Quick verdict: Buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max if price comes first. On November 3, 2026, an unlocked 128GB unit cost $315 at Back Market. Pick the iPhone 14 Pro Max for its 48MP camera, 120Hz display and longer battery life. The same unit cost $444 there, $129 more.
See all 3, ranked Prices checked Nov 5, 7:23 AM EST.
RefurbMe's iPhone stats put the US Time-to-Refurb at a median of 67 days after Apple announces a model, and the median Refurb Discount across every iPhone model RefurbMe tracks at 77% compared to new (both as of November 3, 2026). That family median leans on older models, so judge these two phones by their own prices below.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max reached stores on November 13, 2020, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max on September 16, 2022. Both run iOS 27, so the real question is whether the 14 Pro Max upgrades are worth $129 more to you.
This guide covers every difference that matters and the refurbished prices we read on November 3, 2026. Prices move week to week, so check the live figures before you buy.
In short, the iPhone 14 Pro Max wins on camera (48MP vs 12MP Main), display (ProMotion up to 120Hz vs 60Hz) and battery (up to 29 hours of video vs 20). The iPhone 12 Pro Max wins on price: $129 less for an unlocked 128GB unit at Back Market on November 3, 2026. Both run iOS 27, so neither is behind on software today.
| Feature | iPhone 12 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| In stores | November 13, 2020 | September 16, 2022 |
| Display | 6.7" Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz | 6.7" Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion up to 120Hz, Dynamic Island, Always-On |
| Processor | A14 Bionic (5nm) | A16 Bionic (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU) |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Rear cameras | 12MP Wide, 12MP Telephoto (2.5x), 12MP Ultra Wide, LiDAR Scanner | 48MP Main, 12MP Telephoto (3x), 12MP Ultra Wide, LiDAR Scanner |
| Front camera | 12MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth with autofocus |
| Battery life (Apple rating) | Up to 20 hrs video, 12 hrs streamed | Up to 29 hrs video, 25 hrs streamed |
| Design | Stainless steel frame, notch | Stainless steel frame, Dynamic Island |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Colors | Graphite, silver, gold, Pacific Blue | Space black, silver, gold, deep purple |
| iOS support | Runs iOS 27; Apple publishes no end date | Runs iOS 27; Apple publishes no end date |
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Refurbished price | From $304 carrier-locked | From $438 carrier-locked |
We read every in-stock US listing for both phones on RefurbMe on November 3, 2026, and kept unlocked and carrier-locked units apart. The table shows the cheapest unlocked unit per storage size. We did not check grades listing by listing, so read the grade on each listing before you pay.
| Storage (unlocked) | iPhone 12 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| 128GB | $315 at Back Market | $444 at Back Market |
| 256GB | $333 at Back Market | $460 at Back Market |
| 512GB | $380 at Back Market | $505 at Back Market |
| 1TB | Not made | $556 at Back Market |
Compared like for like, unlocked with 128GB at Back Market, the 12 Pro Max cost $315 and the 14 Pro Max $444, a $129 gap. Other unlocked 128GB 12 Pro Max units were $323 at eBay Refurbished and $379 at Amazon Renewed. For the 14 Pro Max, eBay Refurbished had one at $465, and Gazelle had one at $454, last seen on October 30, 2026.
Carrier-locked phones were the cheapest units overall. The cheapest 12 Pro Max was $304 at eBay Refurbished, locked to AT&T. The cheapest 14 Pro Max was $440 at Amazon Renewed, locked to T-Mobile. Buy a locked phone only if you already use that carrier.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is still a capable phone, but the iPhone 14 Pro Max brings several real upgrades. Here is a detailed look at each area.
Both phones have a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. The iPhone 14 Pro Max adds four notable improvements:
iPhone 14 Pro Max with Dynamic Island
Resolution differences are marginal: 2,778 x 1,284 pixels at 458 ppi on the 12 Pro Max versus 2,796 x 1,290 at 460 ppi on the 14 Pro Max. You will not notice that in daily use.
Color options differ between generations. The 12 Pro Max came in graphite, silver, gold, and Pacific Blue. The 14 Pro Max offered space black, silver, gold, and deep purple.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max uses Apple's A14 Bionic. Apple's launch release called it "the first chip in the smartphone industry built on 5-nanometer process", with a 16-core Neural Engine capable of 11 trillion operations per second.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max steps up to the A16 Bionic, with a 6-core CPU (2 performance and 4 efficiency cores), a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine. Apple rates that Neural Engine at nearly 17 trillion operations per second.
In practical use, both chips feel smooth for social media, streaming, and productivity. The gap shows in sustained work such as editing long video clips, running AR apps or processing large photo libraries. If those tasks matter to you, the 14 Pro Max has the edge. For most people, the A14 in the 12 Pro Max is still enough.
