Huawei Mate 70 Air vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and long-term software support, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the superior choice. However, the Huawei Mate 70 Air offers compelling fast charging capabilities and a potentially more open software experience, making it a strong contender for users seeking alternatives to the Apple ecosystem.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 70 Air | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 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 bands | SA/NSA | 1, 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 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, November 06 | 2023, September 12 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, November 06 | Available. Released 2023, September 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 165 x 81.5 x 6.6 mm (6.50 x 3.21 x 0.26 in) | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-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) |
| Weight | 208 g (7.34 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Kunlun Glass | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 1320 x 2760 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~437 ppi density) | 1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 7.0 inches, 123.0 cm2 (~91.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR Vivid, 4000 nits (peak) | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core | Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) |
| Chipset | Kirin 9020A (7 nm) - 12GB RAMKirin 9020B (7 nm) - 16GB RAM | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) |
| GPU | - | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) |
| OS | HarmonyOS 5.1 | iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 69mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide) | 48 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) |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR |
| Single | 10.7 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K, 1080p | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired 5W reverse wired | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 6500 mAh | Li-Ion 4441 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Silver | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
| Models | SUP-AL90 | A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2 |
| Price | About 510 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 70 Air
- Significantly faster 66W wired charging
- Potentially more open Android ecosystem
- Reverse wired charging capability
- Older 7nm chipset compared to iPhone's 3nm
- Potential app compatibility issues due to geopolitical factors
- Missing detailed camera specifications
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Industry-leading A17 Pro chipset performance
- Exceptional camera system with advanced features
- Long-term software support and ecosystem integration
- Slower charging speeds compared to Huawei
- Closed ecosystem restrictions
- 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 70 Air’s display specifications are not provided, Huawei typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The iPhone’s ProMotion technology (LTPO) dynamically adjusts the refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and animations, a feature likely present on the Mate 70 Air as well, though confirmation is needed. The iPhone’s superior brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor use.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is renowned for its camera capabilities, offering exceptional photo and video quality. While specific details about the Mate 70 Air’s camera system are missing, Huawei has a strong history of computational photography. The iPhone’s advanced image processing pipeline and sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS) contribute to consistently sharp and detailed images. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Mate 70 Air makes a direct comparison difficult, but the iPhone’s established reputation and advanced features give it a likely advantage.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: Apple’s A17 Pro (3nm) versus Huawei’s Kirin 9020A/9020B (7nm). The A17 Pro’s 3nm process provides significant advantages in power efficiency and transistor density, translating to higher performance and reduced thermal throttling. The iPhone’s hexa-core CPU (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) is architecturally different from the Kirin’s octa-core design, focusing on maximizing performance per watt. The Mate 70 Air’s 12GB/16GB of RAM is competitive, but the A17 Pro’s optimized memory controller and Neural Engine provide a performance edge in tasks like machine learning and image processing.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves an impressive 16:01h active use score, demonstrating excellent battery life. While the Mate 70 Air’s battery capacity is unknown, its 66W wired charging is a significant advantage over the iPhone’s slower charging speeds (50% in 30 min). The Mate 70 Air also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a feature the iPhone provides at 4.5W. The iPhone’s 118h endurance rating suggests efficient power management, but the Mate 70 Air’s faster charging could be crucial for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 70 Air if you prioritize extremely fast 66W wired charging, value a more open Android experience, and are comfortable with potential limitations in app availability due to ongoing geopolitical factors. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you demand the highest sustained performance, a polished and integrated ecosystem, and guaranteed software updates for years to come, alongside a best-in-class camera system.