← Back to Smartphones
2026 comparison
Updated Jan 16, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerOnePlus 12R vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Choosing between OnePlus 12R and Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max can be tricky. Both are excellent, but they serve different priorities. This guide highlights what matters for US shoppers.
Ratings: 4.3★ vs 4.7★
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
OnePlus 12R
★4.3
(23)•Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:3 major Android OS upgrades; 4 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 740
Check Amazon Price→
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
★4.7
(348)•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 A18 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics:Apple 6-core GPU (A18 Pro)
Check Amazon Price→
Comparison: OnePlus 12R vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
OnePlus 12R
★4.3(23)Amazon
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
★4.7(348)Best Buy
| Criterion | OnePlus 12R | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.3(23)Amazon | ★4.7(348)Best Buy |
Operating System | Android | iOS |
Software Support | 3 major Android OS upgrades; 4 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 2 Mobile Platform | Apple A18 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine) |
Graphics | Qualcomm Adreno 740 | Apple 6-core GPU (A18 Pro) |
RAM | 8GB / 16GB LPDDR5X | 8 GB (LPDDR5X) |
Storage | 128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1) | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe) |
Display Size | 6.78" (measured diagonally from corner to corner) | 6.9" (6.86" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) |
Screen Type | AMOLED ProXDR Display with LTPO 4.0 | Super Retina XDR OLED |
Resolution | 2780 x 1264 pixels (1.5K), 450 ppi | 2868 x 1320 pixels (460 ppi) |
Refresh Rate | 1–120Hz (Dynamic) | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display |
Peak Brightness | 4,500 nits (Peak) / 1,600 nits (HBM) | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 2000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum |
Main Camera | 50MP Wide (Sony IMX890, f/1.8, 24mm equiv), PDAF, OIS | 48MP Fusion (24 mm, f/1.78), second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 8MP Ultra-Wide (Sony IMX355, f/2.2, 112° FOV) | 48MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography |
Telephoto Camera | N/A (No dedicated telephoto lens) | 12MP 5x Telephoto (120 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus, 100% Focus Pixels |
Optical Zoom | N/A (Digital zoom only) | 5x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 10x optical zoom range |
Digital Zoom | Up to 20x | Up to 25x |
Video Recording | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps (Fusion); Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps; ProRes up to 4K 120 fps with external recording |
Front Camera | 16MP Front (f/2.4, 24mm equiv), Fixed Focus | 12MP TrueDepth (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps |
Battery | 5,500 mAh (Dual-cell 2,750 mAh, non-removable) | 4685 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 33 hours video playback (29 hours streamed) |
Wired Charging | 80W SUPERVOOC (US 110V limitation); supports 100W in 220V regions | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher; USB 3 speeds supported |
Wireless Charging | N/A (Not supported) | MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W (via iOS update); Qi up to 7.5W |
Connectivity | 5G (Sub6); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; IR Blaster | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode |
USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output |
Durability | IP64 (Dust tight; Water splash resistant); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front) | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield (latest generation) front; Titanium design (Grade 5); Textured matte glass back |
Dimensions | 6.43" x 2.96" x 0.35" (163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm) | 6.42" x 3.06" x 0.32" (163.0 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm) |
Weight | 7.30 oz (207 g) | 7.99 oz (227 g) |
Biometrics | Optical In-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock | Face ID |
Extras | Alert Slider; Dual Stereo Speakers; Dolby Atmos; HyperTouch; Aqua Touch | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; LiDAR Scanner; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite |
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. | Check Price on Amazon→ | Check Price on Amazon→ |
OnePlus 12R
Rating:★4.3(23)Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:3 major Android OS upgrades; 4 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 740
RAM:8GB / 16GB LPDDR5X
Storage:128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
Display Size:6.78" (measured diagonally from corner to corner)
Screen Type:AMOLED ProXDR Display with LTPO 4.0
Resolution:2780 x 1264 pixels (1.5K), 450 ppi
Refresh Rate:1–120Hz (Dynamic)
Peak Brightness:4,500 nits (Peak) / 1,600 nits (HBM)
Main Camera:50MP Wide (Sony IMX890, f/1.8, 24mm equiv), PDAF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera:8MP Ultra-Wide (Sony IMX355, f/2.2, 112° FOV)
Telephoto Camera:N/A (No dedicated telephoto lens)
