Honor X30 Max vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max: A Detailed Showdown

The smartphone landscape is vast, offering options for every budget and need. Today, we're pitting two very different contenders against each other: the budget-friendly Honor X30 Max and the premium Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. Can the Honor compete with Apple's flagship powerhouse?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 14 Pro Max unequivocally wins in almost every category – performance, camera quality, display technology, and overall ecosystem. However, the Honor X30 Max offers impressive value for its price, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers seeking a large screen and decent battery life.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor X30 Max Apple iPhone 14 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, 66 - A2894, A2896
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 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, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 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
Announced2021, October 282022, September 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, November 02Available. Released 2022, September 16
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions174.4 x 84.9 x 8.3 mm (6.87 x 3.34 x 0.33 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)
Weight228 g (8.04 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
Resolution1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~356 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size7.09 inches, 125.5 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, HDR10LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
 -Always-On display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 900 (6 nm)Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
GPUMali-G68 MC4Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11, Magic UI 5.0iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 -NVMe
Main Camera
Dual64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single8 MP, f/2.012 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)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@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 Yes, with dual speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging22.5W wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, Silver/VioletSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
ModelsKKG-AN70A2894, A2651, A2893, A2895, A2896, iphone15,3
PriceAbout 320 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 X30 Max

  • Large Display
  • Long Battery Life
  • Affordable Price
  • Decent Performance for the Price

  • Less Powerful Processor
  • Lower Quality Display
  • Subpar Camera
  • Slower Charging

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

  • Exceptional Performance
  • Outstanding Camera
  • Premium Display
  • Seamless iOS Ecosystem
  • Fast Charging (PD2.0, MagSafe)

  • High Price
  • Limited Customization
  • No Expandable Storage

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. Its contrast ratio is effectively infinite. The Honor X30 Max has a large 6.7-inch display, but its panel technology and brightness are significantly less impressive, lacking the smoothness and visual fidelity of the iPhone.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max's camera system is renowned for its exceptional image quality, advanced computational photography, and impressive video recording capabilities. The Honor X30 Max offers a decent camera setup, but it falls short in terms of detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance compared to the iPhone.

Performance

The A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a performance beast, easily handling demanding games and applications. The Dimensity 900 in the Honor X30 Max is capable, but it's no match for Apple's silicon. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading times on the iPhone.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max achieving an endurance rating of 121 hours. The Honor X30 Max also provides long battery life, likely due to its less power-hungry components and larger battery capacity (typically around 6000mAh). While the iPhone charges faster with PD2.0 and MagSafe, the Honor's battery capacity gives it a slight edge in overall longevity.

Buying Guide

The Honor X30 Max is ideal for users prioritizing a large display, long battery life, and affordability. It's a great option for media consumption and basic tasks. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is for users who demand the absolute best in performance, camera capabilities, and a seamless user experience, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Honor X30 Max a good phone for gaming?
It can handle casual games, but demanding titles may experience lag or reduced graphics settings due to the less powerful processor.
❓ Does the iPhone 14 Pro Max support expandable storage?
No, the iPhone 14 Pro Max does not support expandable storage. You'll need to choose the storage capacity you need at the time of purchase.
❓ What is MagSafe charging?
MagSafe is Apple's magnetic wireless charging system that allows for faster wireless charging and accessory attachment.
❓ What is the difference between Qi2 and MagSafe?
Qi2 is the latest wireless charging standard that incorporates magnets, similar to MagSafe, allowing for more secure and efficient wireless charging.