It would seem, how much can you talk about the iPhone? But you want to do it again and again. Moreover, this year we had more than enough reasons and here’s another one - the release of the new iPhone 12 Pro Max. Sales started today, and pre-orders began last week. For the past couple of days, I've temporarily put the iPhone 12 Pro aside and have been using the diametrically opposed iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max. I already talked about the first one yesterday, and we’ll talk about the second one in this article. In short, the smartphone is not for everybody, it’s huge, you can get used to it, it doesn’t hurt your hands. But which of us is interested in talking about the new iPhone in such a succinct way?
With such a case size, you will have to use the interface tightening function more often.
Specifications
| Frame | Steel + glass |
| Screen | 6.7″, Super Retina XDR, 2,778 × 1,284 pixels, True Tone, brightness up to 800 cd/m² |
| CPU | A14 Bionic + Neural Engine |
| Memory | 128/256/512 GB |
| Main camera | Home - 12 MP; wide-angle - 12 MP (120°, OIS); telephoto - 12 MP (OIS); LiDAR, sapphire crystal, Smart HDR 3, 4K video - up to 60 fps, Dolby Vision HDR video - 60 fps, Apple ProRAW |
| Zoom | Optical - 5x, digital - 12x |
| Front-camera | 12 MP + TrueDepth (Face ID), Smart HDR 3, 4K video - up to 60 fps, Dolby Vision HDR video - 30 fps |
| Communications | Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, 5G |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou |
| Autonomy | Up to 20 hours of video, up to 12 hours of online video, up to 80 hours of music |
| Charger | Wired: Lightning - up to 20 W. Wireless: Qi - up to 7.5 W, MagSafe - up to 15 W |
| Speakers | Stereo |
| Moisture protection | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.8 × 78.1 × 7.4 mm |
| Weight | 226 g |
| Price | From 109,990 rubles |
Memory
The smartphone is available in three versions, if we talk about memory, these are 128, 256 and 512 GB. I recently asked people on Twitter who uses which iPhones - and it turns out that many people use the versions with 64 GB of memory and don’t bother. Somehow you sometimes forget that your needs may differ from the needs of another person - my 512 GB are three-quarters full, and it’s already NOT ENOUGH. The advice is simple: if 64 GB was enough for you, you will live just fine with 128 GB. The optimal version is 256 GB, and if you're an avid photo and video shooter, then welcome to the world of 512 GB. Of course, this is my version.
Design and ergonomics
iPhone 12 Pro Max is a truly gigantic smartphone with dimensions of 160.8 × 78.1 × 7.4 mm. It is noticeably larger not only than the iPhone 12 Pro, but also the iPhone 11 Pro Max. At the same time, due to its thin edges, the gadget looks quite neat. But holding it with one hand, especially in a small palm, is terribly inconvenient: firstly, the model doesn’t really fit, and secondly, it weighs a lot. The load is especially felt when taking a selfie, when you hold the smartphone with your fingers at arm's length. With us, he strived to go on a free flight.
Photo: Kostya Ptichkin / Lifehacker
The giant's matte body is covered with Ceramic Shield. Don’t flatter yourself too much about this fact: the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro quickly became covered with scratches, and the older brother was no exception. Glossy steel edges will always show finger marks. The model is protected from splashes according to the IP68 standard.
Let us remind you that the gadget is available in four colors: gold, Pacific blue, silver and graphite. We tested the discreet graphite model.
Photo: Kostya Ptichkin / Lifehacker
At the back there is a strongly protruding triple camera block (be careful, don’t touch it!) and an apple logo. On the right side there is a power key, on the left there are volume control buttons and switching to silent mode. At the bottom is the Lightning charging connector.
Photo: Kostya Ptichkin / Lifehacker
The gadget certainly looks luxurious. If you don't like compact smartphones, then the iPhone 12 Pro Max will most likely appeal to you. In all other cases, you will have to get used to the huge body. And of course, all owners of a new product need to be prepared for scratches on the lid and fingerprints on the edges - alas, there is no escape from them.
They laughed at me when I got used to an expensive toy
From experience, the front panel of all iPhone 12 scratches faster. I went through the iPhone XR without a protective glass, but this time I stuck it on day after day
Another thought during the presentation was this. Steel tends to pick up scratches instantly: it's a terribly impractical material when polished to a high shine.
After the start of sales, everyone in the editorial office was indignant at the mirrored edges. But I love glitter, so I didn’t mind.
