1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2020-11-13 | 2024-04-29 | The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is a significantly newer device, which may have implications for software support and access to newer technologies. |
| Form Factor | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones; no folding or special mechanisms. |
| Dimensions | 131.5 × 64.2 × 7.4 mm | 162.6 × 75.1 × 8.4 mm | The Pura 70 Ultra is much larger and may be less comfortable for one-handed use; the iPhone 12 mini's smaller size is ideal for pocketability and easy handling. |
| Weight | 135g | 226g | The iPhone 12 mini is significantly lighter making it comfortable for extended use. The Pura 70 Ultra is noticeably heavier. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 5.4" | 6.8" | The Pura 70 Ultra offers a much larger screen, great for media consumption and multitasking. The iPhone 12 mini's smaller display is more compact and easier to use one-handed. |
| Resolution | 1080x2340 | 1260x2844 | The Pura 70 Ultra has a higher resolution, leading to sharper visuals and more detailed images. |
| PPI | 476 | 460 | Both displays offer similar pixel density, meaning that both will look sharp. |
| Technology | OLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks typical of OLED displays. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The Pura 70 Ultra provides smoother animations and scrolling thanks to its higher refresh rate, beneficial for gaming and general UI smoothness. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 2500 nits | The Pura 70 Ultra is significantly brighter, offering superior outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Kirin 9010 (7 nm) | The iPhone 12 mini's A14 chip performs better in benchmarks but real-world usage depends on software optimization. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,072,354 | 869,707 | The iPhone 12 mini shows better raw performance in benchmarks, which can translate to faster app loading and smoother general operation. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Maleoon 910 (8-core) | Different GPU configurations make direct comparison difficult; performance will vary based on specific tasks and applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 12MP, f/1.6, 1/2.55", 1.4µm | 50MP, f/1.6, 1", 1.6µm | The Pura 70 Ultra has a much higher resolution sensor with larger size, likely resulting in better low-light performance and more detail. |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP, f/2.2 | 13MP, f/2.4 | The Pura 70 Ultra has marginally higher resolution, while the iPhone 12 mini has a slightly wider aperture. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 50MP, f/2.1 | The Pura 70 Ultra offers a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom capabilities, a feature not available on the iPhone 12 mini. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.4, 1/2.55", 1.4µm | 40MP, f/2.2, 1/1.7", 1.0µm | The Pura 70 Ultra boasts a higher-resolution, larger sensor for its wide-angle lens, leading to better image quality. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K 60fps | Up to 4K | The iPhone 12 mini offers detailed 4K video with various frame rates. Both devices offer high-quality video recording capabilities. |
| DXOMark (Mobile) | Main: 117 Photo: 128 Video: 129 | Main: 163 Photo: 0 Video: 0 | The Pura 70 Ultra receives a much higher overall score, likely due to its superior camera hardware. The iPhone 12 mini performed better in the photo and video tests. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 2227mAh | 5200mAh | The Pura 70 Ultra has a much larger battery, which should translate to significantly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 20W fast charging | 100W fast charging | The Pura 70 Ultra charges much faster, reducing downtime spent plugged into a charger. |
| Wireless Charging | MagSafe 15W, Qi 7.5W | 80W Wireless, 20W Reverse | The Pura 70 Ultra offers significantly faster wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | iOS 14.1 (up to iOS 18) | Unknown | The iPhone runs on a mature, user-friendly iOS. The Pura 70 Ultra's software is unknown. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6, Dual-band | WiFi 6, Dual-band, Direct, Display | Both offer similar Wi-Fi capabilities but the Pura 70 Ultra has added Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi Display support. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE | 5.2 with LDAC, SBC, AAC | The Pura 70 Ultra has a newer Bluetooth version and supports higher-quality audio codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5), Galileo (E1+E5a+E5b) | The Pura 70 Ultra offers more accurate location tracking due to more comprehensive GPS support. |
| SIM | Dual SIM, eSIM | Dual SIM | The iPhone 12 mini offers the flexibility of an eSIM alongside physical SIMs. The Pura 70 Ultra supports only dual Nano SIMs. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64/128/256/512 GB | 512/1024 GB | The Pura 70 Ultra offers higher storage options (up to 1 TB). |
| RAM | 4 GB | 16 GB | The Pura 70 Ultra has significantly more RAM, leading to smoother multitasking and better performance in demanding apps. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage via SD card. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | The iPhone 12 mini has a slight edge in audio quality, due to Dolby Digital Plus |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic | Fingerprint sensor | The Pura 70 Ultra includes a fingerprint sensor for biometric security. The iPhone 12 mini relies on Face ID. |
| Build | |||
| Protection | Screen Unknown | Screen Unknown | Both phones have similar screen protection technology, details are unavailable. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Fingerprint, Gravity, Hall, RGB | The Pura 70 Ultra includes more sensors for advanced features, while the iPhone 12 mini includes a Barometer for measuring atmospheric pressure. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 mini Advantages:
- Compact Size & Lightweight: Significantly smaller and lighter, making it ideal for one-handed use and pocketability.
