iPhone 12 Pro Max price: how much is the iPhone 12 Pro Max and should you buy it?

iPhone 12 Pro Max Specifications

Before we get into the price details, here's the iPhone 12 Pro Max spec sheet to give you an idea of what you're buying:

At first glance, the size of the screen and battery capacity stand out, which are usually the arguments for the Max. On top of that, the performance is impressive with the A14 Bionic Chip.

How long does the battery last on the iPhone 12 Pro Max?

This is certainly one of the most important questions when choosing a phone. The short answer: a long time! How long exactly depends on how much you use your phone. As you can see in the table above, even with continuous streaming, you can count on 12 hours of battery life. If just straight audio playback: 80 hours, which is over 3 days.

How long does it take to recharge the battery? With the 20W power adapter, the phone goes from 0 to 50% in 30 minutes. So an impressive result here too.

Are there any differences between the cameras of the iPhone 12 Pro and the 12 Pro Max?

Overall, the phones' cameras are very similar since both have nearly the same three lenses and take impressive photos. It's only in 'low light' or night mode that the iPhone 12 Pro Max has an edge. This is due to a larger sensor that captures light and processes it better. The Pro Max's zoom is also a little ahead of the iPhone 12 Pro, but the average person probably won't notice the difference.

How do the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s 3 camera lenses work?

For many, the third camera lens on the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max is a status symbol, but few understand what it's really for. In short, the three lenses are:

• Wide angle

• Ultra wide angle

• Telephoto 

The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max stand out from the classic iPhone 12 when it comes to photography. The iPhone 12 Pro offers up to 4x optical zoom, while the Max model offers up to 5x. The iPhone 12 Pro Max also has a better digital zoom (12x versus 10x). And last but not least, the 3D Lidar on the back of iPhone 12 Pro, which improves bokeh effects, depth management and augmented reality features.

Is the iPhone 12 Pro 5G compatible?

5G has been a hot topic for a few years now, but it's always been seen as something for the future. With the iPhone 12 Pro Max, you're entering the future, as the 12 series is the first to be 5G compatible. For now, it doesn't make a huge difference, as many networks are not yet mainstream in Europe. But as service providers develop their coverage, this is definitely a point in favour of the 12 series.

What is the price of the iPhone 12 Pro Max?

Now the most important question: how much does the iPhone 12 Pro Max cost? Since the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the latest iPhone series, it naturally comes with the highest price tag. And the Pro and Max versions are each a little more expensive. Plus, it depends on how much storage you want. The good news is that you can get a super cheap iPhone deal, but with all the benefits of the latest technology for less money:

As of the time of writing, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is no longer sold on Apple’s website. New prices reflect what they were at launch.

You'll probably get the biggest savings with the 256GB or 512GB. And over time, refurbished prices will come down even more. So although they're relatively high right now because it's a newer model, you can be certain that the cheapest iPhone to buy outright is through Back Market.

Is the price of the iPhone 12 Pro Max justified?

We can't end this article without asking whether the iPhone price is justified. Any phone that costs more than a laptop, even a MacBook, should be viewed with scepticism. But that's what should really be the basis of comparison here - laptops. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has gone beyond the technical capabilities expected in a smartphone. This is even evident in the phone's huge storage capacity; the recent MacBook Pros similarly have a storage capacity starting at 256 or 512 GB. So you can see that comparing it to a "normal" smartphone is not enough.

Should you buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max?

It is therefore particularly important to consider how you will use your phone. If you're looking for a second hand iPhone with an impressive battery, screen and storage capacity, the price of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is probably not a reason to dismiss it. For me, my iPhone (currently an iPhone 11) replaces many other aspects of my life. It replaces a TV, speakers, photo albums, and even a gym subscription thanks to fitness apps. Moreover, it even replaces my computer in some respects, as I use it for meetings, Google Sheets and email. So that's where having a phone with a big screen and enough battery power is really important.

However, if you have a different usage and spend more time on the computer, have a TV or don't use your phone as much, then this is probably not the right choice for you. Moreover, if you need a phone that's easy to carry around, with all the bells and whistles of a high-end smartphone, you might want to take a look at the iPhone 12 mini.

What are the alternatives to the iPhone 12 Pro Max?

Although we’ve been focusing on the benefits, we should also mention it is an expensive phone. That's why we also want to show you other iPhones at the best price that will give you similar features. As we have already discussed the differences with the iPhone 12 Pro, it has been left out of this list. Instead, we'll focus on the standard iPhone 12 as well as the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

These three models are great alternatives if the iPhone 12 Pro Max price is beyond your budget. And if you're looking for a detailed model comparison with all the features and benefits, check out our iPhone 12 vs iPhone 12 Pro Max comparison. 

Also read our guide: iPhone 12 technical sheet.

Finally, you can check out our handy smartphone comparison tool. Here are a few popular comparison reviews with the iPhone 12 Pro Max:

• iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone X

• iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 13 mini

• iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone XS

• iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 11 Pro

Our last thoughts on the iPhone 12 Pro Max price

The iPhone 12 pro Max is currently one of the most expensive Apple iPhones. And while the iPhone 12 Pro Max price is understandable thanks to the battery power, storage space and large screen, it's beyond the budgets of many. In truth, you could compare the phone to a laptop and draw conclusions about the functions you want your phone to perform. If it offers enough benefit to your life, it could be a worthwhile purchase. In any case, we advise you to check the prices of other used iPhones for sale (but refurbished) at Back Market regularly, before deciding on a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max, in order to get the best value out of your purchase.