vivo X60 (China) vs. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power

The vivo X60, with its Exynos 1080 chipset, represented a significant push for Android flagships in the Chinese market. Now, with the iPhone 12 Pro Max seeing price drops, the question arises: can the X60 compete with Apple’s established ecosystem and powerful A14 Bionic? This comparison dives deep into the core differences, focusing on performance, camera capabilities, and overall user experience.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing long-term software support, a refined ecosystem, and consistently strong resale value, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max remains the superior choice. However, the vivo X60 offers compelling performance at a potentially lower price point, making it a viable option for Android enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X60 (China) 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, 18, 19, 26, 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, December 29. Released 2021, January 082020, October 13
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, November 13
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frameGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions159.6 x 75 x 7.4 mm (6.28 x 2.95 x 0.29 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)
Weight175.6 g (6.21 oz)228 g (8.04 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Ceramic 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 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm)
ChipsetExynos 1080 (5 nm)Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP10Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11, OriginOS 1.0iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 3.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, Pixel Shift, LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Quad48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide)-
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, 24mm (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
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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 wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update
Type4300 mAhLi-Ion 3687 mAh (14.13 Wh)
Misc
ColorsGray, Aurora, WhiteSilver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue
ModelsV2046AA2411, A2342, A2410, A2412, iPhone13,4
PriceAbout 440 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 X60 (China)

  • Faster wired charging (33W)
  • Potentially lower price point
  • Gimbal stabilization for smoother video

  • Limited global software support
  • Less established brand reputation
  • Uncertain long-term software updates

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

  • Superior performance (A14 Bionic)
  • Excellent camera system with Dolby Vision
  • Long-term software support and ecosystem

  • Slower wired charging
  • Higher price
  • Less customization options (iOS)

Display Comparison

The iPhone 12 Pro Max boasts a measured peak brightness of 822 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the vivo X60’s display specs aren’t provided, vivo typically prioritizes color accuracy and vibrancy. The iPhone’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, characteristic of OLED panels, delivers deep blacks and a stunning visual experience. The lack of LTPO technology in either device means refresh rates are fixed, but the iPhone’s color calibration is generally considered industry-leading.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in photography and videography, but approach it differently. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is renowned for its computational photography, delivering consistently excellent results in various lighting conditions. While specific sensor details for the X60 are missing, its camera system is known for its Gimbal stabilization, offering superior video smoothness. The iPhone’s video recording capabilities are particularly strong, supporting Dolby Vision HDR. The X60 likely focuses on a more vibrant, saturated image profile, typical of vivo’s aesthetic. The absence of detailed sensor information for the X60 makes a direct comparison difficult, but the iPhone’s established reputation and advanced features give it an edge.

Performance

Both devices utilize 5nm fabrication processes, but the architectural differences are significant. The iPhone 12 Pro Max’s A14 Bionic employs a hexa-core configuration (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm), optimized for both peak performance and efficiency. The vivo X60’s Exynos 1080 uses an octa-core setup (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). While the Exynos has more cores, Apple’s custom CPU design and tighter software integration give the A14 a clear advantage in sustained performance and single-core tasks. The iPhone’s 6GB of RAM is matched by the X60, but iOS’s memory management is generally more efficient.

Battery Life

The iPhone 12 Pro Max achieves an impressive endurance rating of 95 hours, indicating excellent battery life. The vivo X60’s battery capacity is not specified, but its 33W wired charging is significantly faster than the iPhone’s wired charging (50% in 30 min). The iPhone also supports 15W wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi2 (with iOS 17.4), offering convenience. However, the iPhone’s superior battery optimization and larger capacity likely translate to longer real-world usage, despite the X60’s faster charging speeds.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X60 (China) if you need a powerful Android experience with fast charging and are comfortable with the Chinese software ecosystem and potential limitations in global support. Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max if you prefer a seamless user experience, guaranteed software updates for years to come, and a best-in-class camera system with exceptional video recording capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1080 in the vivo X60 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 1080 is a capable chipset, it's known to generate more heat than Apple's A-series chips under sustained load. The vivo X60's cooling system may mitigate this, but users should expect some throttling during extended gaming sessions, potentially impacting frame rates.
❓ How does the iPhone 12 Pro Max's MagSafe charging compare to standard Qi wireless charging?
MagSafe offers a more secure connection and faster wireless charging speeds (15W) compared to standard Qi wireless charging (7.5W on the iPhone 12 Pro Max). The magnetic alignment ensures optimal charging efficiency and allows for the attachment of accessories.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specs for the vivo X60 a significant drawback?
Yes, the absence of sensor size and aperture information makes it difficult to objectively compare the X60's camera to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. While vivo is known for its camera technology, the iPhone's established reputation and consistent performance provide more confidence for demanding users.
❓ What are the implications of buying a China-specific model like the vivo X60 outside of China?
Buying a China-specific model may result in limited or no official warranty support in other regions. Software updates might be delayed or unavailable, and the device may not be fully compatible with local network bands. Furthermore, the software experience will likely be tailored for the Chinese market.