vivo X50 Pro vs. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power

The vivo X50 Pro and Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. Released in 2020, the X50 Pro aimed to disrupt the market with its innovative camera and fast charging, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max doubled down on Apple’s established ecosystem and performance leadership. This comparison dissects their key differences, helping you determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and long-term software support, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is the superior choice. Its A14 Bionic chip and optimized iOS ecosystem deliver a smoother, more responsive experience. However, the vivo X50 Pro offers compelling value and faster charging for those seeking a capable Android flagship.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X50 Pro 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, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 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, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 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 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 Sub6 - A2410, A2411, A2412
Launch
Announced2020, June 01. Released 2020, June 122020, October 13
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, November 13
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions158.5 x 72.8 x 8 mm (6.24 x 2.87 x 0.31 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)
Weight181.5 g (6.42 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
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~90.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 620Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 10, Funtouch 10.5iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.1 NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Quad48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF, gimbal OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 135mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm-
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@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@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/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Virtual proximity sensingUltra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging33W wired, 57% in 30 minWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update
Type4315 mAhLi-Ion 3687 mAh (14.13 Wh)
Misc
ColorsDark Blue, Light BlueSilver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue
ModelsV2005A, 2006A2411, A2342, A2410, A2412, iPhone13,4
PriceAbout 440 EUR$ 328.00 / C$ 549.75 / £ 270.67 / € 339.00
SAR EU0.34 W/kg (head)     0.88 W/kg (body)0.99 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM-$ 599.99
128GB 8GB RAMRp 5,876,500-
256GB 6GB RAM-$ 728.45
256GB 8GB RAMRp 9,499,000-
512GB 6GB RAM-$ 886.67
RENEWED-$ 627.00
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 88h Endurance rating 95h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.8 LUFS (Good) -23.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 323736 (v8) GeekBench: 1937 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 638584 (v8) GeekBench: 4240 (v5.1) GFXBench: 55fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X50 Pro

  • Faster wired charging (33W)
  • More affordable price point
  • Gimbal stabilization for smooth video

  • Less powerful processor (Snapdragon 765G)
  • Shorter software support lifespan
  • Lower peak display brightness

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

  • Industry-leading performance (A14 Bionic)
  • Superior camera image processing
  • Long-term software support (iOS)

  • Higher price
  • Slower wired charging (compared to X50 Pro)
  • Less flexible software customization

Display Comparison

Both devices feature 'Infinite' contrast ratios, typical of OLED panels. However, the iPhone 12 Pro Max boasts a significantly higher peak brightness of 822 nits compared to the vivo X50 Pro’s 503 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both offer excellent color reproduction, the iPhone’s display is known for its color accuracy, crucial for professional photo and video editing. The X50 Pro’s display, while still excellent, doesn’t reach the same level of outdoor readability.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in photography, but approach it differently. While detailed sensor specs are missing for the X50 Pro, its reputation centers around its gimbal stabilization system, providing exceptionally smooth video recording. The iPhone 12 Pro Max, with its larger sensors and advanced computational photography, delivers consistently excellent image quality in various conditions. Apple’s Deep Fusion and Smart HDR algorithms enhance detail and dynamic range. The iPhone’s video capabilities, particularly in ProRes format (available on later models), are a significant advantage for professional videographers. The X50 Pro’s camera is strong, but the iPhone’s image processing and overall consistency give it an edge.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. Apple’s A14 Bionic, fabricated on a 5nm process, demonstrably outperforms the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (7nm) in the vivo X50 Pro. The A14’s hexa-core architecture, with its 3.1 GHz Firestorm cores, provides a substantial performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. While the Snapdragon 765G is a capable mid-range processor, it cannot match the A14’s sustained performance or efficiency. The iPhone 12 Pro Max also benefits from 6GB of RAM, while the X50 Pro has 8GB, but the iOS memory management is more efficient, mitigating the RAM difference.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of approximately 95 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The vivo X50 Pro supports 33W wired charging, achieving 57% charge in 30 minutes. The iPhone 12 Pro Max, while supporting faster charging via Power Delivery (PD 2.0), only reaches 50% in 30 minutes. The iPhone also offers 15W wireless charging with MagSafe and Qi2 (with iOS 17.4), a convenience the X50 Pro lacks. The similar endurance ratings suggest that despite the different charging speeds, both phones can comfortably last a full day of moderate use.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X50 Pro if you need a versatile camera system with excellent low-light performance and prioritize fast 33W charging, all within a more affordable price range. Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max if you prefer a seamless user experience, industry-leading performance, and a robust ecosystem with guaranteed software updates, even if it means paying a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 765G in the vivo X50 Pro struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 765G can run Genshin Impact, you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a consistently smooth frame rate. The A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12 Pro Max handles these games with ease at maximum settings, demonstrating its superior GPU performance.
❓ How does the iPhone 12 Pro Max's 5G performance compare to the vivo X50 Pro's?
Both phones support 5G, but the A14 Bionic's integrated 5G modem generally offers faster and more reliable 5G connectivity. The iPhone also supports a wider range of 5G bands, ensuring compatibility with more carriers globally.
❓ Is the gimbal stabilization on the vivo X50 Pro a significant advantage for video recording?
Yes, the gimbal stabilization is a standout feature of the X50 Pro. It provides exceptionally smooth video footage, even when walking or running, minimizing camera shake. While the iPhone 12 Pro Max has excellent optical image stabilization, the gimbal system offers a noticeable improvement in video smoothness.
❓ How long will the vivo X50 Pro receive software updates?
vivo typically provides 2-3 years of major Android updates and security patches for its flagship devices. The iPhone 12 Pro Max, on the other hand, is expected to receive software updates for 5-6 years, offering a significantly longer software support lifespan.