Huawei Pura X vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Clash of Chipset Philosophies
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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 clear winner. Its A17 Pro chipset and optimized iOS ecosystem deliver a smoother, more responsive experience. However, the Huawei Pura X’s 66W charging and potentially lower price point make it a strong contender for users prioritizing convenience and value.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Pura X | 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 / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, March 20 | 2023, September 12 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March 20 | Available. Released 2023, September 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 143.2 x 91.7 x 7.2 mmFolded: 91.7 x 74.3 x 15.1 mm | 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 | 193.7 g or 195.9 g (6.84 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 1320 x 2120 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~396 ppi density) | 1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 114.9 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Foldable LTPO2 OLED, 1B colors, HDR Vivid, 120Hz, 2500 nits (peak) | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.15 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.53GHz Cortex-A510) | Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) |
| Chipset | Kirin 9020 (7 nm) | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) |
| GPU | Maleoon 920 | 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, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 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/1.6, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF 1.5 MP multi-spectral channel red maple primary color camera | 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | 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 | 1080p, 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 | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASS, NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2 | 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 | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired 40W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless 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 | 4720 mAh | Li-Ion 4441 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Red, Green, Gray, White, Black | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
| Models | VDE-AL00 | A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2 |
| Price | About 960 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 Pura X
- Extremely fast 66W wired charging
- 40W wireless charging offers convenience
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Customizable Huawei user interface
- Kirin 9020 chipset may throttle under heavy load
- Limited access to Google services
- Uncertainty regarding long-term software support
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Industry-leading A17 Pro performance
- Excellent battery life (16:01h active use)
- Seamless iOS ecosystem and software updates
- High peak display brightness (1787 nits)
- Slower charging speeds compared to Pura X
- Higher price point
- Less customization options compared to Android
Display Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a peak brightness of 1787 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Pura X’s display specifications are not provided, Huawei typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The iPhone’s LTPO technology dynamically adjusts the refresh rate up to 120Hz, optimizing battery life. The absence of detailed Pura X display specs makes a direct comparison difficult, but the iPhone’s measured brightness provides a clear advantage for outdoor use.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specs for the Pura X are missing, but Huawei is renowned for its computational photography prowess. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s camera system, while details are not provided in the context, is expected to feature advanced image processing and optical image stabilization (OIS). The larger sensor size typically found in iPhone Pro models contributes to better low-light performance. Without specific sensor details for the Pura X, it’s difficult to assess its capabilities, but the iPhone’s established reputation and likely larger sensor give it an edge.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. Apple’s A17 Pro, fabricated on a 3nm process, features a hexa-core CPU with two high-performance cores clocked at 3.78 GHz and four efficiency cores at 2.11 GHz. This architecture prioritizes both speed and power efficiency. Conversely, the Huawei Pura X utilizes the Kirin 9020 (7nm), an octa-core processor with a Taishan big core at 2.5 GHz, Taishan mid cores at 2.15 GHz, and Cortex-A510 efficiency cores at 1.53 GHz. The 3nm process of the A17 Pro inherently offers better transistor density and thermal efficiency, suggesting the iPhone will sustain peak performance for longer periods. The Kirin 9020, while capable, is likely to throttle more aggressively under sustained load.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves an impressive 16:01h of active use and an endurance rating of 118 hours, demonstrating excellent battery life. The Pura X compensates with significantly faster charging: 66W wired, 40W wireless, and even 7.5W reverse wireless. The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers 15W wireless charging (MagSafe/Qi2) and 4.5W reverse wired. While the Pura X’s battery capacity is unknown, its charging speed allows for a full charge in a fraction of the time, mitigating concerns about battery life. The iPhone prioritizes longevity, while the Pura X prioritizes convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Pura X if you need blazing-fast charging speeds, appreciate a unique and customizable user interface, and are comfortable navigating the limitations of the Huawei ecosystem. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you prefer a seamless user experience, prioritize top-tier performance for demanding tasks like video editing and gaming, and value Apple’s robust software updates and app ecosystem.