BLU G40 vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max: A David vs. Goliath Battle

The smartphone market offers a vast range of options, from ultra-affordable to premium flagships. Today, we're pitting two extremes against each other: the budget-conscious BLU G40 and the high-end Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max. This comparison will reveal which phone best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 13 Pro Max utterly dominates in almost every category – performance, camera, display, and software. However, the BLU G40 offers incredible value for its price. If budget is your primary concern, the G40 is a contender; otherwise, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the clear winner.

PHONES
Phone Names BLU G40 Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17, 28, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2643, A2644, A2645
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2643, A2644
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2641
Launch
Announced2022, June2021, September 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, JuneAvailable. Released 2021, September 24
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions163.4 x 78.8 x 10.8 mm (6.43 x 3.10 x 0.43 in)160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight203 g (7.16 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~268 ppi density)1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~72.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDSuper Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUQuad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A75Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
Chipset-Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPU-Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCNo
Internal32GB 3GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1NVMe
Main Camera
Dual13 MP 0.3 MP-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single8 MP12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple-12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), PDAF, 1/3.4", 1.0µm, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/1.8, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsAccelerometerFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Ion 3000 mAh, removableLi-Ion 4352 mAh (16.75 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, Green, Cyan, Teal, WhiteGraphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green
Models-A2643, A2484, A2641, A2644, A2645, iphone14,3
PriceAbout 100 EUR€ 423.38 / $ 394.86 / £ 355.00
SAR-1.18 W/kg (head)     1.20 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 121h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 801691 (v9) GeekBench: 4706 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

BLU G40

  • Extremely affordable
  • Decent battery life for its class
  • Basic functionality for essential tasks

  • Low performance
  • Basic camera
  • Lower quality display
  • Limited software updates

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

  • Exceptional performance
  • Stunning camera system
  • Premium design and build quality
  • Long-term software support
  • Excellent display

  • High price
  • Limited customization compared to Android
  • No expandable storage

Display Comparison

The iPhone 13 Pro Max boasts a Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz) and a peak brightness of 1050 nits, offering vibrant colors, incredible detail, and smooth scrolling. The BLU G40 likely has a standard LCD display with lower resolution and brightness, resulting in a noticeably less impressive visual experience. Contrast ratio is infinite on the iPhone, a significant advantage.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 13 Pro Max's camera system is renowned for its exceptional image quality, advanced features like Cinematic mode, and impressive video recording capabilities. The BLU G40's camera is likely a simpler setup, offering acceptable photos in good lighting conditions but lacking the detail and versatility of the iPhone.

Performance

The A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 Pro Max is a performance beast, easily handling demanding games and applications. The BLU G40's Quad-core Cortex-A75 processor is adequate for basic tasks but will struggle with more intensive workloads. Expect significant lag and slower app loading times on the G40.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max achieving an endurance rating of 121 hours. The BLU G40's battery capacity is likely smaller, but its less demanding processor may help it achieve comparable real-world usage. The iPhone also supports faster wired and wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The BLU G40 is ideal for users on a tight budget who need a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light social media use. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is for users who demand top-tier performance, a stunning camera system, a premium design, and seamless iOS integration, regardless of cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the BLU G40 a good phone for gaming?
No, the BLU G40's processor is not powerful enough for demanding games. It's best suited for basic games and casual use.
❓ How much storage does the iPhone 13 Pro Max offer?
The iPhone 13 Pro Max was available in storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB. However, it does not offer expandable storage via microSD card.
❓ What operating system does the BLU G40 run?
The BLU G40 typically runs Android, offering a wide range of apps and customization options.
❓ Does the iPhone 13 Pro Max support 5G?
Yes, the iPhone 13 Pro Max supports 5G connectivity for faster download and streaming speeds.