At iPhone Deals, the iPhone 12 Pro Max starts at KSh 55,000 for 128GB and the iPhone 13 Pro Max starts at KSh 59,000 for 128GB, a gap of KSh 4,000. Move up to 256GB and it’s KSh 58,000 versus KSh 65,000, a gap of KSh 7,000. For that difference you get a 120Hz ProMotion screen, the A15 Bionic chip, a longer-lasting battery and a camera with a true 3x optical zoom instead of 2.5x. Whether that’s worth it depends on what you actually use your phone for, and the honest answer is that for most buyers in Kenya right now, it is.
This comparison uses the iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 13 Pro Max price gap at iPhone Deals as the baseline, since that’s the number that actually matters when you’re choosing between the two in Nairobi. Below is the full spec breakdown, what changed between the two generations, and who should pick which one.
Table of Contents
iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 13 Pro Max price in Kenya
| Model | Storage | Price at iPhone Deals | Warranty | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | 128GB | KSh 55,000 | 6 months | In stock |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | 256GB | KSh 58,000 | 6 months | In stock |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | 128GB | KSh 59,000 | 6 months | In stock |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | 256GB | KSh 65,000 | 6 months | In stock |
The iPhone 12 Pro Max price in Kenya and the iPhone 13 Pro Max price in Kenya were both confirmed directly on the product pages on 10 October 2026. Both models carry the same 6-month warranty, and condition (New, Refurbished, Ex-UK or Used) is confirmed per unit before you order, since stock changes regularly. iPhone 12 Pro Max comes in Silver, Graphite, Gold and Pacific Blue; iPhone 13 Pro Max comes in Sierra Blue, Graphite, Gold and Silver. Enquire directly to confirm which colours are currently available, since stocked colours shift with each new shipment.
A note on third-party pricing: a recent Google search for “where to get iPhone 13 Pro Max” surfaced a Nairobi CBD competitor listing the iPhone 12 Pro Max around KSh 57,000 and the iPhone 13 Pro Max around KSh 70,000. That figure comes from a third-party listing, not from iPhone Deals, and has not been independently verified here, so treat it as a reference point rather than a confirmed price.
Full spec comparison
| Spec | iPhone 12 Pro Max | iPhone 13 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7″ Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz, up to 800 nits | 6.7″ Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz ProMotion, up to 1,000 nits |
| Chip | A14 Bionic | A15 Bionic (5-core GPU) |
| Rear cameras | Triple 12MP: Wide (f/1.6), Ultra Wide (f/2.4), Telephoto 2.5x (f/2.2) | Triple 12MP: Wide (f/1.5, larger sensor), Ultra Wide (f/1.8, macro capable), Telephoto 3x (f/2.8) |
| Video | Dolby Vision HDR up to 4K60 | Dolby Vision HDR up to 4K60, plus Cinematic mode and ProRes (256GB+) |
| Battery | 3,687mAh, up to 20 hours video playback | 4,352mAh, up to 28 hours video playback |
| Weight | 228g | 240g |
| Thickness | 7.4mm | 7.65mm |
| Notch | Standard size | About 20% smaller |
| 5G | Yes, including band n78 used by Safaricom | Yes, including band n78 used by Safaricom |
| Released | October 2020 | September 2021 |
Every row above is independent of the others on purpose: if you only need the battery figures or only the camera aperture numbers, you can read that one row without the rest of the table.
What actually changed: display, chip, camera, battery
The single biggest everyday difference is the screen. The iPhone 12 Pro Max refreshes at a fixed 60Hz, the same as a basic iPhone. The iPhone 13 Pro Max runs ProMotion, which adjusts the refresh rate up to 120Hz depending on what’s on screen. Scrolling, typing and swiping between apps feel noticeably smoother on the 13 Pro Max once you’ve used it for even a day, and this is the change most people notice immediately after switching.
The A15 Bionic in the iPhone 13 Pro Max is a real step up over the A14, mainly in sustained performance and graphics, which matters more for gaming and video editing than for everyday browsing and messaging. Both chips still handle current iOS versions and everyday apps without strain in 2026, so this difference shows up mainly under heavier workloads, not in basic use.
Camera-wise, the telephoto lens goes from 2.5x optical zoom on the 12 Pro Max to a true 3x on the 13 Pro Max, and the main wide camera gets a larger sensor and a wider f/1.5 aperture, which helps low-light shots. The 13 Pro Max also adds macro photography on the ultra-wide lens and Cinematic mode for shallow depth-of-field video, neither of which the 12 Pro Max has. If photography is a priority, this is where the price gap earns its keep.
Battery life is the other clear win for the newer phone. Apple rates the iPhone 13 Pro Max for up to 28 hours of video playback against 20 hours on the 12 Pro Max, a difference you’ll feel by the second day of moderate use. Part of that comes from a larger 4,352mAh battery, part from the A15’s efficiency, and the trade-off is a slightly heavier, slightly thicker phone.
Is the iPhone 13 Pro Max worth the extra money?
For a KSh 4,000 to KSh 7,000 difference in Kenya, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is worth it for most buyers. ProMotion alone changes how the phone feels to use every day, the battery lasts meaningfully longer, and the camera gains a longer zoom and macro mode that the 12 Pro Max simply doesn’t have. That’s a lot of real, usable improvement for a gap smaller than the cost of a single repair.
