Honor 8A 2020 vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max: A David vs. Goliath Battle

The smartphone landscape is vast, offering options for every budget and need. Today, we pit a budget champion, the Honor 8A 2020, against a premium titan, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. This isn't just a comparison; it's a look at how far smartphone technology has come and what you truly need.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 14 Pro Max utterly dominates in almost every category – performance, camera, display, and features. However, the Honor 8A 2020 offers incredible value for budget-conscious buyers. It's a clear win for the iPhone, but the Honor provides a solid, affordable alternative.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 8A 2020 Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 411, 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, 66 - A2894, A2896
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2894, A2896
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2895
Launch
Announced2020, April 10. Released 2020, April 152022, September 07
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, September 16
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions156.3 x 73.5 x 8.2 mm (6.15 x 2.89 x 0.32 in)160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 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)
Weight150 g (5.29 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~282 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.09 inches, 91.0 cm2 (~79.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
 -Always-On display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
ChipsetMediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm)Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
GPUPowerVR GE8320Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal64GB 3GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single13 MP, f/1.8, PDAF12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple-48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.012 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Po 3020 mAhLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, BlueSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
Models-A2894, A2651, A2893, A2895, A2896, iphone15,3
PriceAbout 150 EUR€ 530.79 / $ 489.81 / £ 446.75
SAR-1.15 W/kg (head)     1.07 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 121h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 955884 (v9) GeekBench: 5423 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor 8A 2020

  • Affordable
  • Decent battery life
  • Reliable for basic tasks
  • Lightweight

  • Slow performance
  • Low-resolution display
  • Basic camera
  • Outdated chipset

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

  • Blazing-fast performance
  • Exceptional camera
  • Stunning display
  • Premium build quality
  • Long software support

  • Expensive
  • Can be bulky
  • Limited customization compared to Android

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a stunning Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz) and a peak brightness of 1760 nits, offering incredible clarity and vibrant colors. The Honor 8A 2020 has a standard LCD display with a lower resolution and brightness, resulting in a noticeably less impressive visual experience. Contrast is also significantly better on the iPhone.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max's camera system is renowned for its exceptional image quality, advanced features like Cinematic mode, and impressive video recording capabilities. The Honor 8A 2020's camera is functional but lacks the detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance of the iPhone.

Performance

The A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 Pro Max is in a different league compared to the Mediatek Helio P35. Expect lightning-fast app loading, seamless multitasking, and effortless handling of demanding games. The Honor 8A 2020 is adequate for basic tasks but will struggle with more intensive applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with endurance ratings around 121 hours. However, the iPhone 14 Pro Max benefits from faster charging speeds (wired and wireless) and optimized power management.

Buying Guide

The Honor 8A 2020 is perfect for students, first-time smartphone users, or anyone needing a reliable device for basic tasks like calls, texts, and social media. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is for power users, photographers, and those who demand the best possible performance and features, regardless of price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Honor 8A 2020 good for gaming?
The Honor 8A 2020 can handle basic games, but it will struggle with graphically intensive titles. Expect lag and reduced frame rates.
❓ How much storage does each phone offer?
The Honor 8A 2020 typically comes with 64GB of storage, expandable via microSD card. The iPhone 14 Pro Max offers storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB, but no expandable storage.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Apple provides longer software support for its iPhones, ensuring users receive updates for several years. Honor's software support is generally shorter.