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Apple iPhone XS Max vs Honor 90

Updated Apr 2026phones
Apple iPhone XS Max
Apple
Apple iPhone XS Max
$1,099
7.8/10
VS
Honor 90
Honor
Honor 90
$449
8.6/10
Winner

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.

ValueHonor 90
CameraHonor 90
BatteryHonor 90
DisplayHonor 90
PerformanceXS Max

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

Apple iPhone XS Max
Honor 90
Value
6.2
9.3
Camera
8.0
8.8
Battery
6.5
9.0
Display
8.2
9.1
Performance
8.9
7.9

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

SpecApple iPhone XS MaxHonor 90
SoftwareiOS 12Android 13 (MagicOS 7.1)
Body
Weight208 g183 g
MaterialStainless steel frame, glass backAluminum frame, glass front and back
IP ratingIP68None
Dimensions157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm
Camera
Main camera12 MP, f/1.8, OIS200 MP, f/1.9, OIS, PDAF
Front camera7 MP, f/2.250 MP, f/2.4
Video4K@60fps4K@30fps
Telephoto12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom
Ultrawide12 MP, f/2.2
Memory
RAM4 GB8 GB / 12 GB
Storage options64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB256 GB, 512 GB
Battery
Capacity3174 mAh5000 mAh
Charging18W wired (adapter sold separately)66W wired
Wireless charging7.5W QiNo
Display
Size6.5 inches6.7 inches
TypeSuper Retina OLEDAMOLED
Resolution2688 x 12422664 x 1200
Refresh rate60Hz120Hz
Brightness (nits)7251600
Processor
CPUHexa-core (2x2.5 GHz + 4x1.6 GHz)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz + 3x2.36 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz)
GPUApple GPU (4-core)Adreno 644
ChipsetApple A12 BionicQualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition
Connectivity
5G
NFC
USBLightningUSB-C 2.0
Wi-FiWi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.05.2

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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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