vivo V23e 5G vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max: A Clash of Titans
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone 12 Pro Max offers superior performance, a more polished ecosystem, and a generally better camera experience. However, the vivo V23e 5G provides excellent value with its fast charging and competitive features at a significantly lower price point. It's a clear win for Apple in overall quality, but vivo offers compelling affordability.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo V23e 5G | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 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 | 1, 3, 28, 40, 41, 78 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 |
| CDMA 800 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 Sub6 - A2410, A2411, A2412 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, November 23 | 2020, October 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, December 01 | Available. Released 2020, November 13 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 160.9 x 74.3 x 7.4 mm (6.33 x 2.93 x 0.29 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 + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 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 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~83.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm) | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 11, Funtouch 12 | iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM |
| - | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | 44 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF | - |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | 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 | 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 | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 44 MP, f/2.0, (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 | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 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 | 44W wired, 69% in 30 min | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update |
| Type | 4050 mAh | Li-Ion 3687 mAh (14.13 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Sunshine Coast (Sunshine Gold), Moonlight Shadow (Midnight Blue) | Silver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue |
| Models | V2126 | A2411, A2342, A2410, A2412, iPhone13,4 |
| Price | About 350 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) |
vivo V23e 5G
- Fast 44W Charging
- Affordable Price
- Decent Camera
- 5G Connectivity
- Lower Performance
- Less Premium Build
- Camera Not as Good as iPhone
- Display Not as Bright
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
- Exceptional Performance (A14 Bionic)
- Premium Build Quality
- Excellent Camera System
- Long Battery Life
- Seamless iOS Ecosystem
- High Price
- Slower Wired Charging
- No Expandable Storage
Display Comparison
The iPhone 12 Pro Max boasts a stunning display with a measured peak brightness of 822 nits and an infinite contrast ratio, delivering vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The vivo V23e 5G's display is respectable but lacks the same level of brightness and contrast. While the V23e likely has a good resolution, it doesn't match the ProMotion technology found in some iPhone models.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable cameras, but the iPhone 12 Pro Max generally produces higher-quality photos and videos. Its computational photography is more advanced, resulting in better dynamic range and detail. The V23e 5G's camera is still good for social media and casual photography, but it doesn't compete with the iPhone's overall image quality and video recording capabilities.
Performance
Here, the iPhone 12 Pro Max absolutely dominates. The A14 Bionic chip is significantly more powerful than the Mediatek Dimensity 810, offering smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and superior gaming performance. The iPhone's hexa-core architecture also provides a noticeable edge in demanding tasks.
Battery Life
The iPhone 12 Pro Max shines with an impressive endurance rating of 95 hours. While the V23e 5G's battery life is decent, it doesn't reach the same level. The V23e's 44W charging is faster than the iPhone's wired charging, but the iPhone offers wireless charging options (MagSafe and Qi2).
Buying Guide
The vivo V23e 5G is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize fast charging and a decent camera. It's a great choice for everyday tasks and social media. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is perfect for users who demand top-tier performance, a premium build quality, and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, and are willing to pay a premium.