Realme GT2 Explorer Master vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a seamless, polished experience and long-term software support, the iPhone 13 Pro Max remains the superior choice. However, the Realme GT2 Explorer Master offers comparable performance at a significantly lower price point, making it a compelling option for Android enthusiasts and gamers who value speed and charging convenience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Realme GT2 Explorer Master | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 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, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2643, A2644 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, July 12 | 2021, September 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 19 | Available. Released 2021, September 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, ceramic back or eco leather back, aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 161.3 x 74.3 x 8.2 mm (6.35 x 2.93 x 0.32 in) | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 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 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+ | Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 | iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM |
| - | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 150˚ (ultrawide) 3 MP, f/3.3, 20mm (microscope), AF, 40x magnification | 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) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@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 |
| Single | 16MP, f/2.5, 25mm (wide) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 100W wired | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4352 mAh (16.75 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, White, Gold | Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green |
| Models | RMX3551 | A2643, A2484, A2641, A2644, A2645, iphone14,3 |
| Price | About 500 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 126h | Endurance rating 121h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.8 LUFS (Very good) | -24.0 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 1045876 (v9) GeekBench: 4021 (v5.1) | AnTuTu: 801691 (v9) GeekBench: 4706 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme GT2 Explorer Master
- Significantly faster 100W charging
- Potentially higher raw performance (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1)
- More affordable price point
- Lower peak display brightness
- Potentially more thermal throttling
- Less refined software experience
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Superior display brightness and ProMotion technology
- More efficient and consistently performing A15 Bionic chip
- Excellent camera system with cinematic mode
- Slower charging speeds
- Higher price
- Less customization options (iOS)
Display Comparison
The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s display leads in peak brightness, reaching 1050 nits compared to the Realme GT2 Explorer Master’s 798 nits, resulting in better outdoor visibility. Both displays share an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, delivering deep blacks. While both utilize adaptive refresh rates (implied for iPhone, standard for GT2 Explorer Master), the iPhone’s ProMotion technology is known for its smoother, more dynamic adjustments. The GT2 Explorer Master’s lower peak brightness may be noticeable in direct sunlight, impacting HDR content viewing.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer capable photo and video recording, but their approaches differ. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is renowned for its cinematic mode and consistent image quality across all lenses. While specific sensor details for the GT2 Explorer Master are not provided, Realme typically focuses on high megapixel counts and computational photography. The iPhone’s image processing tends towards natural colors, while Realme often boosts saturation for a more vibrant look. Without detailed sensor information for the GT2 Explorer Master, a direct comparison is difficult, but the iPhone’s established reputation and consistent performance give it an edge.
Performance
The Realme GT2 Explorer Master’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) and the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s A15 Bionic (5nm) represent different approaches to mobile silicon. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 utilizes a more complex core configuration – Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) – aiming for peak performance, while the A15 Bionic’s Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) prioritizes efficiency and sustained performance. Despite the 4nm process advantage of the Snapdragon, Apple’s chip design and software optimization typically result in superior real-world performance and thermal management. The GT2 Explorer Master may exhibit more throttling under prolonged heavy load.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of around 121-126 hours, indicating comparable battery life. However, the charging experience is drastically different. The Realme GT2 Explorer Master’s 100W wired charging can fully charge the battery in a fraction of the time compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 50% in 30 minutes via PD2.0. The iPhone offers 15W wireless charging (MagSafe/Qi2), while the GT2 Explorer Master’s wireless charging capabilities are not specified. For users who prioritize minimizing downtime, the GT2 Explorer Master’s charging speed is a significant advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme GT2 Explorer Master if you need uncompromising performance for gaming and demanding tasks, coupled with incredibly fast 100W charging, and are comfortable with the Android ecosystem. Buy the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if you prefer a refined, user-friendly experience, a superior camera system, and guaranteed software updates for years to come, even if it means paying a premium.