1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Huawei Pura 70 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2020-11-13 | 2024-04-29 | The Pura 70 Pro is significantly newer, likely benefiting from more recent advancements. |
| Dimensions | 160.8x78.1x7.4 mm | 162.6x75.1x8.4 mm | The Pura 70 Pro is slightly taller and thicker, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max is wider. The Pura 70 Pro has a larger overall volume. This will influence in-hand feel and pocket fit. |
| Weight | 228g | 220g | The Pura 70 Pro is slightly lighter, which might be more comfortable for prolonged use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | Minimal difference in screen size, both offer a large immersive display. |
| Resolution | 1284x2778 | 1260x2844 | Similar resolutions, resulting in comparable sharpness; minimal practical difference. |
| PPI | 458 | 460 | Virtually identical pixel density, so display sharpness will be indistinguishable. |
| Technology | OLED | OLED | Both use high-contrast OLED technology, ensuring vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The Pura 70 Pro offers significantly smoother scrolling and animations, making interactions feel more fluid. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 2500 nits | The Pura 70 Pro is significantly brighter, offering vastly improved outdoor visibility in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5nm) | Kirin 9010 (7nm) | The A14 Bionic (5nm) may offer slightly better power efficiency and raw single-core performance, while the Kirin 9010 is a capable chip. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,121,803 | 869,707 | The iPhone 12 Pro Max shows better raw performance in benchmarks. It may translate into snappier app launches and better overall responsiveness. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Maleoon 910 | Different GPU architectures make a direct comparison difficult. The Apple GPU is known for optimized performance with its hardware and software, but the Maleoon should be capable. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 3687mAh | 5050mAh | The Pura 70 Pro has a much larger battery, likely providing noticeably longer battery life. Actual endurance depends on usage. |
| Charging | 20W Fast | 100W Fast | The Pura 70 Pro charges much faster, enabling quicker power top-ups. |
| Features | MagSafe 15W, Qi 7.5W | 80W Wireless, 20W Reverse | The Pura 70 Pro offers faster wireless charging and reverse charging capabilities, providing greater flexibility. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 12MP f/1.6 | 50MP f/1.4 | The Pura 70 Pro has a higher resolution sensor for more detail and a wider aperture for better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP f/2.2 | 13MP f/2.4 | Minimal difference in resolution; the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a slightly wider aperture for slightly better low-light selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | 12MP f/2.2 | 48MP f/2.1 | The Pura 70 Pro has a much higher resolution telephoto sensor and a slightly wider aperture, likely offering more detail when zooming. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP f/2.4 | 12.5MP f/2.2 | The Pura 70 Pro has a wider aperture for slightly better low-light ultra-wide shots. |
| Video | 4K@60fps HDR | 4K Supported | Both support 4K video, but specific detail about the Pura 70 Pro's options is not available. The iPhone has HDR and a better range of frame rates, including slow motion recording. |
| DXOMark (Mobile) | 131 | Not Available | iPhone's DXOMark Score indicates an excellent camera system. Pura 70 Pro has no scores for comparisons. |
| DXOMark (Selfie) | 132 | Not Available | iPhone's DXOMark Score indicates an excellent selfie camera. Pura 70 Pro has no scores for comparisons. |
| Camera Features | Extensive | More features | The Pura 70 Pro has some additional features (CDAF, LAF, Dual front camera) while both provide extensive camera features like RAW, night mode etc. |
| Software | |||
| OS | iOS 14.1, Max 18 | Not available | iPhone uses iOS, which is known for its user-friendliness, and consistent updates; The Pura 70 Pro uses an Android-based OS, but specific details are missing. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6 | Both support fast WiFi 6, with minor additional features on the Pura 70 Pro. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE | 5.2 | Pura 70 Pro has a newer Bluetooth version, potentially offering better connection stability and audio quality with certain devices; Also include LDAC, SBC, AAC, but the iPhone does not. |
| GPS | Multiple systems | More systems | The Pura 70 Pro supports more satellite systems, likely offering better location accuracy, particularly in challenging environments. |
| SIM | Nano + eSIM | Dual Nano | The iPhone offers eSIM flexibility, while the Pura 70 Pro has two physical SIM slots, catering to different user preferences. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256/512GB | 256/512/1024GB | The Pura 70 Pro offers a larger maximum storage option, potentially useful for users with extensive media libraries. |
| RAM | 6GB | 12GB | The Pura 70 Pro has double the RAM, likely resulting in better multitasking capabilities and smoother performance with demanding apps. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos & Digital Plus | Dolby Atmos | Both have Dolby Atmos for immersive sound, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max has slight edge for spatial audio support. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Security | Fingerprint | The Pura 70 Pro offers fingerprint sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Screen protection type not available, but both should provide screen protection based on the latest trends. |
| Sensors | |||
| Features | Barometer | Fingerprint, Gravity, Hall, RGB | The Pura 70 Pro has more sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Advantages:
- Stronger Performance (Single Core): The A14 Bionic chip shows better raw single-core performance according to benchmark results which translates to snappier app launches and better overall responsiveness.
