Smartphone Comparison: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max vs. Motorola Edge 50 Fusion
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 158 × 77.8 × 8.1 mm | 161.9 × 73.1 × 7.9 mm | Motorola is taller and narrower, iPhone is wider; similar thickness. |
| Weight | 226g | 174.9g | Motorola is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | Motorola has a slightly larger screen, providing more screen real estate. |
| Resolution | 1242x2688 | 1080x2400 | iPhone has significantly sharper images and text due to higher pixel density. |
| PPI | 458 | 393 | iPhone display will appear noticeably sharper and more detailed. |
| Technology | OLED | P-OLED | Similar quality display tech with vibrant colours and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Motorola display offers smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 1600 nits | Motorola display is much more visible outdoors under bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) | Different architectures; iPhone's A13 performs better on benchmarks, but actual day-to-day difference may be marginal. |
| AnTuTu Score | 916,151 | 776,541 | iPhone scores higher, indicating potentially snappier performance. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 710 | Different GPU architectures, both capable of handling modern apps and games. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 50MP | Motorola captures more detailed photos, especially in well-lit conditions. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | 1/1.56" | Motorola has a larger sensor, which improves low-light performance and dynamic range. |
| Telephoto Lens | Yes | No | iPhone offers optical zoom for better quality zoomed-in photos and portraits. |
| Wide Angle Lens | Yes | No | iPhone offers an ultra-wide field of view for landscape and group shots. |
| Macro Lens | No | Yes | Motorola enables detailed close-up photography. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 12MP | 32MP | Motorola captures higher-resolution selfies. |
| Video Recording | 4K up to 60fps | 4K up to 30fps | Both offer excellent video quality with stabilisation. |
| DXOMark Score (Mobile) | 122 | N/A | iPhone's camera quality has been extensively tested, achieving high scores. |
| DXOMark Score (Selfie) | 122 | N/A | iPhone's front camera quality has been extensively tested, achieving high scores. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 3969mAh | 5000mAh | Motorola likely offers significantly longer battery life per charge. |
| Charging Speed | 18W | 68W | Motorola charges much faster reducing downtime. |
| Features | Wireless charging, reverse charging | Reverse charging | iPhone has wireless charging, Motorola has faster wired charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | iOS 13 (upgradable to iOS 18) | Android 14 (upgradable to Android 17) | Different ecosystems with unique features and app availability. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E | Motorola supports newer WiFi standards for faster, more reliable connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | Motorola has a newer Bluetooth version for improved audio and connectivity. |
| GPS | Multiple | Multiple + advanced systems | Motorola has more advanced satellite positioning capabilities. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM) | Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM) | Both offer dual SIM capabilities for flexibility. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 64, 256, 512GB | 128, 256, 512GB | Both offer plenty of storage; Motorola starts with 128GB, iPhone starts with 64GB. |
| RAM | 4GB | 8GB or 12GB | Motorola offers significantly more RAM for smoother multitasking and performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports microSD cards. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, noise cancellation microphone | Dolby Atmos, 2 microphones | Both have stereo speakers, but iPhone has better noise cancellation while Motorola has dual mics. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic security | Fingerprint sensor | Motorola has fingerprint sensor for convenient and secure unlocking. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Gorilla Glass 5 | Motorola has better screen protection against scratches and drops. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Barometer, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity | Motorola offers fingerprint sensor for biometric security and Apple offers additional environment sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Significantly higher resolution and PPI for more detailed visuals, ideal for content consumption.
- Telephoto and Wide Angle Lenses: Offers more versatile photography with optical zoom and ultra-wide angle shots.
- Superior Camera Image Quality: Based on DxOMark scores, the iPhone 11 Pro Max's image quality (both main and selfie) is superior.
- Marginally Better Performance: Higher AnTuTu score translates to slightly snappier general performance for demanding applications.
- Established Ecosystem: Access to Apple’s ecosystem and long term software support.
- Wireless Charging: Offers convenience for charging without cables.
- Noise cancellation microphone
Motorola Edge 50 Fusion Advantages:
- Lighter and More Comfortable: Significantly lighter for easier handling during extended periods.
- Larger, Smoother Display: Larger screen with 120Hz refresh rate for a more immersive experience with smoother animations.
