Smartphone Comparison: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs. Asus ROG Phone 8
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm | ROG Phone 8 is taller and thicker, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is slightly wider. The ROG Phone 8 has a larger volume and may feel bulkier. |
| Weight | 228g | 225g | Both phones have almost identical weight and would be similarly comfortable to hold. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.78" | Virtually identical screen sizes; negligibly different in daily usage. |
| Resolution | 1284x2778 | 1080x2400 | iPhone 12 Pro Max has a sharper display due to significantly more pixels; text and images will look clearer. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 458 | 388 | iPhone 12 Pro Max display will appear sharper and more detailed to the naked eye. |
| Technology | OLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks, very similar viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | ROG Phone 8 provides much smoother scrolling and animations, especially noticeable in games and fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 2500 nits | ROG Phone 8 is much easier to view in direct sunlight, providing significantly better outdoor visibility. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | ROG Phone 8 has a newer, more powerful chipset, resulting in faster processing and improved efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,121,803 | 2,020,000 | ROG Phone 8 offers significantly better performance, noticeably faster app loading, and smoother gameplay. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 750 | ROG Phone 8 has a more powerful GPU, offering a smoother gaming experience and handling of graphically intensive apps. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 3687mAh | 5500mAh | ROG Phone 8 has a much larger battery, meaning it will likely last significantly longer on a single charge. |
| Charging | 20W fast charging (Li-Ion) | 65W fast charging (Li-Polymer) | ROG Phone 8 charges much faster, reducing the amount of time the device is plugged in. |
| Features | MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W, Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W, 20W adapter sold separately | Non-removable | iPhone 12 Pro Max offers wireless charging options. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Lens | 12MP, f/1.6 | 50MP, f/1.9 | ROG Phone 8 captures more detailed images with higher resolution sensor. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a wider aperture which performs better in low light. |
| Selfie Lens | 12MP, f/2.2 | 32MP | ROG Phone 8 has a significantly higher resolution front-facing camera; capturing more detail in selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | 12MP, f/2.2 | N/A | iPhone 12 Pro Max has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, which the ROG Phone 8 lacks. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.4 | N/A | iPhone 12 Pro Max has a dedicated ultra wide angle lens for wide landscape shots. |
| Macro Lens | N/A | 5MP, f/2.4 | ROG Phone 8 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography, which the iPhone 12 Pro Max lacks. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 13MP, f/2.2 | ROG Phone 8 features a combined wide and macro camera, which the iPhone 12 Pro Max lacks. |
| Video | 4K@60fps with HDR, Stereo Sound | 8K@24fps with HDR, EIS | ROG Phone 8 can record in 8k offering more detail, both offer similar HDR modes for great color ranges. |
| DXOMark Mobile | 131 Overall, 131 Photo, 130 Video | Not Tested | iPhone 12 Pro Max has been tested and rated for mobile image quality. No information for ROG phone 8 |
| DXOMark Selfie | 132 Overall, 127 Photo, 140 Video | Not Tested | iPhone 12 Pro Max has been tested and rated for selfie image quality. No information for ROG phone 8 |
| Camera Features | Ultra stable video, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), RAW. | 8K Video, Digital image stabilization, Gimbal, Laser autofocus (LAF) | The iPhone prioritizes image quality and editing flexibility while the ROG Phone 8 focuses on professional level video and autofocus capabilities. |
| Software | |||
| OS | iOS 14.1 (up to iOS 18) | Android 14 (up to 16) | iOS is known for its user-friendliness and optimization; Android offers more customization and open-source capabilities. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | ROG Phone 8 supports the newer Wi-Fi 7 standard, for faster speeds and lower latency. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 LE | Bluetooth 5.3 LE | ROG Phone 8 features the newer Bluetooth standard for increased range and efficiency, as well as additional audio codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | ROG Phone 8 offers more satellite system compatability for enhanced positioning accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + eSIM) | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | iPhone 12 Pro Max supports eSIM for easier digital switching, while ROG Phone 8 allows for 2 physical SIMs. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128/256/512 GB | 256 GB | iPhone 12 Pro Max offers more storage options, but ROG Phone 8 only comes with a single 256 GB option. |
| RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB or 16 GB | ROG Phone 8 has significantly more RAM, leading to smoother multitasking and improved gaming performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows for additional storage via microSD card. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, Stereo Speakers | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Each phone offers its own audio feature sets. Dolby vs DTS and multiple mics vs standard. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic security features | basic fingerprint sensor | ROG Phone 8 offers biometric security feature of a fingerprint sensor |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | The ROG Phone 8 provides better screen protection against scratches and impacts. |
| Sensors | |||
| Features | Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | iPhone offers Barometer for environmental changes and the ROG provides fingerprint biometrics. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Advantages:
- Higher Display Resolution: The 12 Pro Max boasts a significantly sharper display with a higher pixel density, resulting in clearer text and images.
