Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs OnePlus 12
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the premium choice here, boasting a stunning 6.9" display with a peak brightness of 3000 nits. In real-world use, this means better visibility outdoors, which is a game-changer for those who spend time outside. So what does this mean?
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

OnePlus 12
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs OnePlus 12

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

OnePlus 12
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | OnePlus 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.8(126)Best Buy | ★4.6(78)Amazon |
Operating System | iOS | Android |
Software Support | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades | 4 generations of Android OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates |
Processor | Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform |
Graphics | Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) | Qualcomm Adreno 750 |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe) | 256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0) |
Display Size | 6.9" (6.86" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 6.82" (measured diagonally from corner to corner) |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | LTPO AMOLED ProXDR Display |
Resolution | 2868 x 1320 pixels (460 ppi) | 3168 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 510 ppi |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz) | 1–120Hz (Dynamic) |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum | 4,500 nits (Peak) / 1,600 nits (HBM) |
Main Camera | 48MP Fusion Main (24 mm, f/1.78), 2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for 24MP and 48MP super-high-resolution photos | 50MP Wide (Sony LYT-808, f/1.6, 23mm equiv), PDAF, OIS |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography | 48MP Ultra-Wide (Sony IMX581, f/2.2, 114° FOV) |
Telephoto Camera | 48MP Fusion Telephoto (100 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus; enables 12MP optical-quality 8x zoom (200 mm equivalent) | 64MP Periscope Telephoto (OmniVision OV64B, 3x optical, f/2.6); OIS |
Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical-quality zoom steps (16x optical zoom range) | 3x Optical Zoom; 6x In-Sensor Zoom |
Digital Zoom | Up to 40x | Up to 120x Ultra Res Zoom |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps (Fusion Main); ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps |
Front Camera | 18MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps | 32MP Front (Sony IMX615, f/2.4, 21mm equiv) |
Battery | 5088 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 39 hours video playback (35 hours streamed) | 5,400 mAh (Dual-cell 2,700 mAh, non-removable) |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher | 80W SUPERVOOC (US 110V limitation); 100W in 220V regions; Charger included |
Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W | 50W AIRVOOC; 10W Reverse Wireless Charging |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode | 5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.4; NFC; IR Blaster |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Ceramic Shield back; Aerospace-grade aluminum unibody (with internal vapor chamber) | IP65 (Dust tight; Water jet resistant - not submersion proof); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front) |
Dimensions | 6.43" x 3.07" x 0.34" (163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm) | 6.47" x 2.98" x 0.36" (164.3 x 75.8 x 9.15 mm) |
Weight | 8.22 oz (233 g) | 7.76 oz (220 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Optical In-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Always-On display; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | Hasselblad Camera for Mobile; Alert Slider; Aqua Touch; Trinity Engine |
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
✓ Pros:
- • Brightest iPhone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor)
- • Triple 48MP camera system with 8x optical-quality zoom
- • A19 Pro chip with 12GB RAM and vapor chamber cooling for sustained performance
- • Excellent battery life (up to 39 hours video playback)
- • Faster 40W wired charging and 25W wireless charging
✗ Cons:
- • Large and heavy form factor (233 g)
- • Fastest charging speeds require purchasing a 40W+ adapter separately
- • No physical SIM tray (eSIM only in US)
- • Expensive starting price
- • Camera bump is significantly larger due to new tetraprism lens
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OnePlus 12
✓ Pros:
- • Excellent value proposition with top-tier specs at a competitive price
- • Massive 5,400mAh battery paired with very fast 80W wired and 50W wireless charging
- • High-quality Hasselblad camera system with a versatile 3x periscope zoom
- • Extremely bright QHD+ LTPO display (4,500 nits peak)
- • Includes useful enthusiast features like an IR blaster and the Alert Slider
✗ Cons:
- • IP65 rating is inferior to the industry-standard IP68 (not rated for submersion)
- • Curved screen edges can be prone to accidental touches despite rejection algorithms
- • US wired charging is capped at 80W (vs 100W global) due to voltage differences
- • OxygenOS has moved visually closer to ColorOS, which may deter purists
- • Large and heavy device (220g) can be cumbersome
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Which one is better?
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the better buy for most people - its 3000 nits peak brightness crushes the OnePlus 12's 4500 nits.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if: you need the brightest display at 3000 nits, you take a lot of photos with its triple 48MP camera, or you want the latest iOS experience.
Choose the OnePlus 12 if: you need a longer battery life for daily use, you prefer faster charging with 80W wired, or you're looking for a powerful phone at a better price.
Conclusion
We hope this comparison helps you buy with confidence. Both products are dependable; the right one depends on how you will use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max excels if you value brightest iphone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor). OnePlus 12 is better if you prioritize excellent value proposition with top-tier specs at a competitive price. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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