Difference Between iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 12 Pro Max

This has in part how Apple’s flagship smartphone lineup evolved to the iPhone 15 Plus, as we are putting Apple’s leading phablet against not only its predecessor at best but two different generations back. The two devices have pretty much the same high-end features, however, they do cater to little different user needs. From whether you should upgrade to simply being curious, we take a look at the intrinsic differences between each model. Read on below for a deeper look at design, performance, camera systems and more to help you decide which phone is best for your use-case.

Design and Build Quality

iPhone 15 Plus Design

The iPhone 15 Plus continues Apple’s clean and minimalistic style but brings some mild improvements. The frame is constructed of aviation-level aluminum and hence it is lighter with better grip. It comes in several new colors and has a high-gloss finish that provides some contemporary flair. Apple has further narrowed bezels, which allows for even more screen real estate.

iPhone 12 Pro Max Design

The iPhone 12 Pro Max uses a “surgical-grade stainless steel”, which also gives it a slightly heavier and sturdier build amongst the two. By today’s standards, the flat-edge design was a huge departure from most other devices in 2013, providing a high-end industrial look and feel. The gloss may look better, but might show quite a few fingerprints — because of that we prefer the matte finish on the back.

Key Design Differences

• Where the iPhone 15 Plus is more refined, svelte and lightweight, the iPhone 12 Pro Max has weight, a premium that mostly lends itself to an impression of solidity.
• In the end, if you value the weight of your phone as well, then at its lightest version possible, it is going to be the winner as iPhone 15 Plus.

Display Comparison

iPhone 15 Plus Display Features

Touted as a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display, the iPhone 15 Plus offers deep blacks and vibrant colours. It also comes with a 120Hz refresh rate thanks to its ProMotion technology, which provides fluid scrolling and transitions — something that can improve the overall user experience when gaming or consuming content on-screen.

iPhone 12 Pro Max Display Features

This also gets a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The Beats Studio Buds includes noise-canceling however it also supports the 120Hz ProMotion, which is paired with for a 60Hz refresh rate. As for the OLED panel, having both Next and previous-gen side by side I have to say the image quality is still top-notch but the refresh rate difference is plain to see -especially when compared look-for-look with the iPhone 15 Plus.

OLED vs Super Retina XDR

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are both based on OLED technology under Apple’s branding of Super Retina XDR, though the higher refresh rate display in the iPhone 15 Plus makes them feel smoother and snappier to use.

Performance and Processor

iPhone 15 Plus – A17 Bionic Chip

The iPhone 15 Plus is equipped with the newly launched A17 Bionic chip. This 3nm based processor performs really well and uses very little power. On Geekbench 6, it will score 2900 in a single-core and 7250 in multi-core benchmark tests. The iPhone 15 Plus is easy work of intensive apps, gaming and multitasking.

iPhone 12 Pro Max – A14 Bionic Chip

Refer to the A14 Bionic chip if you prefer the latest and best, so of course it was already the case that anything powered by this SoC, including the iPhone 12 Pro Max, was at the top right out of launch. By comparison though, its Geekbench 6 scores are just 1595 in single-core and 4198 in multi-core. It’s still a quick chip for everyday tasks in fact, but it won’t be breaking any records when it comes to heavy apps or games like at A17 would.

Real-World Performance Differences

The iPhone 15 Plus offers much faster general performance than the 12 Pro Max, especially for power users who are gaming, video editing or multi-tasking with a lot of apps up at the same time.

Performance Comparison Table

Highlighted are the real world benchmark data to compare iPhone 15 Plus (A17 Bionic) vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max (A14 bionic) showing larger performance and efficiency increase between two generations of iPhones;

Camera Capabilities

iPhone 15 Plus Camera System

Now coming to the optics department, the iPhone 15 Plus sports a dual-camera system on rear where 48MP is the main sensor and a 12MP Ultrawide lens. The bigger sensor provides better low-light shooting and the computational photography advancements will result in more detail, better sharpness and improved color accuracy.

iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera System

Remember way back when the iPhone 12 Pro Max used to be one of the best cameras you could buy in a phone? The dual 12 MP sensors are pretty much alive in well-light conditions and the LiDAR scanner helps it with the software stack to outshine most of mid-rangers when it comes to portrait shots and low-light performance.

