Huawei nova 14 Pro vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-term performance, a robust ecosystem, and exceptional camera software, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the superior choice. However, the Huawei nova 14 Pro’s blazing-fast 100W charging and potentially lower price make it a compelling option for those prioritizing convenience and value.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 14 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 | 2025, May 19 | 2023, September 12 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, May 19 | Available. Released 2023, September 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 75 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 | 207 g (7.30 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Aluminosilicate glass (256/512GB); Kunlun Glass edition (512GB only) | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 1224 x 2776 pixels (~447 ppi density) | 1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, HDR, 120Hz, 1200 nits (HBM) | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.29 GHz & 3x2.05 GHz & 4x1.3 GHz) | Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) |
| Chipset | Kirin 8020 | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) |
| GPU | Maleoon 920 2cu | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) |
| OS | HarmonyOS 5.0 | iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.4-4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 69mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 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, HDR Vivid | 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 50 MP, f/2.0, (ultrawide), PDAF | - |
| 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, 1080p, gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid | 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/6/7, 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, SCP, UFCS, PD, PPS, QC 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 | 5500 mAh | Li-Ion 4441 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Purple, Blue | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
| Models | MIA-AL00 | A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2 |
| Price | About 430 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 nova 14 Pro
- 100W SuperCharge for incredibly fast charging
- Potentially more affordable price point
- EMUI offers customization options
- Kirin 8020 chipset is less powerful than A17 Pro
- Software ecosystem less mature than iOS
- Camera performance likely lags behind iPhone
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Industry-leading A17 Pro performance
- Exceptional camera system with advanced software
- Long battery life and efficient power management
- Higher price tag
- Slower charging speed compared to Huawei
- Less customization options in iOS
Display Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1787 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the nova 14 Pro’s display specs are not provided, Huawei typically employs OLED panels with good color accuracy. The iPhone’s ProMotion technology (LTPO) dynamically adjusts the refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and animations, a feature likely absent on the nova 14 Pro, impacting perceived fluidity. The iPhone’s tighter integration of hardware and software also contributes to superior color calibration.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s camera system benefits from Apple’s renowned computational photography expertise. While specific sensor details aren’t provided, Apple’s image processing pipeline excels in dynamic range, detail preservation, and low-light performance. The nova 14 Pro’s camera capabilities are less defined, but Huawei often focuses on high megapixel counts and AI-powered scene optimization. The iPhone’s video recording capabilities are industry-leading, offering ProRes video recording and cinematic mode. The absence of detailed camera specs for the nova 14 Pro makes a direct sensor comparison difficult, but the iPhone’s software advantage is a significant differentiator.
Performance
The Apple A17 Pro, fabricated on a 3nm process, represents a substantial leap in mobile silicon. Its hexa-core CPU, with peak clock speeds of 3.78 GHz, delivers significantly higher single-core and multi-core performance compared to the Kirin 8020. The Kirin 8020’s octa-core configuration, while efficient, cannot match the A17 Pro’s raw processing power. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and superior performance in graphically intensive games on the iPhone. The A17 Pro’s dedicated neural engine also accelerates machine learning tasks, enhancing features like image processing and Siri responsiveness. The iPhone’s LPDDR5X RAM further contributes to its performance advantage.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 Pro Max demonstrates exceptional battery endurance, achieving an active use score of 16:01h and an endurance rating of 118h. While the nova 14 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, its 100W wired charging is a game-changer, potentially allowing a full charge in under 30 minutes. The iPhone 15 Pro Max supports 50% charge in 30 minutes with wired PD2.0, and 15W wireless charging (MagSafe/Qi2). The nova 14 Pro also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a useful feature for topping up accessories, while the iPhone offers 4.5W reverse wired charging. The faster charging speed of the nova 14 Pro offsets any potential battery capacity disadvantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 14 Pro if you need incredibly fast charging, are comfortable with the EMUI software experience, and prioritize value for money. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you prefer a seamless user experience, top-tier performance for demanding tasks, and a best-in-class camera system with advanced computational photography.