At the same time, I knew the weight and understood that a cover was needed. Otherwise, if such an ingot weighing almost 300 grams (including the wallet) falls, there will be dents everywhere.
Fingerprints are collected immediately, but cannot be seen from most angles
When I invested almost 110,000 rubles in a smartphone, I realized that it was no longer possible to treat it like an ordinary mobile phone. For most Russians, in the world of smartphones, this is a luxury item, and you need to behave with it accordingly.
I had to get used to caution, smooth movements and always finding a soft lining under this delicate steel frame.
The frosted glass actually looks durable. I hope that there will be no chafing from accessories with MagSafe
It was getting ridiculous. For fear of scratching the edges of the smartphone without a case, I placed it with its back on a napkin in the first days of use.
Our editor-in-chief Nikita Goryainov once saw this installation, grinned and advised us to relax. He said that the matte surface is well preserved, and the edges still sit strictly on the sides.
Another day, I invited a friend to visit who carries a Galaxy S10e. Looking at my rituals with bedding and blowing away dust particles, she sarcastically said, like a chicken and an egg. And there wasn’t “chicken” there, if that’s the case.
In the end, I tried to get used to it. After a couple of weeks I wasn't really bothered and here's why.
Screen
The wide 6.7‑inch Super Retina XDR display makes it comfortable to watch movies and chat in instant messengers. Pro versions have a greater brightness reserve than younger models, but this is not too noticeable during everyday use. Until you turn on a film where all the action takes place in the dark or in muted tones: the new product conveys them much more richly and colorfully than its predecessors. Brightness in HDR mode reaches 1,200 nits, in standard mode - 800 nits.
The model supports True Tone technology, which automatically adapts the display to the ambient light. There is also a Night Shift function - it automatically makes colors warmer at night to reduce eye strain. Dark mode available.
The color rendition is excellent, and the settings make use even more comfortable—you can’t find fault with the model’s screen.
I was dissatisfied with the color
I planned to take the silver one because the steel frames are brighter. Due to this, the fields on the screen itself appear thinner.
But on the day of purchase there was only graphite and Pacific blue to choose from. The second one seemed better dressed and took it.
It turned out that in 95% of situations, dark frames will look black, and the wow effect of an infinite display does not occur.
In addition, the rear back is also faded, and no one can see the LiDAR against its background. Now people clearly envy me less often %(
Software, performance and autonomy
The heart of the model is the powerful and fast A14 Bionic processor, which is found in all 12-series gadgets. iPhone 12 Pro Max has the greatest autonomy in the line: it is enough for 20 hours of video viewing and 12 hours of online video, as well as for listening to up to 80 hours of music. In our case, with standard use, the model held a charge for two days, did not get hot and did not freeze.
Since the adapter is not included in the set and the owner will have to purchase one, we recommend that you immediately buy a 20 W adapter: the recharging process will become much faster and more enjoyable. The smartphone can also be charged using the MagSafe accessory, which sticks magnetically to the case. It looks impressive, but you will also need an adapter here - you will have to pay more for the space look.
I wear it without a case. Almost nothing in a month
Despite its apparent fragility, I like the naked design of the smartphone too much. Therefore, I didn’t want to hide it in a colored case and started looking for a transparent one.
I didn’t like the original one with MagSafe after testing it on the iPhone 12 mini due to the fact that it is hard, difficult to remove and breaks at the bottom after a dozen changes.
If you often take off and put on the original transparent case, you will get the same thing on the lower “ears”
Not only does the plastic case break, but it also doubles its thickness
After a couple of tries on soft cases I felt disappointed. Cheap ones are of poor quality, but more expensive ones add width to an already large body.
As a result, for now I decided to be careful, do without a case and handle the device exactly at the price for which it is sold. I was lucky to be careful in this matter, so I limited myself to protective glass on the front.
Do you see something?
I didn't notice right away either
At the same time, I continue to make sure that there are no abrasive materials near the smartphone.
Or so that there are no crumbs in your pocket, nothing hard on the table. When walking, I try not to hit my iPhone against a wall, exercise equipment, or a metal door frame.
There is no great tension in this; control occurs unconsciously. In all this time I only made one even noticeable scratch. I even know how it happened: I touched a metal zipper on the pocket of my down jacket.
I will not argue that the stability of the framework played a major role in such survivability. In the end, everyone in our editorial office is neat, but I’ve already seen a couple of unpleasant scratches on other “programs.”
