Compare the Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Max) to the Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Max)

Written by Lucinda

Edited on

13 October 2025

·

14:33

Compare the Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Max) to the Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Max)

In the fall of 2020, Apple announced the successor of Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Max), Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Max). This device has an improved camera, lenses, a LiDAR scanner, and a faster A14 processor. Both models are currently only available as refurbished models. Are you curious about all the differences and similarities between iPhone 12 Pro (Max) and iPhone 11 Pro (Max)? In this article, we compare the devices to each other.

Refurbished iPhone 12 Pro

  • This refurbished iPhone has little signs of use, except for a single scratch.
  • The battery condition is at least 85% and performs like that of a new iPhone.
  • With the cameras on the back, you can capture wide landscapes and zoom in without quality loss.
  • The device doesn't have a 3.5mm connector you can connect wired headphones or earbuds to.
Refurbished iPhone 12 Pro 128GB Graphite (as good as new)
Refurbished iPhone 12 Pro 128GB Graphite (as good as new)
As good as new | 128GB storage capacity | Last iOS update: 2025

459,-

Temporarily sold out

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Refurbished iPhone 11 Pro

  • This refurbished iPhone has little signs of use, except for a single scratch.
  • The battery condition is at least 85% and performs like that of a new iPhone.
  • With the cameras on the back, you can capture wide landscapes and zoom in without quality loss.
  • The device doesn't have a 3.5mm connector you can connect wired headphones or earbuds to.
Refurbished iPhone 11 Pro 64GB Midnight Green (Visibly used)
Visibly used | 64GB storage capacity | Last iOS update: 2024

229,-

Temporarily sold out

Keep me updated

Compare the iPhone 12 Pro (Max) to the iPhone 11 Pro (Max)

Apple iPhone 12 Pro MaxApple iPhone 12 ProApple iPhone 11 Pro MaxApple iPhone 11 Pro
Screen6.7-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED)6.1-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED)6.5-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED)5.8-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED)
Processor and RAMA14 Bionic Chip, 6GB RAMA14 Bionic Chip, 6GB RAMApple A13 Bionic Chip, 4GB RAMApple A13 Bionic Chip, 4GB RAM
Camera (rear)12MP wide-angle lens, 12MP standard lens, and 12MP telephoto lens12MP wide-angle lens, 12MP standard lens, and 12MP telephoto lens12MP wide-angle lens, 12MP standard lens, and 12MP telephoto lens12MP wide-angle lens, 12MP standard lens, and 12MP telephoto lens
Camera (front)12-megapixel TrueDepth camera12-megapixel TrueDepth camera12-megapixel TrueDepth camera12-megapixel TrueDepth camera
LiDAR scannerYesYesNoNo
5G internetYesYesNoNo
Weight226 grams187g226 grams188 grams
Dimensions160.8x78.1x7.4mm146.7x71.5x7.4mm15,8x7,78x0,81cm14,4x7,14x0,81cm
Storage512GB, 256GB, and 128GB512GB, 256GB, and 128GB512GB, 256GB, and 64GB512GB, 256GB, and 64GB
ColorsSilver, Graphite, Gold, and Pacific BlueSilver, Graphite, Gold, and Pacific BlueSilver, Space Gray, Gold, Midnight GreenSilver, Space Gray, Gold, Midnight Green

Design

Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Max): angular edges

Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Max): angular edges

The large difference is the design of the sides of the 2 devices. Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Max) has smoothed shiny sides. This provides the device with an angular design. The back of the iPhone 12 Pro (Max) is matte glass and compatible with MagSafe accessories. This means you can easily click on a card holder or MagSafe charger with magnets. The sides are shiny, on the other hand. Apple iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are thinner, slimmer, and shorter than their predecessors.

