OnePlus Open 2 vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

The OnePlus Open 2 arrives as a formidable Android contender, boasting Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, challenging Apple’s established dominance with the iPhone 15 Pro Max and its A17 Pro. This comparison dissects the core differences, focusing on performance, display, camera capabilities, and battery life to determine which device reigns supreme for power users and everyday consumers alike.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw processing power and rapid charging, the OnePlus Open 2 offers a compelling package. However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max secures a slight edge for its optimized ecosystem, exceptional battery endurance (16:01h active use), and refined camera processing, making it the better all-around choice for most.

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus Open 2 Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 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 bandsSA/NSA1, 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
AnnouncedNot announced yet2023, September 12
StatusCancelledAvailable. Released 2023, September 22
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5)
DimensionsFolded thickness: 10 mm159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· 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)
Weight-221 g (7.80 oz)
Display
Protection-Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution2268 x 2440 pixels* (~416 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size8.0 inches, 205.9 cm26.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable LTPO3 Flexi-fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, Dolby Vision, 120HzLTPO 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 15iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesHasselblad Color Calibration, LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Triple50 MP, (wide), PDAF, OIS 50 MP, (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, (ultrawide), PDAF48 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@30/60/120/240/480fps gyro-EIS, HDR10+, Dolby Vision4K@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
FeaturesHDRHDR, Dolby Vision HDR
Single20MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 0.7µm Cover camera: 32MP, f/2.4, 22mm (ultrawide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (Dolby Atmos enhanced)Yes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging80W wired 50W wireless 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 5900 mAhLi-Ion 4441 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack; other colorsBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
Models-A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2
Price-€ 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 Open 2

  • Significantly faster wired and wireless charging (80W/50W)
  • Android's open ecosystem and customization options
  • Potentially higher peak CPU performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite

  • Software support may be shorter than Apple's
  • Camera performance may not match iPhone's consistency

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

  • Exceptional battery life (16:01h active use)
  • Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem
  • Industry-leading video recording capabilities

  • Slower charging speeds compared to OnePlus Open 2
  • Less customization options within iOS

Display Comparison

The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a peak brightness of 1787 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Open 2’s display specs are not provided, OnePlus typically employs high-quality AMOLED panels. The iPhone’s ProMotion technology (adaptive refresh rate) is a key advantage, though the Open 2 likely features a similar LTPO implementation. The iPhone’s color accuracy is renowned, and the Open 2 will need to match this to compete. Bezels are likely comparable, with both aiming for minimal intrusion.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is known for its exceptional photo and video capabilities, leveraging advanced computational photography. While specific sensor details for the Open 2 are missing, a flagship device at this price point is expected to feature a high-resolution main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). The iPhone’s cinematic mode and ProRes video recording are significant advantages for content creators. The Open 2 will need to deliver comparable dynamic range and low-light performance to challenge Apple’s image processing prowess. Ignoring the typical 2MP macro lens found on many phones, the focus should be on the primary and ultrawide sensors.

Performance

The core battleground is the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Open 2 versus the A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Snapdragon 8 Elite utilizes a unique octa-core configuration (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) built on a 3nm process, promising significant performance gains. Apple’s A17 Pro, also 3nm, employs a hexa-core design (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz). While core count differs, Apple’s chip design excels in single-core performance and efficiency. The Open 2’s LPDDR5x RAM will be crucial for multitasking, but Apple’s tight hardware-software integration often yields superior real-world responsiveness. Thermal management will be key; the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s performance will be heavily reliant on OnePlus’ cooling solution.

Battery Life

The iPhone 15 Pro Max demonstrates impressive battery life, achieving 16:01 hours of active use. The Open 2’s battery capacity is not specified, but its 80W wired charging is a substantial advantage over the iPhone’s slower wired charging (50% in 30 min). The Open 2 also offers 50W wireless charging, significantly faster than the iPhone’s 15W MagSafe/Qi2. While the iPhone’s endurance rating of 118 hours is impressive, the Open 2’s faster charging could mitigate any capacity disadvantage, offering quicker top-ups throughout the day. The Open 2 also offers reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the iPhone.

Buying Guide

Buy the OnePlus Open 2 if you need blazing-fast charging (80W wired, 50W wireless) and are deeply embedded in the Android ecosystem, valuing customization and open-source flexibility. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you prioritize seamless integration with other Apple devices, long-term software support, and a consistently excellent camera experience with a focus on video recording.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the OnePlus Open 2 generate excessive heat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite's thermal performance will depend heavily on OnePlus' cooling system. While the 3nm process improves efficiency, sustained high loads can still generate heat. Early reports will be crucial to determine if throttling occurs during extended gaming, impacting performance over time.
❓ With the iPhone 15 Pro Max's slower charging, how practical is it for users who frequently need to top up their battery throughout the day?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max's 50% charge in 30 minutes is adequate for a quick boost, but it doesn't compare to the Open 2's 80W charging. Users who consistently deplete their battery and require rapid charging will find the Open 2 more convenient. However, the iPhone's excellent battery life can mitigate this concern for many.
❓ Does the iPhone 15 Pro Max's Qi2 wireless charging offer a significant improvement over MagSafe?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max supports Qi2 wireless charging, requiring an iOS 17.2 update. Qi2 offers a more standardized and efficient wireless charging experience compared to the proprietary MagSafe. While the speed remains at 15W, the improved efficiency and compatibility with a wider range of chargers are benefits.
❓ How does the reverse wired charging on the OnePlus Open 2 compare to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which lacks this feature?
The OnePlus Open 2's reverse wired charging allows it to act as a power bank for other devices, a feature completely absent on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This can be useful for charging accessories like earbuds or smartwatches on the go, offering added convenience.