So vigilance here seems to be the only way out in an attempt to preserve the smartphone for resale.
How does it work?
At crazy speeds. Menus, applications, games - everything flies at the peak of its capabilities. A14 Bionic is the most powerful mobile processor today. Competitors from the Android camp will take another year to catch up with the chipset.
12 11
Android fans joke that Apple is done because they haven’t introduced an increased frequency of the screen: neither 120, nor at least 90 hertz. However, I will object. iOS is enough for the standard 60 Hz. The interface already flies at the first cosmic speed. An increased frequency would lead to additional battery drain. We don't need this.
12 11
However, 11 Pro Max is also fast to this day. There is only one question for him...
iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max bundle (what's in the box?)
Unpleasant news for Apple fans was a change in the configuration of the smartphone. Now only one Lightning to USB-C cable comes with it. But wired headphones and a power adapter have been included with the iPhone since its very first model. The company offers to purchase accessories separately.
Apple explains this step by protecting the environment - it will have to transport smaller volumes of cargo. And they even provide impressive figures - the refusal of a couple of accessories of the iPhone 12 line is comparable to the disappearance of 450 thousand cars from the roads for an entire year.
♥ BY TOPIC: How to clear (delete) the cache in Telegram on iPhone, iPad, Android, on a Windows or Mac computer.
Kit without charging
There is no adapter with cable now. You will definitely have to buy new ones, because you will probably push the old device onto Avito in its entirety. By the way, you can’t get by with just an adapter. You will also have to buy a USB-C <-> Lightning cable. In short, here are the kits and prices that await you:
- Apple charging 20 W + cable - 3,980 rubles (1,990 + 1,990 rubles)
- wireless charging MagSafe + Apple 20 W — 5,980 rubles (3,990 + 1,990 rubles)
If there is, 30-watt charging, for example, from a MacBook Air, you’re lucky. You can charge all gadgets with one power supply, but you still have to buy additional wiring.
Apple hides behind ecology, but everyone understands everything.
The first iPhone to support watching movies
The shot from the series “See” on the Apple TV+
iPhone XR was lame in this regard, with dark lighting, and the diagonal was still a little lacking. Now the movie feels a little more complete, I’m better immersed in the process on an almost 7-inch screen.
True, bangs are now more distracting. It would seem that the screen is larger, the area per cutout is smaller as a percentage, but no.
If the video is expanded, the composition and content of the frame are destroyed by this stump on the right or left. There are only hopes for the iPhone 12s Pro Max (well, the name). Maybe at least they'll trim my bangs there.
Deep Fusion is good, but at first I was outraged
Starting with the iPhone 11, Apple has been introducing a special Deep Fusion shooting algorithm into its cameras. He completes the details in the finished image based on a neural network and combines several photos into one.
The technology has a rather noticeable disadvantage. Parasitic halos are almost always visible around the text, the same thing happens with branches that are too contrasting against the sky or near buildings. In the example below you can clearly see this – it’s as if the Clarity slider was pulled out in Photoshop.
This confused me, but the advantages are stronger. The texture of things is noticeably clearer and more detailed, the volume is better felt in landscapes, and the details of objects in the distance are more noticeable.
I wanted the iPhone 12 series because Deep Fusion is available on all cameras. In the iPhone 11 (and Pro) it is only on the main one, because, for example, the ultra-wide-angle lens produced a weak result. My iPhone XR didn’t have it at all.
This is where the limits of the wide-angle camera, even with Deep Fusion, become noticeable. The picture seems blurry, the texture has no clarity
There is one more aspect that is still difficult to come to grips with. Deep Fusion doesn't really like leather.
It often happens that he emphasizes all the problematic details. If XR extremely smoothed the face and gave it a yellow tint, then here everything is natural. A little too much.
Moving from an old phone
In general, the process of moving data from an old iPhone to a new one is extremely simple. You need to leave the old phone next to the new one and start the process of transferring the accumulated goods. In theory, everything sounds simple, but in fact it doesn’t go very quickly and drags on for a couple of hours. In addition, the process of reconnecting an Apple Watch from an old iPhone to a new one adds hassle. Either the phone doesn’t see the clock, or the process itself slows down.
In general, I want some kind of seamless move, to leave the old and new devices side by side, and then magically move without unnecessary movements. Unfortunately, everything is not so smooth yet.
