Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Performance and Value

The Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G, released with the Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ chipset, represented a compelling Android flagship option. Now, with the iPhone 12 Pro Max seeing price drops, the question arises: can the Reno5 Pro 5G still compete with Apple’s established ecosystem and the A14 Bionic’s performance? This comparison dives deep into the key differences, focusing on real-world implications for users.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing long-term software support, ecosystem integration, and consistent performance, the iPhone 12 Pro Max remains the superior choice. However, the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G delivers exceptional value with its 65W charging and strong performance, making it ideal for users who prioritize speed and aren't heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G Apple iPhone 12 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, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - 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 bands1, 3, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - A2342
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 Sub6 - A2410, A2411, A2412
Launch
Announced2020, December 102020, October 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, January 05Available. Released 2020, November 13
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions159.7 x 73.2 x 7.6 mm (6.29 x 2.88 x 0.30 in)160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.29 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight173 g (6.10 oz)228 g (8.04 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HDR), 1100 nits (peak)Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7 nm)Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUMali-G77 MC9Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12, ColorOS 12iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Quad64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
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)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS, HDR4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10‑bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging65W wired 5W reverse wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update
TypeLi-Po 4350 mAhLi-Ion 3687 mAh (14.13 Wh)
Misc
ColorsAstral Blue, Starry Black, Starry Dream, Star Wish RedSilver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue
ModelsPDSM00, PDST00, CPH2201A2411, A2342, A2410, A2412, iPhone13,4
PriceAbout 410 EUR$ 328.00 / C$ 549.75 / £ 270.67 / € 339.00
SAR EU-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)

Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G

  • Blazing-fast 65W wired charging
  • Competitive performance with the Dimensity 1000+
  • Potentially more affordable price point
  • Reverse wireless charging capability

  • Shorter software support lifespan compared to iPhone
  • Less established ecosystem
  • Potentially less refined camera processing

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

  • Exceptional performance with the A14 Bionic
  • Long-term software support and updates
  • Superior video recording capabilities
  • Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem

  • Slower charging speeds compared to Oppo
  • Higher price point
  • Less flexible operating system (iOS)

Display Comparison

The iPhone 12 Pro Max boasts a measured peak brightness of 822 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Reno5 Pro 5G’s display specs aren’t provided, Oppo typically focuses on color accuracy and vibrancy. The iPhone’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, delivers deep blacks and a stunning visual experience. The lack of LTPO technology in either phone means refresh rates are fixed, but the iPhone’s color calibration is generally considered best-in-class.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in camera performance, but approach it differently. The iPhone 12 Pro Max’s camera system is renowned for its computational photography and video recording capabilities. While specific sensor sizes aren’t provided, Apple’s image processing prioritizes natural-looking images with excellent dynamic range. The Reno5 Pro 5G likely features a more versatile camera setup with a focus on AI-powered scene optimization. However, the iPhone’s video recording, particularly in ProRes format (available on later iPhone models), sets a high bar for quality and flexibility. The Reno5 Pro 5G’s camera is capable, but the iPhone’s consistency and video prowess give it an edge.

Performance

The Apple A14 Bionic, fabricated on a 5nm process, demonstrably outperforms the Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7nm) in both CPU and GPU benchmarks. The A14’s hexa-core architecture (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) is optimized for sustained performance, while the Dimensity 1000+’s octa-core setup (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) prioritizes multi-tasking. The 5nm node of the A14 translates to superior thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during demanding tasks like gaming. While the Reno5 Pro 5G is no slouch, the iPhone offers a smoother, more responsive experience, particularly in graphically intensive applications.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an impressive endurance rating of 95 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the Reno5 Pro 5G). However, the charging experience is where they diverge dramatically. The Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G’s 65W wired charging is significantly faster than the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s 20W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes). The iPhone offers 15W wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi2 (with iOS 17.4), while the Reno5 Pro 5G provides 5W reverse wired charging, a useful feature for topping up accessories. The Reno5 Pro 5G’s charging speed is a major advantage for users who frequently need to quickly replenish their battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G if you need incredibly fast charging – 65W is a game-changer – and prefer the flexibility of Android. It’s a strong contender for power users who frequently top up their phones. Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max if you prioritize a seamless user experience, long-term software updates, a robust camera system, and integration with other Apple devices. It’s the safer, more polished option for those invested in the Apple ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ in the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 1000+ is a capable chipset, its 7nm process isn't as thermally efficient as the A14 Bionic's 5nm process. Expect some throttling during extended gaming, but the Reno5 Pro 5G likely incorporates cooling solutions to mitigate this. It won't be a showstopper for casual gamers, but hardcore mobile gamers may notice performance dips.
❓ How does the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s battery life hold up after two years of use, considering its 95h endurance rating was measured when new?
Apple’s battery health management features are excellent, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max is known for maintaining a respectable battery capacity even after extended use. While the initial 95h endurance rating will decrease over time, expect to still achieve a full day of moderate to heavy use after two years, especially with optimized software updates.
❓ Is the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens on the Reno5 Pro 5G a significant drawback compared to the iPhone 12 Pro Max?
The iPhone 12 Pro Max benefits from a dedicated telephoto lens, offering superior optical zoom capabilities. The Reno5 Pro 5G likely relies on digital zoom, which results in lower image quality at higher zoom levels. If telephoto photography is a priority, the iPhone is the better choice.