How it’s done
iPhone 12 Pro Mx
We’ve torn down the mini iPhone and the two medium iPhones, but we saved the biggest for last: the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Time to give this full-bodied phone the full teardown treatment.
MAJOR TECH SPECS
• A14 Bionic SoC with fourthgeneration Neural Engine
• 6.7 inch (2778x284 pixels) Super Retina XDR OLED display with P3 wide colour gamut and True Tone
• 12MP triple camera with wide angle f/1.6 (OIS), ultra-wide angle f/2.4, and telephoto f/2.2 (OIS) cameras, with a LiDAR module
• 6GB RAM, 128GB storage (256 and 512GB configs available)
• 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave), plus 4x4 MIMO LTE, 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, ultra-wide band (UWB), NFC, and Bluetooth 5.0
• MagSafe 15W wireless charging
• P68 rating, water resistant to a maximum depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes under IEC standard 60529
KEY FINDINGS
• Sorry to break it to you, but size does matter – at least when it comes to camera sensors. To achieve its alleged 87 percent improvement in low-light performance, the 12 Pro Max uses the biggest sensor in an iPhone yet.
• A standard-issue heat and iSclack application persuades this big Pro Max to let its guard down and share some secrets. We head for the headline Pro Max feature: the new cameras. The standard wide camera (bottom-left in the group of three) is the source of all the 12 Pro Max chatter. It reportedly houses a 47 percent larger sensor, allowing it to gather more light and, thus, take better photos. With X-ray vision, we see that the standard wide’s sensor is definitely bigger. We can also clearly see the four magnets surrounding it – telltale signs of Apple’s brand-new sensor-shift image stabilisation system.
• The iPhone 12 Pro Max’s primary (wide-angle) sensor is big. Not unlike the phone it lives in. We’re skeptical when a “Pro” feature only makes it into a larger, more expensive model, but there’s a decent chance this sensor wouldn’t fit in the cramped corner of the smaller iPhone 12 Pro without compromises. It dwarfs the iPhone 12’s sensor. It’s 47 percent larger but is the same 12MP, so each pixel is larger and captures more light.
• The Max has the winning battery out of all the iPhones 12, not just in power, but in technology. X-ray vision shows that the Max’s battery pack isn’t quite full to the brim, but it’s darn close – and the high-tech shape allows it to turn the corner on capacity. The Max power source weighs in at 14.13Wh, tipping the scales against the 8.57Wh mini battery and the 10.78Wh 12 and 12 Pro. It’s a slight step down from the 15.04Wh pack in the iPhone 11 Pro Max, and it definitely falls behind the Galaxy Note 20 and 20 Ultra (16.69Wh and 17.46Wh respectively).
• With the Pro Max’s logic board extracted, we’re tempted to say it might be even more compact than that of the iPhone 12 mini; but the mini’s integrated SIM reader leaves it at a disadvantage. The 12 Pro Max had a detached, modular SIM reader, as in the 12 and 12 Pro – which is also a bit more repairfriendly.
• Repairability Score: 6 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair). Screen and battery are reasonably accessible for replacement. Most components are modular and replaceable. Some uncommon screws complicate all repairs, but reusable fasteners are preferred over adhesives. Waterproofing helps reduce the frequency of some repairs while complicating others. The glass back makes drops even more dangerous and requires a full case replacement if it breaks.