1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2019-09-20 | 2024-05-15 | Motorola is significantly newer, with access to newer tech and software |
| Dimensions | 158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm | 161.1 x 72.4 x 8.6 mm | Motorola is taller and slightly thicker but narrower, impacting grip and pocketability; iPhone is wider |
| Weight | 226g | 197g | Motorola is notably lighter, enhancing comfort for extended use |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | Motorola offers a slightly larger screen for more immersive viewing |
| Resolution | 1242 x 2688 | 1220 x 2712 | Practically identical sharpness, not a noticeable difference |
| PPI | 458 | 446 | Both are very sharp; negligible difference in pixel density |
| Technology | OLED | P-OLED | Both are high-quality OLED variants, offering great contrast and colors |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | Motorola offers far smoother scrolling and animations, a major upgrade for responsiveness |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 2500 nits | Motorola is significantly brighter, making it much more visible in direct sunlight |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) | Motorola's newer chip should offer significantly faster performance and better energy efficiency |
| AnTuTu Score | 916,151 | 1,523,879 | Motorola is considerably faster in benchmarks, indicating better app performance and gaming ability |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 735 | Motorola's newer GPU suggests better graphics performance for games and heavy apps |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/2.55", 1.4µm | 50MP, f/1.6, 1/1.3", 2.0µm | Motorola has a much higher resolution, larger sensor, and wider aperture, suggesting better low light performance and detail |
| Telephoto | 12MP, f/2.0 | 64MP, f/2.4, 1/2", 0.7µm | Motorola offers a dedicated telephoto lens for better optical zoom, while iPhone 11 Pro Max has a telephoto/portrait lens |
| Wide Angle | 12MP, f/2.4 | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | Motorola's wide-angle camera has higher resolution and a wider aperture, potentially better for group shots and landscapes |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | Motorola has a significantly higher resolution selfie camera, potentially better for detailed selfies |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps HDR, Stereo Sound, 1080p up to 240fps, Slow-motion 240fps | Up to 4K@60fps HDR, EIS, 1080p up to 960fps, Slow-motion 960fps | Motorola offers higher slow-motion capabilities and electronic image stabilization |
| DXOMARK (Mobile) | 122/126/124 (Main/Photo/Video) | 146/150/134 (Main/Photo/Video) | Motorola scores significantly higher in all aspects indicating better overall camera performance; no selfie camera score for Motorola |
| Camera Features | OIS, HDR, Night Mode, RAW | OIS, EIS, HDR, Night Mode, RAW, Optical Zoom, Time-Lapse | Motorola offers additional optical zoom, digital image stabilization, timelapse, continuous autofocus, manual focus, PDAF, and Dual capture features |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 3969mAh | 4500mAh | Motorola has a larger battery, likely offering better battery life |
| Charging | 18W Fast Charging | 125W Fast Charging | Motorola's charging is much faster, reducing downtime |
| Charging Features | 18W Fast Charging, Wireless Reverse Charging | 125W Fast Charging, 50W Wireless Charging, 10W Reverse Wireless Charging | Motorola has faster wired and wireless charging speeds and reverse wireless charging |
| Software | |||
| OS | iOS 13 (upgradeable to 18) | Android 14 (upgradeable to 17) | Different ecosystems, choice depends on user preference and prior experience |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, Wi-Fi MiMO | Motorola supports newer and faster Wi-Fi standards, improving speed and range, with additional support for wireless direct connect and display features |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 | Motorola has a newer version for potentially better range and efficiency, plus improved audio codecs |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a), NavIC | Motorola offers more advanced GPS, improving location accuracy in certain conditions |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM) | Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM) | Both offer dual SIM capabilities, useful for users with multiple numbers |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64/256/512GB | 512/1024GB | Motorola offers more storage, which is useful for those with extensive media libraries |
| RAM | 4 GB | 12/16 GB | Motorola has significantly more RAM, allowing smoother multitasking and performance |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither offers microSD card support |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, Noise Cancellation Mic | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones | Both offer quality audio, but Motorola offers 3 microphones for potentially better audio capture |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Security Features | Fingerprint Sensor | Motorola has a convenient fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Motorola has better scratch and drop resistance for screen protection |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Motorola has a fingerprint sensor, while iPhone has a barometer sensor for atmospheric pressure readings |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Advantages:
- Established Ecosystem: Seamless integration within Apple's ecosystem (if you already have Apple products).