- Telephoto and Wide Angle Lenses: It includes dedicated telephoto and wide-angle cameras offering more versatility in photography.
- Wireless Charging: The iPhone supports both MagSafe and Qi wireless charging, offering more charging flexibility.
- Software Ecosystem: iOS is known for its smooth user experience and app ecosystem
- DXOMark Scores: The iPhone 12 Pro Max has DXOMark scores for both mobile and selfie cameras, indicating the quality of its imaging capabilities.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset provides significantly faster processing and improved gaming capabilities.
- Higher Refresh Rate: The 165Hz display offers a smoother visual experience, which is especially beneficial for gaming and fast-paced content.
- Brighter Display: The 2500 nits brightness of the ROG Phone 8 ensures excellent outdoor visibility.
- Larger Battery: The 5500 mAh battery will last significantly longer than the iPhone's smaller battery.
- Faster Charging: The 65W fast charging enables much quicker charging times.
- Advanced Audio: The ROG Phone 8 provides better sound experience for gaming.
- Macro lens: Dedicated lens for closer shots.
- Video Capabilities: Can shoot in 8k.
- Enhanced Connectivity: Supports the newer Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 standards
- Fingerprint Sensor: Biometric sensor.
Trade-offs:
- iPhone 12 Pro Max: Sacrifices performance, battery life, and display smoothness for a higher-resolution display, telephoto and wide angle camera.
- Asus ROG Phone 8: Prioritizes performance, display smoothness and battery at the expense of a lower resolution display, no telephoto or wide angle camera and no wireless charging.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Ideal User:
- Content Creators and Photographers: Those who prioritize image quality, detailed photos, and multiple camera options.
- Users Within the Apple Ecosystem: Those who value the seamless integration of iOS with other Apple devices.
- Users Who Prefer a Sharper Display: Those who want the clearest text and images possible.
Specific Use Cases for iPhone 12 Pro Max:
- High-quality photography and videography for social media.
- Editing high quality photos on the go.
- Seamless integration with other Apple devices and services.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Ideal User:
- Mobile Gamers: Those who want the best possible gaming performance, smooth visuals, and long battery life.
- Power Users: Those who need a phone with maximum processing power and excellent multitasking capabilities.
- Users Who Value Display Brightness: Those who need a screen that's easily readable in bright sunlight.
Specific Use Cases for ROG Phone 8:
- Playing graphically demanding games for extended periods.
- Running multiple apps simultaneously for work or entertainment.
- Working in bright outdoor environments.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
*The iPhone 12 Pro Max is an older model and may be available at a lower price than the ROG Phone 8. However, the ROG Phone 8 provides newer technology with superior performance making it the higher value option in this comparison.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (Gaming, photography, general use, etc.)
- How important is display smoothness versus pixel density? (High refresh rate vs. high resolution)
- How much do you value battery life and fast charging?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For Photography Enthusiasts: If your main focus is capturing high-quality photos, having an ultra-wide and telephoto lens are a priority, and you are already integrated within the Apple eco-system, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is a better choice.
- For Mobile Gamers and Power Users: If you prioritize a smooth, responsive experience with peak performance, the Asus ROG Phone 8 is the superior device.
- For General Use and Daily Driver: Both phones are capable of daily use but the Asus ROG Phone 8 is the higher value pick due to the higher level of technology and enhanced performance in this comparison.
My Choice
I would choose the Asus ROG Phone 8. While the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a sharper display and a more versatile camera system with telephoto and wide angle lenses, the ROG Phone 8 excels in areas that are more crucial for my usage and the overall trend of technology. The significantly higher refresh rate, brighter screen, much faster performance, larger battery with fast charging, and newer connectivity standards of the ROG Phone 8 make it a more compelling option. It's also a more future-proof device with the inclusion of Wifi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3. While the lack of a telephoto lens is a drawback, the significant improvements in other areas, especially in performance and battery, are a bigger benefit for my needs.
