Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Deep Dive into Flagship Power

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra arrives as a compelling alternative to the established dominance of Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max. While Apple continues to refine its formula, Huawei is pushing boundaries with its Kirin chipset and innovative charging technologies. This comparison dissects the key differences between these two titans, focusing on real-world performance and user experience.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing longevity and a polished ecosystem, the iPhone 15 Pro Max wins out, thanks to its superior battery life (16:01h active use) and the efficiency of the A17 Pro. However, the Pura 70 Ultra’s blazing-fast 100W charging and impressive display brightness offer compelling advantages for power users.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Pura 70 Ultra 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 421, 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, silicone polymer back (eco leather)Glass 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)
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)
Weight226 g (7.97 oz)221 g (7.80 oz)
Display
ProtectionKunlun Glass (Basalt-tempered)Ceramic 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
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB 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/1.6-4.0, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS, retractable lens 50 MP, f/2.1, 90mm (telephoto), PDAF (5cm - ∞), OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF48 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 5200 mAhLi-Ion 4441 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Brown, GreenBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
ModelsHBP-LX9, HBP-AL00A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2
Price€ 1,239.99€ 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 Ultra

  • Blazing-fast 100W wired charging
  • Impressive 80W wireless charging
  • High display brightness (1231 nits)
  • Potentially innovative camera processing

  • Shorter battery life (12:29h active use)
  • 7nm chipset may throttle under sustained load
  • Ecosystem limitations compared to Apple

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

  • Exceptional battery life (16:01h active use)
  • Powerful and efficient A17 Pro chipset
  • Brighter display (1787 nits)
  • Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem

  • Slower charging speeds (15W wireless, 4.5W reverse)
  • Higher price point
  • Less customizable software experience

Display Comparison

The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 1787 nits measured, compared to the Pura 70 Ultra’s 1231 nits. This translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely employ LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates (not specified in data), the iPhone’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage. The Pura 70 Ultra’s display, while still excellent, will appear less vibrant in challenging lighting conditions. The impact of panel technology (OLED vs. other) isn't specified, but both are expected to deliver excellent contrast ratios.

Camera Comparison

The provided data doesn’t offer granular camera details, but the focus should be on image processing philosophies. Apple typically aims for natural-looking images, while Huawei often employs more aggressive processing for vibrant, saturated results. The absence of sensor size information makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Pura 70 Ultra’s marketing emphasizes its camera capabilities, suggesting a strong focus on computational photography. Without further details, it’s difficult to assess low-light performance or video quality beyond general expectations for flagship devices.

Performance

The core architectural difference lies in the chipsets: Apple’s 3nm A17 Pro versus Huawei’s 7nm Kirin 9010. The A17 Pro’s hexa-core configuration (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) prioritizes peak performance, while the Kirin 9010’s octa-core setup (1x2.3 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.18 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.55 GHz Cortex-A510) aims for a balance of power and efficiency. The smaller process node of the A17 Pro inherently offers better thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling during sustained workloads. While raw clock speeds don't tell the whole story, the A17 Pro is expected to deliver superior GPU performance, crucial for gaming and demanding applications.

Battery Life

The iPhone 15 Pro Max demonstrably outperforms the Pura 70 Ultra in battery endurance, achieving 16:01 hours of active use compared to the Pura 70 Ultra’s 12:29 hours. However, the Pura 70 Ultra compensates with significantly faster charging: 100W wired, 80W wireless, and even 20W reverse wireless. The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers 15W wireless charging (MagSafe/Qi2) and a slow 4.5W reverse wired. This means the Pura 70 Ultra can replenish its battery much quicker, mitigating the difference in overall capacity. The iPhone’s older endurance rating of 118h is less relevant than the active use score.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra if you need exceptionally fast charging, prioritize display brightness, and are comfortable within the Huawei ecosystem. Its 100W wired and 80W wireless charging are unmatched. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you value long-term software support, seamless integration with other Apple devices, and consistently excellent battery endurance, even if charging speeds are comparatively slower.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9010 chipset in the Pura 70 Ultra suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
Given the 7nm process node and the octa-core configuration, the Kirin 9010 is likely to experience some thermal throttling under sustained heavy load, such as prolonged gaming. However, Huawei’s thermal management system may mitigate this to some extent. The A17 Pro’s 3nm node offers a clear advantage in thermal efficiency.
❓ How does the 80W wireless charging on the Pura 70 Ultra compare to the 15W MagSafe/Qi2 charging on the iPhone 15 Pro Max in real-world scenarios?
The Pura 70 Ultra’s 80W wireless charging is significantly faster than the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 15W wireless charging. Expect a full wireless charge on the Pura 70 Ultra to take roughly 30-45 minutes, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max will require over 2 hours. This makes the Pura 70 Ultra ideal for users who frequently rely on wireless charging.
❓ Is the reverse wireless charging on the Pura 70 Ultra (20W) practical for charging accessories like earbuds or smartwatches?
Yes, the Pura 70 Ultra’s 20W reverse wireless charging is powerful enough to efficiently charge accessories like earbuds and smartwatches. It’s a useful feature for topping up smaller devices on the go, unlike the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 4.5W reverse charging which is very slow.