The iPhone 12 Pro Max is here, with Apple today revealing its latest devices. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the mother all of iPhones, not only touting Apple's largest display to date but a camera setup that is set to dwarf every other iPhone 12.
This guide focuses on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, you can find more on the other three 2020 iPhones here:
iPhone 12 Pro Max Quick Links
- iPhone 12 Pro Max Price in Australia
- iPhone 12 Pro Max Design
- iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera
- iPhone 12 Pro Max Colours
- iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G
iPhone 12 Pro Max Price in Australia
iPhone 13 mini cost outright
iPhone 13 cost outright
iPhone 13 Pro cost outright
iPhone 13 Pro Max cost outright
The icon is used to designate a phone as an imported device, rather than local Australian stock. While imported devices are often cheaper, in some cases they may not come with an Australian power adapter, and warranty and repairs can be more difficult. Read about the pros and cons of imports here.
Prices and retailers are accurate as of November 13, 2020.
If you’re looking for a no-contract SIM to go with your new iPhone, we compare and analyse the best SIM-Only plans from over 34 telcos each month. See our October 2026 picks here.
iPhone 12 Pro Max Design
The entire iPhone 12 family has gotten a redesign, now featuring squared-off edges instead of a pillowy aesthetic. In addition, Apple has upped the screen size of the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Overview
- A choice of a 6.1-inch or 6.7-inch display
- A move from pillowy edges to a squared-off design
- More durable glass
The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are just a little larger than last year's Pro iPhones, thanks to bigger displays. The iPhone 12 Pro now has a 6.1-inch screen, up from 5.8-inches, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen, up from 6.5-inches. While the screens are larger, Apple says the physical form factors should be almost identical to their predecessors due to the smaller bezel.
The below image compares the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 to the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max both have what Apple calls "Ceramic Shield" glass on the front, which should be a boon for durability. Apple says this makes the iPhone 12 Pro Max four times more drop resistant than last year's model.
iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the iPhone to beat in terms of photography, touting three camera lenses and a new LiDAR sensor. While its camera setup is similar to the standard iPhone 12 Pro, it benefits from a few upgrades that will give it an edge.
Both the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have three cameras, so they're a little different. On the iPhone 12 Pro, the 12MP primary camera and the 12MP ultra-wide camera are the same as on the standard iPhone 12. The 12MP primary camera has 27% better low-light performance than the iPhone 11, and the ultra-wide is now capable of night mode - a long exposure setting that helps you take better photos in the dark. These are joined by a 2x zoom 12MP telephoto lens.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has the same 12MP ultra-wide camera, but the other two lenses are a little different. The 12MP primary camera has a larger sensor, which will further help with lowlight imaging. Apple says the iPhone 12 Pro Max primary camera is 87% better in the dark when compared to last year. In our testing, we found this meant that lowlight images taken on the iPhone 12 Pro Max were sharper, clearer, and exhibited less noise than those taken on the iPhone 12 Pro. These differences might not always be evident if you're just looking at your photos on a phone or on Instagram, but they become quite evident as you zoom in. iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max photos taken in good light look almost identical, however.
In addition, the 12MP telephoto lens has a larger optical zoom range, offering 2.5x magnification. The lens is however a little bit slower than the iPhone 12 Pro's 2x telephoto lens, which can make it a little hard to get sharp shots at night.
Both iPhone 12 Pro devices feature a LiDAR sensor, as first seen on the iPad Pro. Apple says this improves autofocus in low light, reduces capture time in dark environments, and assists with augmented reality applications. In our testing, we found LiDAR made a significant improvement to lowlight portrait photography when compared to the standard iPhone 12.
iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera Gallery
Check out these camera samples taken on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Click or tap on any photo to see a larger version.
iPhone 12 Pro Max Colours
Both the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are available in a choice of four colours: silver, graphite, gold, and pacific blue.
iPhone 12 Pro Max Battery Life
If you're after a long-lasting device, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the longest-lasting member of the iPhone 12 family. You'll easily get between a day and a half per two days per charge.
Apple provides the following guidance for the iPhone 12 Pro Max battery life:
- Streamed Video Playback: Up to 12 hours
- Video playback: Up to 20 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 80 hours
In our testing, we found the iPhone 12 Pro Max could comfortably comfortably rack up between seven and eight hours of screen time before carking it. That translates to between a day and a half and two days in between charges. We did however find that functionality such as using it as a portable hotspot did seem to impact battery life more negatively than it did the iPhone 11 Pro Max. We'd chalk this up to 5G being more demanding on battery life overall.
iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G
As with the rest of the iPhone 12 series, the iPhone 12 Pro Max touts 5G connectivity. 5G is far from essential right now, but it's hard to complain about tech that will make your phone a little more future-proof.
Overview
- All iPhone 12 models have 5G connectivity.
- Australia's 5G infrastructure is not mature enough for this to be a key feature, but it means that the iPhone 12 will be future-proofed for when it is.
Every 2020 iPhone has 5G connectivity, which will allow them to hit download speeds of over 1Gbps in the right conditions. That's ten times faster than an NBN 100 plan.
In order to preserve battery, the iPhone 12 Pro Max will only use 5G when needed - such as if you're streaming high-resolution video or downloading a file. When high speeds aren't required, the device will default to 4G. After all, you hardly need 5G speeds for your early morning Twitter doom scroll. We've seen 5G negatively impact the battery of other phones, so this is a pretty smart move on Apple's behalf.
