OnePlus 13T vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The OnePlus 13T arrives as a performance-focused Android contender, directly challenging Apple’s established dominance with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This isn’t simply a spec-sheet comparison; it’s a clash of ecosystems, chip architectures, and user philosophies. We’ll break down where each phone excels, and for whom.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a seamless ecosystem and long-term software support, the iPhone 15 Pro Max remains the superior choice. However, the OnePlus 13T delivers exceptional raw performance with its Snapdragon 8 Elite and significantly faster charging, making it ideal for power users and mobile gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus 13T Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 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, 53, 66 - A3106
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 89 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3106
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, April 242023, September 12
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, April 30Available. Released 2023, September 22
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum alloy frameGlass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5)
Dimensions150.8 x 71.7 x 8.2 mm (5.94 x 2.82 x 0.32 in)159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight185 g (6.53 oz)221 g (7.80 oz)
Display
ProtectionCrystal Shield GlassCeramic Shield glass
Resolution1216 x 2640 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.32 inches, 97.9 cm2 (~90.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, 1600 nits (HBM)LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Apple A17 Pro (3 nm)
GPUAdreno 830Apple GPU (6-core graphics)
OSAndroid 15, OxygenOS 15 (International), ColorOS 15 (China)iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, (telephoto), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, 2x optical zoom, PDAF-
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Triple-48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.06", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, Dolby Vision HDR4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, 3D (spatial) video, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, Dolby Vision HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide)12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 55.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual or tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging80W wired, 33W PPS, 18W PD, 18W QC 5W reverse wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 6260 mAhLi-Ion 4441 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Gray, PinkBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
ModelsPKX110A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2
PriceAbout 410 EUR€ 758.79 / $ 579.87 / £ 628.29
SAR-1.07 W/kg (head)     1.11 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.98 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)

OnePlus 13T

  • Blazing-fast Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
  • 80W SuperVOOC charging for rapid replenishment
  • More open and customizable Android OS

  • Long-term software support is typically shorter than Apple
  • Camera performance may not match the iPhone's consistency

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

  • Industry-leading camera and video quality
  • Seamless iOS ecosystem and long-term software updates
  • Excellent battery life and efficient power management

  • Slower charging speeds compared to OnePlus 13T
  • Less customization options within the iOS environment

Display Comparison

The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a measured peak brightness of 1787 nits, ensuring excellent outdoor visibility. While the OnePlus 13T’s display specs aren’t provided, OnePlus typically employs high-quality AMOLED panels. The iPhone’s ProMotion technology (adaptive refresh rate) is a key advantage, offering smoother scrolling and animations. The iPhone’s display is likely to have superior color accuracy and calibration, crucial for professional photo and video editing. The absence of PWM frequency data for the 13T makes it difficult to assess potential flicker-related issues for sensitive users, while Apple’s implementation is well-regarded.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is renowned for its exceptional photo and video capabilities, leveraging advanced computational photography and ProRes video recording. While the OnePlus 13T’s camera specs are not detailed, it’s likely to feature a high-resolution main sensor. The iPhone’s advantage lies in its image processing pipeline, delivering consistent results across various lighting conditions. The iPhone’s cinematic mode and ProRes video capabilities are unmatched in the Android space. The 13T will likely focus on delivering vibrant, social media-ready images, but may lack the nuanced detail and dynamic range of the iPhone.

Performance

The core of this battle lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 13T’s Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) features an octa-core configuration with Oryon V2 Phoenix cores – a design focused on maximizing single-core and multi-core performance. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s A17 Pro (3nm) utilizes a hexa-core architecture. Despite having fewer cores, Apple’s chip design and software optimization consistently deliver exceptional performance. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s architecture suggests a focus on sustained performance, potentially benefiting long gaming sessions. The 13T’s LPDDR5x RAM will contribute to fast data access, but Apple’s memory bandwidth optimization is a significant advantage. Thermal management will be critical; the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s efficiency will be tested under sustained load.

Battery Life

The iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves an impressive 16:01h active use score, demonstrating excellent battery life. The OnePlus 13T’s battery capacity is unknown, but its 80W wired charging is a game-changer, potentially offering a full charge in under 30 minutes. The iPhone supports 15W wireless charging (MagSafe/Qi2), but it’s significantly slower than the OnePlus’s wired charging. The 13T also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a useful feature for topping up accessories. The iPhone’s endurance rating of 118h suggests excellent standby time, but real-world usage will be the deciding factor.

Buying Guide

Buy the OnePlus 13T if you need uncompromising speed for demanding tasks like video editing or gaming, and value incredibly fast 80W wired charging. You’re also getting a more open Android experience. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you prioritize a polished, integrated ecosystem, industry-leading camera video capabilities, and guaranteed software updates for years to come. The iPhone’s longevity and resale value are also key advantages.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How does the Snapdragon 8 Elite's thermal performance compare to the A17 Pro under sustained gaming loads?
While both chips are built on a 3nm process, Apple's A17 Pro benefits from years of optimization and a tightly controlled ecosystem. The Snapdragon 8 Elite, while powerful, may exhibit more thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions, potentially leading to performance dips. However, OnePlus's cooling solutions could mitigate this.
❓ Does the OnePlus 13T support all the latest Android features, like satellite connectivity or advanced AI processing?
The OnePlus 13T will likely support core Android 14 features. However, features like satellite connectivity (currently exclusive to some iPhones) and Apple’s on-device AI processing capabilities may not be directly comparable. OnePlus will implement its own AI features, but the ecosystem integration won't be the same.
❓ What is the real-world charging time difference between 80W wired charging on the OnePlus 13T and the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The OnePlus 13T’s 80W charging can potentially fully charge the device in around 30-40 minutes. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, with its slower wired charging, will take significantly longer – likely over an hour to reach 100%.