Buying a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max is the perfect choice for people who want something affordable yet premium in nature.
However, purchasing a refurbished product comes with its own challenges. Therefore, you need to understand these in order to bypass them effectively.
iPhone 12 Pro Max Overview
iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max were the flagship phones of the 14th Generation of iPhones. The duo replaced the equally iconic iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. Therefore, the duo had a giant void to fill.
These two phones were released at an event held in Apple Park, Cupertino. The phone was unveiled on October 13, 2020, and was released ten days later on October 23, 2020. The duo managed to dominate the rankings for a solid year and was discontinued on September 14, 2021.
Some of the significant updates that were introduced with the new iPhone 12 Pro Max and Pro included a better camera, newer chipset, 5G support, etc.
Technicalities
iPhone 12 Pro Max was one of the most popular phones in its Generation. For the first time in history, apple made some crucial changes to its phones. This shot up the overall popularity of the telephone to greater heights.
Sadly, Apple discontinued manufacturing this phone. As a result, there is only an easy way to get a hold of this phone if you are going for a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max. But first, you need to know what you are paying for.
In this section, we will discuss some of the most critical technical aspects of the phone so that you can understand your choice of phone. Here we go!
Design
Design is one of the most important aspects of any phone. It is the very first thing that you notice about a phone. The iPhone 12 series featured one of the first significant redesigns since the iPhone X. This made huge waves in the industry.
For the first time, the iPhone 12 series featured a flat chassis. This design choice was last seen back in 4th generation iPhones. Subsequently, the phone comes with a metal body. This makes the phone look premium.
The camera hub mainly remained the same. The hub featured three cameras like its predecessor. However, this time, the camera seems more prominent than the previous iteration. All in all, the design choices were mostly well-received and are still being followed by the brand.
Hardware Resistance
iPhone 12 Pro Max and 12 Pro were the flagship phones of the 14th Generation. As a result, the phone came with some fantastic hardware. iPhone Pro Max was released in three distinct variants, including 128, 256, and 512 GB.
The iPhone 12 series came with an IP68 water and dust-resistant rating. This rating elucidates that the phone can withstand moisture, grime, dust, and other elements with ease. As per the company, the phone has the ability to stay underwater (upto 20 feet) for upto 30 minutes.
All in all, your phone is generally protected from all of the significant elements. Which in turn adds to the overall USPs of this well-made phone.
Displays
iPhone 12 Pro Max comes with an OLED display. As a result, you will be able to notice every small detail with utmost clarity. The phone features a 6.68-inch screen. However, the brand markets it as 6.7 inches.
The 6.68-inch screen comes with a resolution scale of 2778 × 1284 pixels or 3.5 megapixels at a 458 PPI. This allows crisper image quality. Both pro models came with Super Retina XDR OLED with comparatively thinner bezels than before.
iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max featured a glass ceramic covering over its display. This makes the screen protected from wear and tear.
Batteries
Batteries are the fastest-depreciating assets of any phone. Therefore, you must take the following figure with a grain of salt. In fact, batteries tend to lose around 50% of their vitality in the very first year of manufacturing.
Apple decided to step up its game when it came to battery power. iPhone 12 Pro series featured a bigger battery pack, which had the capability to run for 30% longer than before.
However, critics complained that iPhone standard editions and the Pro series came with similar battery power.
iPhone 12 Pro Max came with a 14.13 Wh or 3,687 mAh battery pack. The battery is not user-replaceable and can only be removed professionally. As a result, you need to carefully check the battery of the refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max that you are buying.
Chipsets
iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Max came with the highly reliable Apple A14 Bionic Chipset. This is an ARM-based smartphone chipset that is known for its efficiency and performance figures. This chipset was genuinely unique when it was released.
This new A-series processor was first used on the fourth-generation iPad. Therefore, Apple acquired extensive data and reports in order to study this chipset before implementing it in their flagship iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
This phone also comes with an Apple M14 motion coprocessor, along with Qualcomm’s X55 5G modem.
Cameras
Apple might be a lot of things, but it certainly knows its cameras. If you have been an iPhone user, you would understand. iPhone 12 Pro Max and Pro come with similar camera setup.
However, the Pro Max version comes with some fantastic features, such as a Lidar scanner. Lidar scanner allows the camera to use the phone in Augmented Reality.
iP{hone 12 Pro features four cameras in total: one is a front-facing camera for selfies and three back-facing cameras for portraits. iPhone 12 Pro features bigger sensors that allow around 47% more light. This greatly enhances the overall image.
