Smartphone Comparison: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs. Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 160.8 × 78.1 × 7.4 mm | 168.9 × 75.8 × 9.3 mm | The Motorola is taller and thicker, making it slightly less pocketable, while the iPhone is wider, affecting one-handed use. |
| Weight | 228g | 215g | The Motorola is marginally lighter, which may be more comfortable for extended use. |
| Build | Not specified | Not specified | No clear comparison; further information required. |
Display
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | Negligible difference in size; both offer large viewing areas. |
| Resolution | 1284x2778 | 1080x2460 | The iPhone's higher resolution results in a significantly sharper and more detailed image. |
| PPI | 458 | 395 | The iPhone's higher pixel density leads to clearer text, sharper images and better overall visual quality. |
| Technology | OLED | IPS LCD | The iPhone's OLED panel provides superior contrast, deeper blacks, and richer colors compared to the Motorola's IPS LCD, which will appear washed out in comparison. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The Motorola has a smoother display experience with its higher refresh rate, making scrolling and animations appear more fluid. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 0 nits | The iPhone's much higher brightness makes it significantly easier to view the screen under direct sunlight. The Motorola's brightness is unknown, limiting analysis. |
Performance
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | The A14 Bionic is significantly more powerful, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| Antutu Score | 1,121,803 | 385,000 | The iPhone's benchmark score is vastly superior, indicating much faster processing speeds. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 619 | The iPhone's GPU will provide better graphics performance for gaming and other demanding tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 50MP | The Motorola has higher resolution photos, but the iPhone's sensor size and aperture allow it to potentially capture more detail and better low-light photos. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.6 | f/1.9 | The iPhone has a wider aperture, which allows more light to enter, resulting in better low-light performance and a shallower depth of field. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 12MP | 16MP | The Motorola offers higher resolution selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.2 | Both have the same aperture. |
| Telephoto Lens | 12MP (f/2.2) | Not Available | The iPhone offers optical zoom capabilities, allowing for higher quality zoomed photos. The Motorola does not have optical zoom. |
| Wide-Angle Lens | 12MP (f/2.4) | 8MP (f/2.2) | The iPhone captures higher-resolution wide-angle photos. Motorola has wider aperture. |
| Macro Lens | Not Available | 2MP (f/2.4) | The Motorola has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots; the iPhone does not offer a dedicated macro lens. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps | Up to 1080p@60fps | The iPhone captures videos in much higher resolution and at a higher frame rate for better quality and smoother recordings. |
| DXOMark Score (Main) | 131 | Not Available | The iPhone has a very high DXOMark score for photo and video, but the Motorola has no comparable data. |
| DXOMark Score (Selfie) | 132 | Not Available | The iPhone has a very high DXOMark score for selfie photos and video, but the Motorola has no comparable data. |
| Camera Features | 4K Video, Optical zoom, OIS, RAW, Night Mode | Night Mode 2.0, OIS, Digital Image Stabilization, | The iPhone offers more comprehensive features including optical zoom, RAW capture, and better video stabilization, while the Motorola has Night Mode 2.0 and digital stabilization. |
Battery
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3687mAh | 5000mAh | The Motorola has a significantly larger battery, likely offering longer battery life. |
| Charging | 20W Fast Charging | Not Specified | The iPhone supports fast charging. The Motorola's charging capabilities are unknown. |
| Features | MagSafe/Qi Wireless Charging | None | The iPhone offers wireless charging options, which are convenient for many users, but the Motorola has no wireless charging capabilities. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Advantages:
- Superior Display: OLED technology, higher resolution, and pixel density offer a significantly better visual experience with vivid colors, sharper details, and better sunlight visibility.
- Significantly Higher Performance: The A14 Bionic chipset provides substantially faster processing power for demanding apps, multitasking, and gaming.
- Advanced Camera System: Offers optical zoom, better low-light performance, 4K video recording, and a higher DXOMark score, resulting in higher-quality photos and videos.
- Wireless Charging: Supports convenient wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi standards.
- Premium Build: Though not specified, iPhones are known for premium materials and build quality.
- Software: iOS provides a smooth, cohesive user experience.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery provides significantly longer battery life than the iPhone.
