The iPhone 16 Pro Max has just hit the market, and it’s already making waves as Apple’s latest flagship, poised to set the bar for smartphones in the year ahead. Love it or not, this device will undoubtedly become the benchmark for premium handsets, whether it’s facing off against high-end competitors like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, or going head-to-head with more affordable options that trim a few luxuries to deliver solid performance—like the OnePlus 12.
Now, don’t get us wrong—there’s a lot to love about the OnePlus 12. It’s an excellent phone, boasting an attractive design, speedy performance, and a respectable camera. It delivers tremendous value for its price, and for many users, it may pack all the punch they need without the “extra bells and whistles” found in top-tier flagships. But how does Apple’s latest heavyweight, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, stack up against the OnePlus 12? Let’s dive into the comparison.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs OnePlus 12:
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | OnePlus 12 |
|---|---|
| Titanium frame, beveled but otherwise flat sides | Slightly curved display and back panel edges |
| 6.9-inch OLED display, 120 Hz, 2,000-nit peak | 6.8-inch OLED display, 120 Hz, 4,500-nit peak |
| Apple A18 Pro, 8 GB RAM | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 12 GB, 16 GB RAM versions |
| Apple Intelligence, full AI suite coming with iOS 18 | Clean Android with the Google Assistant / eventually Gemini |
| 20 W wired charging | Superfast 80 W wired charging |
| 25 W MagSafe chardging | Very fast 50 W wireless charging |
| Triple camera, with a 5x telephoto | Triple camera, with a 3x telephoto |
| Action Button, Camera Control | Hardware mute switch on side |
Design and Display Quality
The iPhone 16 Pro Max retains a familiar design from its predecessor, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but introduces several new features. Notable additions include a Camera Control Button and the continuation of the customizable Action Button. The display has increased slightly to 6.9 inches, aided by slimmer bezels, and a new color option, Desert Titanium, has been introduced alongside the existing colors: Black, White, and Natural.
In contrast, the OnePlus 12 also resembles its predecessor, featuring softer edges with a curved display and back panel that enhance its lightweight feel. It maintains a distinctive hardware mute switch, a rarity among Android flagships, while the iPhone’s Action Button can be programmed for various functions, albeit limited to a single action.
For biometric security, the iPhone 16 Pro Max utilizes Face ID, which is known for its speed and reliability. The OnePlus 12 offers an optical under-screen fingerprint scanner, praised for its quick and accurate performance.
Color options for the OnePlus 12 include the striking Flowy Emerald and a textured Silky Black, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max emphasizes its new Desert Titanium finish in promotional materials. Both devices feature USB-C ports that support USB 3 transfer speeds, aligning with industry standards.
In terms of accessories, the OnePlus 12 includes an 80W SuperVOOC charger for rapid charging, while the iPhone comes with a braided charging cable.
Display-wise, the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a 6.9-inch OLED screen with a unique resolution of 1320 x 2868 pixels (460 PPI) and a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. It also features a minimum brightness of 1 nit, catering to nighttime users. The OnePlus 12, with a slightly smaller 6.82-inch QHD+ OLED display (3216 x 1440 pixels, 510 PPI), offers a dynamic refresh rate from 1 Hz to 120 Hz, along with customizable color settings for a tailored viewing experience.
Display Measurements:
| Device | Maximum Brightness (nits) | Minimum Brightness (nits) | Color Temperature (Kelvins) | Gamma | Delta E RGBCMY | Delta E Grayscale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | 1046 (Good) | 0.93 (Excellent) | 6174 (Excellent) | 2.21 | 2.28 (Good) | 5.66 (Average) |
| OnePlus 12 | 1120 (Good) | 1.8 (Good) | 6464 (Excellent) | 2.31 | 1.45 (Excellent) | 4.11 (Average) |
The OnePlus 12 boasts an impressive peak brightness of 4,500 nits, which raises eyebrows given its potential applications. This level of brightness is exceptional, almost questioning its necessity in everyday use. In comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, which is more than sufficient for viewing HDR content outdoors.
When it comes to average picture level (APL), which better reflects everyday scenarios like reading emails or taking photos, the OnePlus 12 achieves around 1,100 nits, slightly surpassing the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s 1,040 nits. In practical terms, both displays are bright enough for comfortable outdoor usage.
