1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm | 168.3 x 77.7 x 9 mm | The iPhone 12 mini is significantly smaller and more pocketable. The nova Y70 Plus is much larger and may be less comfortable for one-handed use. |
| Weight | 135g | 199g | iPhone 12 mini is much lighter making it more comfortable for extended use. The nova Y70 Plus is noticeably heavier, which may fatigue users over time. |
Display
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 5.4" | 6.75" | The nova Y70 Plus offers a much larger screen, better for media consumption and multitasking. The iPhone 12 mini is more compact for single-handed use, making it more pocketable. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 | 720 x 1600 | The iPhone 12 mini has a significantly sharper display, resulting in crisper text and images. The nova Y70 Plus has a lower resolution, which may look less detailed. |
| PPI | 476 | 260 | iPhone 12 mini's higher pixel density leads to a much sharper and clearer display. The nova Y70 Plus will appear less sharp. |
| Technology | OLED | IPS LCD | The iPhone 12 mini's OLED offers richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast. The nova Y70 Plus's IPS LCD may look washed out in comparison. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | Both have a standard 60Hz refresh rate, providing similar fluidity in general use. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 0 nits | The iPhone 12 mini offers excellent outdoor visibility, even in bright sunlight. The nova Y70 Plus is missing this data point, but it's assumed to not be as bright |
Performance
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Kirin 710A (14 nm) | The iPhone 12 mini's chipset is significantly more powerful, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The nova Y70 Plus will likely be significantly slower. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,072,354 | 103,500 | The iPhone 12 mini demonstrates substantially higher benchmark performance, indicating a considerable advantage in raw processing power, with a much more fluid experience overall. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G51 MP4 | The iPhone 12 mini's GPU offers superior graphics performance for demanding games and applications. The nova Y70 Plus may struggle with intensive graphics tasks. |
Battery
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2227mAh | 6000mAh | The nova Y70 Plus has a much larger battery, likely offering significantly longer battery life. The iPhone 12 mini's battery is very small and battery life will be a concern. |
| Charging | 20W Fast Charging | 22.5W Fast Charging | The nova Y70 Plus charges slightly faster but both offer fast charging. |
| Features | Non-removable, MagSafe/Qi Wireless | Non-removable | The iPhone 12 mini has wireless charging capabilities, which the Huawei lacks, but a much smaller battery capacity. |
Camera
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear Standard | 12MP f/1.6 | 48MP f/1.8 | The nova Y70 Plus has a higher resolution sensor, which can capture more detail in good lighting conditions. The iPhone 12 mini has a wider aperture which may result in better low light performance. |
| Front Selfie | 12MP f/2.2 | 8MP f/2.0 | The iPhone 12 mini has a higher resolution front camera, but the Y70 Plus has a wider aperture. |
| Wide Angle | 12MP f/2.4 | 5MP f/2.2 | The iPhone 12 mini offers higher resolution wide-angle shots. |
| Portrait | N/A | 2MP f/2.4 | Huawei nova Y70 Plus has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait photos, The iPhone 12 mini relies on software. |
| Video | Up to 4K@60fps | 1080p@30fps | The iPhone 12 mini offers much better video recording capabilities, with support for higher resolutions and frame rates, better for content creation. The nova Y70 Plus is basic in video performance. |
| DxOMark | Mobile: 117, Selfie: 132 | Not Tested | The iPhone 12 mini has an official camera performance score, showing its camera is competitive. The nova Y70 Plus has no DxOMark rating. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 mini Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The A14 Bionic chip delivers significantly faster processing and graphics, resulting in a much smoother experience across all applications and gaming.
- Significantly Better Display: The OLED display offers higher resolution, superior color accuracy, and much better brightness, resulting in a significantly improved viewing experience.
- Advanced Camera Capabilities: The iPhone 12 mini has a better video recording quality and the DxOMark scores indicate better camera performance and will deliver more detailed photos in most lighting conditions.
- Premium Features: Offers features such as MagSafe/Qi wireless charging, newer Wifi standard, and better audio quality.
- Much Smaller & Lighter: Its compact size makes it highly portable and comfortable for one-handed use.
Huawei nova Y70 Plus Advantages:
- Much Larger Battery: Its 6000mAh battery provides significantly longer battery life, making it suitable for users who need their phone to last all day.
- Larger Display: The bigger display is better for media consumption and multitasking.
- Fingerprint Sensor: Offers convenient and secure biometric authentication.
- Headphone Jack: The missing headphone jack on iPhone might be a deal breaker for some.
- Lower Price: It is generally a more budget-friendly option.
Trade-offs:
- The iPhone 12 mini trades battery life and screen size for portability, performance, and display quality.
- The Huawei nova Y70 Plus trades raw performance and display quality for battery life and screen size.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12 mini Ideal Users:
- Users who prioritize performance and compact design.
- Those who value a premium viewing experience with a high-quality OLED display.
- Users who rely heavily on their phone's camera for photos and videos.
- Users comfortable with a smaller display and potential shorter battery life.
- Those invested in the Apple ecosystem.
Use Cases:
- Mobile gamers who need smooth, fast performance.
- Users who frequently watch videos and appreciate high-resolution, vibrant displays.
- Content creators who require high-quality video recording capabilities.
- Professionals who need fast, reliable performance on the go.
Huawei nova Y70 Plus Ideal Users:
- Users who need a long battery life and a larger screen.
- Those who are budget-conscious.
- Users who prioritize a larger screen for media consumption and easy viewing.
- Users who want a fingerprint sensor for easy unlocking.
Use Cases:
- Users who need a phone to last through a full day of heavy usage.
- Users who consume a lot of video content.
- Students or professionals on a budget.
- Users who want a secondary device for media consumption and calls.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your priority: portability and performance, or battery life and screen size? The iPhone 12 mini excels in performance and portability but the Huawei wins on battery and screen.
- Do you need a high-quality display and camera, or are you okay with a more basic experience? The iPhone 12 mini has a better display, camera and video recording.
- What is your budget, and do you prefer to stay within a specific ecosystem? The Huawei is more budget friendly while the iPhone is part of the Apple ecosystem.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High Performance & Portability: If you need top-tier performance in a pocketable device and don't mind smaller battery, the iPhone 12 mini is the best choice.
- Scenario 2: All-Day Battery & Larger Screen: If battery life and screen size are your main concerns, the Huawei nova Y70 Plus is the better pick despite performance and display sacrifices.
- Scenario 3: Budget-Conscious Media Consumption: If you need a large screen for watching videos and are on a tight budget, the Huawei nova Y70 Plus is the way to go.
My Choice
Given the choice between the two, I would personally choose the Apple iPhone 12 mini. My reasoning is as follows:
- Performance: As a tech enthusiast, I value a responsive and fluid user experience above all else. The A14 Bionic chip ensures the iPhone 12 mini will handle any task I throw at it with ease and remain performant for years to come.
- Display Quality: The OLED display on the iPhone 12 mini will look significantly better and will enhance my day to day experience consuming content.
- Camera Capabilities: I frequently take photos and videos, and the iPhone 12 mini's camera system offers better image quality, video recording, and overall performance.
- Ecosystem: I am invested in the Apple ecosystem, and the seamless integration is an important factor for me.
While the smaller battery of the iPhone 12 mini is a concern, I prioritize performance, camera quality and build. I also have access to chargers, thus I am comfortable making this trade off. I acknowledge that the Huawei nova Y70 Plus offers better battery life and a larger screen at a lower price point. However, for my specific use case, the iPhone 12 mini's performance, display, camera, and ecosystem integration are more valuable.
