Huawei Mate 60 Pro vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Deep Dive Comparison

The Huawei Mate 60 Pro and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max represent the pinnacle of smartphone engineering from their respective ecosystems. This comparison isn't simply about specs; it's about contrasting philosophies – a self-reliant, domestically-produced chipset in the Mate 60 Pro versus Apple’s vertically integrated silicon in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. We’ll dissect their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a polished software experience, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the superior choice. Its A17 Pro chipset delivers significantly faster processing speeds and superior graphics capabilities. However, the Huawei Mate 60 Pro offers compelling advantages in charging speed and represents a unique technological achievement given its chipset's origin.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 60 Pro 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 / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2023, August 292023, September 12
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, August 29Available. Released 2023, September 22
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, glass backGlass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5)
Dimensions163.7 x 79 x 8.1 mm (6.44 x 3.11 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)
Weight225 g (7.94 oz)221 g (7.80 oz)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass 2Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution1260 x 2720 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~440 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.82 inches, 114.4 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120HzLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.62 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.15 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.53GHz Cortex-A510)Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz)
ChipsetKirin 9000S (7 nm)Apple A17 Pro (3 nm)
GPUMaleoon 910 MP4Apple GPU (6-core graphics)
OSHarmonyOS 4.0 (China)iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Triple50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF48 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, HDR, 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
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, Dolby Vision HDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, 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
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging88W wired, 100% in 30 min 50W wireless 20W reverse wirelessWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 4441 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Green, PurpleBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
ModelsALN-AL00, ALN-AL80A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2
PriceAbout 890 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)

Huawei Mate 60 Pro

  • Significantly faster wired and wireless charging
  • Unique chipset design and domestic production
  • Potentially more aggressive image processing for vibrant photos

  • Less powerful chipset compared to A17 Pro
  • Software ecosystem limitations
  • Limited app availability compared to iOS

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

  • Industry-leading performance with A17 Pro
  • Superior software ecosystem and app support
  • Excellent video recording capabilities

  • Slower wired charging compared to Mate 60 Pro
  • Limited reverse wireless charging capabilities
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a peak brightness of 1787 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Mate 60 Pro’s brightness isn’t specified, Huawei typically delivers vibrant displays. The iPhone’s LTPO technology allows for a variable refresh rate, dynamically adjusting between 1Hz and 120Hz for smoother scrolling and improved power efficiency. The iPhone’s display is likely to have superior color accuracy and calibration, benefiting content creators. Bezels are minimal on both devices, but the iPhone’s ProMotion technology provides a noticeable advantage in responsiveness.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs for the Mate 60 Pro are limited, but Huawei is renowned for its computational photography prowess. The iPhone 15 Pro Max excels in both photo and video capture, offering advanced features like ProRes video recording and Cinematic mode. The larger sensor on the iPhone 15 Pro Max (specifications not provided in context data, but assumed larger than Mate 60 Pro based on market positioning) allows for better low-light performance and shallower depth of field. Apple’s image processing prioritizes natural-looking images, while Huawei often employs more aggressive processing for vibrant, shareable results. The iPhone’s video stabilization is industry-leading.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. Apple’s A17 Pro, fabricated on a 3nm process, features a hexa-core CPU (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) and delivers significantly higher single-core and multi-core performance than the Huawei Mate 60 Pro’s 7nm Kirin 9000S. The Kirin 9000S, with its octa-core configuration (1x2.62 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.15 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.53GHz Cortex-A510), is a remarkable feat of engineering given the restrictions on Huawei’s access to advanced manufacturing. However, the A17 Pro’s architectural advantages and smaller node size translate to superior efficiency and sustained performance. The iPhone 15 Pro Max benefits from faster LPDDR5X RAM, further enhancing its responsiveness.

Battery Life

The iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves an impressive 16:01h of active use, demonstrating excellent battery life. While the Mate 60 Pro’s battery capacity isn’t specified, its 88W wired charging is a significant advantage, achieving a 100% charge in just 30 minutes. The iPhone 15 Pro Max takes 30 minutes to reach 50% charge. The Mate 60 Pro also offers 50W wireless charging and 20W reverse wireless charging, features the iPhone 15 Pro Max can’t match (15W wireless with MagSafe/Qi2 and 4.5W reverse wired). The iPhone’s endurance rating of 118 hours suggests excellent standby time, but the Mate 60 Pro’s faster charging mitigates concerns about battery life for many users.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 60 Pro if you prioritize extremely fast charging (88W wired, 50W wireless) and are interested in supporting a brand pushing technological boundaries despite geopolitical constraints. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you demand the absolute best performance, a seamless user experience, and a mature ecosystem with extensive app support. The iPhone is also the better choice for video recording and long-term software updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000S chipset suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 9000S is a capable chipset, its 7nm fabrication process is less efficient than the A17 Pro’s 3nm process. This means the Mate 60 Pro is more likely to experience thermal throttling during prolonged, demanding tasks like gaming, potentially leading to reduced performance over time. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, with its superior thermal management, will maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does the availability of apps and services differ between the Huawei Mate 60 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max benefits from the vast and mature iOS app ecosystem, offering access to millions of apps and seamless integration with Apple’s services. The Huawei Mate 60 Pro, due to ongoing restrictions, lacks full access to Google Mobile Services (GMS). While Huawei is building its own ecosystem (AppGallery), it still has a limited app selection compared to iOS, and some popular apps may be unavailable or require workarounds.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the Mate 60 Pro compatible with all Qi wireless chargers?
While the Mate 60 Pro supports 50W wireless charging, achieving that speed requires a compatible Huawei wireless charger. Standard Qi wireless chargers will likely charge at a slower rate, typically around 15W. The iPhone 15 Pro Max supports 15W MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging (with iOS 17.2 update).