Ulefone Note 12P vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max: A David vs. Goliath Battle

The smartphone market offers a vast range of options, from ultra-affordable to incredibly premium. Today, we're pitting two very different devices against each other: the budget-friendly Ulefone Note 12P and the flagship Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max. This comparison will help you understand which phone best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 12 Pro Max unequivocally wins in almost every category – performance, camera quality, display, and charging speed. However, the Ulefone Note 12P offers incredible value for its price, making it a compelling option for budget-conscious users who prioritize affordability over top-tier features.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Note 12P Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 201, 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, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 Sub6 - A2410, A2411, A2412
Launch
Announced2021, October 252020, October 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, October 25Available. Released 2020, November 13
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions173.6 x 79.1 x 10.2 mm (6.83 x 3.11 x 0.40 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)
Weight237 g (8.36 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 1640 pixels (~263 ppi density)1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size6.82 inches, 110.5 cm2 (~80.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55)Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm)
ChipsetUnisoc SC9863A (28 nm)Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUIMG8322Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal64GB 4GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single8 MP-
Triple13 MP, (wide), AF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens12 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)
Video1080p@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
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 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, A2DP5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioStereo FM radio, RDS, recordingNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximityFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging10W wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update
TypeLi-Po 7700 mAhLi-Ion 3687 mAh (14.13 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, Red, BlueSilver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue
Models-A2411, A2342, A2410, A2412, iPhone13,4
PriceAbout 130 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)

Ulefone Note 12P

  • Extremely affordable
  • Decent battery life
  • Reliable for basic tasks
  • Large display (likely)

  • Underpowered chipset
  • Mediocre camera
  • Slow charging (10W)
  • Lower quality display

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

  • Blazing-fast performance (A14 Bionic)
  • Exceptional camera system
  • Stunning display
  • Fast charging (PD, MagSafe, Qi2)
  • Premium build quality

  • High price
  • Limited customization options
  • No expandable storage

Display Comparison

The iPhone 12 Pro Max boasts a significantly superior display. Its 822 nits brightness and infinite contrast ratio provide vibrant colors, excellent visibility in sunlight, and a generally more immersive viewing experience. The Ulefone Note 12P likely has a standard LCD display with lower brightness and contrast, making it adequate but not exceptional.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 12 Pro Max's camera system is renowned for its exceptional image quality, advanced features, and excellent video recording capabilities. The Ulefone Note 12P will likely offer a decent camera for casual snapshots, but it won't match the iPhone's performance in terms of detail, dynamic range, and low-light capabilities.

Performance

The A14 Bionic chip in the iPhone 12 Pro Max is in a different league compared to the Unisoc SC9863A. Expect lightning-fast app loading, smooth multitasking, and effortless handling of demanding games on the iPhone. The Ulefone Note 12P will handle everyday tasks, but may struggle with more intensive applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the iPhone 12 Pro Max achieving a remarkable 95h endurance rating. While the Ulefone Note 12P's battery capacity is likely smaller, its less demanding chipset may still provide a full day of use. The iPhone's fast charging (PD2.0, MagSafe, Qi2) is a significant advantage.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Note 12P is ideal for users seeking a reliable, affordable smartphone for basic tasks like calling, texting, social media, and light browsing. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is perfect for power users, photographers, and anyone who demands the best possible performance, camera capabilities, and a premium user experience, regardless of cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Ulefone Note 12P good for gaming?
The Ulefone Note 12P can handle basic games, but it will struggle with graphically intensive titles. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is significantly better suited for gaming.
❓ How much storage do I get with each phone?
The Ulefone Note 12P likely offers storage options around 128GB or 256GB. The iPhone 12 Pro Max comes in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB configurations.