Huawei Pura 70 Pro vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Flagship Face-Off

The Huawei Pura 70 Pro arrives as a compelling alternative to the established dominance of Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, particularly for users seeking cutting-edge charging technology and a distinct photographic style. This comparison dissects the core differences between these two premium smartphones, focusing on performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and charging speeds to determine which device reigns supreme.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing ecosystem integration, long-term software support, and consistently excellent performance, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the safer bet. However, the Huawei Pura 70 Pro’s blazing-fast 100W charging and unique camera processing offer a compelling alternative for those willing to embrace a different mobile experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Pura 70 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 bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 661, 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/NSA - China only1, 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
Announced2024, April 182023, September 12
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, April 29Available. Released 2023, September 22
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, glass backGlass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5)
Dimensions162.6 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.40 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· 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)
Weight220 g (7.76 oz)221 g (7.80 oz)
Display
ProtectionKunlun Glass 2Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution1260 x 2844 pixels (~460 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 109.0 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, HDR, 120Hz, 1440Hz PWM, 2500 nits (peak)LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.3 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.18 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.55 GHz Cortex-A510)Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz)
ChipsetKirin 9010 (7 nm)Apple A17 Pro (3 nm)
GPU-Apple GPU (6-core graphics)
OSEMUI 14.2 (International), HarmonyOS 4.2 (China)iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB 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/1.4-4.0, 25mm (wide), 1/1.3", PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.1, 93mm (telephoto), PDAF (5cm - ∞), OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 12.5 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (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)
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, (ultrawide), AF12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
VideoYes, HDR4K@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, LE, L2HC5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (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
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging100W wired 80W wireless 20W reverse wireless 18W reverse wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 5050 mAhLi-Ion 4441 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, PurpleBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
ModelsHBN-LX9, HBN-AL00A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2
Price€ 555.03€ 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 Pura 70 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 100W wired charging
  • 80W wireless charging is significantly faster than iPhone
  • Potentially unique camera processing and aesthetic

  • Chipset fabrication process (7nm) is less efficient than A17 Pro (3nm)
  • Limited information on camera sensor specs
  • Ecosystem limitations compared to Apple

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

  • Industry-leading A17 Pro chipset performance
  • Excellent battery life (16:01h active use)
  • Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem

  • Slower charging speeds compared to Pura 70 Pro
  • Higher price point
  • Less customizable software experience

Display Comparison

The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a peak brightness of 1787 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Pura 70 Pro’s display specifications aren’t provided, Huawei typically employs OLED panels with vibrant colors. The iPhone’s ProMotion technology (adaptive refresh rate) is absent from the provided specs for the Pura 70 Pro, potentially impacting smoothness during scrolling and animations. The iPhone’s superior brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs for the Pura 70 Pro are missing, but Huawei is renowned for its computational photography prowess. The iPhone 15 Pro Max excels in both photo and video capture, offering a versatile camera system. The Pura 70 Pro likely emphasizes AI-driven scene optimization and unique color profiles, potentially appealing to users who prefer a more stylized look. Without specific sensor size or aperture information for the Pura 70 Pro, it’s difficult to definitively assess its low-light performance relative to the iPhone. However, Apple’s image processing is known for its natural color reproduction and dynamic range.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: Apple’s A17 Pro (3nm) versus Huawei’s Kirin 9010 (7nm). The A17 Pro’s smaller fabrication node translates to significantly improved power efficiency and transistor density, resulting in superior performance and thermal management. The A17 Pro’s hexa-core architecture (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) contrasts with the Kirin 9010’s octa-core setup (1x2.3 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.18 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.55 GHz Cortex-A510). While core count isn’t everything, the A17 Pro’s architectural advantages and process node give it a substantial edge in CPU and GPU performance. The iPhone’s LPDDR5X RAM further contributes to faster data transfer speeds.

Battery Life

The iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves an impressive 16:01h active use score and an endurance rating of 118 hours, demonstrating excellent battery life. The Pura 70 Pro compensates for a potentially smaller battery with its incredibly fast charging capabilities: 100W wired, 80W wireless, and even 20W reverse wireless. The iPhone offers a comparatively slower 15W wireless charging (MagSafe/Qi2) and 4.5W reverse wired charging. The Pura 70 Pro can likely achieve a full charge in under 30 minutes with its 100W wired charging, a significant advantage over the iPhone’s 30-minute 50% charge.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Pura 70 Pro if you need unparalleled charging speeds, value a distinctive camera aesthetic, and are comfortable operating within the Huawei ecosystem. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you prioritize seamless integration with other Apple devices, a mature and stable operating system, and consistently high performance across all tasks, alongside a longer software support lifecycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9010 chipset in the Pura 70 Pro throttle under sustained load, like during extended gaming sessions?
Given the 7nm fabrication process and the A17 Pro’s superior thermal efficiency, the Kirin 9010 is more likely to experience throttling under prolonged heavy workloads. While Huawei employs cooling solutions, the A17 Pro’s 3nm process inherently generates less heat, allowing for sustained peak performance for longer durations.
❓ How does the 80W wireless charging on the Pura 70 Pro compare to the iPhone 15 Pro Max's MagSafe charging in real-world usage?
The Pura 70 Pro’s 80W wireless charging is significantly faster than the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 15W MagSafe. Expect a full wireless charge on the Pura 70 Pro in approximately 30-45 minutes, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max will take considerably longer – potentially over 2 hours.
❓ Is the reverse wireless charging on the Pura 70 Pro useful for charging accessories like earbuds?
The Pura 70 Pro’s 20W reverse wireless charging is powerful enough to quickly top up accessories like earbuds or smartwatches. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 4.5W reverse charging is considerably slower and primarily intended for emergency charging situations.
❓ What software updates can Huawei Pura 70 Pro users expect compared to the long-term support offered by Apple?
Apple typically provides 5-7 years of software updates for its iPhones, ensuring long-term security and feature enhancements. Huawei’s software update commitment is less predictable due to geopolitical factors and the lack of Google Mobile Services. Users should anticipate a shorter software support lifecycle for the Pura 70 Pro.