Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Honor X8a - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification
Honor X8a
Honor X8a
Honor

General

Launch Date November 13, 2020 February 11, 2023
Release Year 2020 2023

Physical

Volume 92.93 cm³ 91.02 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 2.94 "/g 3.74 "/g
Weight 228 g 179 g
Height 160.8 mm 162.9 mm
Width 78.1 mm 74.5 mm
Thickness 7.4 mm 7.5 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Graphite
  • Pacific Blue
  • Midnight Black
  • Titanium Silver
  • Cyan Lake

Display

Screen Size 6.7 " 6.7 "
Resolution 1284 x 2778 1080 x 2388
Aspect Ratio 19.5:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 87.8 % 89.6 %
Pixel Density 458 PPI 391 PPI
Refresh Rate N/A 90 Hz
Typical Brightness N/A N/A
HBM Brightness 800 nits N/A
Peak Brightness 1200 nits N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 82.13 mAh/in² 100.25 mAh/in²
Battery Density 39.67 mAh/cm³ 49.44 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 3687 mAh 4500 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) Mediatek MT6769H Helio G88 (12 nm)
CPU Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU Apple GPU (4-core graphics) Mali-G52 MC2

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 2.0
OTG Support 1
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features Lightning 2.0 USB Type-C 2.0, OTG

Software

Operating System iOS Android
Initial OS Version 14.1 12
Maximum OS Version 18

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

FeatureApple iPhone 12 Pro MaxHonor X8aPractical Impact
Design
Dimensions160.8 × 78.1 × 7.4 mm162.9 × 74.5 × 7.5 mmiPhone is slightly wider; Honor is slightly taller. Thickness is almost identical.
Weight228g179gHonor X8a is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable to hold and carry for extended periods.
Display
Size6.7"6.7"Both phones offer the same screen size; no difference in perceived size.
Resolution1284x27781080x2388iPhone 12 Pro Max has a much sharper display, resulting in finer details and clearer text.
PPI458391iPhone display will look noticeably sharper and crisper than the Honor display
TechnologyOLEDIPS LCDiPhone's OLED display has superior color accuracy, contrast, and blacks, leading to more vibrant visuals.
Refresh Rate60Hz90HzHonor X8a's 90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations appear smoother, but the difference may not be very noticeable for casual users.
Brightness1200 nits0 nitsiPhone's brighter display is much better for outdoor viewing in bright sunlight. The Honor X8a's brightness is not specified, suggesting poor outdoor visibility.
Performance
ChipsetApple A14 Bionic (5 nm)Mediatek MT6769H Helio G88 (12 nm)Apple A14 is significantly faster, leading to quicker app launches, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
AnTuTu Score1,121,803253,700iPhone offers significantly superior raw performance, indicating a huge difference in overall speed and responsiveness.
GPUApple GPU (4-core graphics)Mali-G52 MC2iPhone's GPU is far more powerful, offering better gaming and graphics-intensive app performance.
Battery
Capacity3687mAh4500mAhHonor X8a has a larger battery, suggesting longer battery life on a single charge.
Charging20W fast charging22.5W fast chargingHonor X8a charges slightly faster than iPhone, though the difference may not be very large in real world
FeaturesNon-removable, *Unconfirmed capacity, 20W adapter sold separately, MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W, Qi wireless charging up to 7.5WNon-removableiPhone offers more convenient wireless charging features such as MagSafe.
Camera
Standard Camera12MP, f/1.6, 1.70 µm100MP, f/1.9Honor offers a higher resolution sensor, but the iPhone's larger sensor and wider aperture often yield better low-light performance and overall image quality.
Selfie Camera12MP, f/2.216MP, f/2.45Honor has a slightly higher resolution front camera, but aperture difference indicates a marginal difference in light gathering capacity.
Telephoto lens12MP, f/2.2NoneiPhone has a dedicated telephoto lens for better optical zoom capabilities.
Wide Angle Lens12MP, f/2.45MP, f/2.2iPhone has a higher resolution wide-angle camera with a slightly narrower aperture.
Macro lensNone2MP, f/2.4Honor X8a offers a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, while the iPhone does not.
VideoUp to 4K@60fps HDRUp to 1080p@30fpsiPhone offers significantly superior video recording quality with higher resolution and framerates.
DXOMark ScoreMobile: 131, Selfie: 132Not availableiPhone is tested and scored significantly high for camera quality
Features4K Video, Optical zoom, OIS, Ultra stable video, RAW, Night ModeDigital Image stabilizationiPhone camera is more feature rich and has better image stabilization and better low light performance
Software
OSiOS 14.1, Upgradable to iOS 18Android 12iOS and Android offer different user experiences. iPhone users are locked into the Apple ecosystem.
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)iPhone supports the latest Wi-Fi standard, providing faster speeds and more reliable connections.
Bluetooth5.1 LE5.1 LE EDRMinimal difference; Honor offers Enhanced Data Rate in addition to LE and A2DP
GPSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GalileoGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, GalileoiPhone offers slightly better location accuracy due to QZSS support.
SIMDual SIM (Nano SIM + eSIM)Dual SIM (Nano SIM + Nano SIM)iPhone offers eSIM support for flexible carrier options, whereas the Honor does not have eSIM support.
Storage
Internal128/256/512 GB128/256 GBiPhone offers a larger 512GB storage option and an additional 128GB tier.
RAM6 GB6/8 GBHonor may offer smoother multitasking with its 8GB RAM option.
ExpandableNoNoNeither phone supports expandable storage.
Audio
QualityDolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, Stereo SpeakersBasic audio featuresiPhone offers more immersive, high-quality audio with better separation and depth.
Security
FeaturesBasic security featuresside-mounted fingerprint sensorHonor X8a offers more convenient biometric unlock with its fingerprint sensor.
Build Quality
ProtectionUnknownUnknownScreen protection for both phones is not specified in the data.
Sensors
SensorsProximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, BarometerProximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Fingerprint, GravityiPhone includes a barometer for environmental data, while the Honor includes a fingerprint sensor for biometrics.

