1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 158 × 77.8 × 8.1 mm | 169.5 × 77.5 × 9.4 mm | Moto G Stylus 5G is taller and thicker, potentially less comfortable for one-handed use and pocketability. |
| Weight | 226g | 217.5g | iPhone 11 Pro Max is slightly heavier, which might be noticeable during long periods of use. |
| Build Quality | Unknown screen protection | Unknown screen protection | Both devices have unknown screen protection, making it hard to tell which would survive drops better. |
Display
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.8" | Moto G Stylus 5G offers a slightly larger viewing area, better for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1242x2688 | 1080x2400 | iPhone 11 Pro Max has significantly sharper images and text, better for detailed content. |
| PPI | 458 | 387 | iPhone 11 Pro Max's higher pixel density results in a crisper display. |
| Technology | OLED | IPS LCD | iPhone 11 Pro Max has superior contrast, deeper blacks, and vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | Both have standard 60Hz refresh rate, smooth animations but no advantages in this area. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 0 nits | iPhone 11 Pro Max is much brighter, significantly better visibility under direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM4350 Snapdragon 480 5G (8 nm) | iPhone 11 Pro Max has a much faster chipset leading to much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| Antutu Score | 916,151 | 171,000 | iPhone 11 Pro Max has significantly higher performance, more future-proofed for demanding tasks and gaming. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 619 (Qualcomm Adreno 610) | iPhone 11 Pro Max has a more powerful GPU, providing better graphics in games and other GPU-intensive tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera Resolution | 12MP | 48MP | Moto G Stylus 5G has a higher megapixel count, potentially capturing more detail in well-lit conditions. |
| Standard Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.7 | Moto G Stylus 5G has a slightly wider aperture, potentially performing better in low light. |
| Telephoto/Portrait Camera | 12MP (Dedicated) | None | iPhone 11 Pro Max offers dedicated zoom capabilities and better portrait mode quality. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 12MP | 20MP | Moto G Stylus 5G offers higher selfie resolution for potentially sharper photos. |
| Wide Angle Lens Resolution | 12MP | 16MP | Moto G Stylus 5G has higher wide-angle resolution, which could capture more details in wide shots. |
| Wide Angle Lens Aperture | f/2.4 | f/2.2 | Moto G Stylus 5G has a wider aperture, capturing more light for wide shots in lower light conditions. |
| ToF 3D Sensor | None | Yes | Moto G Stylus 5G provides additional depth information for photography. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP | Moto G Stylus 5G includes a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps w/ HDR | Up to 1080p@60fps | iPhone 11 Pro Max records much higher quality video, including 4K at 60fps and HDR for better color and dynamic range. |
| Video Stabilization | Yes | No | iPhone 11 Pro Max has better video stabilization, producing smoother videos. |
| Slow Motion Video | Yes, 240fps | Yes, 120fps | iPhone 11 Pro Max offers higher slow-motion frame rate, better quality slow-motion shots. |
| DxOMark Mobile Score | 122 (Overall) | N/A | iPhone 11 Pro Max's camera performance is rated much higher by DxOMark. |
| Camera Features | 4K, OIS, RAW, Night Mode | Quadruple Camera, Digital Image Stabilization, PDAF, LAF, Panorama | iPhone 11 Pro Max offers OIS, RAW, and Night Mode while Moto G Stylus offers features like digital image stabilization, and multiple autofocus technologies. |
Battery
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 3969 mAh | 4000 mAh | Similar battery capacity, resulting in comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 18W Fast Charging | 10W Fast Charging | iPhone 11 Pro Max charges faster, reducing time spent plugged into the wall. |
| Features | Wireless Charging, 18W Fast charge | None | iPhone 11 Pro Max offers fast and wireless charging for more convenience. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Advantages
- Superior Performance: The A13 Bionic chipset provides significantly faster and smoother performance for all tasks, particularly gaming and demanding apps.
- High-Quality Display: The OLED display offers superior color accuracy, contrast, and brightness, making it ideal for media consumption and outdoor use.
- Better Camera System: The triple-lens setup offers 4K video recording, higher-quality images, optical image stabilization (OIS), and a telephoto lens for versatile photography. It also has a much higher DxOMark score.
- Faster Charging: Supports 18W fast charging and wireless charging capability
- Premium Audio: Dolby Atmos, stereo speakers and noise cancellation microphones for better sound quality in calls and other media
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G Advantages
- Larger Display: Slightly larger screen provides a more immersive media consumption experience.
- Versatile Camera Features: Offers a ToF 3D sensor and a macro lens, enhancing photographic versatility.
- Stylus: Built-in stylus for note-taking and drawing.
- Fingerprint sensor: Basic biometric security
- Expandable Storage: Although both lack expandable storage, the Moto G comes with more base storage.
- Lower Price: Generally more affordable, offering good value for its capabilities.
Trade-offs
- iPhone 11 Pro Max: Higher price point, lacks a macro lens and fingerprint sensor, is heavier and older.
- Moto G Stylus 5G: Significantly lower performance, weaker display quality, lacks premium camera features and wireless charging.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
- Ideal Users:
- Users who prioritize performance and smooth multitasking.
- Users who want a high-quality display for media consumption and outdoor use.
- Users who need versatile camera capabilities, including high-resolution video and OIS.
- Users who are entrenched in the Apple ecosystem.
- Users who prefer a premium build quality.
- Use Cases:
- Gaming: Demanding games run smoothly.
- Professional Photography/Videography: Captures high-quality 4K footage.
- Media Consumption: Enjoy high contrast, brightness, and sound.
- Multitasking: Efficiently handles multiple apps.
- Price-to-value: Although it comes at a higher price point, it may be considered a good value for those wanting a very high performance device.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G
- Ideal Users:
- Users who need a large screen for media and stylus functionality.
- Users who want more camera versatility, including macro lens for close up pictures.
- Users who want a solid device at a more affordable price.
- Users who are comfortable in the Android ecosystem.
- Use Cases:
- Note-taking and drawing with the stylus.
- Casual photography.
- Everyday media consumption.
- Budget-conscious users.
- Price-to-value: Offers a good price to value for users looking for a large display with a stylus and versatile camera features, without spending a premium price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance Needs: How important is smooth, fast performance for gaming, apps, and multitasking? (Significant impact on overall experience).
- Display Quality: How much do you value a high-resolution, color-accurate, bright screen? (Directly affects visual experience).
- Camera Versatility: How important are the premium features like 4k video, OIS, and RAW in comparison to macro photography and additional sensors.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- High Performance and Photography Enthusiast: If you need top-tier performance, the best camera features, and a high-quality display, the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max is the better option, despite its higher price.
- Budget-Conscious and Stylus User: If your priority is a large screen, basic features, a stylus, and versatility with camera lenses while keeping a lower price point, the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G is a solid choice.
- Balanced User: If you want a good balance of performance, features, and price, the Motorola might be acceptable but will come with many tradeoffs.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max. While it's an older phone, its strengths in performance, display quality, and camera capabilities are still significant. The A13 Bionic chip still offers an incredibly smooth experience, especially when compared to the mid-range Snapdragon in the Moto G. As someone who uses their phone for a variety of tasks including some gaming, image editing, and media consumption, the better performance, higher quality OLED display, and much better camera system would be preferable to the stylus and the other more versatile but lower quality cameras on the Moto G. While I would miss the fingerprint sensor, the performance benefits are too substantial to ignore, and those would contribute most to my overall experience.