- Significantly Brighter Display: Offers vastly superior outdoor visibility.
- Faster Charging: Much faster wired charging reduces downtime.
- Larger Battery: Significantly larger capacity for extended battery life.
- Macro Lens: Enables close-up photography.
- More RAM: Provides smoother multitasking and improved performance.
- Newer Bluetooth and WiFi Standards: Supports the latest connectivity for faster, more reliable connections.
- Fingerprint Sensor: Biometric security with the convenience of fingerprint unlocking.
- Gorilla Glass 5: Superior screen protection against drops and scratches.
- More Advanced GPS: More accurate positioning.
Trade-offs:
- iPhone 11 Pro Max: Loses out on battery life, charging speed, refresh rate, and has larger, heavier design.
- Motorola Edge 50 Fusion: Trades off camera quality and overall performance benchmarks for battery, faster charging, newer specs and lighter design.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Ideal Users:
- Content Creators: Benefit from better camera quality, including telephoto and wide angle lenses, and the proven video quality for content creation.
- Apple Ecosystem Users: Those who are already invested in the Apple ecosystem and prefer iOS.
- Visual Fidelity Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize a sharp, high-resolution display for viewing media.
- Users who prefer slightly more powerful CPU and GPU performance: People who appreciate that extra 18% in benchmark scores.
Specific Use Cases:
- High-quality photography and videography.
- Seamless integration with other Apple devices.
- Viewing detailed graphics, media, and reading long articles on a crisp display.
Motorola Edge 50 Fusion Ideal Users:
- Everyday Users: Those who prioritize long battery life and faster charging.
- Multimedia Consumers: People who prefer a large, smooth display for watching videos and browsing the web.
- Users needing Enhanced Outdoor Visibility: Individuals needing a phone that is easily viewable in bright conditions.
- Budget-conscious: Users seeking excellent performance and features at a competitive price.
- Users who heavily rely on GPS: Individuals requiring most precise location data.
- Gamers People who would appreciate a smoother gameplay experience due to the 120Hz refresh rate.
Specific Use Cases:
- All-day use without needing to recharge frequently.
- Smooth and immersive gaming and media experiences.
- Photography of close-up subjects and more casual usage.
- Outdoor use for work or navigation.
- Those who prefer android and don't need the apple ecosystem.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion offers a superior price-to-value ratio given its newer technologies, larger battery, faster charging, and smoother display. The iPhone 11 Pro Max may command a higher price, given it’s an older phone with slightly higher benchmark scores and better cameras.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Which is more important: Longer battery life and fast charging or slightly superior camera quality and performance benchmarks?
- Do you prefer a larger, smoother display with higher brightness or a slightly smaller but sharper display?
- Are you invested in either Apple's iOS or Google's Android ecosystems?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Content Creator on a Budget: If you are on a budget and need very good camera for photos and videos, the iPhone 11 Pro Max would be a better choice, due to higher DXOmark and the wide and telephoto lenses. If you still need good camera but value more the new tech features, battery and a slightly less capable camera, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is a great choice.
Scenario 2: All-Day User: The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is better thanks to its larger battery, faster charging and brighter screen.
Scenario 3: Multimedia Lover: If you value media consumption on the go, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion's large, smooth, brighter display, and excellent battery life makes it the better choice for media consumption.
My Choice and Explanation
Given my preferences and needs, I would choose the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion.
My reasoning is based on the following:
- Prioritizing Practicality: While the iPhone 11 Pro Max has a better benchmark score, the Motorola offers a significantly larger battery, faster charging, and a brighter, smoother display, which are more practical benefits in everyday use. I value longer battery life over slightly better performance.
- Modern Features: The Edge 50 Fusion has features like a 120Hz display, newer Bluetooth and WiFi standards, a macro camera, and a fingerprint sensor, which are more appealing to me.
- Comfort and Handling: The lighter weight of the Motorola makes it much more comfortable to use for extended periods.
- GPS: The additional L1+L5 GPS support is beneficial for enhanced accuracy in navigation, which I highly value.
- Price-to-Value: The Motorola phone is likely going to offer better price to value ratio, given it’s newer tech and good overall performance and features.
While the iPhone 11 Pro Max might be better for users deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem or those who specifically need the additional camera lenses, I find the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion to be the more practical and well-rounded choice for my needs.