Camera quality is one of the strongest arguments for upgrading to the 14 Pro Max:
Gold iPhone 12 Pro Max
Both phones include a LiDAR Scanner, which helps with AR apps and enables Night mode portraits. That is a strong point the 12 Pro Max retains.
Apple rates the iPhone 12 Pro Max at up to 20 hours of video playback and 12 hours of streamed video. The iPhone 14 Pro Max reaches up to 29 hours of video playback and 25 hours streamed. That is 9 more rated hours of video, and more than double the streaming figure.
If you rely on navigation, video or a mobile hotspot for long stretches, the 14 Pro Max's battery is one of the best reasons to pay more. Battery health on a refurbished unit matters as much as the rating, so check it on the listing.
Both phones run iOS 27. Apple's iOS 27 compatibility page lists the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Neither gets Apple Intelligence, which Apple says is "available on iPhone Duo, iPhone 16 models or later, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone Air".
Apple publishes no end-of-support date for any iPhone, so nobody can promise you a number of future iOS releases. The oldest phones on the iOS 27 list are the iPhone 11 family and the second-generation iPhone SE. The 14 Pro Max is two generations newer than the 12 Pro Max, which points to more updates but guarantees none. If you keep phones for many years, that is one more reason to pick the 14 Pro Max.
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Buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max if price is your priority. It is the cheaper option refurbished and still handles everyday use well. Buy the iPhone 14 Pro Max if you want the 48MP camera, the 120Hz ProMotion display and longer battery life. On November 3, 2026, an unlocked 128GB unit cost 315 dollars for the 12 Pro Max and 444 dollars for the 14 Pro Max at Back Market, a 129 dollar gap.
Yes, for budget-focused buyers. The 12 Pro Max handles everyday tasks well and runs iOS 27. On November 3, 2026, an unlocked 128GB unit was 315 dollars at Back Market. Apple publishes no end-of-support date, so if you plan to keep the phone for many years, the newer 14 Pro Max is the safer pick.
Three differences stand out: the 14 Pro Max has a 48MP Main camera (versus 12MP), a ProMotion display up to 120Hz (versus 60Hz), and longer battery life (up to 29 hours of video versus 20 hours). The Dynamic Island and Always-On display are additional quality-of-life upgrades.
On November 3, 2026, the cheapest unlocked 128GB iPhone 12 Pro Max was 315 dollars at Back Market, and the cheapest unlocked 128GB iPhone 14 Pro Max was 444 dollars at Back Market. The 129 dollar gap buys a newer chip, a much better camera, a smoother display and 9 more hours of rated video playback. Carrier-locked units started at 304 dollars for the 12 Pro Max at eBay Refurbished (AT&T) and 440 dollars for the 14 Pro Max at Amazon Renewed (T-Mobile). Prices move week to week, so check the live figures before buying.
Yes. Apple's iOS 27 compatibility page lists both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple publishes no end-of-support date for either, so nobody can promise a number of future releases. The oldest phones on the iOS 27 list are the iPhone 11 family and the second-generation iPhone SE.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is clearly better for photography. Its 48MP Main camera captures far more detail, Photonic Engine improves mid- to low-light performance across all cameras, and it adds macro photography through the Ultra Wide camera. The 12 Pro Max remains capable for everyday shots but cannot match the 14 Pro Max in dim light.
Yes. Both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max support 5G.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max remains a solid choice if your budget is the deciding factor. At $315 for an unlocked 128GB unit at Back Market on November 3, 2026, it gets you a 6.7-inch screen, 5G, a LiDAR Scanner and a triple-lens camera. It runs iOS 27, and Apple publishes no date for when its updates end.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max costs $129 more at the same seller, and it earns that with a better camera, a smoother ProMotion display and 9 more hours of rated video playback. It is two generations newer, which points to more years of updates. For most buyers who want a refurbished iPhone to keep for several years, it is the smarter pick.
If you are comparing other generations before deciding, see our guides on the iPhone 12 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 13 Pro Max vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Settled on the older phone? Our refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max buying guide walks through what to look for in a listing. Going for the newer one? The refurbished iPhone 14 Pro Max buying guide covers battery checks and locked units.
RefurbMe compares US sellers such as Back Market, eBay Refurbished, Amazon Renewed and Gazelle in one place. You can browse current deals on both models below and filter by condition, storage, and carrier to find the right fit at the right price.
Explore more iPhone comparisons
Last updated: Nov 3, 2026 · First published: Mar 29, 2024
CEO and Founder at RefurbMe. I made this project back when I was 15 when I had to wake up at 2am to buy my own refurbished Macbook Pro. Passionate about circular economy, great UX and goats.
