1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 160.8 × 78.1 × 7.4 mm | 163.6 × 74.7 × 9.1 mm | Honor is taller and thicker, iPhone is wider. Honor feels slightly bulkier overall, iPhone feels wider in the hand. |
| Weight | 228g | 209g | Honor Magic4 Pro is noticeably lighter, likely more comfortable for long-term use. |
| Build Material | Unspecified | Unspecified | Impact on durability and premium feel is unknown due to missing spec. |
Display
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.81" | Honor has a slightly larger screen, offering a bit more viewing area for content consumption. |
| Resolution | 1284x2778 | 1312x2848 | Both displays are sharp. Difference is negligible in daily use. |
| PPI | 458 | 460 | Pixel density is nearly identical; both offer sharp visuals. |
| Technology | OLED | OLED | Both offer excellent contrast, deep blacks, and vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor has smoother scrolling and animations. Noticeable in gaming and general UI navigation. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 1000 nits | iPhone 12 Pro Max screen is more visible in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Different chipsets, likely offering different optimization and performance characteristics. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,121,803 | 945,832 | iPhone 12 Pro Max benchmarks significantly higher, implying better raw performance. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 730 | Different GPU designs; iPhone might have better graphics processing in some scenarios, but the real impact will vary based on the app/game in use. |
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB / 12 GB | Honor, especially with 12 GB RAM, is likely better at multitasking, running more demanding apps/games simultaneously. |
Camera
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera | 12MP, f/1.6, 1.70µm | 50MP, f/1.9, 1.00µm | Honor has higher resolution, potentially more detail, while the iPhone captures more light due to wider aperture. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | None | 64MP, f/2.0, 0.70µm | Honor offers a dedicated telephoto lens, providing more versatility in zoom and portrait photography. |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/2.4 | iPhone selfie camera has a slightly wider aperture (f/2.2 vs f/2.4). |
| Telephoto Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.00µm | None | iPhone has dedicated Telephoto lens. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.4, 1.40µm | None | iPhone has a dedicated wide angle lens. |
| ToF 3D Sensor | None | 0.3MP | Honor has a ToF sensor which helps with depth-sensing for AR applications and improves portrait mode. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 50MP, f/2.2 | Honor has a dedicated wide-angle + macro lens for more versatility. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR | Both offer similar 4k high quality recording capabilities. |
| Slow-motion | Up to 1080p@240fps | Up to 1080p@960fps | Honor offers significantly slower slow-motion capabilities. |
| DxOMark (Mobile) | 131 | 126 | iPhone has slightly better overall camera performance based on DxoMark scores. |
| DxOMark (Photo) | 131 | 132 | Honor has slightly better photo performance based on DxoMark scores. |
| DxOMark (Video) | 130 | 117 | iPhone has a significantly better video performance based on DxoMark scores. |
| Camera Features | Unspecified | Unspecified | Both phones have standard features such as OIS, Autofocus, HDR and other features. Honor has Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Laser AF, Laser autofocus (LAF), Dual front camera, Main camera for Selfies while iPhone has Triple Camera. |
Battery
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 3687mAh | 4600mAh | Honor has a significantly larger battery, likely to provide longer battery life. |
| Charging | 20W fast charging | 100W fast charging | Honor charges much faster, reducing downtime significantly. |
| Features | MagSafe & Qi wireless charging | Reverse charging, Wireless charging 100W | Honor provides faster wireless charging. iPhone offers MagSafe ecosystem. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Advantages:
- Stronger Performance: Significantly higher AnTuTu benchmark score, suggesting faster processing speeds, better graphics and improved application launch times.
- Superior Screen Brightness: 200 nits brighter screen, provides better outdoor visibility.
- Better Video Recording: Better Video DxOMark scores.
- MagSafe ecosystem: Offers the convenience of magnetic wireless charging and accessories.
- Wide Angle and Telephoto Lens: Offers dedicated wide angle and telephoto lens.
Honor Magic4 Pro Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: Noticeably lighter, providing better comfort for extended use.
- Higher Refresh Rate Display: 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations noticeably smoother.
- Larger Battery: Bigger battery capacity, potentially longer battery life.
- Significantly Faster Charging: 100W fast charging results in significantly faster charging times.
- More RAM: Higher RAM option (up to 12GB) for smoother multitasking.
- More Camera Versatility: Wide Angle + Macro, Telephoto + Portrait lens, and ToF sensor for versatile camera options and better depth sensing.
- Significantly Slower Slow-Motion: 960 fps slow-motion video for capturing ultra-slow motion footage.
- More Satellite Systems for GPS: For better GPS accuracy.
Trade-offs:
- iPhone 12 Pro Max trades battery and refresh rate for raw performance and video recording quality. It also has less versatile camera options compared to Honor.
- Honor Magic4 Pro trades some screen brightness and overall performance for significantly faster charging, more battery capacity and significantly more versatile camera options.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max:
- Ideal Users: Users who prioritize top-tier performance and video recording quality, value the iOS ecosystem and MagSafe accessories, and require a bright screen for outdoor use.
- Use Cases:
- Mobile gamers needing maximum performance
- Professional video creators recording video on the go.
- Users heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem.
- Users who often need to use their phone in direct sunlight.
- Price-to-Value: The 12 Pro Max is older and may be more affordable in the used market now.
Honor Magic4 Pro:
- Ideal Users: Users who value long battery life, quick charging, smooth display and camera versatility; not very dependent on the Apple ecosystem.
- Use Cases:
- Users who need a reliable phone that lasts all day.
- Users who prefer to charge quickly rather than wait.
- Mobile photographers who want more flexibility with different lenses.
- Users who enjoy smooth animations and quick scrolling.
- Price-to-Value: The Magic4 Pro is a newer device, meaning it may still be pricey.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is raw processing power? If raw processing power is very important, the iPhone 12 Pro Max might be a better choice. If this isn't very important, the Honor Magic4 Pro offers better battery and charging.
- Do I prioritize screen brightness or smoothness? If you need a very bright screen, the iPhone is preferable. If screen smoothness is important, the Honor 120Hz display will be more appealing.
- Which ecosystem is more important to me? If you're heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone will be easier to integrate. The Honor phone will be a better option for Android users.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High Performance Gamer/Video Editor
- Recommendation: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max. Its superior processing power and excellent video recording capabilities make it more suitable for these demanding tasks.
- Scenario 2: Frequent Traveler/Power User
- Recommendation: Honor Magic4 Pro. Its longer battery life, faster charging, and more versatile camera system are beneficial for users on the move.
- Scenario 3: Casual User
- Recommendation: This decision depends on personal preference. If smooth screen is preferred the Honor might be a better option, if bright screen is a must the iPhone will be preferred. If both of these are of low priority, price will be the main factor.
My Choice:
If I had to choose between the two, I would lean towards the Honor Magic4 Pro. The combination of a lighter design, 120Hz display, significantly faster charging, longer battery life and very versatile camera system appeal more to my daily needs and preferences. The minor differences in benchmark scores is not a priority for my usage. While the iPhone is a great phone and has better video recording, I would appreciate the Honor's focus on battery and charging which makes it more practical for my use cases.
