Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs Motorola Moto G55 - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date September 16, 2022 September 6, 2024
Release Year 2022 2024

Physical

Volume 98.52 cm³ 96.6 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 2.79 "/g 3.63 "/g
Weight 240 g 179 g
Height 160.7 mm 161.6 mm
Width 77.6 mm 73.8 mm
Thickness 7.9 mm 8.1 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Space Black
  • Deep Purple
  • Forest Grey
  • Smoky Green
  • Twilight Purple

Display

Screen Size 6.7 " 6.49 "
Resolution 1290 x 2796 1080 x 2400
Aspect Ratio 19.5:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 88.3 % 85.3 %
Pixel Density 460 PPI 405 PPI
Refresh Rate 120 Hz 120 Hz
Typical Brightness 1000 nits N/A
HBM Brightness 2000 nits N/A
Peak Brightness N/A N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 96.30 mAh/in² 118.71 mAh/in²
Battery Density 43.88 mAh/cm³ 51.76 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 4323 mAh 5000 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm) Mediatek Dimensity 7025 (6 nm)
CPU Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth) Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU Apple GPU (5-core graphics) IMG BXM-8-256

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 2.0
OTG Support
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features Lightning 2.0 USB Type-C 2.0

Software

Operating System iOS Android
Initial OS Version 16 14
Maximum OS Version 18

Comparison Summary

Alright, let's dive into a head-to-head comparison of the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Motorola Moto G55. On paper, they're quite different beasts, but I'll break down what these specs mean for you in the real world.

1. Specifications Breakdown

Here’s a detailed look at how these two phones stack up, focusing on what each spec actually means for you:

FeatureApple iPhone 14 Pro MaxMotorola Moto G55Real-World Implications
Design
Dimensions160.7 × 77.6 × 7.9 mm161.6 × 73.8 × 8.1 mmThe iPhone is a bit wider, while the Moto is slightly thicker but negligibly taller. Both are large phones.
Weight240g179gThe Moto is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and easier to handle.
Display
Size6.7"6.49"The iPhone offers a slightly larger display, which can be better for media consumption and gaming.
Resolution1290x27961080x2400The iPhone has a much sharper display with significantly more detail.
Pixel Density (PPI)460405Expect noticeably sharper text and images on the iPhone.
TechnologyOLEDIPS LCDOLED offers richer blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colors compared to LCD.
Refresh Rate120Hz120HzBoth offer smooth scrolling and animations.
Brightness2000 nits0 nitsThe iPhone is significantly brighter, making it much more usable in direct sunlight.
Performance
ChipsetApple A16 Bionic (4 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 7025 (6 nm)The iPhone's A16 chip is far more powerful, leading to significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming.
AnTuTu Score1,465,559470,000The iPhone outperforms the Moto significantly in synthetic benchmarks, indicating a big real world advantage.
GPUApple 5-coreIMG BXM-8-256The iPhone's GPU is superior for graphics-intensive tasks and gaming.
Camera
Standard Camera48MP, f/1.78, 1/1.3" sensor, 1.22µm50MP, f/1.8The iPhone has a larger sensor, leading to better low-light performance, and a wider aperture.
Selfie Camera12MP, f/1.916MP, f/2.4, 1.00µmThe iPhone has a wider aperture for better low light selfie performance, while Moto has a 16MP resolution.
Telephoto Lens12MP, f/2.8NoneThe iPhone has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, a key advantage for versatile photography.
Wide Angle Lens12MP, f/2.28MP, f/2.2The iPhone has a higher resolution wide-angle lens.
VideoUp to 4K@60fps with HDR1080p@60fpsThe iPhone offers much higher video recording resolution and quality.
Camera FeaturesOptical Zoom, Triple Lens, OIS, RAW, Night ModeDual Lens, OIS, RAW, Night Mode, Front FlashThe iPhone offers more camera features, including optical zoom and triple camera, whereas the Moto G55 has a front flash for selfies.
DXOMarkMobile: 146, Selfie: 145N/AThe iPhone's camera is significantly better, validated through DXOMark scores.
Battery Life
Capacity4323mAh5000mAhThe Moto has a larger battery, potentially leading to longer battery life.
Charging20W fast charging30W fast chargingThe Moto charges faster.
Features15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi charging, Non-removableReverse charging, Non-removableThe iPhone has wireless charging capabilities. Moto has reverse charging allowing it to charge other devices.
Software
OSiOS 16, upgradable to 18Android 14Different operating systems with their own ecosystems and features.
Connectivity
Wi-FiWiFi 6 (802.11ax)Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)The iPhone supports newer Wi-Fi standards, which may provide faster and more reliable connections.
Bluetooth5.3 with LE, AAC5.3 with LE, AAC, aptX, LDACThe Moto has broader audio codec support, potentially offering better wireless audio quality for specific devices.
GPSGPS L1+L5GPS L1+L5, BeiDou B1The Moto supports more satellite systems for potentially more accurate location tracking.
SIMDual SIM (Nano + eSIM)Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM)Both support dual SIM functionality, providing flexibility for multiple carriers.
Storage
Internal128/256/512/1024GB128/256GBThe iPhone has more storage options up to 1TB.
RAM6GB8GBThe Moto has more RAM, potentially aiding in multitasking.
ExpandableNoNoNeither offers expandable storage.
Audio
QualityDolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS/X, Noise cancellationDolby Atmos, Stereo SpeakersThe iPhone offers a richer audio experience, with noise cancellation for clearer calls.
Security
FeaturesBasic security featuresSide-mounted fingerprint sensorThe Moto has a fingerprint sensor, providing biometric authentication.
Build Quality
Screen ProtectionUnknownCorning Gorilla Glass 5The Moto provides better screen protection with Gorilla Glass 5.
Sensors
SensorsProximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, BarometerFingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, CompassThe iPhone has environmental sensors, while the Moto has a fingerprint sensor.

