Huawei nova 13 Pro vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Deep Dive into Speed, Power, and Photography
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the user prioritizing ultimate convenience and speed, the Huawei nova 13 Pro’s 100W charging is a game-changer, reaching 50% charge in just 9 minutes. However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max wins for overall refinement, sustained performance thanks to the A17 Pro, and superior long-term software support, making it the better choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 13 Pro | 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 | 2024, October 22 | 2023, September 12 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, October 25 | Available. Released 2023, September 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 74.9 x 7.8 mm (6.43 x 2.95 x 0.31 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 | 209 g (7.37 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Aluminosilicate glass | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 1224 x 2776 pixels (~449 ppi density) | 1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.76 inches, 108.8 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, HDR, 120Hz | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | - | Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) |
| Chipset | - | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) |
| GPU | - | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) |
| OS | HarmonyOS 4.2 | iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB 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/1.4-4.0, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 69mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF | 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, gyro-EIS | 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 8 MP, f/2.2, 52mm (telephoto), AF, 2x optical zoom 60 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 100˚ (ultrawide), AF | - |
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 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 (320-960 kbps HD audio) | 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 100W wired, 3-50% in 9 min 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 | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4441 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Purple, Green | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
| Models | MIS-AL00 | A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2 |
| Price | € 497.00 | € 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 nova 13 Pro
- Blazing-fast 100W wired charging
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Reverse wired charging capability
- Chipset performance likely lags behind A17 Pro
- Software support and ecosystem limitations
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Exceptional performance with the A17 Pro chip
- Superior display brightness and ProMotion technology
- Best-in-class camera system and image processing
- Slower charging speeds compared to Huawei
- Higher price tag
Display Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display, peaking at 1787 nits measured, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the nova 13 Pro (brightness data unavailable). While the nova 13 Pro’s panel specifics are unknown, the iPhone 15 Pro Max utilizes an LTPO panel, dynamically adjusting refresh rates up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and improved power efficiency. The iPhone’s ProMotion technology is a key advantage for content consumption and gaming. Bezels are expected to be similarly minimal on both devices, reflecting current flagship design trends.
Camera Comparison
While both phones are expected to offer versatile camera systems, the iPhone 15 Pro Max likely holds an edge in image processing and overall quality. Apple’s computational photography algorithms are renowned for their natural-looking results and excellent dynamic range. The nova 13 Pro’s camera capabilities are currently unknown, but focusing on the main sensor and video capabilities is crucial. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s advanced OIS and larger sensor size contribute to sharper images and smoother videos, particularly in low-light conditions. Ignoring the likely inclusion of low-resolution macro lenses on both devices, the focus should be on the primary and ultrawide cameras.
Performance
The Apple A17 Pro chipset, fabricated on a 3nm process, represents a substantial leap in performance and efficiency. Its hexa-core CPU (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) will demonstrably outperform the nova 13 Pro’s chipset (details unavailable, but likely a Snapdragon or Dimensity variant) in CPU-intensive tasks like video editing and 3D rendering. The 3nm node allows for higher transistor density and reduced power consumption, mitigating thermal throttling during prolonged use. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s LPDDR5X RAM further enhances performance, providing faster data access speeds.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves an impressive 16:01h active use score, demonstrating exceptional battery endurance. While the nova 13 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, its 100W wired charging is its standout feature, capable of charging from 3-50% in just 9 minutes. This drastically reduces downtime compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 50% charge in 30 minutes via PD2.0. The iPhone also supports 15W wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi2 (requiring iOS 17.2), and the nova 13 Pro offers 5W reverse wired charging, though the iPhone provides 4.5W reverse wired charging. The iPhone’s older endurance rating of 118h suggests excellent standby time.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 13 Pro if you need incredibly fast charging and frequently find yourself needing to top up your battery quickly. It’s ideal for users who prioritize convenience and don’t rely heavily on a mature app ecosystem. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you prefer a polished, integrated experience, exceptional performance for demanding tasks, a best-in-class camera system, and guaranteed software updates for years to come. It’s the choice for power users and those invested in the Apple ecosystem.