iPhone 12 Pro 12 Pro Max Reviews/ Initial impressions?

[scarrz]

This guy does the best hardware software review. Its not 15 minutes of pictures taken and camera comments.

+1. This was the best comparison video (12PM vs Mini) I have watched to date.

I also agree its about setting your expectations on what you are looking for. I currently have an X and the size is great and it takes great pictures but I felt it time to upgrade and wanted to try out the bigger screen real estate for aging eyes and of course the battery and camera are a huge plus. I am going into it knowing it will be a larger phone with some tradeoffs for pocket carry.

 

[elhungarian]

anyone know why the 12 pro max larger image sensor isnt as obvious in taken photos and videos? In the MKBHD video he was even dissapointed in the results...

 

[cardfan]

Not a big deal. If max proves to be too much a brick I’ll get the mini instead.

 

[beardev]

anyone know why the 12 pro max larger image sensor isnt as obvious in taken photos and videos? In the MKBHD video he was even dissapointed in the results...

I think the sensor is still just too small. My impressions from all the reviews and reactions is that even among those that notice and appreciate the improvement, it’s still a smaller difference than expected, at least in the way these reviewers take photos. Something I do a lot is take photos while walking without stopping for them, and I’m really curious if the improved stabilization makes this (probably stupid) habit of mine less likely to result in a blurry photo. But that isn’t really something that seems to get tested.

 

[The Game 161]

anyone know why the 12 pro max larger image sensor isnt as obvious in taken photos and videos? In the MKBHD video he was even dissapointed in the results...

Morw down to apples great software on the other models to be honest. I think there is an improvement just not massive.. You will see it more on night mode and certain lighting conditions. Think of you take alot of photos of moving objects the difference will be noticeable

 

[The Game 161]

I think the sensor is still just too small. My impressions from all the reviews and reactions is that even among those that notice and appreciate the improvement, it’s still a smaller difference than expected, at least in the way these reviewers take photos. Something I do a lot is take photos while walking without stopping for them, and I’m really curious if the improved stabilization makes this (probably stupid) habit of mine less likely to result in a blurry photo. But that isn’t really something that seems to get tested.

Verge went over this

Moving objects with kids and pets is where pro max sensors come into play

 

[Robbosan]

aging eyes

Don't get this comment, if your eyes are aging and you must need glasses to read, you need them on a 12.9" iPad or 27" iMac, getting a pro max wont help.

 

[Ramrod82]

So far so good size reminds of the 6s plus and xs Max which for me was no problem. I ordered it yesterday. Now will wait and decide if I want to sell my pro after. Since I do like the size but miss my XS Max in bed watching movies or shows in the middle of the night.

 

[thadoggfather]

It’s strange considering the results are largely extremely similar that Apple made a big deal out of it being optically different

I don’t get it

more manufacturing costs involved in not much gains?

 

[Robbosan]

in bed watching movies or shows in the middle of the night.

iPad?

 

[Robbosan]

Verge went over this

Moving objects with kids and pets is where pro max sensors come into play

Got to better than samsungs blur.

 

[elhungarian]

It’s strange considering the results are largely extremely similar that Apple made a big deal out of it being optically different

I don’t get it

more manufacturing costs involved in not much gains?

I know we’re getting pretty picky but for a phone that costs the price of a laptop we are allowed to! I’m also surprised the max image and video isn’t that much better. I wasn’t in the market for a new phone but the better half decided she wants a better camera so hand me down time. Getting a 12 or 12 pro doesn’t make much sense for me. Hmmm

 

[naturalguy]

It’s strange considering the results are largely extremely similar that Apple made a big deal out of it being optically different

I don’t get it

more manufacturing costs involved in not much gains?

Marketing, that is Apple’s strength

 

[imp3rator]

 

[Abstract]

The 12 Max’s camera will perform roughly the same as an iPhone 8’s camera in good light. The benefits only appear when conditions are challenging.

In the photography world, 47% larger sensor (more light) isn’t actually that much. It’s half a stop! The sensor is still tiny, and you just won’t see the benefit under good or “little bit bad” lighting conditions.

Under difficult shooting situations, there is also “processing trickery” that improves the situation in a way that makes it hard to easily correlate sensor size, to noise, to detail. Depending on the situation, the amount of processing intervention differs. 🤯

Look, the Pro camera is definitely better, and you’d see the advantages in lower light. You just won’t see it in every photo. 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[scarrz]

Deleted

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

Don't get this comment, if your eyes are aging and you must need glasses to read, you need them on a 12.9" iPad or 27" iMac, getting a pro max wont help.

