Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs OnePlus Nord CE 3
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro Max delivers exceptional display quality with 1200 nits brightness and superior color accuracy via Super Retina XDR OLED, paired with the powerful A14 Bionic chip that outperforms the Snapdragon 782G in sustained performance. Its camera system excels with sensor-shift OIS, 2.5x optical zoom, and Dolby Vision video recording, though the OnePlus Nord CE 3 counters with a higher megapixel main camera (50MP vs 12MP) and faster 67W charging against Apple's 20W. OnePlus offers better everyday value with a 5000mAh battery versus 3687mAh, 120Hz refresh rate, and significantly lower price ($299 vs $1099). However, the iPhone's IP68 rating, premium build materials, ecosystem integration, and processing performance justify its premium for professionals. For budget-conscious users seeking reliable performance, OnePlus wins. For creatives and Apple ecosystem users, iPhone 12 Pro Max remains superior.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max if…
- →Large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display
- →Sensor-shift OIS exclusive to Pro Max
- →Excellent battery life for an iPhone
Buy the OnePlus Nord CE 3 if…
- →67W fast charging at an affordable price
- →120Hz AMOLED display looks great
- →Large 5000 mAh battery for all-day use
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Pros
- Large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display
- Sensor-shift OIS exclusive to Pro Max
- Excellent battery life for an iPhone
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording
- 5G support across sub-6 and mmWave
Cons
- No 120Hz ProMotion display
- Heavy at 226 g
- 60Hz refresh rate felt dated in 2020
- Lightning port
- No charger included in the box
OnePlus Nord CE 3
Pros
- 67W fast charging at an affordable price
- 120Hz AMOLED display looks great
- Large 5000 mAh battery for all-day use
- OIS on the main camera is unusual at this price
- Lightweight and slim for a 6.7-inch phone
Cons
- Snapdragon 782G is a mid-tier chip
- Weak 8 MP ultrawide camera
- No wireless charging
- Only Wi-Fi 5 support
- IP54 is minimal water resistance
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | OnePlus Nord CE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (OxygenOS 13.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 226 g | 193 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, Ceramic Shield front | Plastic back, aluminum frame |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP54 |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm | 163.9 x 75.0 x 8.1 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, sensor-shift OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 16 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.2, 2.5x optical zoom | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3687 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 67W SuperVOOC wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2412 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 950 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.7 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 642L |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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