iPhone XS Max vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: which is better?

Is it worth paying extra for the iPhone 12 Pro Max or does the iPhone XS Max have good enough features to meet your needs? It all depends on your expectations: do you want the ultimate photo and video quality? Three cameras or two? Does a slightly larger screen make a difference to you? Let's take a look.

iPhone XS Max: an excellent smartphone with longer battery life

This is the phone for you if you love gaming and streaming content since the a big screen is a pleasure to use. With a dual camera setup, telephoto lens and wide-angle lens, the camera takes high quality photos and benefits from HDR to sharpen images and give them crisp definition. However, if you prefer a sleek design, you might be bothered by the protruding camera. Battery life is another plus for the iPhone XS Max, with around a day and a half of battery life for average use. The 6.5-inch screen is a little smaller than the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max, but the small variation in size is hard to tell.

iPhone 12 Pro Max: powerful upgrade, with a bigger screen

If you're looking for one of the biggest phones on the market and the performance of the iPhone 12, then this is for you! The processor is fast, as with all iPhones from the 12 series, and there's not much difference in download speed between the 12 Pro Max and the XS Max. The big difference between these smartphones is the fact that the 12 Pro Max supports 5G.

The 12 Pro Max sports three cameras, compared to two on the XS, and takes excellent quality photos. But the camera slightly sticks out, which means the phone won't lie flat on a surface and will move if you type while it's on your desk (this problem can be solved with a phone case that levels the back of the phone however). Battery life lasts about a day, so a little less than the XS Max on average.

If you can resist the lure of one of Apple's latest smartphones, we suggest you invest in an iPhone XS Max. At Back Market, we don't think the difference is that great between the two at all. The XS Max is perfect for the average user and the amateur photographer, and offers the best of Apple's quality but at a cheaper price.