Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs POCO M5s
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro Max commands a significant premium with its flagship A14 Bionic processor delivering superior performance, a brighter XDR OLED display at 1200 nits, and comprehensive camera versatility including 2.5x telephoto with sensor-shift OIS. Video capabilities are notably advanced with 4K at 60fps and Dolby Vision HDR support. However, the device lacks modern conveniences like USB-C and wireless charging speeds lag competitors. POCO M5s presents exceptional value with a larger 5000mAh battery, faster 33W charging, and AMOLED technology at one-fifth the price, though its MediaTek processor and basic 1080p video recording prove limiting for demanding tasks. Build quality differs substantially: iPhone 12 Pro Max uses premium stainless steel and ceramic shield versus plastic construction on the POCO. For professionals and power users prioritizing camera excellence and ecosystem integration, the iPhone 12 Pro Max justifies its cost. Budget-conscious buyers seeking everyday performance and battery endurance should choose the POCO M5s.
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 POCO M5s if…
- →AMOLED display at $199 is exceptional — deep blacks and vibrant colors
- →Large 5000 mAh battery lasts two days with moderate use
- →64 MP main camera takes good daylight photos
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
POCO M5s
Pros
- AMOLED display at $199 is exceptional — deep blacks and vibrant colors
- Large 5000 mAh battery lasts two days with moderate use
- 64 MP main camera takes good daylight photos
- 33W fast charging is quick for the price range
- Slim and lightweight at 178.8 g
Cons
- No 5G — limited to 4G LTE
- 60Hz display feels dated compared to 90Hz competitors
- Helio G95 struggles with demanding games
- 2 MP macro and depth cameras are filler
- No water resistance rating
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | POCO M5s |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 12 (MIUI 13) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 226 g | 178.8 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, Ceramic Shield front | Plastic frame and back, glass front |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm | 159.9 x 73.9 x 8.29 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, sensor-shift OIS | 64 MP, f/1.79, PDAF |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 13 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 1080p@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.2, 2.5x optical zoom | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Depth | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 4 GB / 6 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3687 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 33W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.43 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 700 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz + 6x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G76 MC4 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | MediaTek Helio G95 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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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