Yeah but imagine all of the times and situations where someone is naturally going to use their phone vs a large IPad and Mac. At the mall, in stores, walking to and fro, outdoors, texting, casual use on a commute, etc. Only at home would I think of using some other device. Maybe that’s what he/she was eluding to.

 

[staggerlee41]

Don't get this comment, if your eyes are aging and you must need glasses to read, you need them on a 12.9" iPad or 27" iMac, getting a pro max wont help.

Don't exactly get this comment either. iPad, iMac aren't mobile phones. This discussion and the entire point of owning a mobile phone is to use it as a phone.

 

[scarrz]

Don't exactly get this comment either. iPad, iMac aren't mobile phones. This discussion and the entire point of owning a mobile phone is to use it as a phone.

Agreed @staggerlee41.

As @ARizz44 stated its much easier to pull out a 12PM when out and about and even at home to check quick emails or texts, etc. Just my opinion.

 

[Robbosan]

None of you get it, if you have "ageing eyes" was the comment, you will need glasses, so you will have to use them on EVERY SCREEN from a iP mini to a 27" iMac.
12PM isn't going to solve that lol.

 

[jamezr]

Agreed @staggerlee41.

As @ARizz44 stated its much easier to pull out a 12PM when out and about and even at home to check quick emails or texts, etc. Just my opinion.

I agree with all of you @staggerlee41 and @ARizz44 . aging eyes or no aging eyes...it is better to see things on a bigger phone than a smaller one...

 

[Complex757]

I think you have to go into it knowing its a big heavy beast. If you are trying to trick yourself into the size being okay, you will return it. I had the 11 pro max for the same reason I will get the 12 pro max but I am in no doubt that its a big heavy beast. even more so than the 11 pro max. The squared off sides will make it worse.

How is it a big heavy beast when it's minimally larger?

The screen is .2 larger and the flat edges take away from the actual size

The weight is 7.97oz's compared to 8.03.

If anyone has had a Max phone they're well aware of the size and this phone isn't much bigger. I have several cases already and it's minimally bigger than my other leather cases.

Stop trolling.

 

[Azathoth123]

I’d have to respectfully kind of disagree with @Gix1k and @Ralfi - how’s that for weaseling words, lol. Or at least I’d like to add another perspective to those comments related to posted reviews.

I’ve been an amateur photographer most of my life - 35mm, medium format, large format, a Leica once (didn’t ‘click’ with me), and digital from day one.

The Max 12 camera shows marked improvement in low light, and that’s exactly when many of the best images, at least outdoors, are made - the so-called ‘golden hour’. This is not a small thing. The improvement in night photography due to the lager sensor should be evident too.

The larger sensor pixels -> less noise will help make larger prints too, if that’s your output.

That there is not much difference in ideal conditions is unsurprising and should not be expected. It’s been difficult to tell the image quality apart from digital cameras, phones or compact digital, under ideal conditions for some time now. And one review said that under good conditions the differences between the Max, Pro, and the Pixel and Samsung flagships was not large. Expected, but there was a marked difference in low light conditions with the Max readily topping other cameras.

I’ll repeat myself WRT the reviews just to be clear - this is not a small improvement, it’s big.

The focal length changes in the Max camera are welcome too, I’m looking forward to the longer ‘telephoto’.

 

[scarrz]

None of you get it, if you have "ageing eyes" was the comment, you will need glasses, so you will have to use them on EVERY SCREEN from a iP mini to a 27" iMac.
12PM isn't going to solve that lol.

I also stated the battery and camera would be nice but you left that part out. I appreciate your concern and judging by your comment history you seem to have all the answers!

 

[Azathoth123]

Regarding the size of the Max 12, it does not seem significantly larger though as others have noted, the shape may affect perception.

I don’t know how relevant this anecdote is, but here goes.

A few years back, I was curious about whether I could lixe with a Max, so when they were on a run of same chassis, I bought a last-gen case for a Max and carried it around a while. That was a Magpul that was the standard 0.6mm thick case it seems. Lately I’ve been using Caudabe Sheath, and have one for my incoming Max 12.

The cases are identical in length within ‘old guy with a ruler‘ error and the Caudabe case is actually a tiny bit narrower than the Magpul. There won’t be any practical difference in size I believe.