision recording. Our camera score of 32/100 reads modestly on our hardware-weighted scale, but the low-light leap of this generation was real and remains usable.
Battery and charging
The 3,687 mAh battery scores 14/100 on battery life — the smallest cell in this comparison and clearly the weak point in 2026 — while 20 W charging scores 2/100. Battery service or replacement is a realistic first purchase consideration.
Verdict
At around $274 used, the 12 Pro Max is for buyers who want the largest classic iPhone at the lowest Pro-tier price, accepting a smaller battery and a 60 Hz panel as the cost. Resale interest remains steady across the used listings. The iPhone 13 Pro Max adds ProMotion and a bigger battery for meaningfully more; the standard iPhone 12 Pro is the same platform in a smaller frame.
Data sheet
Overall score
mid (0–100 composite of performance, battery, value and longevity)
Review scores
nanoreview.com editorial · 0–100| Screen | 6.7" OLED |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic |
| Memory (RAM / storage) | 6 GB / 128 GB · 6 GB / 256 GB · 6 GB / 512 GB |
| Battery | 3,687 mAh |
| Main camera | 12 MP |
| Released | 2020 · iOS |
Memory & used prices
| RAM / storage | New | Used (eBay median) | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 / 128 GB | $1,100 | $290 | 1 listing |
| 6 / 256 GB | — | $275 | 4 listings |
Resale trend
Estimate from two anchors: launch MSRP $1,100 (2020) and used-market median $290 (2026). −20% / year · next year ≈ $232
Cost to own ≈ $4.3/mo · buying now at $290, 2-year horizon
Money could earn ≈ $1.0/mo · the $290 kept at 4.17%/yr (US Treasury 3-month bill, as of Sep 21, 2026)
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