- Established Software Ecosystem: iOS provides a consistent, user-friendly interface with a strong ecosystem of apps and services.
- Better Video Recording: More video recording options with HDR and a wider range of frame rates.
- Camera Scores: Has higher camera scores than the Pura 70 Pro.
Huawei Pura 70 Pro Advantages:
- Newer Technology: Being a newer device, the Pura 70 Pro likely benefits from advancements in display, camera, and charging technology.
- Smoother Display: 120Hz refresh rate provides a more fluid visual experience compared to the iPhone's 60Hz.
- Superior Outdoor Visibility: Much higher brightness makes the Pura 70 Pro significantly better in direct sunlight.
- Much Larger Battery and Faster Charging: Significantly better battery life and much faster charging for more daily usage.
- More RAM: 12GB of RAM should allow for superior multitasking and app performance, especially for intensive tasks.
- More Storage: Larger internal storage provides flexibility for users who store a lot of media, although neither phone offers expandable storage.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Has a newer Bluetooth version and additional features for better audio capabilities and connection stability.
- GPS Accuracy: Supports more satellite systems for enhanced location accuracy.
- More Sensors: More sensors for advanced features.
Trade-offs:
- The iPhone 12 Pro Max sacrifices display fluidity (60Hz) and battery capacity for a more established ecosystem and slightly higher processing power.
- The Pura 70 Pro sacrifices raw single core processing and iOS for a superior display, better battery life, faster charging, and potentially better camera.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max:
- Ideal User: Those deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, who prioritize a familiar and polished software experience.
- Use Cases:
- Users who rely heavily on Apple services, like iMessage, iCloud, and Apple Music.
- Those who value a straightforward and reliable mobile experience.
- Individuals who are more interested in a seamless experience with video recording.
- Users who need optimized performance and single core processing.
Huawei Pura 70 Pro:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize display quality, battery life, and fast charging, and are not tied to the Apple ecosystem.
- Use Cases:
- Users who watch a lot of videos or play graphically intense games.
- Those who need a phone that will last a full day with heavy use and charge quickly.
- Users who spend time outdoors, where the bright display is beneficial.
- Those who want a wide range of options in their camera system.
- Users that need more sensors on the device.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- What is my ecosystem preference? Am I heavily invested in Apple or more open to other ecosystems?
- What do I prioritize? Is it performance, battery life, screen quality, or camera versatility?
- How important is battery life and charging speed? Do I need a phone that lasts a full day and charges quickly?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- If you value a smooth user experience within the Apple ecosystem, and prefer slightly better performance and video recording, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is a suitable choice.
- If you prioritize a high-quality display, long battery life, fast charging, and do not mind venturing outside of iOS, the Huawei Pura 70 Pro is the better option.
My Choice
I would choose the Huawei Pura 70 Pro. While the iPhone 12 Pro Max still offers a solid user experience, the advancements in the Pura 70 Pro are too significant to ignore. The much brighter 120Hz display provides a significantly better visual experience, the substantially larger battery with faster charging capabilities addresses key usability concerns, and the additional RAM paired with its potentially enhanced camera system provide more flexibility. The newer Bluetooth version along with all the additional sensors also adds a layer of future-proofing. The iPhone still offers slightly higher performance benchmarks, but for overall usability and daily real-world performance, the Pura 70 Pro's advantages outweigh those of the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