- Smoother Display: The 120Hz refresh rate results in smoother animations and scrolling, although lacking the color and contrast of OLED.
- Stylus Support: While not detailed in the provided data, the "Stylus" in its name implies the presence of a stylus, which may be ideal for some users.
- Macro Lens: The inclusion of a dedicated macro lens for detailed close-up photography.
- Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Conveniently placed for easy unlocking.
- Expandable Bluetooth Support: Supports additional audio codecs including APT-x, LDAC, SBC, and AAC.
- Lower Price: Typically, Motorola phones are priced lower than high-end iPhones.
Significant Trade-offs:
- iPhone: Offers a premium experience with superior display, performance and camera but at the cost of battery life, a slightly less smooth display, and no fingerprint scanner.
- Motorola: Offers a larger battery, higher refresh rate screen, macro lens and fingerprint sensor but sacrifices display quality, processing power and camera capabilities.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max:
- Content Creators: Users who need high-quality photos and videos for professional or personal use.
- Gamers: Those who require top-tier performance for demanding mobile games.
- Power Users: Individuals who need a fast and responsive device for multitasking and productivity.
- Visual Quality Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize a bright, sharp, and color-accurate display.
- Users invested in the Apple Ecosystem: Those who benefit from seamless integration with other Apple devices and services.
Ideal Users for Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022):
- Battery Life Prioritizers: Users who need a device that can last through one or more days of heavy usage.
- Stylus Users: Those who need a stylus for note-taking, sketching, or navigating.
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Users who want a feature-rich device without paying a premium price.
- Users Seeking a Smoother Display: Those who value a higher refresh rate for a fluid user experience.
- Users Who Want Macro Photography Capabilities: Those who enjoy taking close up shots.
Use Cases:
- iPhone: Professional photography, video editing, high-end gaming, content consumption in bright environments, consistent social media updates.
- Motorola: Long days of productivity, note-taking and sketching on the go, budget-friendly gaming, casual photography, general media consumption, and extended use away from a power source.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is display quality? If vivid colors, sharpness, and brightness are crucial, the iPhone's OLED panel is a clear winner. If a smoother refresh rate is more important, the Motorola may appeal to you.
- What is the typical usage? If demanding tasks like gaming and video editing are common, the iPhone's powerful processor is essential. If the primary focus is on daily tasks and extended usage the Motorola is sufficient.
- What is the budget? The iPhone is a premium device, while the Motorola provides good value for those on a stricter budget.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Professional Photographer/Videographer: Choose the iPhone for its superior camera system, 4K video capabilities, optical zoom, and higher DXOMark scores.
- Scenario 2: All-Day Mobile Worker/Note-Taker: Choose the Motorola for its larger battery, stylus support and fingerprint sensor.
- Scenario 3: Casual User On A Budget: Choose the Motorola for its lower price, good battery life, smoother display and added features for its price.
- Scenario 4: Demanding Gamer: Choose the iPhone for its superior processing power and better GPU performance.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max. While the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) has some compelling advantages, such as a larger battery and 120Hz refresh rate, the overall experience offered by the iPhone 12 Pro Max is superior, especially in the areas that are most important to me: display quality, camera performance, and processing power.
- Display: The OLED screen on the iPhone offers a significantly better visual experience, with more vivid colors, deeper blacks, and much higher outdoor brightness. This is a major factor in my daily phone usage, from consuming content to editing photos.
- Camera: As someone who takes a lot of photos and videos, the iPhone's higher-quality camera system, 4K video, and optical zoom are highly desirable. The lack of DXOMark results for the Motorola makes me wary.
- Performance: The A14 Bionic chip ensures a smooth and responsive experience, which is important for multitasking and app loading. The much higher AnTuTu score is a big difference.
Although the iPhone has a smaller battery and no fingerprint sensor, I can manage with daily charging and a passcode, and the benefits of its display and performance far outweigh those compromises for my personal use case. I would also prefer to have a better all-around experience for the duration of the phones's lifespan rather than only some improved features.
While the Motorola is likely the better pick for those on a budget or those needing a stylus, I prefer a premium experience over the Motorola's niche use cases.