- Strong Benchmark Performance: Outperforms the Pura 70 Ultra in benchmark scores, translating to potentially faster app loading and responsiveness.
- eSIM Support: Offers eSIM support for greater flexibility in network choices and easy digital carrier switching.
- Established Software Ecosystem: Runs on iOS with a mature and polished user interface and access to the Apple ecosystem.
- Better Front Camera: Better selfie performance according to dxomark
- Better Audio Performance: Enhanced spatial audio with Dolby Digital Plus.
- Better Video Performance: Better video recording according to dxomark.
Practical Implications: The iPhone 12 mini is ideal for users who prioritize portability, easy one-handed operation, and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra Advantages:
- Larger, Brighter, and Smoother Display: Significantly larger screen with higher refresh rate, offering an enhanced visual experience for media consumption and gaming. Also higher peak brightness for better outdoor visibility.
- Superior Camera System: Features a more advanced camera system with larger sensors, a telephoto lens, and higher megapixel counts, offering better low-light performance, better zoom capability and more detail.
- Significantly Larger Battery: Much larger battery capacity, resulting in significantly longer battery life.
- Faster Charging: Offers significantly faster wired and wireless charging, drastically reducing charging times.
- More RAM & Storage: Comes with 16GB RAM and larger storage options (up to 1TB) for better multitasking and more space for files and media.
- Better GPS: More satellite systems and more accurate location tracking.
- Biometric Security: Includes a fingerprint sensor.
Practical Implications: The Pura 70 Ultra is better suited for users who prioritize a large display for media consumption, superior camera capabilities, and extended battery life.
Significant Trade-offs:
- iPhone 12 mini: Smaller display, lower battery capacity, older design, and less impressive camera compared to the Pura 70 Ultra.
- Huawei Pura 70 Ultra: Larger size and heavier build, less portable, lower benchmark scores compared to the iPhone 12 mini, and unknown software experience,
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12 mini Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize portability and one-handed use.
- Those deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem.
- Users who do not rely heavily on camera performance or extended battery life.
- Users with smaller hands who would find larger devices cumbersome.
- Those looking for basic smartphone functionality in a small, lightweight package.
Use Cases:
- Quick communication and messaging.
- Web browsing and social media.
- Basic productivity tasks (email, calendar).
- Users who value a compact device that easily fits in a pocket.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize top-tier camera performance and versatility.
- Those who value a large display for media consumption and gaming.
- Users who require a long-lasting battery for all-day use.
- Those who need fast charging capabilities.
- Power users who need high RAM and storage for multitasking and media consumption
Use Cases:
- Professional photography and videography.
- Mobile gaming with high graphics settings.
- Watching videos and movies on a large display.
- Users who need a reliable phone that will last a full day without recharging.
Price-to-Value:
- The iPhone 12 mini will likely be more affordable given its age, but may not provide the latest tech or features.
- The Pura 70 Ultra is a premium device and will be more expensive, but provides top-tier features and a superior camera and display experience.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (Portability vs. media/camera performance)
- How important is battery life to you? (All-day use vs. occasional charging)
- Are you deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem? (Preference for iOS vs Android-based system)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Portability and Basic Use: If you need a small, pocketable phone for basic tasks and don't heavily rely on a camera or media consumption, the iPhone 12 mini is the better choice due to its compact form factor.
Scenario 2: Media Consumption and Photography: If you enjoy gaming, watching videos, and want a high-quality camera system, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is the better choice for its large display, superior camera and impressive battery life.
Scenario 3: Price sensitivity: If you value a lower price, the older iPhone 12 mini might be a more attractive choice with the disadvantage of older technology.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would personally pick the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra. While I appreciate the compact size of the iPhone 12 mini, my priorities tend to lean toward a better display for media consumption, a more versatile camera, and great battery life. The Pura 70 Ultra checks all those boxes with its larger, brighter 120Hz display, excellent camera system with dedicated telephoto and wide-angle lenses, and huge battery with fast charging. The better GPS, additional RAM, and larger storage would also be extremely useful for me. The iPhone 12 mini is a great phone for those who prioritize size, but the Pura 70 Ultra's features would outweigh the size disadvantage for my needs.