Optical Zoom:N/A (Digital zoom only)
Digital Zoom:Up to 20x
Video Recording:4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Front Camera:16MP Front (f/2.4, 24mm equiv), Fixed Focus
Battery:5,500 mAh (Dual-cell 2,750 mAh, non-removable)
Wired Charging:80W SUPERVOOC (US 110V limitation); supports 100W in 220V regions
Wireless Charging:N/A (Not supported)
Connectivity:5G (Sub6); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; IR Blaster
USB:USB Type-C 2.0
Durability:IP64 (Dust tight; Water splash resistant); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front)
Dimensions:6.43" x 2.96" x 0.35" (163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm)
Weight:7.30 oz (207 g)
Biometrics:Optical In-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock
Extras:Alert Slider; Dual Stereo Speakers; Dolby Atmos; HyperTouch; Aqua Touch
✓ Pros:
- • Exceptional battery life (5,500mAh) with very fast 80W charging (US)
- • Flagship-grade 120Hz LTPO 4.0 display with extreme peak brightness
- • Strong performance from Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset at a lower price point
- • Includes IR Blaster and the signature OnePlus Alert Slider
- • Comes with a fast charger in the box
✗ Cons:
- • No wireless charging capabilities
- • Rated IP64 is lower than the standard IP68 found in most flagships
- • USB-C port is limited to slow USB 2.0 transfer speeds
- • No telephoto lens; relies on digital crop for zoom
- • Software support period (3 years OS) is shorter than top-tier competitors
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Rating:★4.7(348)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 A18 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics:Apple 6-core GPU (A18 Pro)
RAM:8 GB (LPDDR5X)
Storage:256GB / 512GB / 1TB (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); Always-On display
Peak Brightness:1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 2000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum
Main Camera:48MP Fusion (24 mm, f/1.78), second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
Ultra-Wide Camera:48MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography
Telephoto Camera:12MP 5x Telephoto (120 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus, 100% Focus Pixels
Optical Zoom:5x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 10x optical zoom range
Digital Zoom:Up to 25x
Video Recording:4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps (Fusion); Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps; ProRes up to 4K 120 fps with external recording
Front Camera:12MP TrueDepth (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps
Battery:4685 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 33 hours video playback (29 hours streamed)
Wired Charging:USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher; USB 3 speeds supported
Wireless Charging:MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W (via iOS update); 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 5.3; 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 (latest generation) front; Titanium design (Grade 5); Textured matte glass back
Dimensions:6.42" x 3.06" x 0.32" (163.0 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm)
Weight:7.99 oz (227 g)
Biometrics:Face ID
Extras:Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; LiDAR Scanner; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite
✓ Pros:
- • Largest iPhone display ever at 6.9 inches with ultra-thin borders
- • 48MP Ultra Wide camera improves macro and wide-angle detail significantly
- • Excellent battery life (4685 mAh), among the best in class
- • Dedicated Camera Control button mimics a DSLR shutter
- • Support for 4K 120fps Dolby Vision recording for professional slow-motion
✗ Cons:
- • Large physical dimensions can be unwieldy for some users
- • Fastest charging speeds (MagSafe 25W) require purchasing a new puck and adapter
- • US models lack a physical SIM tray (eSIM only)
- • Base storage starts at 256GB, raising the entry price
- • USB-C cable included in the box is limited to USB 2 speeds (pro transfer speeds require separate cable)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Which one is better?
Based on ratings and feature balance, Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has a slight edge for overall satisfaction. OnePlus 12R remains a strong alternative if its strengths match your needs.
Who should buy each?
Expert take:
- OnePlus 12R suits buyers who need Exceptional battery life (5,500mAh) with very fast 80W charging (US), Flagship-grade 120Hz LTPO 4.0 display with extreme peak brightness
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max suits buyers who want Largest iPhone display ever at 6.9 inches with ultra-thin borders, 48MP Ultra Wide camera improves macro and wide-angle detail significantly
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?
OnePlus 12R excels if you value exceptional battery life (5,500mah) with very fast 80w charging (us). Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is better if you prioritize largest iphone display ever at 6.9 inches with ultra-thin borders. 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.
Affiliate disclosure
PageBen uses Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This supports independent content for US shoppers.