Color accuracy is another important aspect to consider, and both devices display a similar warm color cast, slightly leaning towards yellow tones. This is generally acceptable for everyday use. The iPhone features True Tone technology, which adjusts color temperature based on ambient lighting, while the OnePlus employs Nature Tone, serving a similar purpose. Both systems effectively calibrate colors to ensure a natural viewing experience.
In terms of durability, both devices come equipped with high-quality glass protection. The iPhone 16 Pro Max uses Apple’s latest Ceramic Shield, known for its impressive shatter resistance, while the OnePlus 12 is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which is also recognized for its robustness.
Overall, both the OnePlus 12 and iPhone 16 Pro Max offer outstanding display performance and durability, making them strong contenders in the flagship smartphone market.
Performance and Software
The spotlight is firmly on the iPhone 16 series, particularly the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is powered by Apple’s latest A18 Pro chip. Built on an advanced 3 nm process, the A18 Pro promises enhanced performance and energy efficiency compared to last year’s A17 Pro. Notably, Apple has also improved the thermal management of the A18 Pro, resulting in a 20% boost in sustained performance—a critical upgrade given that the A17 Pro struggled to maintain peak speeds over extended periods.
The A18 Pro features a robust 6-core GPU with hardware ray tracing capabilities, positioning it as a formidable contender in mobile gaming. Apple highlighted this potential during its launch event, emphasizing the availability of titles like Resident Evil: Village, Death Stranding, and Assassin’s Creed: Mirage on the App Store, with more likely to follow.
On the other hand, the OnePlus 12 is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, utilizing a 4 nm process. While it may not match the A18 Pro in terms of raw power, it remains a significant performer, closely rivaling last year’s A17 Pro. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 also supports ray tracing, enhancing the gaming experience, although the Android ecosystem has yet to secure partnerships with major console game developers. Nonetheless, the OnePlus 12 excels in running popular titles like Hoyoverse games and Arena Breakout.
In terms of RAM and storage, the OnePlus 12 offers configurations of 12 GB and 16 GB of RAM, with storage options of 256 GB and 512 GB. The iPhone 16 Pro Max provides 8 GB of RAM across its storage tiers, which include 256 GB, 512 GB, and a generous 1 TB option.
In summary, both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and OnePlus 12 showcase cutting-edge processing power and gaming capabilities. The iPhone’s A18 Pro chip focuses on sustained high performance and a growing catalog of console-quality games, while the OnePlus 12 leverages the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for versatile gaming and multitasking within the Android ecosystem. Each device caters to different user preferences, making them top contenders in the flagship smartphone market.
Performance Benchmarks:
| Benchmark | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | OnePlus 12 |
|---|
| Geekbench 6 (Single) | 3331 | 2243 |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi) | 8106 | 6767 |
| 3DMark Extreme (High) | 4567 | 5047 |
| 3DMark Extreme (Low) | 3009 | 2744 |
The performance landscape of the latest smartphones reveals some intriguing dynamics between the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the OnePlus 12.
In terms of raw power, the iPhone 16 Pro Max showcases impressive CPU capabilities, evident in its high GeekBench scores. The A18 Pro chip, while peaking significantly during initial benchmarks, does exhibit throttling similar to last year’s A17 Pro. However, it maintains a consistent performance level around 3,000 points over 20 cycles in the 3DMark stress test, indicating solid sustained performance.
The OnePlus 12, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, achieves impressive results in 3DMark as well, reaching higher peak scores than the iPhone initially. However, it ultimately falls short in terms of sustained performance, throttling below the iPhone’s minimum scores during extended testing. This highlights the trade-off between peak performance and thermal management in high-demand scenarios.
On the software side, the iPhone 16 Pro Max runs on iOS 18, featuring “Apple Intelligence” capabilities that were showcased at WWDC. These include advanced generative photo editing, a “magic eraser” tool, enhanced text composition, and even a ChatGPT integration with Siri. Apple has promised a gradual rollout of these AI features, with iOS 18.1 set to introduce many of them.
Conversely, the OnePlus 12 operates on Android 14, recently updated with the Gemini Assistant. While Google aims to integrate AI across the Android ecosystem, the OnePlus 12 currently offers a more limited AI experience compared to the forthcoming capabilities of iOS 18.