- Barometer: Additional environmental sensor, useful for altitude tracking and weather prediction.
- iOS Updates: The iPhone 11 Pro Max will likely receive major iOS updates for another year or two.
- Software Optimization: The combination of Apple hardware and software generally results in fluid performance and good app support despite the older chip.
Practical Implications: For those deep into the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone 11 Pro Max offers a familiar and seamless experience, with an additional barometer for tracking altitude changes.
Motorola Edge 50 Ultra Advantages:
- Superior Performance: Newer Snapdragon chipset offers dramatically better performance in benchmarks (66% higher AnTuTu score), leading to faster app loading, multitasking, and gaming.
- Superior Display: Significantly higher refresh rate (144Hz vs 60Hz) and brightness (2500 nits vs 1200 nits) provide a smoother, more responsive, and more visible display.
- Faster Charging: Much faster wired (125W) and wireless (50W) charging speeds, drastically reducing charging time.
- Better Camera System: Higher resolution sensors across all cameras, a wider aperture for the main camera, and a dedicated telephoto lens offer better image quality, especially in low light and when zooming.
- Android Updates: The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra will be getting Android updates for the next three years (1 major and 3 security patches).
- More RAM and Storage: Significantly more RAM (12/16GB) and storage (512/1024GB) for better multitasking and media storage.
- Newer Connectivity: Includes newer Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 7) and Bluetooth (5.4) standards, for faster and more efficient wireless connections, plus improved audio codecs.
- Fingerprint Sensor: Fingerprint sensor, which is generally faster than Face ID in certain situations (e.g., wearing a mask).
Practical Implications: The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra offers significantly faster performance, a superior display, better camera system, faster charging, and more RAM and storage. It is the better device in virtually every category.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Ecosystem: For users heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, switching to Android might be a trade-off.
- Software support: Although the iPhone 11 Pro Max is still getting software support, it will likely end sooner than the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra.
- Price: This will be the big factor, considering the iPhone 11 Pro Max is an older device, it can now be found for significantly cheaper.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal User for Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max:
- Apple Ecosystem Users: Those deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem and prefer iOS.
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Users willing to get older technology at a cheaper price point.
- Users content with standard performance: Users that aren't very demanding and are content with older technology.
Specific Use Cases:
- Seamless Apple Integration: Excellent for users who heavily rely on other Apple devices and services.
- Budget Friendly: Those looking for a good camera phone at a significantly cheaper price point.
Ideal User for Motorola Edge 50 Ultra:
- Power Users: Those needing top-tier performance for gaming, video editing, and heavy multitasking.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users seeking a more versatile and higher-quality camera system.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Those wanting the latest technologies like fast charging, high refresh rate displays, and latest-gen connectivity.
- Android users: Users that prefer Android over iOS.
Specific Use Cases:
- Mobile Gaming: Its superior performance and high refresh rate make it perfect for mobile gaming.
- Content Creation: Great for those recording a lot of videos or needing high-quality images.
- On-the-Go Professionals: Those who need a phone for productivity and work on the go, and benefit from fast charging and long battery life.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra justifies its higher price with significant improvements in performance, display, camera, and battery technology, providing excellent long term value for money.
- The iPhone 11 Pro Max is an older device and therefore, can be found at a lower price point. It provides a good value for those on a budget and wanting a functional phone with an ecosystem.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Ecosystem Preference: Are you heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem and prefer iOS, or are you open to Android?
- Performance Needs: Do you need the latest and greatest performance for demanding tasks, or are you okay with good, but older technology?
- Budget Constraints: How much are you willing to spend?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Apple Ecosystem Focus: If you're deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem and want a familiar experience, the iPhone 11 Pro Max may suit you despite the older hardware.
- Scenario 2: Performance and Camera Priority: If you prioritize performance, a top-tier display, and a higher-quality camera, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is the clear winner.
- Scenario 3: Budget Constraints: If you are on a tight budget and just want a phone that functions adequately with a good camera, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is an option. However, this will be a worse device overall.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra. The improvements it offers over the iPhone 11 Pro Max in terms of performance, display quality, camera capabilities, battery charging, and overall tech, are extremely compelling, and would translate to an overall better user experience in the long term. While the iPhone 11 Pro Max is a solid device, it is outdated by today's standards and the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra will give a more modern experience. The price difference might be a concern for some, but for most users, the improvements will justify the cost.
