Honor 300 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The Honor 300 Ultra arrives as a challenger to the established dominance of Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max. While Apple refines its ecosystem and focuses on software integration, Honor aims to disrupt with raw power and cutting-edge charging technology. This comparison dissects the core differences between these two titans, focusing on performance, battery, display, and camera capabilities to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the power user prioritizing charging speed and Android flexibility, the Honor 300 Ultra is the clear winner. Its 100W wired and 80W wireless charging are unmatched. However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max secures victory for users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, valuing long-term software support and consistently excellent battery endurance.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 300 Ultra Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66 - A3106
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3106
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, December 022023, September 12
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, December 07Available. Released 2023, September 22
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather)Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5)
Dimensions163.8 x 75.3 x 8.2 mm (6.45 x 2.96 x 0.32 in)159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)221 g (7.80 oz)
Display
ProtectionGiant rhino glassCeramic Shield glass
Resolution1224 x 2700 pixels (~437 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.5 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR, 1200 nits (HBM), 4000 nits (peak)LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 5x2.95 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520)Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Apple A17 Pro (3 nm)
GPUAdreno 750Apple GPU (6-core graphics)
OSAndroid 15, MagicOS 9iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Triple50 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/3.0, (periscope telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.8x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.06", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, OIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, 3D (spatial) video, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
Dual50 MP, f/2.1, (wide) 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)-
FeaturesHDRHDR, Dolby Vision HDR
Single-12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS (B1I+B1c)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, compass, ultrasound proximityFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging100W wired, 59% in 15 min 80W wireless, 39% in 15 min 5W reverse wired Reverse wirelessWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 5300 mAhLi-Ion 4441 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, WhiteBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
Models-A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2
PriceAbout 550 EUR€ 758.79 / $ 579.87 / £ 628.29
SAR-1.07 W/kg (head)     1.11 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.98 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)

Honor 300 Ultra

  • Blazing-fast 100W wired charging
  • 80W wireless charging is industry-leading
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor
  • Android OS offers greater customization

  • Long-term software support may be limited
  • Camera specs currently unknown

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

  • Exceptional battery life (16:01h active use)
  • A17 Pro chip offers leading performance
  • Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem
  • Excellent camera quality and ProRes video

  • Slower charging speeds (50% in 30 min)
  • Less customization options compared to Android

Display Comparison

The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a measured peak brightness of 1787 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Honor 300 Ultra’s display specifications are currently unavailable, Honor typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The iPhone’s ProMotion technology (adaptive refresh rate) is a key advantage, offering smoother scrolling and animations. The absence of refresh rate data for the Honor 300 Ultra leaves a gap in comparison, but the iPhone’s brightness and adaptive technology give it a clear edge in display quality.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera analysis is hampered by a lack of Honor 300 Ultra camera specifications. However, given Honor’s recent focus, we can anticipate a strong emphasis on main sensor resolution and computational photography. The iPhone 15 Pro Max excels in both photo and video capture, leveraging its advanced image processing pipeline and ProRes video recording capabilities. Without specific details on the Honor 300 Ultra’s sensor size, aperture, and OIS implementation, it’s difficult to definitively assess its camera performance, but the iPhone’s established track record and ProRes support provide a significant advantage for professional videographers.

Performance

The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) in the Honor 300 Ultra versus Apple’s A17 Pro (3nm) in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The A17 Pro’s 3nm process offers superior transistor density and power efficiency, translating to potentially better sustained performance and thermal management. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s octa-core configuration (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4, 5x2.95 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520) is powerful, but Apple’s hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) design is optimized for single-core performance, crucial for many everyday tasks. The iPhone’s advantage in chip fabrication likely results in a more efficient and powerful experience, despite the core count difference.

Battery Life

The iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers an impressive 16:01 hours of active use and an endurance rating of 118 hours, showcasing exceptional battery life. The Honor 300 Ultra compensates with incredibly fast charging: 100W wired (59% in 15 minutes) and 80W wireless (39% in 15 minutes). While the Honor 300 Ultra’s battery capacity is unknown, the charging speeds dramatically reduce downtime. The iPhone’s slower 50% charge in 30 minutes is a significant contrast. The Honor prioritizes quick top-ups, while the iPhone focuses on maximizing overall runtime.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 300 Ultra if you need incredibly fast charging, prefer the Android operating system, and prioritize raw processing power for demanding tasks. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you value seamless integration with other Apple devices, prioritize long-term software updates, and require exceptional all-day battery life with a refined user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3's thermal performance compare to the A17 Pro under sustained load?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a powerful chip, the A17 Pro’s 3nm process and Apple’s thermal management expertise likely result in better sustained performance and less throttling during extended gaming sessions or video rendering. The A17 Pro is designed to maintain peak performance for longer periods.
❓ Does the Honor 300 Ultra support the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard?
Given the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s support for Wi-Fi 7, it’s highly probable the Honor 300 Ultra will also support this standard. This will provide faster and more reliable wireless connectivity compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which supports Wi-Fi 6E.
❓ What type of wireless charging does the Honor 300 Ultra support, and is it compatible with all Qi wireless chargers?
The Honor 300 Ultra supports both 80W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. It is compatible with Qi2 wireless chargers (requiring iOS 17.2 on iPhones for full compatibility), but achieving the full 80W speed will require a compatible Honor wireless charger.
❓ How does the reverse wireless charging on the Honor 300 Ultra compare to the iPhone 15 Pro Max in terms of speed and usability?
The Honor 300 Ultra offers 5W reverse wired and reverse wireless charging, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max provides 4.5W reverse wired and 15W MagSafe wireless charging. The Honor's reverse wireless is slower, but the iPhone's MagSafe offers a more secure and efficient connection for charging accessories.