The case against upgrading is narrower than it might sound. If you genuinely don’t care about screen smoothness, rarely use the camera beyond basic photos, and charge your phone daily anyway, the 12 Pro Max still does the job and saves you a few thousand shillings. But for anyone who’ll notice a laggy scroll or wants better low-light shots, the smaller gap in 2026 makes the newer phone the easy pick.
Is the iPhone 12 Pro Max still worth buying in 2026?
Yes, with a caveat. The iPhone 12 Pro Max still runs current iOS updates, still has a genuinely good OLED display even without ProMotion, and the A14 Bionic is still fast enough for everyday use in 2026. If your budget is tight and KSh 55,000 is the ceiling, it remains a capable large-screen iPhone with a real triple-camera system and 5G support on Safaricom’s network.
What you’re giving up is mostly comfort and headroom rather than core function: a fixed 60Hz screen, a shorter telephoto reach, no macro mode, and noticeably shorter battery life than the newer model. None of that makes the 12 Pro Max a bad phone, it just means the 13 Pro Max does the same job with fewer compromises for a price difference that’s smaller than many buyers expect.
Which one should you buy?
If you’re budget-constrained and mainly use your phone for calls, messaging, social media and browsing, the iPhone 12 Pro Max at KSh 55,000 covers all of that comfortably and keeps more money in your pocket. If you take a lot of photos, especially in low light, watch a lot of video, or just want a phone that feels fast and smooth every time you pick it up, the iPhone 13 Pro Max at KSh 59,000 is the better buy for a gap most people won’t miss.
Storage matters here too. If you shoot a lot of photos or video, or you keep a large app and media library, the 256GB option on either phone (KSh 58,000 for the 12 Pro Max, KSh 65,000 for the 13 Pro Max) is worth the extra cost over running out of space within a year.
Where to buy in Nairobi
iPhone Deals is based at Kimathi House, 4th Floor Suite 404, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD, open Monday to Saturday 8am to 7pm and Sunday 9am to 6pm, with both in-store pickup and nationwide delivery via courier. You can reach the shop on 0747 881573, order through the website, or confirm stock and configuration over WhatsApp before you pay.
To be transparent about the wider Nairobi CBD market: a Google search for “where to get iPhone 13 Pro Max in Nairobi” also surfaces Phone Place Kenya, Mobile Hub and Shawtech KE as CBD phone shops carrying similar stock, along with Badili Kenya and listings on Instagram. None of their specific prices or stock levels for these two models have been independently confirmed here, so compare directly with them before you decide, the figures above are what’s confirmed at iPhone Deals as of this live check.
Warranty and what’s included
Both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max at iPhone Deals carry a 6-month warranty covering network, charging, earpiece, microphone and speaker faults, plus software issues, with a 1-month warranty on accessories. The warranty doesn’t cover a cracked screen or physical damage, and returns aren’t accepted once a unit leaves the shop, so it’s worth checking the phone thoroughly in person or confirming condition clearly over WhatsApp before you buy. Turnaround on any warranty repair is typically up to 72 hours.
FAQs
What is the main difference between the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max? The biggest differences are the screen (60Hz on the 12 Pro Max versus 120Hz ProMotion on the 13 Pro Max), the chip (A14 versus A15 Bionic), battery life (20 hours versus 28 hours of video playback), and the camera’s zoom range (2.5x versus 3x optical).
Is the iPhone 13 Pro Max camera better than the iPhone 12 Pro Max? Yes. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a larger main sensor, a wider aperture on the wide lens, a longer 3x optical zoom instead of 2.5x, and adds macro photography and Cinematic mode, none of which the iPhone 12 Pro Max has.
How much is the price gap between iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max in Kenya? At iPhone Deals, the gap is KSh 4,000 on the 128GB models (KSh 55,000 versus KSh 59,000) and KSh 7,000 on the 256GB models (KSh 58,000 versus KSh 65,000).
Which iPhone is better, 12 Pro Max or 13 Pro Max? The iPhone 13 Pro Max is better overall thanks to ProMotion, a stronger chip, longer battery life and a better camera. The iPhone 12 Pro Max remains a solid, cheaper option if those specific upgrades don’t matter to you.
Does the iPhone 12 Pro Max support 5G in Kenya? Yes. The international iPhone 12 Pro Max supports 5G band n78, the same band Safaricom’s 5G network runs on, so it connects the same way the iPhone 13 Pro Max does.
Is the iPhone 12 Pro Max or iPhone 13 Pro Max a better value for money in 2026? For most buyers, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the better value since the extra KSh 4,000 to KSh 7,000 buys a meaningfully smoother screen, longer battery life and a better camera. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is better value only if your budget is the deciding factor.
Sources
- Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max technical specifications (apple.com)
- GSMArena iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max spec pages
- iPhone Deals product pages, live-checked 10 October 2026 (iphone-deals.com/iphones/iphone-12-pro-max/, iphone-deals.com/iphones/iphone-13-pro-max/)
- iPhone Deals warranty page (iphone-deals.com/warranty)
- Google Search results and AI Overview for “iphone 12 pro max vs iphone 13 pro max” and “where to get iphone 13 pro max Nairobi”