It is of course worth remembering that Australia's 5G networks are still in their infancy. You don't need to rush out and get a 5G phone, but if the model you're after already has 5G, it's certainly nice to have.
WhistleOut's coverage checker tool has been upgraded with 5G coverage maps, making it easy to see whether you can get 5G. All you need to do is pop in your address when searching for a new phone plan. After you've done so and hit Search, you can jump straight to the coverage map by tapping See Coverage Map and then tapping Click To Activate Interactive Map.
This map will show you what kind of coverage you have in your area. 5G coverage is highlighted using the darkest shade of purple, but unticking 4G and 3G can help make it clearer. The drop down menu lets you choose between telcos.
At this stage, we don't have interactive maps for Vodafone due to the telco's limited 5G coverage.
Coverage maps are only approximate, only show outdoor coverage, and may be impacted by local conditions such as buildings.
iPhone 12 Pro Max Processor
The entire iPhone 12 range is powered by the same A14 processor, Apple's fastest smartphone chip yet.
Apple says the A14 processor you'll find inside the iPhone 12 Pro Max is 50% faster than any other smartphone chip, and also delivers 50% faster graphics performance. In our testing, the iPhone 12 Pro Max has been nothing but lightning-fast.
iPhone 12 Pro Max Review
How does the iPhone 12 Pro Max stack up against other models? Check out our review.
2020 iPhone specifications
| iPhone 12 mini | iPhone 12 | iPhone 12 Pro | iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.4-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.7-inch OLED |
| Resolution | Super Retina | Super Retina | Super Retina | Super Retina |
| Rear Cameras | 2x 12MP | 2x 12MP | 3x 12MP + LiDAR | 3x 12MP + LiDAR |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP |
| Processor | A14 | A14 | A14 | A14 |
| Storage | 64GB - 256GB | 64GB - 256GB | 128GB - 512GB | 128GB - 256GB |
| Water-Resistance | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| 5G | Sub 6 | Sub 6 | Sub 6 | Sub 6 |
| Price | From $1,199 | From $1,349 | From $1,699 | From $1,849 |
Choosing an iPhone plan
With the WhistleOut search tool, you can compare iPhone 12 Pro Max plan pricing and inclusions across every provider. But there's a lot more to iPhone plans than just cost and data. Here's a breakdown of the major benefits you can expect each provider to offer.
Telstra iPhone plans are often the priciest on the Australian market, but they do come with a host of perks. These include:
- Access to Telstra's super-fast 4GX network
- Data-free access to Apple Music
- Free access to AFL, AFLW, NRL, Netball and Football live apps
- Free access to Telstra Air Wi-Fi hotspots across Australia
- Free access to Fon public Wi-Fi hotspots overseas
- Access to the Telstra Plus perks and rewards program
Thanks to a recent plan refresh Telstra's iPhone plans are also now some of the most flexible around. All plans are no-contract on the basis that you can leave at any time, you'll just need to pay out the remaining value of your phone. You also have the option to step up or down in plan inclusions up to one time per month, which is great if you have variable usage.
Telstra also offers the option to pay off your iPhone over 12 or 24 months. And all plans come with zero excess data charges. If you go over your cap, your data will simply be slowed to speeds of 1.5Mbps, which is still fast enough to stream video in SD. But speeds may be slower during peak times.
Compare Telstra iPhone plans
Optus iPhone plans come with big data inclusions and entertainment extras. Most Optus iPhone plans come with:
- Discounted access to Optus Sport
- Discounted movie tickets for Hoyts cinemas through the Optus Perks program
You'll miss out on Optus Sport if you go for Optus' cheapest plan.
All Optus plans are contract-free, devices can be paid off across 12, 24, or 36 months, and you can customise inclusions like roaming and international calls on a month-to-month basis. In addition, all Optus postpaid plans are now free from excess data charges. If you go over your allowance, you'll be slowed to 1.5Mbps rather than being billed $10 per gigabyte.
Higher-end Optus iPhone plans also come with unlimited international calls to selected destinations included with the plan, as well as a monthly allocation of roaming data for use overseas.
Optus has built a strong reputation in Australia for unbeatable iPhone deals. If you shop at the right time, you can snap yourself up a bargain.
Compare Optus iPhone plans
Vodafone iPhone plans may not come with the kinds of freebies and perks you can get from Optus or Telstra, but they do offer a lot of flexibility. Like Telstra plans, Vodafone plans are contract-free on the basis that you can leave at any time without penalty. You'll just need to pay out the remaining value of your handset.
You can also step up or down in plan inclusions up to once per month, and ease the burden of the iPhone 12 price tag with the option to pay it off over 12, 24 or 36 months. You'll pay the same overall for your iPhone no matter which option you pick.
Vodafone postpaid plans are all free from excess data charges. When you go over your plan allowance, you'll be capped at 2Mbps, 10Mbps, or 25Mbps, depending on how much you're spending per month. The higher your bill, the higher your capped data speeds.
You'll also get access to Vodafone's famous $5 roaming, which is still easily the best way to travel with your Australian phone number.
Compare Vodafone iPhone plansRead more about iPhone
Didn't find what you were looking for? At WhistleOut we know just about everything there is to know about iPhones and we've pooled our knowledge in an extensive list of guides. Check them out.
Editor's pick: Best iPhone plan
We get it. Choosing an iPhone plan is a lot harder than it should be. There are so many options to consider, and they all come with their individual perks and drawbacks. Let us help you out with our quick pick, chosen by our expert team.
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