Connectivity is another area where both devices shine. The iPhone 16 Pro Max supports Wi-Fi 7, enabling faster connections and robust multi-channel transfers across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands. The OnePlus 12 is also equipped for Wi-Fi 7, positioning both phones to take advantage of this next-gen standard.
In conclusion, while both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and OnePlus 12 boast remarkable performance and advanced features, the iPhone excels in sustained processing power and AI integration. The OnePlus 12, while powerful in its own right, faces limitations in prolonged performance and AI capabilities. As both devices leverage the latest connectivity standards, they stand out as top contenders in the premium smartphone market.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs OnePlus 12 Camera
Square stove, round stove — what’s the difference?
The iPhone 16 Pro Max features a versatile camera system that includes a 48 MP main camera, an upgraded 48 MP ultra-wide camera with autofocus for macro photography, and a 12 MP telephoto camera equipped with a 5x tetraprism lens. This setup allows for various zoom options by digitally cropping the sensors, providing seamless transitions between 0.6x, 1x, 2x, 3x, and 5x magnifications.
In comparison, the OnePlus 12 maintains its partnership with Hasselblad for its camera branding, but introduces a new 50 MP Sony LYT-808 sensor that uses innovative dual-layer technology to capture more light. The ultra-wide camera also features a 50 MP sensor with autofocus for macro shots. Additionally, the OnePlus 12 includes a 64 MP telephoto camera, which can crop into its sensor to achieve “lossless” 6x zoom images.
Both smartphones offer advanced camera capabilities tailored for a range of photography needs, but they employ different technologies and specifications to enhance their imaging performance.
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | OnePlus 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48 MP, F1.78 | 50 MP, F1.6 |
| Ultra-wide | 48 MP, F2.2 | 50 MP, F2.2 |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, F2.8, 5x zoom | 64 MP 3.0x zoom |
PhoneArena Camera Score:
| Phone | Camera Score |
Photo Score |
Main (wide) |
Ultra Wide |
Selfie | Zoom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | 154 | 158 | 82 | 24 | 28 | 25 |
| OnePlus 12 | 145 | 152 | 79 | 21 | 27 | 25 |
Apple has made significant strides in camera technology with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, particularly through its Photographic Styles feature. This allows users to customize photo processing, offering options for punchier colors and increased contrast. The latest iteration provides even finer control over color settings, enabling users to save and quickly recall their custom setups using the new Camera Control Button.
While this feature gives an illusion of customization, it remains somewhat restrictive, as the available adjustments are pre-determined. Nonetheless, it offers a degree of personalization that many users will appreciate.
The Camera Control Button, although it sounds innovative, may not drastically enhance the shooting experience. Its flush design makes it awkward to press, often leading users to revert to the traditional software shutter button.
When it comes to video capabilities, the iPhone 16 Pro Max continues its tradition of excellence, supporting 4K recording at 120 FPS for smooth, high-quality slow motion. In contrast, the OnePlus 12 can record in 8K at 24 FPS, appealing to those seeking higher resolution video.
Audio quality has also been a focus for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which features a “studio-quality” 4-mic array designed to reduce wind noise. While the term may be marketing fluff, the new Audio Mix editor offers three presets that effectively manage background noise and enhance vocal clarity, allowing for better stereo positioning in recordings.
Overall, both smartphones offer impressive camera and video features, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max stands out with its thoughtful software enhancements and audio capabilities.
Battery Life and Charging
No fast charging, meet VOOC charging
Teardowns reveal that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is equipped with a 4,685 mAh battery, the largest ever in an iPhone. Thanks to iOS’s energy efficiency and optimizations, users can easily achieve up to two days of battery life with casual use.
In comparison, the OnePlus 12 features an impressive 5,400 mAh battery, surpassing the 5,000 mAh mark. Remarkably, this is achieved without compromising the phone’s slim and lightweight design. Battery tests confirm that the OnePlus 12 also offers around two days of usage, making it a strong contender in battery performance.
