The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) was the first iPhone with sensor-shift OIS and the first to support Apple ProRAW in DNG format — the image counter stored in each ProRAW DNG records total electronic captures. Drop a ProRAW file to read it instantly.
Check Image Counter →The iPhone 12 Pro Max represented two firsts for Apple: it was the first iPhone with sensor-shift optical image stabilisation (moving the sensor rather than the lens elements) and, alongside the 12 Pro, the first iPhone to support Apple ProRAW (iOS 14.3, December 2020). It is powered by the A14 Bionic chip — the first 5 nm smartphone chip in the industry.
The camera system features a 12 MP main sensor (1/1.7-inch, f/1.6, sensor-shift OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF — the sensor is physically larger than the iPhone 12 Pro’s 1/1.76-inch sensor), a 12 MP ultrawide (f/2.4, 120°, fixed focus), and a 12 MP 2.5× telephoto (f/2.2, 65 mm equiv, OIS) — a slightly longer reach than the 12 Pro’s 2× telephoto. The LiDAR scanner enables Night mode portraits and faster low-light autofocus.
Like all iPhones, the 12 Pro Max uses CMOS electronic readout only. There is no mechanical focal-plane shutter and no rated mechanical shutter lifespan.
| Model | Release | Display | Shutter Type | RAW Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | 2020 | 6.7-inch OLED (60 Hz) | Electronic only | ProRAW (DNG) |
| iPhone 12 Pro | 2020 | 6.1-inch OLED (60 Hz) | Electronic only | ProRAW (DNG) |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | 2021 | 6.7-inch OLED ProMotion (120 Hz) | Electronic only | ProRAW (DNG) |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | 2022 | 6.7-inch OLED ProMotion (120 Hz) | Electronic only | ProRAW (DNG) |
.dng extension.The image counter is a useful usage indicator but carries no mechanical wear significance. These are the meaningful factors to evaluate on a 2020 device:
| What to Check | How |
|---|---|
| Battery health | Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging. A 2020 iPhone may be at 80–85% health by now; budget for battery replacement if below 80% |
| Display condition | Inspect the 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED for burn-in (especially navigation bar or keyboard outlines) and dead pixels |
| Camera lenses & sensors | Check all three lenses for scratches, chips, or internal fogging — the main lens has a prominent larger element |
| Stainless steel frame | Inspect for dents or structural damage around the Lightning port and buttons; stainless shows scratches but is durable |
| Lightning port | Check connector pins for corrosion and debris — this is the charging/data port on 2020 models (USB-C arrived with iPhone 15 Pro) |
| Face ID | Verify Face ID works — TrueDepth sensor damage is costly to repair |
| Image counter | High count (>50,000) indicates intensive use — useful context, not a hardware failure indicator |
| Spec | iPhone 12 Pro Max | iPhone 12 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch OLED (60 Hz) | 6.1-inch OLED (60 Hz) |
| Main sensor | 1/1.7-inch, f/1.6, sensor-shift OIS | 1/1.76-inch, f/1.6, lens-shift OIS |
| Telephoto | 2.5× (65 mm equiv, f/2.2) | 2× (52 mm equiv, f/2.0) |
| Battery | 3687 mAh | 2815 mAh |
| Weight | ~226 g | ~187 g |
| ProRAW / DNG | Yes (iOS 14.3+) | Yes (iOS 14.3+) |
For image counter purposes, both models are entirely equivalent — the DNG format, ImageNumber field location, and counter behaviour are identical.
No. All iPhones use CMOS electronic readout. There is no focal-plane shutter mechanism, no shutter curtain, and no rated mechanical lifespan.
Go to Settings → Camera → Formats and enable Apple ProRAW. Your device must be running iOS 14.3 or later. In the Camera app, tap the RAW badge at the top of the screen to activate ProRAW for the current session.
No. The image counter is stored in persistent hardware memory and cannot be reset by a factory reset, iOS update, or any user action. This makes it a reliable indicator of total device usage.
A casual user accumulates roughly 5,000–20,000 captures per year; an active photographer may exceed 50,000 per year. As a 2020 device, a used iPhone 12 Pro Max may have 20,000–100,000+ captures depending on usage history. There is no mechanical wear threshold.
The 12 Pro Max receives software updates through iOS 18. Its 6.7-inch display, ProRAW capability, and LiDAR scanner remain capable. The main concern is battery health on a device now 5–6 years old — check the Battery Health percentage before purchasing.