Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs OnePlus Nord CE 4
The Verdict
iPhone 12 Pro Max commands a premium price for its superior camera system, brighter XDR display, and refined build quality with ceramic shield protection and stainless steel frame. Its A14 Bionic chip delivers exceptional performance, though limited to 60Hz refresh rate. OnePlus Nord CE 4 offers remarkable value at one-third the cost, featuring a 120Hz AMOLED display with higher peak brightness (2100 nits), larger 5500 mAh battery with blazing 100W charging, and capable Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor. Main tradeoffs: iPhone excels in imaging quality, video capabilities (Dolby Vision, 4K60fps), and ecosystem integration; OnePlus delivers superior daily performance, screen smoothness, battery endurance, and charging speeds. For professional photography and video work, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is essential. For general consumers prioritizing value and display quality, OnePlus Nord CE 4 is the smarter choice.
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 4 if…
- →100W SUPERVOOC fast charging fills the battery in about 30 minutes
- →Large 5500 mAh battery provides excellent multi-day endurance
- →Bright 2100-nit AMOLED display is outstanding for the price
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 4
Pros
- 100W SUPERVOOC fast charging fills the battery in about 30 minutes
- Large 5500 mAh battery provides excellent multi-day endurance
- Bright 2100-nit AMOLED display is outstanding for the price
- Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 handles games and multitasking well
- Lightweight and slim design at just 184 g
Cons
- No official IP rating for water or dust resistance
- Plastic build quality feels cheaper than metal-framed competitors
- 8 MP ultrawide camera is low resolution
- No wireless charging support
- Video recording capped at 4K@30fps
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | OnePlus Nord CE 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 14 (OxygenOS 14) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 226 g | 184 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, Ceramic Shield front | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm | 162.6 x 75.6 x 7.7 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, sensor-shift OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, PDAF, OIS, Sony LYT-600 |
| 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 | 5500 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 100W SUPERVOOC |
| 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 | 2100 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.63 GHz + 3x2.4 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 720 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all OnePlus products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max or the OnePlus Nord CE 4.
Press ? for keyboard shortcuts