PhoneArena Battery:
| Phone | Battery Life estimate |
Browsing | Video | Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
4685 mAh
|
8h 30min | 22h 39min | 10h 24min | 12h 4min |
| OnePlus 12
5400 mAh
|
8h 9min | 18h 14min | 13h 37min | 9h 43min |
Charging Test Results
| Phone | Full Charging | 30 min Charge | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wired | Wireless | Wired | Wireless | |
| OnePlus 12
5400 mAh
|
0h 37min | Untested | 89% | Untested |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
4685 mAh
|
1h 42min | 1h 58min | 57% | 42% |
Benchmark tests reveal that the iPhone 16 Pro Max can deliver an impressive 10 hours of consistent screen-on time, comparable to iPad levels of battery endurance. This makes it an excellent choice for users who rely on heavy, constant usage throughout the day. Both the iPhone and OnePlus 12 can easily last a full working day without needing a recharge, and using a Qi2 charger can further extend their battery life.
However, those hoping for significant fast charging improvements in the iPhone will be disappointed, as the iPhone 16 Pro Max still caps out at 20W for wired charging and 25W for MagSafe wireless charging.
In contrast, the OnePlus 12 features a 100 W SuperVOOC charger, enabling it to charge from 0% to 100% in just 37 minutes. It also supports 50W wireless charging when paired with a compatible OnePlus charging pad. This makes the OnePlus 12 an ideal option for those who may forget to charge their device, as its rapid charging capabilities provide a quick solution, while the iPhone’s slower charging speeds may leave users waiting longer
Audio Quality and Haptics
The iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts impressive audio performance, featuring speakers that are surprisingly powerful and detailed. They deliver loud, rich sound with excellent bass, rivaling that of a medium-sized Bluetooth speaker, making them great for listening to music.
In contrast, the OnePlus 12‘s speakers are merely adequate. They tend to sound tinny and compressed, with a harshness in the upper midrange, which is fine for casual YouTube viewing but not as impressive for music.
When it comes to haptics, both devices offer a satisfying tactile response with each interaction. Users will find no issues with feedback speed or accuracy, enhancing the overall user experience.
Specs Comparison
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | OnePlus 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Size, weight | 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches (163.0 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm) 8.01 oz (227.0 g) |
6.47 x 2.98 x 0.36 inches (164.3 x 75.8 x 9.15 mm) 7.76 oz (220.0 g) |
| Screen | 6.9″ OLED LTOP 1-120 Hz 2,000-nit peak brightness |
6.8″ OLED LTPO 1-120Hz 4,500-nit peak brightness |
| Processor | Apple A18 Pro 3 nm |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 4 nm |
| Storage, RAM, Price | 256 GB / 8 GB / $1,199 512 GB / 8 GB / $1,399 1 TB / 8 GB / $1,599 |
256 GB / 12 GB / $799.99 512 GB / 16 GB / $899.99 |
| Cameras | Wide: 48 MP, F1.78 Ultra-wide: 48 MP, F2.2 Telephoto: 12 MP, 5xFront: 12 MP |
Wide: 50 MP, F1.6 Ultra-wide: 50 MP, F2.2 Telephoto: 64 MP, 3xFront: 32 MP |
| Battery | 4,685 mAh | 5,400 mAh |
| Charging | USB-C 20 W wired 25 W MagSafe 15 W Qi2 |
USB-C 80 W wired 50 W wireless |
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs OnePlus 12 Summary
In all fairness, the OnePlus 12 is now about nine months old, making a direct comparison with the iPhone 16 Pro Max somewhat uneven. A more accurate matchup will occur when we see the OnePlus 13, expected in early 2025 if release schedules hold.
For now, the OnePlus 12 presents a solid alternative to the newly launched iPhone 16 Pro Max, a flagship that may feel less groundbreaking after its “Glowtime” presentation.
The consensus is that the OnePlus 12 is “pretty good!” While it has an MSRP of $800, it can often be found for around $650, nearly half the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Despite the lower cost, the OnePlus 12 is far from a lesser device; it offers a snappy performance, an attractive design, and a high-quality display.
Is the iPhone “better“? Yes, it features a superior camera, enhanced speakers, and software advantages depending on your preference for iOS. However, it’s debatable whether the iPhone is truly worth twice the price of the OnePlus 12.
While the OnePlus 12 may not be an “iPhone killer,” it certainly stands out as a viable and impressive option for those looking to avoid the $1,000 threshold that many flagship devices now comfortably surpass.