2. Key Insights

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max:

  • Strengths: Unmatched performance thanks to the A16 Bionic chip, a superior OLED display with high brightness and sharpness, a much better camera system (especially with the telephoto lens and 4K video), robust software ecosystem with long-term support.
  • Competitive Advantages: A premium user experience due to the powerful hardware and software integration, advanced camera features, and high-quality build.
  • Trade-offs: Heavier, potentially lower battery life, and higher price tag. No expandable storage.

Motorola Moto G55:

  • Strengths: Significantly lighter and more affordable, larger battery capacity for potentially longer battery life, fast charging, more RAM, better screen protection and an additional fingerprint sensor.
  • Competitive Advantages: Strong focus on value and a balanced set of features for its price point, great for general use, including media consumption and social media.
  • Trade-offs: Much lower performance, an inferior display (IPS LCD), a significantly less capable camera system, and a plastic build.

3. User Profiles and Recommendations

  • Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max:
    • Best for: Power users, content creators, photography enthusiasts, and anyone who values top-tier performance, display quality, and camera capabilities.
    • Use Cases: Professional photography, videography, demanding mobile gaming, graphic design, and any other task that benefits from the absolute best.
  • Motorola Moto G55:
    • Best for: Budget-conscious users, those seeking a reliable, lightweight device for everyday tasks, or users that value a fingerprint scanner and reverse charging.
    • Use Cases: Browsing, social media, casual gaming, watching videos, and basic communication, those that prefer longer battery life and faster charging.

4. Buying Decision Framework

Here are three practical questions to guide your decision:

  1. Performance Needs: How important is top-tier performance for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, or complex applications? If it’s critical, go with the iPhone. For casual use, the Moto G55 is perfectly fine.
  2. Camera Quality: Are you serious about photography and videography, needing optical zoom and high-quality footage? The iPhone’s camera system is far superior and worth the investment. If a good camera is all you need, the G55 will get you by.
  3. Budget vs. Premium Experience: Is your primary concern saving money while still getting a good phone? The Moto G55 provides great value at a lower price. Or, are you prepared to invest for the absolute best experience with the iPhone?

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: The Power User
    • Recommendation: iPhone 14 Pro Max. Its raw power, top display, and excellent camera system make it the ideal choice.
  • Scenario 2: The Budget-Conscious User
    • Recommendation: Motorola Moto G55. It provides a good experience at a fraction of the price, without compromising too much.
  • Scenario 3: The Camera Enthusiast
    • Recommendation: iPhone 14 Pro Max. It has an amazing camera system and is validated by DXOMark testing.

My Choice

For me, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max would be my pick. Here's why:

As a tech journalist and phone analyst, I frequently push my devices to their limits. I rely heavily on top-tier performance for editing videos, running multiple apps simultaneously, and capturing high-quality photos and videos. The iPhone 14 Pro Max's A16 Bionic chip and advanced camera system give me the edge I need to do my job efficiently. The gorgeous OLED display makes all the difference when reviewing media, while the ecosystem integration with my other Apple devices is a plus. While it's heavier and comes with a higher price tag, its superior performance, display, and camera make it the clear choice for my requirements. Yes, it's an investment, but one that I find worth making.

Alex Griffin
Alex Griffin

Technology analyst specializing in mobile devices and consumer electronics.

Core Expertise

  • Mobile technology analysis
  • Consumer electronics evaluation
  • Technical specification interpretation
  • User experience insights

Professional Mission Empowering readers to make informed technology decisions by transforming intricate specifications into understandable, practical guidance.

Demystifying technology, one device at a time.