1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | OnePlus 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 158 × 77.8 × 8.1 mm | 160.2 × 72.9 × 8 mm | The OnePlus 8 is taller and narrower, which may make it easier to hold for some users. The iPhone 11 Pro Max has a larger overall volume which translates to a more substantial feeling device in hand. |
| Weight | 226g | 180g | The OnePlus 8 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use, especially one-handed. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is noticeably heavier. |
| Build Quality | Screen Protection: Unknown | Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | The OnePlus 8 has a known superior screen protection, while the exact protection of the iPhone 11 Pro Max is unknown. |
Display
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | OnePlus 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.55" | Negligible difference in size; both provide a large screen experience. |
| Resolution | 1242x2688 | 1080x2400 | The iPhone 11 Pro Max has a sharper display with more detail, beneficial for reading text and viewing high-resolution images. |
| PPI | 458 | 402 | The iPhone 11 Pro Max's higher pixel density results in a visibly crisper and clearer display. |
| Technology | OLED | AMOLED | Both use high-quality display technologies, but with potentially different calibration and viewing experiences. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | The OnePlus 8 offers smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the user experience. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 1100 nits | The iPhone 11 Pro Max is slightly brighter, making it more usable in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | OnePlus 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Different chipsets; The A13 Bionic generally provides a smoother iOS experience while the Snapdragon 865 is very powerful for Android. |
| Antutu Score | 916,151 | 743,500 | The iPhone 11 Pro Max has slightly faster performance, offering smoother multitasking and quicker app loading. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 650 | Different GPUs, optimized for their respective operating systems. Both provide excellent performance, the Apple GPU may have a small edge in specific apps optimized for it. |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB or 12 GB | The OnePlus 8 has more RAM, which may result in smoother multitasking and app switching, particularly on the 12 GB model. |
Camera
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | OnePlus 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 48MP | The OnePlus 8 captures more detail, which allows for more flexibility in cropping and editing. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.75 | The OnePlus 8 has a slightly wider aperture, allowing more light to reach the sensor, potentially improving low-light performance. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | 1/2" | The OnePlus 8 has a larger sensor, enabling better light gathering for improved low-light photography. |
| Main Camera Pixel Size | 1.40 µm | 0.80 µm | The iPhone 11 Pro Max has larger pixels, which can result in better light capture and lower noise levels. |
| Telephoto + Portrait Lens | Yes | No | The iPhone 11 Pro Max offers dedicated optical zoom capabilities which allows for better portrait and zoomed photos without digital degradation. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 12MP | 16MP | The OnePlus 8 captures more detail with its front-facing camera. |
| Wide Angle Lens Resolution | 12MP | 16MP | The OnePlus 8 captures more detail with its wide angle camera. |
| Wide Angle Lens Aperture | f/2.4 | f/2.2 | The OnePlus 8's slightly wider aperture on its wide angle lens may improve low light performance. |
| Macro Lens | No | Yes | The OnePlus 8 includes a macro lens for detailed close-up shots, while the iPhone does not offer this. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR, Stereo Sound, extensive slow-mo options | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR, EIS, various slow-mo options | Both offer excellent video quality but with different software processing. |
| DxOMark Mobile Score | 122 | Not Available | The iPhone 11 Pro Max has a validated score indicating very high overall camera performance. |
| DxOMark Selfie Score | 122 | Not Available | The iPhone 11 Pro Max has a validated score indicating very high selfie camera performance. |
| Camera Features | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Triple camera, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | Both include a wide range of features. OnePlus 8 includes additional Digital Image Stabilization. |
Battery
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | OnePlus 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3969mAh | 4300mAh | The OnePlus 8 has a slightly larger battery, which may translate to longer battery life, but real-world usage will vary. |
| Charging | 18W Fast Charging, Wireless Reverse Charging | 30W Fast Charging | The OnePlus 8 charges much faster, which is convenient for users in a rush. The iPhone 11 Pro Max does offer reverse wireless charging. |
| Battery Features | Non-removable, Fast charge 18W, Wireless reverse charging | Non-removable | The iPhone 11 Pro Max has the additional feature of reverse wireless charging while both devices have non removable batteries. |
Software
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | OnePlus 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | iOS 13 (Upgradable to iOS 18) | Android 10 (Upgradable to Android 13) | Different operating systems; iOS offers a consistent ecosystem, while Android is more customizable. Software updates will be a factor here as well. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | OnePlus 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Dual band, Wi-Fi Hotspot | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Dual band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, Wi-Fi MiMO | Both support fast Wi-Fi standards, but the OnePlus 8 includes additional WiFi capabilities such as MiMO, Direct, and Display. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 LE, A2DP, LE | Bluetooth 5.1 LE, A2DP, LE, APT-x | OnePlus 8 has a newer version with additional APT-x codec for improved audio quality for supported devices. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, S-GPS, Beidou, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | The OnePlus 8 supports more satellite systems, which can lead to more precise location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM / eSIM) | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | The iPhone 11 Pro Max supports eSIM, allowing for more flexible carrier management. |
Storage
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | OnePlus 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Storage | 64GB, 256GB, or 512GB | 128GB or 256GB | The iPhone 11 Pro Max offers up to 512GB of storage which is great for users who take tons of photos and video or download content offline. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports external storage. |
Audio
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | OnePlus 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Quality | Dolby Atmos, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Both have quality audio features, the iPhone 11 Pro Max has a noise cancelling microphone. |
Security
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | OnePlus 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Features | Basic Security Features | Fingerprint Sensor | The OnePlus 8 offers a physical fingerprint reader for more immediate biometric security. |
Sensors
| Feature | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | OnePlus 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | The iPhone has a Barometer and the OnePlus has a Fingerprint Sensor, each offering their own unique functionality. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Advantages:
- Higher Resolution and Sharper Display: Offers a more detailed viewing experience, which may be important for content creators and those who value image quality.
