vivo S21 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: A Detailed Comparison of Power and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the vivo S21 Pro offers a compelling package. Its significantly faster 90W charging and the raw processing power of the Dimensity 9300+ outweigh the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s established software ecosystem, particularly given the price difference. However, iOS devotees will still find value in the iPhone’s polished experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo S21 Pro | Apple iPhone 12 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, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2342 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - A2342 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2020, October 13 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2020, November 13 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, glass back | Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | - | 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 + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | - | 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 |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 | 6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.25 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720) | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm) | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Immortalis-G720 MC12 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 15, OriginOS 5 | iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | Up to 512GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM |
| - | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Ring-LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.9, (telephoto), 1/1.95", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) | 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) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@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 | Dual-LED flash, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), AF | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| 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/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 90W wired, PD Reverse wired | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 5500 mAh | Li-Ion 3687 mAh (14.13 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray; other colors | Silver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue |
| Models | - | A2411, A2342, A2410, A2412, iPhone13,4 |
| Price | - | $ 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) |
vivo S21 Pro
- Significantly faster 90W charging
- More powerful Dimensity 9300+ processor
- Likely more modern display technology (adaptive refresh rate)
- Reverse wired charging capability
- Uncertainty regarding camera performance without detailed specs
- Android ecosystem vs. iOS
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
- Polished and mature iOS ecosystem
- Excellent battery life (95h endurance rating)
- Proven camera performance and image processing
- Long-term software support
- Slower charging speed
- Older A14 Bionic chip
- Limited to 60Hz display refresh rate
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
The iPhone 12 Pro Max boasts a measured peak brightness of 822 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the S21 Pro’s display specs are not provided, vivo typically equips its 'Pro' models with vibrant AMOLED panels. The iPhone’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) delivers deep blacks and vivid colors. However, the lack of LTPO technology on the iPhone 12 Pro Max means it’s limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, while many modern Android phones, including likely the S21 Pro, offer adaptive refresh rates for smoother scrolling and animations. This difference impacts the perceived fluidity of the user experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are described as having capable photo/video systems, but specifics are limited. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is known for its excellent image processing and cinematic mode for video recording. Without sensor size or aperture details for the S21 Pro, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, modern vivo phones often prioritize high megapixel counts and advanced computational photography. The iPhone’s strength lies in its consistent, natural-looking images, while the S21 Pro may lean towards more vibrant, processed results. The absence of detailed camera specs for the S21 Pro makes a definitive judgment impossible.
Performance
The Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ in the vivo S21 Pro, fabricated on a 4nm process, represents a significant leap in mobile processing. Its octa-core configuration, featuring Cortex-X4 cores, is designed for sustained peak performance. In contrast, the Apple A14 Bionic (5nm) utilizes a hexa-core design. While the A14 remains a potent chip, the Dimensity 9300+’s newer architecture and higher clock speeds (3.25 GHz vs 3.1 GHz) suggest a performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks. The S21 Pro’s likely use of LPDDR5x RAM further enhances memory bandwidth compared to the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s LPDDR4. Thermal management will be key; the 4nm node of the Dimensity 9300+ should offer better efficiency, but sustained loads will reveal its true capabilities.
Battery Life
The iPhone 12 Pro Max achieved an endurance rating of 95 hours, indicating excellent battery life for its time. The S21 Pro’s battery capacity is not specified, but its 90W wired charging is a game-changer. This allows for a full charge in a fraction of the time compared to the iPhone’s 50% charge in 30 minutes via PD2.0. While the iPhone supports 15W wireless charging (MagSafe/Qi2), the S21 Pro also offers reverse wired charging, adding to its versatility. The faster charging speed of the S21 Pro effectively mitigates any potential disadvantage from a smaller battery capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo S21 Pro if you prioritize blazing-fast charging, cutting-edge processor performance for demanding tasks, and value for money. It’s ideal for power users, gamers, and those who frequently transfer large files. Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max if you prefer the seamless integration of the iOS ecosystem, long-term software support, and a proven track record of reliability, and are willing to pay a premium for it.