1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7 mm | OnePlus 9 Pro is taller and thicker but narrower; iPhone 13 Pro Max is wider and thinner. Overall, the OnePlus 9 Pro has slightly larger volume. |
| Weight | 197g | 240g | OnePlus 9 Pro is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended holding. |
| Build | Both have premium build quality, but specific materials not specified. | ||
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Identical screen size; no difference in how much content you see. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1284x2778 | OnePlus 9 Pro has a sharper display with finer details. |
| Pixel Density | 525 ppi | 458 ppi | OnePlus 9 Pro's screen will look clearer, with less pixelation. |
| Technology | OLED | iPhone 13 Pro Max has a display with richer blacks, better contrast, and generally more vibrant colors than the OnePlus 9 Pro. The OnePlus 9 Pro has an unspecified display technology which makes it hard to make a fair comparison. | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 1200 nits | OnePlus 9 Pro is slightly better for outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Apple A15 Bionic | iPhone 13 Pro Max is significantly more powerful, handles demanding tasks faster. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 1,327,255 | iPhone 13 Pro Max shows much faster app loading times, better multitasking, and superior gaming performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Apple 5-core GPU | The Apple GPU offers superior graphics processing, noticeable in graphically intensive applications and games. |
| RAM | 8GB or 12GB | 6GB or 8GB | OnePlus 9 Pro can handle more apps running simultaneously with less likelihood of slowdowns. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP (f/1.8, 1/1.43") | 12MP (f/1.5, 1/1.66") | OnePlus 9 Pro has higher resolution but the iPhone has a wider aperture for better low-light shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP (f/2.4) | 12MP (f/2.2) | OnePlus 9 Pro offers higher resolution, while iPhone 13 Pro Max provides slightly wider aperture for low light. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP (f/2.4) | 12MP (f/2.8) | iPhone 13 Pro Max has higher resolution, while the OnePlus 9 Pro has wider aperture. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP (f/2.2) | 12MP (f/1.8) | OnePlus 9 Pro has significantly higher resolution, the iPhone has wider aperture for low light. |
| ToF 3D Sensor | None | 12MP (1/3.4") | iPhone 13 Pro Max provides enhanced depth sensing for better portrait mode and AR applications. |
| Black & White | 2MP | None | OnePlus 9 Pro can take dedicated black and white photos. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 4K@60fps | OnePlus 9 Pro offers higher recording resolution, ideal for advanced videography. Both feature slow-motion capabilities |
| DXOMark | 122 (Mobile) | Not Listed | OnePlus 9 Pro camera performance rated overall 122 by DXOMark. |
| Camera Features | More manual controls | More user-friendly processing | OnePlus 9 Pro offers 8K Video, digital image stabilization, RAW 12 bits and more manual controls; The iPhone 13 Pro Max has more user-friendly image processing and HDR, less focus on manual controls. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4373mAh | Very similar battery capacity, comparable daily battery life. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging, 50W Wireless | 20W Fast Charging, 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi | OnePlus 9 Pro charges significantly faster, both wired and wirelessly. |
| Battery Features | Reverse Charging | MagSafe Wireless Charging | OnePlus 9 Pro can charge other devices wirelessly; the iPhone offers convenient MagSafe charging and accessories. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 14) | iOS 15 (upgradable to 18) | Different OS platforms provide different ecosystems, user experiences and app selections. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display | Wi-Fi 6 | Both phones support modern Wi-Fi standards; OnePlus 9 Pro offers Wi-Fi direct and display features. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 (aptX, LDAC, SBC, AAC) | 5.0 (AAC) | OnePlus 9 Pro has a newer version with higher quality codec options. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, Galileo | OnePlus 9 Pro supports more satellite systems for potentially more accurate location tracking, |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM) | iPhone 13 Pro Max offers more flexible SIM options with eSIM support. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256GB | 128/256/512/1024GB | iPhone 13 Pro Max offers much higher storage options for users with large media libraries. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS / DTS X | Both offer high quality audio; iPhone has additional audio features. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint Sensor | Basic Security | OnePlus 9 Pro offers the biometric security with a fingerprint sensor, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max relies on face recognition and other basic features. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | OnePlus 9 Pro has Gorilla Glass 5 screen protection, offering good scratch and minor impact resistance; the iPhone 13 Pro Max screen protection isn't specified |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, Proximity | Both feature standard motion and proximity sensors; iPhone has a barometer for environmental data, while the Oneplus 9 Pro features a fingerprint sensor and compass. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages:
- Faster Charging: Significantly faster wired and wireless charging, reducing downtime.
- Higher Resolution Display: Sharper screen with more detail, noticeable when viewing high-res images or reading text.
- More RAM: (Up to 12GB) better multitasking and less slowdown.
- More manual camera features: 8K Video, digital image stabilization, RAW 12 bits.