Photography and Videography Performance

• It comes with a 48MP sensor which can absorb more light thus make it possible to clean in low-light photo.
• LiDAR scanner on the iPhone 12 Pro Max also has benefits for portrait shots and AR experiences Meanwhile, the LiDAR scanner that is included in the iPhone 12 Pro Max has continued to provide a benefit when it comes to portrait shots as well as in certain AR experiences.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery Capacity and Efficiency in iPhone 15 Plus

There should also be better battery life from the iPhone 15 Plus, thanks to a larger battery and power efficiency of A17. This, theoretically, results in much longer battery life given the same workload. The phone also gets 30W fast charging as opposed to all the previous models.

Battery Capacity and Efficiency in iPhone 12 Pro Max

The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a bit of a smaller battery and is running the A14 chipset, which although efficient, doesn’t meet the energy-saving prowess of the A17. You may accordingly notice the iPhone 12 Pro Max running out of battery long before the iPhone 15 Plus, especially in general use cases.

Charging Technology and Speed

The iPhone 15 Plus is also up there in terms of charging speed since the fast-charging capabilities here will provide you with a battery bump in a shorter amount of time than what the iPhone 12 Pro Max can achieve.

Software and Features

iOS Version on iPhone 15 Plus

The iPhone 15 Plus comes pre-installed with the most up-to-date iOS OS version, which introduces updated functionality and improvements over previous models. You can look forward to better animations, improved privacy controls, and of course (something only Apple can do), deeper integration with your other Apple products.

iOS Version on iPhone 12 Pro Max

Yes, the iPhone 12 Pro Max will evidently support the latest iOS, but there may be limited features available. The iPhone 15 Plus will probably keep getting new features, and longer software support over the course of future updates too, as iOS versions roll out.

Price Comparison

In terms of the cost of buying an iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 12 Pro Max, the newer device marks itself with a higher price tag compared to its elder sibling – the iPhone 12 pro Max, even in refurbished or used market.

iPhone 15 Plus (September 2024 prices):

• 128GB: Starting at $899
• 256GB: Starting at $999
• 512GB: Starting at $1199

iPhone 12 Pro Max (September 2024 prices):

• 128GB: Around $412 (average used)
• 256GB: Around $436 (average used)
• 512GB: Around $498 (average used)

Though the latest technology and just a bit more future-proofing in the iPhone 15 Plus might be hard to resist, it is difficult to ignore such an offer if it can deliver enough premium experience for less than what the iPhone 12 Pro Max! While the latest version is far more performant and durable, it is hard to ignore what the iPhone 12 Pro Max still offers today at its price.

Value for Money Analysis

• The iPhone 15 Plus brings greater futureproofing and newer technologies.
• As a less-expensive, premium product from Apple, the iPhone 12 Pro Max offered strong value for money.

Conclusion

Overall, the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 12 Pro Max are for different customers. In terms of high performance, camera technology and display quality, the iPhone 15 Plus will be a top choice for customer to no doubt. And it also happens to be a killer phone The iPhone 12 Pro Max is still top of the class, and solid value for those willing to live with last year’s tech. It essentially comes down to what you care about most: new features or price.

FAQs

• Which phone has a better camera system, iPhone 15 Plus or iPhone 12 Pro Max?
  This is the iPhone 15 Plus that comes in with an even more advanced camera system supporting higher low-light performance as well as a higher-resolution main sensor, meant for all those photography enthusiasts.
• Is the battery life significantly better in iPhone 15 Plus compared to iPhone 12 Pro Max?
  Oh yes, but the iPhone 15 Plus comes with a bigger battery and is powered by an A17 chip that saves energy more aggressively from each milliamp it gets.
• Can I still get software updates on the iPhone 12 Pro Max?
  Yes, The iPhone 12 Pro Max is still getting iOS updates, but not for as long or likely supporting new features like the iPhone 15 Plus will.
• Does the iPhone 15 Plus support faster charging than the iPhone 12 Pro Max?
  Yes, the iPhone 15 Plus was more efficient to get charged faster with a 30W charge as opposed to it’s iphone12 pro max mate prevents at a 20W.cloudflare.