1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Huawei Mate X3 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | Huawei Mate X3 offers a large screen experience that folds for better portability; iPhone 12 Pro Max is a traditional smartphone. |
| Dimensions | 160.8 × 78.1 × 7.4 mm | 156.9 × 141.5 × 5.3 mm (unfolded) | iPhone 12 Pro Max is taller and thicker when closed, while the Mate X3 is much wider when unfolded. |
| Weight | 228g | 239g | Both are relatively heavy phones, but the 11g difference is unlikely to be significantly noticeable in daily use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 7.85" | Huawei Mate X3 provides a significantly larger display, ideal for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1284x2778 | 2224x2496 | Huawei Mate X3 offers a sharper display due to significantly higher resolution and more detailed images. |
| Pixel Density | 458 ppi | 426 ppi | iPhone 12 Pro Max offers slightly sharper text and images due to marginally higher pixel density but the difference is minor. |
| Technology | OLED | Unknown | iPhone 12 Pro Max's OLED screen provides better contrast and deeper blacks; Huawei Mate X3 display tech is not specified. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Huawei Mate X3 provides noticeably smoother scrolling and animations due to higher refresh rate. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 0 nits | iPhone 12 Pro Max is significantly better for outdoor visibility in bright sunlight; Huawei Mate X3 brightness is not specified. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Both offer flagship-level performance; different architectures, making direct comparison challenging. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,121,803 | 1,238,400 | Huawei Mate X3 scores higher, suggesting slightly better overall performance in benchmarks. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 730 | Different GPU architectures; both are capable of handling demanding games and applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 12MP (f/1.6, 1.70 µm) | 50MP (f/1.8, 1/1.56", 1.00 µm) | Huawei Mate X3 captures more detail with higher resolution, while iPhone 12 Pro Max has a wider aperture for better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP (f/2.2) | 8MP (f/2.4) | iPhone 12 Pro Max offers slightly more detailed selfies, due to higher resolution, and a wider aperture. |
| Telephoto | 12MP (f/2.2, 1/3.4", 1.00 µm) | 16MP (f/3.4, 1/3.09", 1.00 µm) | Huawei Mate X3 has higher resolution on the telephoto, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a wider aperture. |
| Wide Angle | 12MP (f/2.4, 1/2.55", 1.40 µm) | Not Available | iPhone 12 Pro Max has a dedicated wide-angle camera; Huawei Mate X3 has an undefined wide angle sensor. |
| Wide + Macro | Not Available | 12MP (f/2.2) | Huawei Mate X3 has a dedicated macro camera, offering creative close-up shots; iPhone 12 Pro Max does not offer this feature. |
| Video | Up to 4K 60fps, HDR, Stereo Sound | Up to 4K 60fps, EIS | Both capture high-quality video; iPhone 12 Pro Max includes HDR and Stereo sound, Huawei Mate X3 features EIS for stabilization. |
| DxoMark | Mobile: 131, Selfie: 132 | Not Available | iPhone 12 Pro Max has a DxOMark rating; this is not available for the Huawei Mate X3, making direct comparison difficult. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 3687mAh | 4800mAh | Huawei Mate X3 is likely to offer significantly longer battery life due to its larger capacity. |
| Charging | 20W wired, 15W wireless(MagSafe), 7.5W(Qi) | 66W wired, 50W wireless | Huawei Mate X3 charges much faster, both wired and wirelessly. |
| Software | |||
| OS | iOS 14.1 (Upgradable to 18) | Unknown | Different operating systems; iOS offers a closed ecosystem, while the Android version on Huawei Mate X3 is not specified. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 (802.11ax), MiMO | WiFi 6 (802.11ax), MiMO, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display | Huawei Mate X3 offers additional features like Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi Display for advanced networking. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1, LE, A2DP | 5.2, LE, A2DP, EDR, LDAC, SBC, AAC | Huawei Mate X3 has a newer Bluetooth version and supports more audio codecs for higher quality wireless audio. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, L1+L5, NavIC | Huawei Mate X3 supports more satellite systems including dual-band GPS for higher accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM) DSDS | Dual SIM (Nano + Nano) Full Active | iPhone 12 Pro Max offers eSIM support, while Huawei Mate X3 allows simultaneous use of two physical SIMs. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256/512 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | Huawei Mate X3 offers a higher maximum storage option of 1TB. |
| RAM | 6 GB | 8/12 GB | Huawei Mate X3 offers more RAM for better multitasking performance and smoother gaming. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Stereo Speakers | iPhone 12 Pro Max offers enhanced audio quality with Dolby Atmos and Digital Plus. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic security features | Side-mounted Fingerprint | Huawei Mate X3 provides biometric security with a fingerprint sensor, while the iPhone is not specified. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Advantages:
- Ecosystem & Software: Benefits from the iOS ecosystem, known for its user-friendliness and app quality. It offers up to iOS 18 for its software upgrades.
- Display Brightness: Significantly higher brightness, offering better outdoor visibility in bright conditions.
- Audio: Enhanced audio quality with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus, offering a richer sound experience.
- Camera Performance: Superior Wide angle lens, also has a good main lens and a great selfie camera with better aperture than the Mate X3. Also it has more camera features.
- Established Ecosystem: Part of Apple’s well-known ecosystem which may be preferred by users invested in Apple products.
- Video Recording: Includes HDR video recording and stereo sound.