- Newer Bluetooth: 5.2 with more codec options for better audio quality.
- Fingerprint sensor: an additional security feature for quick and easy access
- Better Location tracking: supports more satellite systems
Practical Implications: These advantages make the OnePlus 9 Pro ideal for users who prioritize fast charging, a sharp display, and heavy multitasking. Its additional camera features are for users who want more manual control when taking pictures or videos.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max Advantages:
- Superior Performance: A15 Bionic chip offers considerably faster processing, better for gaming and demanding tasks.
- Better Display Technology: OLED for richer colors, better contrast, and deeper blacks.
- Better Image processing User friendly image processing with HDR
- Better audio quality Enhanced spatial audio, enhanced surround sound, enhanced surround sound, clearer calls, better audio separation and immersion, better voice capture
- ToF 3D Sensor: Enhanced depth sensing for portrait mode and AR applications.
- eSIM Support: More flexible for users who travel or switch carriers.
- Significantly more storage options Up to 1TB of storage.
Practical Implications: The iPhone 13 Pro Max is designed for users who want the fastest performance, best overall display quality, seamless iOS ecosystem integration and those who need a lot of storage.
Significant Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9 Pro: Slower performance, less advanced display technology (OLED), less user-friendly image processing, less storage options, lack of ToF 3D sensor.
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Significantly slower charging speeds, heavier and less comfortable for prolonged use, and lacks the additional camera manual features of the OnePlus 9 Pro, lower RAM
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Pro Ideal Users:
- Power Users: Value fast charging above all else.
- Multitaskers: Benefit from higher RAM for smoother app switching.
- Camera enthusiasts: Looking for a phone with more manual camera controls and 8K video.
- Android ecosystem enthusiasts: Users who prefer the Android ecosystem and its customization capabilities.
- Users who value fingerprint security: Benefit from using fingerprint security to unlock their device.
Use Cases:
- Long days out: Fast charging ensures the phone stays powered up.
- Gaming: High refresh rate and good performance.
- Content Creation: 8K Video and more manual camera controls for advanced content creation.
- Work: Multitasking on multiple productivity apps.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max Ideal Users:
- Performance Seekers: Need the best possible processing speed for demanding apps and gaming.
- Image Quality Aficionados: Prefer a display with rich colors and high contrast.
- Ecosystem Loyalists: Desire seamless integration with other Apple devices.
- Heavy Media Users: Need significant storage for photos, videos, and music.
- Users who want a premium audio experience benefit from the enhanced audio quality features
Use Cases:
- Graphics-Intensive Gaming: The superior GPU is ideal for demanding games.
- Professional Photography: Great image processing for high-quality pictures and videos.
- Video Editing: The powerful A15 chip allows for seamless editing.
- Business Use: Smooth multitasking in the iOS ecosystem.
- Travel: Flexible eSIM support for international use and lots of storage for photos and videos.
Price-to-Value Ratio: The iPhone 13 Pro Max typically commands a higher price. Consider if the premium features (better performance, superior display, more storage, ecosystem) are worth the extra cost. The OnePlus 9 Pro offers good value if fast charging, higher RAM and manual camera controls are important and a lower price point is a priority.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is more important, performance or fast charging? The iPhone 13 Pro Max excels at performance, while the OnePlus 9 Pro has much faster charging.
- How important is display quality and storage? The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a superior display (OLED) and significantly more storage options, while the OnePlus 9 Pro has better resolution.
- Which ecosystem do you prefer? Android or iOS? Your existing devices and preference will guide this decision.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Performance-Focused User
- Recommendation: Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max. The A15 Bionic provides superior performance for gaming and demanding tasks. The OLED screen enhances the experience.
- Scenario 2: Fast-Charging Power User
- Recommendation: OnePlus 9 Pro. The 65W fast charging makes it easy to keep the phone going for the entire day. Higher RAM and manual camera controls are a plus.
- Scenario 3: Media Enthusiast
- Recommendation: Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max (with higher storage). The device provides a premium media consumption experience with a superior screen and more storage options.
- Scenario 4: Camera enthusiast that likes more manual controls
- Recommendation: Oneplus 9 Pro. More manual controls for images and video, along with 8K Video make this the clear winner for the camera enthusist
What I would choose and why!
I would choose the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max. While I appreciate the faster charging of the OnePlus 9 Pro, my daily usage and preferences lean more towards the superior performance, display quality, and ecosystem integration offered by the iPhone 13 Pro Max. I frequently edit photos and videos on my phone, so the A15 Bionic chip, enhanced audio and user-friendly image processing would be more beneficial. Although the charging speeds are slower, the advantages in performance and media consumption outweigh that drawback for my use case. Additionally, the availability of 1 TB of storage on the iPhone is useful. Ultimately, the premium experience offered by the iPhone better aligns with my priorities.