- Slightly Better Performance: Scores higher in benchmark tests, which implies a slight performance edge during resource intensive tasks and gaming.
- More Powerful Main Camera: Although the OnePlus has a higher resolution, the Apple device uses bigger pixels which can result in better light capture and low light performance.
- Telephoto Lens for Optical Zoom: Provides better optical zoom capabilities, allowing for high-quality zoomed photos without digital degradation.
- Validated Camera Performance: DxOMark scores provide a reliable benchmark for camera quality, which indicates strong all-around image and video capabilities for both the main and selfie cameras.
- Wireless Reverse Charging: Useful for charging other wireless devices.
- Noise Cancellation Microphone: Improved audio clarity during calls and recordings.
- eSIM support: Enables use of two phone numbers at the same time.
OnePlus 8 Advantages:
- Lighter and Narrower Design: More comfortable to hold and use for extended periods and one handed usage.
- Smoother Display: Offers a 90Hz refresh rate, leading to a visually smoother experience, particularly during scrolling and animations.
- Faster Charging: Quickly charges the device, which is beneficial for users who need to top up their phone's battery in a short amount of time.
- More RAM: Allows for smoother multitasking and faster app switching, particularly with the 12 GB model.
- Larger Main Camera Sensor and Wider Aperture: Improves low-light performance and captures more detail than the iPhone's sensor.
- Macro Lens: Allows users to capture detailed close-up shots.
- More Satelite GPS Support: More precise location tracking for mapping, navigation, and location-based services.
- Newer Bluetooth Version with APT-x: Better audio quality through supported devices.
- Fingerprint Sensor: Convenient and secure unlocking method.
- Better Screen Protection: More durable screen using Corning Gorilla Glass 5
- Lower Price Point: Typically more affordable than an iPhone of similar caliber.
Trade-offs:
- iPhone 11 Pro Max: While offering superior display sharpness and overall camera performance based on dxoMark scores, it is heavier, slower to charge and less comfortable to use.
- OnePlus 8: While boasting a smoother display, faster charging, and a lighter design, it doesn't have the same level of camera validation or dedicated telephoto lens and does not offer reverse wireless charging or an eSIM option.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max:
- Ideal Users:
- Content creators who need high-resolution displays and versatile camera capabilities.
- Users who prefer the iOS ecosystem and its seamless user experience.
- Individuals who take many photos and video, where the overall camera quality and validated performance and noise cancellation microphone are most beneficial.
- Users who find Apple's consistent software updates and ecosystem important.
- Use Cases:
- High-quality photography and videography.
- Resource-intensive tasks like video editing, graphic design, or gaming.
- Users who rely on their phone as a primary device and benefit from the reliable ecosystem.
OnePlus 8:
- Ideal Users:
- Users who prioritize a smooth, fast user experience with a high refresh rate display.
- Users who value fast charging and a lightweight device for everyday use.
- Android enthusiasts who appreciate customization and flexibility.
- Those who take advantage of macro lens and value a wider range of sensors for location accuracy and tracking.
- Use Cases:
- Daily use for social media, browsing, and communication.
- Gaming, benefiting from the higher refresh rate and RAM.
- Users who prefer customization and value fast charging, and a fingerprint sensor.
4. Decision Framework
Here are 3 key questions potential buyers should consider:
- How important is camera quality and zooming capability? If camera quality and zoom is a top priority, the iPhone 11 Pro Max with its validated performance and telephoto lens may be more suitable. If a versatile array of options and a macro lens are prioritized, the OnePlus 8 would be more suitable.
- Do you prefer a lighter phone with a smoother display or a more premium device with a sharper display? The OnePlus 8 is lighter and has a smoother 90Hz display, which some people find more comfortable to use. The iPhone 11 Pro Max has a sharper display and more premium build, but weighs more and is bigger overall.
- What Operating System ecosystem do you prefer? Those who enjoy using the iOS system and apps will find the iPhone more suitable, while the open and flexible Android environment of the OnePlus 8 might be more appealing to some.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Photography Enthusiast: If you value validated all-around camera performance with a dedicated telephoto lens and a powerful main camera sensor for low-light and general photo capturing, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is the preferred choice.
- Power User on the Go: If you want a smooth UI, fast charging, more RAM and value a lighter phone, the OnePlus 8 is a better fit.
- Budget-Conscious Buyer: If value is important, the OnePlus 8 is often the more affordable of the two.
My Choice
If I had to choose, I would choose the OnePlus 8. While the iPhone 11 Pro Max has a great camera, validated performance and a sharper display, I value the combination of a lighter device, a smoother 90Hz display, faster charging, and the flexibility of the Android ecosystem more. The inclusion of a macro lens, more precise GPS, and physical fingerprint reader is also very attractive. While the iPhone offers some excellent features, the everyday usability and performance of the OnePlus 8 fits my usage habits better, and the lower price point is a significant plus as well.