Huawei Mate X3 Advantages:
- Foldable Design: Unique foldable design offering a larger screen when unfolded, ideal for multitasking and media consumption.
- Larger Display: Much larger screen, providing an immersive experience for movies, games, and productivity.
- Smoother Display: 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and animations.
- Battery Life & Charging: Larger battery capacity and significantly faster wired and wireless charging.
- Performance: Slightly higher benchmark scores, potentially offering better performance in demanding tasks.
- Camera Versatility: Dedicated macro lens for creative close-up shots.
- Storage: Offers 1TB of storage, compared to the 512GB maximum of the iPhone.
- Connectivity: Advanced Wi-Fi features, a newer Bluetooth version, and support for more satellite navigation systems.
- Fingerprint sensor: offers fingerprint scanner, unlike the iphone 12 Pro Max which is not specified.
Trade-offs:
- iPhone 12 Pro Max: Lacks a high refresh rate display and fast charging compared to Huawei Mate X3.
- Huawei Mate X3: Has an undefined display techonology and lower brightness compared to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. It also lacks a proper wide angle lens. It's operating system is not specified.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Ideal Users:
- Apple Ecosystem Enthusiasts: Users deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, including other devices and services.
- Content Creators: Those who prioritize video recording capabilities with HDR and stereo sound, and those interested in its camera performance.
- Outdoor Users: Users who frequently use their phone in bright sunlight and need a bright, visible display.
- Users who prefer a regular, standard phone design: Those that are not interested in the folding feature of the Huawei Mate X3
- Users looking for a mature OS: Those that do not prefer to take chances with an unkown operating system.
Specific Use Cases:
- High-Quality Video Recording: Shooting videos with excellent dynamic range and audio quality.
- Outdoor Navigation: Easily viewable display in bright sunlight for navigation.
- Seamless Multitasking: Smooth performance with the Apple ecosystem.
- Everyday Use: Suitable for users who prefer the reliability of a traditional smartphone design.
Huawei Mate X3 Ideal Users:
- Multitasking & Productivity Focused Users: Users who want a larger screen for enhanced multitasking and content consumption.
- Media Consumers: Users who watch movies and videos frequently and want an immersive display.
- Gamers: Those who benefit from the smoother scrolling and animations offered by the 120Hz refresh rate.
- Users who need great battery and fast charging: Those that do not want to be worried about not having enough battery during the day, and prefer the phone to charge quickly.
- Travelers or users who need accurate GPS: Those that want good GPS accuracy thanks to the additional satellite systems.
- Users who want cutting edge technology: Those who are interested in the folding screen technology, and want to see how far the technology has come.
Specific Use Cases:
- Media Consumption: Watching movies, videos, and playing games on the large, high-resolution screen.
- On-the-Go Productivity: Multitasking between different apps with the larger display and higher memory capacity.
- Long Trips: Long periods of use without requiring a recharge, thanks to a larger battery and faster charging.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Capturing creative close-up shots with the dedicated macro lens.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The iPhone 12 Pro Max is older, so its price will be lower. However it is missing key features compared to the Mate X3.
- The Huawei Mate X3 is a newer device with cutting-edge technology, and a higher price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Is the folding design important? If a large screen experience with the benefit of portability is desired, the Huawei Mate X3 is the clear choice. If a traditional phone is preferred, then the iPhone 12 Pro Max is better.
- Do I need maximum brightness for outdoor visibility or long battery life and fast charging? The iPhone 12 Pro Max offers better brightness while the Huawei Mate X3 provides much longer battery life and faster charging.
- Am I heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem? If the user is heavily invested in Apple products, the iPhone 12 Pro Max might be a better fit.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Everyday Use, Apple Ecosystem): A user who primarily wants a reliable phone for daily use, prefers iOS, and already uses other Apple devices should pick the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
- Scenario 2 (Media Consumption, Productivity): A user who watches a lot of videos, multitasks frequently, and prioritizes a large screen should choose the Huawei Mate X3.
- Scenario 3 (Photography, Cutting-Edge Tech): A user who wants a versatile camera system with a macro lens and an interest in exploring the latest foldable screen technology should opt for the Huawei Mate X3.
- Scenario 4 (Outdoor Use, Battery): If the user is often outdoors under bright sunlight, then the iPhone 12 Pro Max is better thanks to its higher brightness. If the user needs long battery life and fast charging, the Huawei Mate X3 is better.
My Choice
If I were to choose, I would pick the Huawei Mate X3.
Here is why:
- Cutting-Edge Technology: The foldable design of the Mate X3 offers a unique experience and a much larger display for media and productivity. I prefer to have the large screen for these tasks.
- Battery and Charging: The significantly larger battery and faster charging speeds are more crucial for my day-to-day usage. I prefer the freedom of knowing that the phone will have enough battery throughout the day, and also charge quickly when needed.
- Modern Features: The Mate X3 has a 120Hz display, a newer Bluetooth version with better audio codecs, a dedicated macro camera, a fingerprint scanner, better GPS, and more RAM and storage.
- Future-Proofing: While it does not have an established OS, the Huawei Mate X3 feels like a more future-proof device with its advanced technology and features.
While the iPhone 12 Pro Max is a solid device, it is an older model and lacks the innovative features and improvements that the Huawei Mate X3 offers. The Mate X3 provides a more versatile and modern user experience despite the lack of a DxOmark score, a known OS, and better main/selfie camera parameters.
