vivo iQOO 10 vs. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max: A Deep Dive Comparison

The vivo iQOO 10 and Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max represent opposite ends of the smartphone spectrum. The iQOO 10 aggressively targets performance and charging speed at a competitive price, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max prioritizes a seamless ecosystem, refined software, and consistently powerful performance. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a polished experience and long-term software support, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is the superior choice. However, the vivo iQOO 10 delivers exceptional value with its blazing-fast 120W charging and strong Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance, making it ideal for power users and gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 10 Apple iPhone 14 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 bands1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 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 - A2894, A2896
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2894, A2896
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2895
Launch
Announced2022, July 192022, September 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, July 25Available. Released 2022, September 16
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions164.5 x 77.1 x 8.4 mm (6.48 x 3.04 x 0.33 in)160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-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)
Weight206 g (7.27 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
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR, 1500 nits (peak)LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
 -Always-On display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 12, OriginOS OceaniOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 UFS 3.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 47mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@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
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with dual speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 7 min, 100% in 19 minWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
Type4700 mAhLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsWhite (BMW M branding), Orange, BlackSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
ModelsV2217AA2894, A2651, A2893, A2895, A2896, iphone15,3
PriceAbout 580 EUR€ 530.79 / $ 489.81 / £ 446.75
SAR-1.15 W/kg (head)     1.07 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- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 955884 (v9) GeekBench: 5423 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo iQOO 10

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor
  • Competitive price point

  • Less refined software experience
  • Potentially shorter software support lifespan

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

  • Exceptional performance with the A16 Bionic
  • Seamless ecosystem integration
  • Long-term software support

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Higher price tag

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1760 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the iQOO 10’s display specs aren’t provided, it’s unlikely to match this peak brightness. The iPhone’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors. The iPhone 14 Pro Max also benefits from Apple’s ProMotion technology (LTPO), dynamically adjusting the refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and animations, a feature likely absent on the iQOO 10. The iPhone’s display is also known for its color accuracy, crucial for content creators.

Camera Comparison

Both devices excel in camera capabilities, but approach image processing differently. The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s camera system is renowned for its natural-looking images and excellent video recording. While specific sensor details aren’t provided, Apple’s computational photography algorithms are a key strength. The iQOO 10’s camera specs are not detailed enough to make a direct comparison, but it’s likely to focus on delivering vibrant, social media-ready images. The iPhone’s video capabilities, particularly in ProRes format, are industry-leading. The iQOO 10 may offer competitive camera performance, but the iPhone 14 Pro Max provides a more consistent and versatile experience.

Performance

The Apple A16 Bionic, built on a 4nm process, utilizes a hexa-core architecture (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth) optimized for both performance and efficiency. This contrasts with the iQOO 10’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm), an octa-core processor (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510). While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a powerful chip, the A16 Bionic consistently outperforms it in both single-core and multi-core benchmarks. The iPhone’s tightly integrated hardware and software also contribute to smoother performance and better thermal management. The iQOO 10 may offer competitive performance for gaming, but the iPhone 14 Pro Max provides a more sustained and refined experience.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 121 hours, indicating comparable overall battery life despite differing battery capacities. However, the iQOO 10’s 120W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving 50% charge in just 7 minutes and a full charge in 19 minutes. The iPhone 14 Pro Max, with its PD2.0 wired charging, takes 30 minutes to reach 50%. The iPhone also supports 15W wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi2 (with iOS 17.2), but this is significantly slower than the iQOO 10’s wired charging. For users who prioritize minimizing downtime, the iQOO 10’s charging speed is a major advantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 10 if you need the absolute fastest charging available, prioritize raw performance for gaming, and are comfortable with the Android ecosystem. Buy the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max if you prefer a seamless user experience, value long-term software updates, and are deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, including services like iCloud and iMessage.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How does the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the iQOO 10 handle sustained gaming performance compared to the A16 Bionic in the iPhone 14 Pro Max?
While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a capable chip, the A16 Bionic consistently demonstrates better thermal management and sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is less likely to experience throttling, maintaining higher frame rates for longer periods.
❓ Is the 120W charging on the iQOO 10 safe for the battery's long-term health?
vivo employs multiple safety mechanisms to mitigate the potential impact of fast charging on battery health. While fast charging can generate more heat, the iQOO 10’s charging system is designed to optimize the charging process and minimize degradation over time. However, it's still generally accepted that slower charging rates can contribute to longer battery lifespan.
❓ Does the iPhone 14 Pro Max's camera perform well in low-light conditions?
Yes, the iPhone 14 Pro Max excels in low-light photography. Apple’s image processing algorithms effectively reduce noise and enhance detail in challenging lighting conditions, delivering consistently high-quality results.
❓ What are the benefits of the Apple ecosystem for an iPhone 14 Pro Max user?
The Apple ecosystem provides seamless integration between Apple devices, including features like Handoff, AirDrop, and Universal Control. iCloud offers convenient cloud storage and backup, while iMessage provides a secure and feature-rich messaging experience. This interconnectedness simplifies workflows and enhances productivity.