The camera setup of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is capable of capturing 1080p videos at 30 FPS. As a result, your refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max is capable of capturing exceptional pictures and videos in cinematic quality.
Sensors
iPhone 12 Pro Max features a sensor similar to that of the previous iteration of the phone. However, these sensors are state-of-the-art. Hence, you are not losing out on anything.
Some of the most prominent sensors that the phone features include a gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer, Proximity sensor, digital compass, and ambient light sensor. All of these sensors can really help a user monitor their well-being.
Apart from the aforementioned sensors, the phone also comes with a facial recognition sensor. This sensor allows users to unlock their phones using their faces.
Software
iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max were initially released with iOS. This OS works on the principle of direct manipulation and multi-touch gestures. Most of the interface of the OS consisted of sliders, buttons, and switches. The operating system was fundamental and was restrictive.
Soon enough, the phone received an iOS 14.2 update. This update truly helped the phone unlock its true potential. The newer operating system was more responsive and much more efficient in its functionality.
Currently, all Apple devices support iOS 17. Therefore, expect your iPhone to come with an iOS 17 update.
General Reception
Reception might not be directly related to the business model dealing with refurbished iPhones, but it is seminal. Reception allows users to understand the pre-existing notions people have about specific phones.
iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max mostly received positive reviews from customers. An established tech website named Verge said that this phone was a “beautiful, powerful, and incredibly capable device.”
iPhone 12 Pro Max received the bulk of the praise as it was a considerable step up from the previous iteration. All in all, buying a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max is financially viable and intelligent.
Common Problems Of Refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 12 Pro Max is a well-built phone. Every tiny aspect of the phone is curated and is aimed toward a more user-centric experience.
In other words, the developers tried hashing out the quirks to bring in a smooth and optimized device that performs amazingly well.
However, you need to understand that the phone you will be buying is not a new phone. As a result, you should prepare yourself for all the pitfalls of owning a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max.
In this section, I list some of the biggest and most common problems that you might face. However, a refurbished phone might run into a plethora of issues. Therefore, it is essential to understand that it is not humanly possible for us to anticipate the problem that you might be facing.
With that note, let us dive right in.
Invalid SIM Error
This is one of the most common problems that you can face while using a refurbished iPhone. This is not an iPhone 12 or an iPhone 13 problem. This is a widespread problem that can be noticed all across the spectrum.
Since most people resort to Wi-Fi for everything, they tend to ignore the fact that their sim connection could be better and more reliable. The best way to deal with this problem is to take out the SIM and insert it more carefully.
Facial Identification Problem
iPhone 12 Pro Max comes with a plethora of sensors, one of them being a facial recognition sensor. This gives the phone an added edge over its competitors. However, this is a double-edged sword.
In other words, many users of refurbished devices complain that the sensors do not work effectively. The most obvious solution is to clean the front camera and try again.
However, in some cases, you may have to factory reset the phone. If the problem persists, turn off the Attention Awareness setting. This would make the sensor more accommodating.
Audio Issues
This is a relatively rare problem. However, users have reported that their refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max is showing some audio issues. This is an easy problem to fix that takes little effort.
9 out of 10 times, this problem is due to a faulty sound driver. Therefore, you should factory reset your phone and update all the drivers. This should help you deal with the problem. If the problem persists, you might have to take your phone to a mechanic.
Bluetooth Issues
We have already stated that connectivity issues are some of the most common problems you will face. This problem persists across the spectrum. In other words, more and more users complain about this problem.
This is a minor yet annoying problem. It will keep your overall experience intact. However, it will become irritating after a while. The best and only way to fix this issue is to switch off and switch on the Bluetooth.
Rapid Battery Drainage
The battery is one of the fastest-depreciating assets in an iPhone. A battery loses around 50% of its vitality in the very first year of usage. Therefore, it is highly likely that you will face battery issues while using a refurbished iPhone.
This is a complex issue to deal with. Sometimes, the situation gets fixed after optimizing and stopping battery-intensive background applications.
However, in some cases, the damage is more hardware in nature. As a result, it requires professional help.
Either way, this is a common problem you might need help with during usage.
Overheating
Finally, overheating is the most common problem with owning and using a refurbished iPhone. As phones tend to grow old, they tend to become more volatile. As a result, it is widespread for these phones to show signs of overheating, etc.
Leave your phone alone for at least 15 minutes when the overheating message arrives. This should solve the problem. However, in some cases, you might have to take your phone to a professional and get it checked.
The Final Thought
That is all there is about owning a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max. It might be financially viable to buy a refurbished iPhone.
However, it comes with its pitfalls and challenges. Therefore, we hope this article will prepare you for the whole journey.
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