View the refurbished iPhone 12 Pro
Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Max): rounded edges

Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Max): rounded edges

The Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Max) has the design that we've known for a couple of years. The device has shiny sides, just like the iPhone 12 Pro (Max). The back is made of matte glass, so it's not sensitive to fingerprints. On the back, you can find the same camera island as with the iPhone 12 Pro (Max). The iPhone models from the iPhone 11 series are thicker, wider, and longer in terms of dimensions than the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Speed and battery

Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Max): A14 Bionic Chip

Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Max): A14 Bionic Chip

Apple iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max both have the fastest processor in the iPhone up till now. With this chip and 6GB RAM, the device is about 20% faster than its predecessor. This means that the iPhone 12 Pro (Max) can run more demanding apps and games before it slows down. The iPhone 12 Pro has a smaller battery than the iPhone 11 Pro. That's why the battery life is an hour less on average than with its predecessor. The battery of the iPhone 12 Pro Max lasts up to 20 hours when you watch videos offline, just like the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Max): A13 Bionic Chip

Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Max): A13 Bionic Chip

The A13 Bionic Chip in the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max isn't the newest processor in the iPhone, but deserves a decent second place. Even though it's about 20% slower than the new A14 chip, you can easily last a couple of years. The battery life of the iPhone 11 Pro is an hour longer than the one of iPhone 12 Pro. This is because of the larger battery in the older model. The battery is the same with the Max models, which means you can watch videos offline for 20 hours.

Camera

iPhone 12 Pro (Max): 3 cameras and LiDAR scanner

iPhone 12 Pro (Max): 3 cameras and LiDAR scanner

All lenses of the Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Max) have night mode now. This and the improved aperture of the wide-angle lens ensure better lighting with photos in low light situations. In addition, you can record in HDR Dolby Vision. This means brighter colors with a lot of contrast. Thanks to the LiDAR scanner on the iPhone 12 Pro (Max), you can use augmented reality functions and take more beautiful portraits. With iPhone 12 Pro, you can zoom in 2 times optically without losing quality. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max even zooms 2.5 times optically.

iPhone 11 Pro (Max): 3 cameras

iPhone 11 Pro (Max): 3 cameras

Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Max) has 3 cameras on the back, just like the iPhone 12 Pro (Max). That's why you can't see much of a difference between the lenses of these models from the outside. But the iPhone 11 Pro (Max) takes darker photos in low light. The reason for this is that the night mode isn't available for all lenses and the aperture of the wide-angle lens is less beneficial in the dark. The LiDAR scanner also lacks on the iPhone 11 Pro (Max), so augmented reality applications are less advanced.

Versions

iPhone 12 Pro (Max): no charger and EarPods

iPhone 12 Pro (Max): no charger and EarPods

The screen size of the iPhone 12 Pro is 6.1 inches and the iPhone 12 Pro Max comes in 6.7 inches. The devices don't differ much from the models from 2019 in terms of size. The reason for this is the thinner bezels. The storage capacity of these new models starts with 128GB. This is enough for all your photos, videos, and apps. The Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Max) doesn't include a charger and EarPods in the box. You do receive these with the devices from the iPhone 11 Pro family.

iPhone 11 Pro (Max): with charger and EarPods

iPhone 11 Pro (Max): with charger and EarPods

When you choose the Apple iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max, you can choose between 3 different storage capacities, 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB. This means you can't buy these models with 128GB storage capacity, which you can with the iPhone 12 Pro (Max). The screen size of the iPhone 11 Pro is 5.8 inches and the one of the iPhone 11 Pro Max is 6.5 inches. The devices from the iPhone 11 Pro family include a charger and EarPods. The iPhone 12 Pro (Max) doesn't include these accessories.

Conclusion

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Max) and the iPhone 11 Pro (Max) have many similarities. For example, they both have 3 cameras on the back and a Super Retina XDR (OLED) screen. Are you looking for the most advanced camera, the optimal augmented reality experience, and the fastest processor? The iPhone 12 Pro (Max) is the most suitable for you. Keep your desired screen size in mind when you choose one of these iPhone models. All devices from this article have a different size.

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Article by Lucinda

Apple Expert.

Lucinda