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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 16, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerOnePlus 12 vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
OnePlus 12 vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: which is the right fit? We cover performance, value, and use cases to make the call easier.
Ratings: 4.6★ vs 4.8★
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OnePlus 12
★4.6
(78)•Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:4 generations of Android OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 750
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
★4.8
(126)•Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Processor:Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Graphics:Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
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Comparison: OnePlus 12 vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
OnePlus 12
★4.6(78)Amazon
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
★4.8(126)Best Buy
| Criterion | OnePlus 12 | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.6(78)Amazon | ★4.8(126)Best Buy |
Operating System | Android | iOS |
Software Support | 4 generations of Android OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform | Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing) |
Graphics | Qualcomm Adreno 750 | Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) |
RAM | 12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0) | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe) |
Display Size | 6.82" (measured diagonally from corner to corner) | 6.9" (6.86" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) |
Screen Type | LTPO AMOLED ProXDR Display | Super Retina XDR OLED |
Resolution | 3168 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 510 ppi | 2868 x 1320 pixels (460 ppi) |
Refresh Rate | 1–120Hz (Dynamic) | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz) |
Peak Brightness | 4,500 nits (Peak) / 1,600 nits (HBM) | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum |
Main Camera | 50MP Wide (Sony LYT-808, f/1.6, 23mm equiv), PDAF, OIS | 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 |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 48MP Ultra-Wide (Sony IMX581, f/2.2, 114° FOV) | 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography |
Telephoto Camera | 64MP Periscope Telephoto (OmniVision OV64B, 3x optical, f/2.6); OIS | 48MP Fusion Telephoto (100 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus; enables 12MP optical-quality 8x zoom (200 mm equivalent) |
Optical Zoom | 3x Optical Zoom; 6x In-Sensor Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical-quality zoom steps (16x optical zoom range) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 120x Ultra Res Zoom | Up to 40x |
Video Recording | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps | 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 |
Front Camera | 32MP Front (Sony IMX615, f/2.4, 21mm equiv) | 18MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps |
Battery | 5,400 mAh (Dual-cell 2,700 mAh, non-removable) | 5088 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 39 hours video playback (35 hours streamed) |
Wired Charging | 80W SUPERVOOC (US 110V limitation); 100W in 220V regions; Charger included | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher |
Wireless Charging | 50W AIRVOOC; 10W Reverse Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W |
Connectivity | 5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.4; NFC; IR Blaster | 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 |
USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 | USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output |
Durability | IP65 (Dust tight; Water jet resistant - not submersion proof); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front) | 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) |
Dimensions | 6.47" x 2.98" x 0.36" (164.3 x 75.8 x 9.15 mm) | 6.43" x 3.07" x 0.34" (163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm) |
Weight | 7.76 oz (220 g) | 8.22 oz (233 g) |
Biometrics | Optical In-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock | Face ID |
Extras | Hasselblad Camera for Mobile; Alert Slider; Aqua Touch; Trinity Engine | 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 |
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OnePlus 12
Rating:★4.6(78)Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:4 generations of Android OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 750
RAM:12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X
Storage:256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0)
Display Size:6.82" (measured diagonally from corner to corner)
Screen Type:LTPO AMOLED ProXDR Display
Resolution:3168 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 510 ppi
Refresh Rate:1–120Hz (Dynamic)
Peak Brightness:4,500 nits (Peak) / 1,600 nits (HBM)
Main Camera:50MP Wide (Sony LYT-808, f/1.6, 23mm equiv), PDAF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera:48MP Ultra-Wide (Sony IMX581, f/2.2, 114° FOV)
Telephoto Camera:64MP Periscope Telephoto (OmniVision OV64B, 3x optical, f/2.6); OIS
Optical Zoom:3x Optical Zoom; 6x In-Sensor Zoom
Digital Zoom:Up to 120x Ultra Res Zoom
Video Recording:8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
Front Camera:32MP Front (Sony IMX615, f/2.4, 21mm equiv)
Battery:5,400 mAh (Dual-cell 2,700 mAh, non-removable)
Wired Charging:80W SUPERVOOC (US 110V limitation); 100W in 220V regions; Charger included
Wireless Charging:50W AIRVOOC; 10W Reverse Wireless Charging
Connectivity:5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.4; NFC; IR Blaster
USB:USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1
Durability:IP65 (Dust tight; Water jet resistant - not submersion proof); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front)
Dimensions:6.47" x 2.98" x 0.36" (164.3 x 75.8 x 9.15 mm)
Weight:7.76 oz (220 g)
Biometrics:Optical In-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock
Extras:Hasselblad Camera for Mobile; Alert Slider; Aqua Touch; Trinity Engine
✓ 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
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Rating:★4.8(126)Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Processor:Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Graphics:Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
RAM:12 GB (LPDDR5X)
Storage:256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe)
Display Size:6.9" (6.86" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution:2868 x 1320 pixels (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate:Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz)
Peak Brightness:1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum
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
Ultra-Wide Camera:48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography
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)
Optical Zoom:0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical-quality zoom steps (16x optical zoom range)
Digital Zoom:Up to 40x
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
Front Camera:18MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps
Battery:5088 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 39 hours video playback (35 hours streamed)
Wired Charging:USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher
Wireless Charging:MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W
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
USB:USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output
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)
Dimensions:6.43" x 3.07" x 0.34" (163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm)
Weight:8.22 oz (233 g)
Biometrics:Face ID
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
✓ 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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Which one is better?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is stronger in overall satisfaction, but OnePlus 12 could still be the better pick if you value its unique advantages.
Who should buy each?
Choose OnePlus 12 if:
- You want 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
- Rating: 4.6★ (78 reviews)
Choose Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if:
- You prefer Brightest iPhone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor), Triple 48MP camera system with 8x optical-quality zoom
- Rating: 4.8★ (126 reviews)
Conclusion
With the key differences outlined, the decision should be clearer. Both options deliver quality—choose the one that fits your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
OnePlus 12 excels if you value excellent value proposition with top-tier specs at a competitive price. Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is better if you prioritize brightest iphone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor). 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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