Apple iPhone XS Max vs Honor 90
The Verdict
Comparing these phones reveals a significant generational and pricing gap. The iPhone XS Max, released in 2018, features Apple's A12 Bionic processor with 4GB RAM, a 6.5-inch 60Hz OLED display at 725 nits, and a dual 12MP camera system with 2x optical zoom. Battery capacity sits at 3174 mAh with 7.5W wireless charging. It's built with premium stainless steel and boasts IP68 water resistance, running iOS 12. The Honor 90, at less than half the price, packs a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 with 8-12GB RAM, a larger 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display punching 1600 nits brightness, and a flagship 200MP main camera with ultrawide capabilities. Its 5000 mAh battery charges at 66W, and connectivity includes 5G and Wi-Fi 6. While the iPhone XS Max delivers superior processor performance, tighter software integration, and premium build materials, the Honor 90 crushes it on raw specs: larger display, higher refresh rate, much brighter screen, dramatically better camera megapixel count, bigger battery, and faster charging. For modern use cases, the Honor 90 offers exceptional value. Professionals choosing iOS and ecosystem benefits might justify the iPhone XS Max, but purely on capability-to-price ratio, the Honor 90 is the clear winner for most users.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone XS Max if…
- →Largest iPhone display at the time (6.5 inches)
- →Dual SIM with eSIM support introduced
- →Gorgeous Super Retina OLED display
Buy the Honor 90 if…
- →200 MP main sensor captures incredibly detailed photos in daylight
- →1.5K AMOLED display with 1600-nit brightness is vibrant and sharp
- →66W fast charging fills the battery in about 45 minutes
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone XS Max
Pros
- Largest iPhone display at the time (6.5 inches)
- Dual SIM with eSIM support introduced
- Gorgeous Super Retina OLED display
- A12 Bionic with first 7nm mobile chip
- Stereo speakers with wide sound
Cons
- No ultrawide camera
- 5W charger in the box
- Very expensive starting at $1099
- No Night mode in camera
- No Wi-Fi 6 support
Honor 90
Pros
- 200 MP main sensor captures incredibly detailed photos in daylight
- 1.5K AMOLED display with 1600-nit brightness is vibrant and sharp
- 66W fast charging fills the battery in about 45 minutes
- Slim and lightweight at 7.8 mm and 183 g
- 50 MP front camera delivers excellent selfies
Cons
- No water or dust resistance rating
- 200 MP mode produces huge files with limited low-light gains
- No telephoto camera for zoom photography
- MagicOS software can feel bloated
- No wireless charging at any price tier
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone XS Max | Honor 90 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 12 | Android 13 (MagicOS 7.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 208 g | 183 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, glass front and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm | 161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 200 MP, f/1.9, OIS, PDAF |
| Front camera | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 50 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom | — |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB / 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3174 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 66W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.5 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina OLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2688 x 1242 | 2664 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 725 | 1600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz + 4x1.6 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz + 3x2.36 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 644 |
| Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
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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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