Smartphone Comparison: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs. Honor 70
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm | 161.4 x 73.3 x 7.9 mm | iPhone 12 Pro Max is wider, Honor 70 is slightly thicker. iPhone may feel more substantial, while Honor 70 might be easier to hold one-handed |
| Weight | 228g | 178g | Honor 70 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and carrying around. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.67" | Negligible difference; both provide ample screen real estate for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1284x2778 | 1080x2400 | iPhone 12 Pro Max has a noticeably sharper display with more detail. |
| PPI | 458 | 395 | iPhone 12 Pro Max has a higher pixel density, resulting in crisper text and images. |
| Technology | OLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks; comparable display quality. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor 70 provides smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 0 nits | iPhone 12 Pro Max is much better for outdoor use in bright sunlight as its display is significantly brighter; lack of info for Honor 70 makes it difficult to judge its performance. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) | iPhone 12 Pro Max has a significantly more powerful chip, offering faster app loading and smoother overall performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,121,803 | 600,525 | iPhone 12 Pro Max has superior performance for demanding tasks such as gaming and video editing. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 642L | iPhone 12 Pro Max GPU is better suited for intensive graphics processing, resulting in better game rendering. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 54MP | Honor 70's main camera captures more detail due to higher resolution. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.6 | f/1.9 | iPhone 12 Pro Max’s wider aperture allows more light in, improving low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 12MP | 32MP | Honor 70 captures more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.4 | iPhone 12 Pro Max allows more light in for better low-light selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | Yes | No | iPhone 12 Pro Max can zoom optically without losing quality. |
| Wide-Angle Lens | Yes | Yes | Both have a wide-angle lens, but Honor 70's has a much higher resolution. |
| Macro Lens | No | Yes | Honor 70 can take close-up photos. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | iPhone 12 Pro Max provides more recording options and features, with a higher recording frame rate. |
| DxOMark Score (Mobile) | 131 | 115 | iPhone 12 Pro Max provides superior overall camera performance. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 3687mAh | 4800mAh | Honor 70 has a larger battery and will likely offer longer battery life. |
| Charging | 20W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | Honor 70 charges much faster. |
| Wireless Charging | 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi | No | iPhone 12 Pro Max offers convenient wireless charging, including MagSafe. |
| Reverse Charging | No | Yes | Honor 70 can charge other devices. |
| Software | |||
| OS | iOS 14.1 (upgradable to 18) | Android 12 | Different OS ecosystems; user preference will play a major role. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both support modern Wi-Fi standards, but Honor 70 includes Wi-Fi Direct and Display. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | Honor 70 supports newer Bluetooth with additional audio codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | iPhone 12 Pro Max supports QZSS for slightly improved accuracy. |
| SIM | Nano SIM + eSIM | Dual Nano SIM | iPhone 12 Pro Max has eSIM support. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256/512GB | 128/256/512 GB | Both offer the same maximum storage capacity, though there are slight variations in the availability of storage options. |
| RAM | 6GB | 6/8/12 GB | Honor 70 has more RAM, especially the 8 or 12GB variants, enabling smoother multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports microSD cards. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, Stereo Speakers | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | iPhone 12 Pro Max offers more enhanced spatial audio, while Honor 70 has Hi-Res Audio certification. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Security Features | Fingerprint Sensor | Honor 70 has fingerprint sensor as a convenient biometric security option. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both use similar screen protection technology. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | iPhone 12 Pro Max offers Barometer, while Honor 70 offers Fingerprint sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Advantages:
- Significantly Superior Performance: The A14 Bionic chip is much more powerful than the Snapdragon 778G+, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance.
- Higher Display Resolution and Pixel Density: Sharper display with more detail.
- Better Camera Performance: Higher DxOMark score, a wider aperture on the main camera, a telephoto lens for optical zoom, and better video recording capabilities.
- MagSafe Wireless Charging: Faster and more convenient wireless charging options.
- Enhanced Audio Quality: Includes Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus for enhanced audio experience.
- Better Outdoor Visibility: Significantly brighter display for outdoor use under bright sunlight.
Honor 70 Advantages:
- Lighter and Thinner Design: More comfortable to hold and carry.
- Higher Display Refresh Rate: Smoother scrolling and animations due to the 120Hz display.
- Larger Battery Capacity: Longer battery life due to higher battery capacity.
- Faster Charging: 66W fast charging is significantly faster than the iPhone’s 20W charging.
- Higher Resolution Cameras: Higher megapixel counts for both main and wide-angle lenses, capturing more detailed photos.
- Macro Lens: Ability to take close-up photos, which the iPhone lacks.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Support for additional audio codecs.
- Fingerprint Sensor: Convenient biometric security.
- Reverse Charging: Ability to charge other devices.
Trade-offs:
- iPhone 12 Pro Max: Heavier, bulkier, less battery life, slower charging.
- Honor 70: Less powerful processor, lower display resolution, inferior camera system, lack of wireless charging.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max:
- Ideal User: Professionals, content creators, users who prioritize performance, camera quality, and ecosystem.
- Use Cases:
- Professional Photography & Videography: High-quality images and 4K video recording.
- Mobile Gaming: Smooth gameplay in graphically intensive games.
- Heavy Multitasking: Seamless performance with multiple demanding apps running simultaneously.
- Ecosystem Integration: Seamless integration with other Apple devices.
- Price-to-Value: High price, but justified for premium performance and features within the Apple ecosystem.
Honor 70:
- Ideal User: Casual users, media consumers, users who value longer battery life, faster charging, and a lightweight design.
- Use Cases:
- Social Media: Capturing and sharing photos and videos.
- Media Consumption: Enjoying videos, movies, and music.
- Everyday Use: General browsing, messaging, and other common smartphone tasks.
- Budget-conscious Buyers: Looking for a feature-rich phone at a more competitive price point.
- Price-to-Value: Good value, offering a balance of features for its price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- What is my primary use case? (Gaming, photography, casual use, or professional tasks?)
- How important is battery life and charging speed to me?
- Am I committed to a particular operating system or ecosystem?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Power User: If you need top-tier performance, a high-quality camera, and are invested in the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the better choice.
Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious Consumer: If you prioritize long battery life, fast charging, a lighter design, and a more affordable price, the Honor 70 is a more suitable option.
Scenario 3: Mobile Photographer: If you value the quality of photos and videos taken with your phone, the iPhone 12 Pro Max will provide the best image results.
Scenario 4: On-the-Go Multimedia Consumption: If you watch a lot of videos and prioritize a high refresh rate screen and battery life, the Honor 70 is better.
My Choice
Based on my preferences, I would choose the iPhone 12 Pro Max. While the Honor 70 offers some compelling features like a 120Hz display, faster charging, and a much lighter form factor, I highly value the superior performance of the A14 Bionic chip and the high quality of the camera. The iPhone provides a better overall experience for demanding tasks such as gaming, video editing and photography. The significantly brighter display would also be very useful in my day to day life. While battery life is a concern, I am willing to compromise for all the other advantages the iPhone brings.
