Nokia 1.3 vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max: A David vs. Goliath Battle

The smartphone landscape is vast, ranging from ultra-affordable options to top-tier flagships. Today, we're pitting two extremes against each other: the budget-friendly Nokia 1.3 and the powerhouse Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max. This comparison will reveal which phone best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 12 Pro Max utterly dominates in almost every category – performance, camera quality, display, and features. However, the Nokia 1.3 offers incredible value for those on a tight budget seeking basic smartphone functionality. It's a clear win for Apple, but the Nokia serves a specific, budget-conscious niche.

PHONES
Phone Names Nokia 1.3 Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - InternationalHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2342
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - A2342
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 28, 66 - LATAM1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 Sub6 - A2410, A2411, A2412
Launch
Announced2020, March 19. Released 2020, April 022020, October 13
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, November 13
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions147.3 x 71.2 x 9.4 mm (5.80 x 2.80 x 0.37 in)160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.29 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight155 g (5.47 oz)228 g (8.04 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~295 ppi density)1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size5.71 inches, 81.4 cm2 (~77.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 400 nits (typ)Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUQuad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm)
ChipsetQualcomm QM215 Snapdragon 215 (28 nm)Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 308Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 10 (Go edition), upgradable to Android 11 (Go edition), Android OneiOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal16GB 1GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single8 MP, (wide), AF-
Triple-12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.9", 1.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 65mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video720p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10‑bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single5 MP12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video720p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, proximityFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update
TypeLi-Po 3000 mAh, removableLi-Ion 3687 mAh (14.13 Wh)
Misc
ColorsCyan, Charcoal, SandSilver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue
ModelsTA-1216, TA-1205A2411, A2342, A2410, A2412, iPhone13,4
PriceAbout 170 EUR$ 328.00 / C$ 549.75 / £ 270.67 / € 339.00
SAR0.64 W/kg (head)     1.17 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.38 W/kg (head)     0.86 W/kg (body)0.99 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM-$ 599.99
256GB 6GB RAM-$ 728.45
512GB 6GB RAM-$ 886.67
RENEWED-$ 627.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 638584 (v8) GeekBench: 4240 (v5.1) GFXBench: 55fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Nokia 1.3

  • Extremely affordable
  • Decent battery life for its class
  • Simple and easy to use
  • Compact size

  • Very limited performance
  • Basic camera
  • Low-resolution display
  • Outdated chipset

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

  • Exceptional performance
  • Stunning display with ProMotion
  • Outstanding camera system
  • Premium design and build quality
  • Long software support

  • Very expensive
  • Lightning port (transitioning to USB-C)
  • No charger included in the box

Display Comparison

The iPhone 12 Pro Max boasts a Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz), delivering exceptional brightness (822 nits), vibrant colors, and smooth scrolling. Its contrast ratio is effectively infinite. The Nokia 1.3 has a much smaller, lower-resolution display (5.3-inch, 720 x 1440 pixels) with standard brightness and no adaptive refresh rate. The iPhone's display is in a different league.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 12 Pro Max features a triple-lens camera system (12MP Wide, 12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Telephoto) capable of capturing stunning photos and videos with excellent detail and dynamic range. It offers features like Night mode, Deep Fusion, and Dolby Vision HDR video recording. The Nokia 1.3 has a single, basic 8MP rear camera. Image quality is acceptable in good lighting conditions but struggles in low light. The iPhone's camera is vastly superior.

Performance

The A14 Bionic chip in the iPhone 12 Pro Max is a performance beast, easily handling demanding games and applications. The Nokia 1.3's Qualcomm QM215 Snapdragon 215 is a budget chipset designed for basic tasks. Expect significant lag and limitations on the Nokia 1.3 when multitasking or using resource-intensive apps. The iPhone's hexa-core architecture provides a massive performance advantage.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life. The iPhone 12 Pro Max achieves an endurance rating of 95 hours, thanks to its large battery and efficient chip. The Nokia 1.3, despite its smaller battery, also provides solid battery life due to its less demanding hardware. However, the iPhone's faster charging capabilities (PD2.0, MagSafe, Qi2) give it an edge.

Buying Guide

The Nokia 1.3 is ideal for first-time smartphone users, seniors, or anyone needing a simple device for calls, texts, and basic apps. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is for users who demand top-tier performance, a stunning camera, a premium experience, and are willing to pay a significant premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Nokia 1.3 good for gaming?
No, the Nokia 1.3's chipset is not powerful enough for demanding games. It can handle very basic games, but expect low frame rates and lag.
❓ How much storage do I get with the iPhone 12 Pro Max?
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options.