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Very unequal on the outside, very similar on the inside: the iPhone 12 Pro Max (left) and the iPhone Mini
Photo: Matthias Kremp / DER SPIEGEL
What makes it easy for me to write this text in a certain way: Many things are the same for all iPhones of the twelve series.
You could say that they are based on the same platform, that is, they are built from parts that come from the same kit.
This simplifies manufacturing and helps Apple reduce costs and maximize profits.
At first glance, however, it also becomes more difficult to find differences between the devices.
In terms of price, there are worlds between the Mini, which is available from just under 780 euros, and the Pro Max, which costs almost exactly twice as much when fully equipped, just under 1560 euros.
But first to the similarities: The Pro Max and Mini have the same Apple A14 processor as the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, all four 12 iPhones have OLED screens that differ only in terms of size and number of pixels, but HDR - capable and very bright.
In addition, the displays are better protected against falls than older models thanks to a new ceramic coating and because they do not protrude from the metal frame.
Of course, they are all well sealed against dust and water and 5G-compatible.
Even the front camera for selfies and the face recognition Face ID are identical.
You can read all about it in the test of the iPhones 12 and 12 Pro.
The main differences lie in the cameras, the batteries, the size and thus the usability.
Mini: Finally within your thumb again
Let's start with the iPhone 12 Mini.
Because it is the cheapest of the new iPhone models, one might think that Apple developed it for bargain hunters, for whom every euro is one too many.
For them, however, the iPhone SE is more recommended, which contains a lot of technology from the iPhone 11, which costs significantly less with prices starting at 467 euros, but also has significantly less performance, only one camera and a less impressive LCD-based display.
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On the left a first-generation iPhone SE, on the right the iPhone 12 Mini: It can be clearly seen that the screen of the old SE protrudes from the case, which makes it more sensitive
Photo: Matthias Kremp / DER SPIEGEL
The iPhone 12 Mini, on the other hand, is basically an iPhone 12, just smaller: Its A14 processor should deliver more than enough power for the foreseeable future.
Its combination of two 12-megapixel cameras, one with a wide-angle lens and the other with an ultra-wide-angle lens, produces images of the same high quality as those of the larger models.
Test photos taken with it are indistinguishable from photos taken by the iPhone 12.
The screen is basically the same as in the iPhone 12, only smaller.
Placed next to each other, I couldn't see any difference in brightness and color rendering.
That's a good thing, because the OLED displays on the new iPhones deliver excellent image quality.
With the Mini, you only get a few pixels less because of its smaller size.
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From left to right: iPhone SE 2, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone SE 1
Photo: Matthias Kremp / DER SPIEGEL
However, you get noticeably less in terms of battery life.
The smaller battery resulted in my admittedly tough endurance test, the endless playback of a Full HD film with full screen brightness, that the iPhone 12 Mini switched itself off after twelve hours.
The iPhone 12 lasted five hours longer in this test.
For a camping weekend you should therefore put a power bank in your luggage with the Mini.
For a normal day, however, the stamina is sufficient if it is not used excessively.
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But what makes me happy to grab the iPhone 12 Mini despite the weak battery is its small size.
The Mini is smaller than the iPhone SE, but because of its almost borderless design, it has a 5.4-inch screen that is significantly larger than the 4.7-inch SE.
If you had an iPhone 5, like me, and got along well with it, it feels like meeting an old friend again and spontaneously saying: "You look good!"
Above all, the look and feel is joined very quickly by the pleasant realization that after years of smartphones getting bigger and bigger, you are finally holding a device in your hand that can be conveniently operated with one hand.
Max: Endurance without end
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is exactly the opposite: With Apple's largest iPhone to date, I can only reach the bottom three rows of symbols with one hand - and I have big fingers.
It is not a lightweight either, at 226 grams it weighs almost 100 grams more than the Mini.
But you will be compensated for the extra weight and the XL format, which is incompatible with too many trouser pockets.
On the one hand with battery life: In my test, the Pro Max only switched itself off after almost 16 hours of continuous video playback due to a lack of energy, an extremely good value.
On the other hand, you get a 6.7-inch screen, which is almost underutilized with e-mail and web surfing and which actually screams for films and videos.
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iPhone 12 Pro Max (above) and iPhone 12 Mini in the endurance test: Identical image quality but very different battery life
Photo: Matthias Kremp / DER SPIEGEL
In addition to the size, the cameras are the unique selling point of the 12 Pro Max, because only the ultra-wide-angle camera is identical to the rest of the twelve series.
The telephoto lens, on the other hand, offers 2.5x magnification while the 12 Pro only has twice.
On the other hand, the light intensity of the telephoto lens in the 12 Pro Max is slightly lower.
After my test photos, however, I see the difference as marginal.
Both telephoto lenses are only moderately suitable for taking pictures in low light.
The Pro Max's stronger zoom, on the other hand, has a positive effect on portraits, but above all on close-ups of objects.
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The cameras of the iPhone 12 Pro Max
Photo: Matthias Kremp / DER SPIEGEL
The bigger innovation in the literal sense, however, is the wide-angle camera, which is equipped with a larger sensor on the Pro Max, which is supposed to cope better with poor light situations.
Above all, however, it is not the lens that is suspended for optical image stabilization, but the sensor itself, which is held by magnets, among other things.
Both high-frequency vibrations, for example in a moving car, and low-frequency vibrations caused by a wiggling hand, should be balanced out.
Freehand exposure times of up to two seconds are possible, which worked well in my tests.
It is also a lot of fun to try out night shots with the 12 Pro Max.
In that case, however, a tripod is essential.
Because Apple's camera only enables exposure times of up to 30 seconds if it does not detect any wobble for several seconds.
But then you can get really fascinating recordings, even during the day.
In my experience, the big advantage of the new wide-angle camera in the iPhone 12 Pro Max is that it triggers very quickly and requires such short exposure times that even snapshots can be taken from the hip or while cycling.
Conclusion
If you've used the iPhone 12 Mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max for a while, the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro seem almost boring, but that is deceptive.
In fact, the two extreme iPhones round off Apple's range up and down.
Anyone who has longed for a smaller, more manageable Apple mobile phone will find their wishes fulfilled with the iPhone 12 Mini.
An iPhone 11 would be 120 euros cheaper, but it is less powerful in all aspects.
The iPhone SE, on the other hand, is still a good alternative for anyone who cares about money.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max, on the other hand, must first be able to afford it, because it costs at least 1217.50 euros.
But you also get the best battery life and the best cameras.
Anyone who is already willing to spend more than 1000 euros for an iPhone 12 pro should at least consider the Pro Max, because the surcharge for the largest model is only around 100 euros.
But what all new iPhones have in common here is that the memory cannot be expanded at a later date.
Therefore, when buying, you should carefully consider whether the smallest memory configuration is sufficient or whether you prefer to order an upgrade right away.
This is especially true for the iPhone 12 Mini, which is a bit meager with 64 gigabytes.
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