Smartphone Comparison: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max vs. Motorola Moto G52
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G52 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 158 × 77.8 × 8.1 mm | 160.1 × 74.5 × 8 mm | Moto G52 is slightly taller and narrower. iPhone is wider. Both have similar thickness. |
| Weight | 226g | 169g | Moto G52 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. iPhone feels heavier and more substantial. |
| Build Material | Unknown | Plastic Frame/Back | The G52 is likely more durable in everyday falls, as plastic is less susceptible to breaking than glass. |
| Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Moto G52 has better screen protection from scratches and minor impacts. |
Display
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G52 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.6" | Very similar viewing area, negligible difference. |
| Resolution | 1242x2688 | 1080x2400 | iPhone has a sharper, clearer display with more detail, especially for text and high-res images. |
| PPI | 458 | 402 | iPhone's higher pixel density results in a noticeably crisper image, less pixelation. |
| Technology | OLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks; negligible real-world difference between OLED and AMOLED in this context. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | Moto G52 provides slightly smoother scrolling and animations, a subtle difference. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 0 nits | iPhone screen is much more visible in bright outdoor conditions, while Motorola's screen is unspecified and likely less visible outdoors. |
Performance
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G52 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | iPhone's A13 Bionic is significantly more powerful. Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 916,151 | 216,000 | iPhone has vastly superior performance, noticeable in demanding apps, games, and multitasking. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 610 | iPhone has better graphics, leading to smoother and more immersive gaming experience. |
| RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB or 6 GB | The Motorola has a variant with 6 GB of RAM that would improve multitasking capabilities. |
Camera
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G52 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 50MP | Moto G52 captures higher resolution photos with more detail. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | 1/2.76" | iPhone has a slightly larger sensor, potentially better low-light performance. |
| Main Camera Pixel Size | 1.40 µm pixel size | 0.64 µm pixel size | iPhone's larger pixels capture more light per pixel, potentially better low-light performance |
| Telephoto Lens | Yes (12MP) | No | iPhone offers optical zoom capabilities for closer images with less quality loss. |
| Macro Lens | No | Yes (2MP) | Moto G52 can capture very close-up images, iPhone cannot do this out of the box. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 12MP | 16MP | Moto G52 takes selfies with a bit more detail. |
| Wide Angle Lens Resolution | 12MP | 8MP | iPhone captures wider scenes with more detail. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps | 1080p@30fps | iPhone offers significantly higher quality video recording for clearer footage and better detail. |
| Slow Motion | 1080p@240fps | Not Supported | iPhone has better video recording features for shooting slow motion videos. |
| OIS | Yes | No | iPhone has better stabilization for video recording. |
| DXOMark | Mobile: 122, Selfie: 122 | Not Tested | iPhone is rated as having a great camera experience based on DXOMark scores. |
Battery
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Motorola Moto G52 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 3969 mAh | 5000 mAh | Moto G52 is likely to have better battery life, though actual endurance is highly dependent on usage and software optimization. |
| Charging Speed | 18W | 30W | Moto G52 charges faster, reducing downtime and getting you back to using the phone more quickly. |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | No | iPhone has more charging options. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: The A13 Bionic chip offers dramatically better performance for demanding tasks, gaming, and overall responsiveness.
- Superior Display Quality: Higher resolution, pixel density and brightness result in sharper, more vibrant images, especially in outdoor conditions.
- Better Camera System: More versatile camera system with telephoto lens for optical zoom, better video recording capabilities, superior stabilization, and higher rating in DXOMark.
- Wireless Charging and reverse wireless charging: For user convenience.
- More Robust Software Ecosystem: iOS provides a smoother experience and better optimization of apps.
- More Features: Night mode, RAW format support and a more complete suite of video capture modes.
Motorola Moto G52 Advantages:
- Lighter and More Comfortable: Easier to handle and carry for extended periods due to lower weight.
- Potentially Longer Battery Life: Larger battery capacity that is likely to provide all-day battery life for regular use.
- Faster Charging: Reduces downtime and gets the phone charged faster.
- 90Hz Refresh Rate: Provides smoother scrolling and animations.
- Macro Lens: Allows for capturing detailed close-up shots.
- More Bluetooth Features Motorola devices have a large suite of bluetooth audio features.
- Better Screen Protection: The screen has added screen protection against scratches and minor falls.
Significant Trade-offs
- iPhone:
- Significantly heavier.
- Lower battery capacity, especially when doing demanding tasks.
- Lower charging speeds.
- No expandable storage.
- No dedicated macro lens.
- Older hardware compared to the Moto G52, this phone is roughly 5 years old.
- Moto G52:
- Significantly lower performance, not suitable for resource-intensive tasks.
- Lower resolution display with lower brightness, may not be ideal in bright sunlight.
- Camera is less capable compared to the iPhone.
- Older chipset.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Ideal Users:
- Power Users: Those who demand high performance for gaming, video editing, and demanding applications.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who value versatile camera system, high-quality video recording, and optical zoom capabilities.
- iOS Ecosystem Users: People already invested in the Apple ecosystem who value the seamless integration of devices and software.
- Users Prioritizing Display Quality: Those seeking crisp visuals with high resolution, brightness, and color accuracy.
- Users needing additional software features: Night mode, RAW photos, advanced video features.
Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming.
- Professional video and photo editing.
- Running demanding applications and multitasking.
- Viewing high-resolution content outdoors in bright conditions.
Motorola Moto G52 Ideal Users:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those seeking a capable smartphone without breaking the bank.
- Everyday Users: Individuals primarily using their phone for social media, browsing, and communication.
- Users Prioritizing Battery Life: Those needing a reliable phone that lasts all day with moderate usage.
- Users who need a lighter phone: For longer use times.
- Users who use bluetooth audio devices: This phone features a large list of bluetooth audio features.
Use Cases:
- Daily social media, browsing, and communication.
- Basic photography and video.
- Longer periods of moderate usage without frequent charging.
- Users who prioritize an affordable phone.
Price-to-Value Ratio
- iPhone 11 Pro Max: Offers high-end performance and features, but at a higher price point, especially now that it is an older phone.
- Moto G52: Offers a good balance of features at a more affordable price, making it a great value option for budget-conscious users.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The price difference is likely significant, this should be one of the biggest considerations.
- How do you prioritize performance? If you plan to game, or do other heavy performance tasks, the iPhone is the obvious choice.
- What are your camera needs? If you do photography or content creation, the iPhone is a better choice due to better versatility in lenses.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Demanding User, No Budget Constraint: Choose the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max for its superior performance, camera, and display quality.
- Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious User with Moderate Needs: Choose the Motorola Moto G52 for its great value, lighter weight, and longer battery life.
- Scenario 3: User who wants the best video recording: Choose the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max for high resolution video recording, and advanced stabilization.
- Scenario 4: User who wants a great budget phone: The Motorola Moto G52 is a great budget-friendly phone that offers many of the features of higher-end devices.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones today, I would choose the Motorola Moto G52. Although the iPhone 11 Pro Max is an excellent phone with much better performance and camera, it is also about 5 years old, which is an eternity in the world of smartphones. The Motorola Moto G52 is a great phone for everyday use that has many of the same features, is lighter and is not as old. If my main priority was to get a phone with the best camera and performance then I would look at purchasing a different phone that isn't as old as the iPhone 11 Pro Max, while if my goal was to simply have a usable phone with a decent camera and performance, then the Moto G52 fits the bill perfectly for its price.
