1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.4 mm | 163.6 × 74.7 × 9.1 mm | Honor Magic4 Pro is larger and may be less comfortable for one-handed use. iPhone 12 Pro is more pocketable. |
| Weight | 189g | 209g | iPhone 12 Pro is lighter, leading to less fatigue during extended use. |
| Build Quality (Protection) | Screen: Unknown | Screen: Unknown | Unable to compare durability without specific screen protection details (e.g., Gorilla Glass version). |
Display
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.1" | 6.81" | Honor Magic4 Pro provides a more immersive experience for media consumption and gaming. iPhone 12 Pro is more compact. |
| Resolution | 1170x2532 | 1312x2848 | Honor Magic4 Pro offers a sharper image, especially noticeable with text and detailed graphics. |
| PPI | 460 | 460 | Identical sharpness on both displays |
| Technology | OLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor Magic4 Pro provides smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming visuals, resulting in a more responsive feel. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 1000 nits | iPhone 12 Pro offers better outdoor visibility in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | A14 Bionic is very efficient and powerful for its time. Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 provides excellent performance for modern Android games and apps. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,082,644 | 945,832 | iPhone 12 Pro may offer a slightly smoother experience in some tasks, but both phones are very capable. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 730 | Both phones offer excellent graphics performance for gaming and demanding applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 12MP, f/1.6, 1/2.55", 1.4µm | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56", 1.0µm | Honor Magic4 Pro captures more detailed images in good lighting. iPhone 12 Pro's wider aperture may perform better in low light with larger pixel sizes. |
| Telephoto Lens | 12MP, f/2.0 | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.7µm | Honor Magic4 Pro has telephoto, which captures more detailed zoomed photos. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.4 | 50MP, f/2.2 | Honor Magic4 Pro has wide angle, which captures more detailed wide angle photos. |
| ToF 3D Sensor | N/A | 0.3MP | Honor Magic4 Pro has better depth sensing, which improves portrait mode and AR applications. |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/2.4 | iPhone 12 Pro has wider aperture, allowing for better low-light selfies. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps HDR | Up to 4K@60fps HDR | Both offer high-quality video recording, but iPhone has better stabilization and editing capabilities. |
| DxOMark (Mobile) | 127 (Photo: 126, Video: 130) | 126 (Photo: 132, Video: 117) | Honor Magic4 Pro is better at taking photos, while iPhone 12 Pro is better at recording video. |
Battery
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2815mAh | 4600mAh | Honor Magic4 Pro provides significantly longer battery life, reducing the need for frequent charging. |
| Charging | 20W wired, 15W wireless (MagSafe), 7.5W (Qi) | 100W wired, 100W wireless | Honor Magic4 Pro charges much faster, minimizing downtime. Wireless charging is also faster. |
| Features | MagSafe, Qi Wireless Charging | 100W Wireless Charging, Reverse Charging | Honor Magic4 Pro can charge other devices wirelessly and charges wirelessly at a faster rate. |
Storage
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal | 128GB/256GB/512GB | 256GB/512GB | Both offer ample storage for most users. |
| RAM | 6GB | 8GB/12GB | Honor Magic4 Pro is better at multitasking, especially with the 12GB option. |
| Expandable | No | No | Limited to internal storage. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both offer fast and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | Honor Magic4 Pro supports more modern codecs, potentially improving audio quality with compatible devices. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Honor Magic4 Pro offers more accurate location tracking due to additional satellite support. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + eSIM) | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | iPhone 12 Pro offers the convenience of eSIM. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Advantages:
- More compact and lighter design: Easier to handle and carry.
- Brighter display: Better outdoor visibility.
- Slightly better performance: A14 Bionic offers smooth and efficient performance.
- Better Video performance in the camera Higher score than the Honor Magic4 Pro
- eSIM Support: Added convenience for switching carriers.
- Dolby Atmos/Digital Plus Apple iPhone 12 Pro has a slight edge in audio features (by a small margin) offering enhanced spatial audio, enhanced surround sound, better audio separation and immersion
Honor Magic4 Pro Advantages:
- Larger display with higher resolution and 120Hz refresh rate: More immersive and fluid visual experience.
- Significantly larger battery and faster charging (wired and wireless): Longer battery life and quicker top-ups.
- More versatile camera system: Including telephoto, wide angle and Macro with the ToF 3D sensor.
- More RAM: Better multitasking capabilities.
- More modern Bluetooth: Wider codec support for audio.
- More accurate GPS: Better navigation capabilities.
- Reverse Wireless Charging Can charge other devices using the phone.
Significant Trade-offs:
- iPhone 12 Pro: Smaller display, shorter battery life, slower charging, less versatile camera system.
- Honor Magic4 Pro: Larger size and weight, potentially lower outdoor visibility.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12 Pro - Ideal Users:
- Users who prioritize portability and one-handed use.
- Users heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem.
- Users who value a brighter display for outdoor use.
- Users who take more videos than photos.
Use Cases:
- Everyday carry for users who prefer smaller phones.
- Content creators who prioritize video recording.
- Users who need a reliable and efficient device for work and communication.
Honor Magic4 Pro - Ideal Users:
- Users who prioritize a large, high-refresh-rate display for media consumption and gaming.
- Users who need long battery life and fast charging.
- Users who want a versatile camera system with telephoto capabilities.
- Users who perform heavy multitasking.
Use Cases:
- Mobile gamers who demand smooth visuals and long gaming sessions.
- Frequent travelers who need long battery life and accurate GPS.
- Photography enthusiasts who want a versatile camera system.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your priority: portability or immersive display?
- How important is battery life and charging speed to you?
- Which camera features (zoom, wide-angle, portrait mode) are most important for your photography needs?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Travel Photographer - Honor Magic4 Pro is recommended due to its versatile camera system, long battery life, and accurate GPS.
- Scenario 2: On-the-Go Professional - iPhone 12 Pro is recommended for its portability, efficient performance, and strong video recording capabilities.
- Scenario 3: Mobile Gamer - Honor Magic4 Pro is recommended for its large, high-refresh-rate display, long battery life, and ample RAM.
My Choice
If I were to choose between these two phones, I would personally pick the Honor Magic4 Pro. My reasoning is as follows:
- Immersive Display: I greatly value a large, high-refresh-rate display for media consumption and gaming, which the Magic4 Pro delivers.
- Battery Life and Charging: The significantly larger battery and incredibly fast charging (both wired and wireless) would be a game-changer for my daily usage, eliminating battery anxiety.
- Versatile Camera: While the iPhone 12 Pro has its strengths, the Magic4 Pro's telephoto capabilities, wide angle, and Macro features would provide more flexibility in different shooting scenarios.
- Performance Sufficiency: While the A14 Bionic is a powerhouse, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Magic4 Pro is more than capable of handling my daily tasks and gaming needs. The increased RAM is also a plus for multitasking.
Although the iPhone 12 Pro has its advantages in terms of portability and display brightness, the Honor Magic4 Pro aligns more closely with my priorities of display quality, battery performance, camera versatility, and overall user experience.