2. Key Differences Analysis

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Advantages:

  • Superior Performance: The A14 Bionic chip provides dramatically faster processing, smoother multitasking, and better gaming. This is noticeable in daily tasks and heavy workloads.
  • Higher Quality Display: The OLED display offers far superior color accuracy, contrast, brightness, and overall clarity.
  • Better Camera System: Offers optical zoom, OIS, 4K video recording, and advanced features that produce higher-quality photos and videos overall.
  • Enhanced Audio Experience: Has stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Digital Plus, providing a much better audio quality.
  • eSIM Support: Offers an additional digital SIM option for better convenience when traveling.
  • Premium Build & Features: MagSafe wireless charging, better overall software support, and premium build.

Practical Implications: The iPhone 12 Pro Max is much faster and offers significantly better display, camera, and audio quality. This translates to a more enjoyable user experience overall, especially for demanding tasks.

Honor X8a Advantages:

  • Larger Battery: Provides potentially better battery life on a single charge, leading to less frequent charging.
  • Lighter Weight: More comfortable to hold and carry for extended periods.
  • 90Hz Refresh Rate: Slightly smoother animations when scrolling.
  • Macro Camera: Offers a dedicated lens for close-up photography.
  • Fingerprint Sensor: More convenient biometric authentication.
  • Lower Price: Likely more affordable than the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Practical Implications: The Honor X8a excels in the areas of battery life, comfort, and convenience. It's a budget-friendly option that still offers some good features.

Significant Trade-offs:

  • iPhone: The high price, heavier weight and higher price may be less desirable for some users. The battery life is likely to be less than Honor.
  • Honor: The performance, screen, audio and camera quality are significantly inferior. This limits its capabilities for gaming, photography, and overall usage.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Ideal User for iPhone 12 Pro Max:

  • Power Users: Those who need high-performance processing for demanding tasks like video editing, gaming, or heavy multitasking.
  • Photography Enthusiasts: Individuals who value high-quality photography and video recording.
  • Media Consumers: Users who value high-quality display, audio quality and want an immersive entertainment experience
  • Apple Ecosystem Users: Users who are already invested in Apple's ecosystem and prefer iOS.

Use Cases:

* Professional Photography and videography
* Mobile Gaming
* High-end Media Consumption and Streaming

Ideal User for Honor X8a:

  • Budget-Conscious Users: Those who want a decent smartphone without spending a lot of money.
  • Casual Users: Individuals who prioritize battery life and comfort for daily tasks like browsing, social media, and calling.
  • Users who prefer Android and basic functionality
  • First time smartphone buyers

Use Cases:

* Daily usage for light tasks
* Social media and browsing
* Media consumption for basic use cases

Price-to-Value Ratio:

  • The iPhone 12 Pro Max offers high performance and premium features at a higher cost. The value depends on whether the user needs these high-end features.
  • The Honor X8a offers good basic functionality at a lower price. Its value lies in its affordability and suitability for basic usage.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions for Buyers:

  1. What is your budget? (The iPhone is likely much more expensive.)
  2. How important is performance and camera quality? (The iPhone is much better in these areas.)
  3. How important is battery life and comfort? (The Honor is better in these areas.)

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: Photography Enthusiast with a high budget - Choose iPhone 12 Pro Max. The camera quality, features, and video recording are far superior.
  • Scenario 2: User needing long battery life and casual usage - Choose Honor X8a. The larger battery and lighter weight are better for casual daily use.
  • Scenario 3: Performance-oriented user with no budget constraints - Choose iPhone 12 Pro Max. The A14 Bionic chipset provides significantly better performance.
  • Scenario 4: Budget-conscious user requiring basic smartphone functionality - Choose Honor X8a. It's a more affordable option that still offers basic functionality.

My Choice

I would choose the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max. While the Honor X8a offers some advantages like a larger battery and lighter weight, my priorities are performance, display quality, and camera capabilities. As a power user who values high-quality media consumption and the best available performance, the iPhone's A14 Bionic chip, OLED display, and superior camera system are more compelling to me. Additionally, the better audio experience and ecosystem lock-in (as I am already an Apple user) are strong factors influencing my decision. Although the price is higher, I think the overall experience with the iPhone is much more enjoyable and future-proofed.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

Key Strengths:

  • Mobile technology analysis
  • Digital media communication
  • Technical storytelling
  • User-centric technology insights

Bridging technical complexity with engaging, accessible narratives.