Ulefone Note 12P vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max: A David vs. Goliath Battle

The smartphone market offers a vast range of options, from ultra-affordable devices to premium flagships. This comparison pits the budget-friendly Ulefone Note 12P against Apple's powerhouse, the iPhone 14 Pro Max. We'll break down the key differences to help you determine which phone best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 14 Pro Max utterly dominates in performance, camera quality, and display technology. However, the Ulefone Note 12P offers incredible value for money, providing essential features at a fraction of the price. It's a clear win for Apple, but a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Note 12P Apple iPhone 14 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2894, A2896
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2894, A2896
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, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2895
Launch
Announced2021, October 252022, September 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, October 25Available. Released 2022, September 16
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)160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 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)
Weight237 g (8.36 oz)240 g (8.47 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)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.82 inches, 110.5 cm2 (~80.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
 -Always-On display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55)Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
ChipsetUnisoc SC9863A (28 nm)Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
GPUIMG8322Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal64GB 4GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single8 MP12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple13 MP, (wide), AF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF 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), ProRes, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 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, A2DP5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, 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 Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging10W wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Po 7700 mAhLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, Red, BlueSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
Models-A2894, A2651, A2893, A2895, A2896, iphone15,3
PriceAbout 130 EUR€ 530.79 / $ 489.81 / £ 446.75
SAR-1.15 W/kg (head)     1.07 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 121h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 955884 (v9) GeekBench: 5423 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Ulefone Note 12P

  • Excellent performance
  • Exceptional camera
  • Stunning display
  • Fast charging
  • Premium build quality
  • Long software support

  • High price
  • No expandable storage

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

  • Affordable price
  • Decent battery life
  • Large display
  • Expandable storage (likely)

  • Weak performance
  • Basic camera
  • Lower quality display
  • Slow charging
  • Less premium build

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a stunning Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz) and a peak brightness of 1760 nits, offering incredible clarity and vibrant colors. Its contrast ratio is effectively infinite. The Ulefone Note 12P likely features a standard LCD display with lower resolution and brightness, providing a functional but less impressive visual experience. The iPhone's display is in a different league.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max's camera system is renowned for its exceptional image quality, advanced features like Cinematic mode, and impressive video recording capabilities. The Ulefone Note 12P's camera is likely adequate for casual snapshots but lacks the sophistication and performance of the iPhone.

Performance

The A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a performance beast, easily handling demanding games and applications. The Unisoc SC9863A in the Ulefone Note 12P is a budget chipset, suitable for basic tasks but struggling with intensive workloads. Expect significant lag and slower app loading times on the Ulefone.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive endurance ratings (121h). However, the iPhone 14 Pro Max benefits from faster charging speeds with PD2.0 and wireless charging (MagSafe and Qi2), providing greater convenience.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Note 12P is ideal for users seeking a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light social media use. It's a great secondary device or a first smartphone for someone on a tight budget. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is for users who demand the best possible performance, camera capabilities, and a premium user experience, regardless of cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Ulefone Note 12P a good phone for gaming?
No, the Ulefone Note 12P's chipset isn't powerful enough for demanding games. It's better suited for basic tasks and casual games.
❓ How much does the Ulefone Note 12P cost compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max?
The Ulefone Note 12P is significantly cheaper, typically costing under $200, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max retails for over $1000.