vivo X100s Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Head-to-Head Battle of Flagship Power

The vivo X100s Pro arrives as a serious contender in the premium smartphone space, directly challenging Apple’s established dominance with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This isn’t simply a battle of Android versus iOS; it’s a clash of cutting-edge silicon – MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300+ against Apple’s in-house A17 Pro – and differing approaches to smartphone design and user experience. We’ll dissect the key differences to determine which phone reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a seamless ecosystem and long-term software support, the iPhone 15 Pro Max remains the safer bet. However, the vivo X100s Pro delivers a compelling alternative with its significantly faster charging and potentially superior raw processing power, making it ideal for power users and mobile gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X100s Pro 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 bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 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, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/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 / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, May 132023, September 12
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, May 17Available. Released 2023, September 22
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, glass backGlass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5)
Dimensions164.1 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 2.96 x 0.35 in)159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 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)
Weight224 g (7.90 oz)221 g (7.80 oz)
Display
Protection-Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3000 nits (peak)LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720)Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm)Apple A17 Pro (3 nm)
GPUImmortalis-G720 MC12Apple GPU (6-core graphics)
OSAndroid 14, OriginOS 4iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, LED flash, panorama, HDR, 3D LUT importDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/0.98", 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.5, 100mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2", 0.7µm, PDAF (18cm - ∞), OIS, 4.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF48 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)
Video8K@30fps (China model only), 4K@30/60fps, 1080p, gyro-EIS4K@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
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 20mm (ultrawide)12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@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, LHDC5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPortUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-bandWi-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
Charging100W wired, 50% in 12 min 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
TypeLi-Ion 5400 mAhLi-Ion 4441 mAh
Misc
ColorsTitanium, White, GreyBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
ModelsV2324HAA2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2
PriceAbout 640 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)

vivo X100s Pro

  • Significantly faster 100W wired charging
  • Potentially superior CPU performance with Dimensity 9300+
  • Android OS offers greater customization

  • Software support may be shorter than iPhone
  • Camera system details currently limited

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

  • Exceptional battery life and endurance
  • Mature and reliable camera system
  • Seamless ecosystem integration and long-term software support

  • Slower charging speeds compared to vivo
  • Less customization options with iOS

Display Comparison

The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a peak brightness of 1787 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the vivo X100s Pro’s peak brightness isn’t specified, it’s likely competitive, but the iPhone’s measured value provides a concrete advantage. Both likely utilize LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, conserving battery life. The iPhone’s display benefits from Apple’s color calibration expertise, while the vivo’s panel will likely lean towards more vibrant, saturated colors – a preference that varies by user. Bezels are expected to be minimal on both devices, reflecting current flagship design trends.

Camera Comparison

Details on the vivo X100s Pro’s camera system are currently limited, but the focus will likely be on a large main sensor and advanced image processing. The iPhone 15 Pro Max excels in both photo and video capture, offering a consistent and reliable experience. Apple’s computational photography is renowned for its natural-looking results, while vivo often leans towards more vibrant and processed images. Sensor size and lens apertures will be key differentiators. The iPhone’s cinematic mode and ProRes video recording capabilities provide professional-grade video features. The absence of details on the vivo’s camera system makes a direct comparison difficult, but it will need to deliver exceptional image quality to challenge Apple’s established reputation.

Performance

The core of this comparison lies in the chipsets. The Apple A17 Pro, fabricated on a 3nm process, features a hexa-core CPU configuration (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz). This contrasts with the vivo X100s Pro’s MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ (4nm), an octa-core processor (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720). The Dimensity 9300+’s architecture, with its emphasis on high-clocked Cortex-X4 cores, suggests a focus on sustained peak performance, potentially exceeding the A17 Pro in certain CPU-intensive workloads. However, Apple’s A17 Pro benefits from years of software optimization and a tightly integrated hardware/software ecosystem. Both phones will likely feature LPDDR5x RAM, but the speed and configuration could vary, impacting multitasking performance. Thermal management will be crucial; the 4nm Dimensity 9300+ *should* offer good efficiency, but sustained loads will be the true test.

Battery Life

The iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves an impressive 16:01h of active use and an endurance rating of 118h, demonstrating excellent battery life. The vivo X100s Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, but its 100W wired charging (50% in 12 minutes) and 50W wireless charging significantly outperform the iPhone’s 50% in 30 minutes wired and 15W wireless (MagSafe/Qi2). While the iPhone’s battery endurance is exceptional, the vivo’s charging speed offers a substantial convenience advantage. The faster charging mitigates concerns about potentially lower battery capacity, allowing for quick top-ups throughout the day.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X100s Pro if you need blazing-fast charging speeds (100W wired, 50W wireless), prioritize raw CPU performance for demanding tasks, and are comfortable with the Android ecosystem. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you prefer a refined user experience, a mature camera system with consistent results, and the security of Apple’s long-term software updates and ecosystem integration.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Dimensity 9300+ in the vivo X100s Pro overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Dimensity 9300+ is built on a 4nm process, which generally offers good thermal efficiency. However, sustained peak performance can generate heat. Vivo will likely employ advanced cooling solutions to mitigate throttling, but real-world testing is needed to determine its effectiveness under prolonged gaming loads. The iPhone 15 Pro Max's A17 Pro also generates heat, but Apple's software optimization helps manage it effectively.
❓ How does the 100W charging of the vivo X100s Pro compare to the iPhone 15 Pro Max in real-world usage?
The vivo X100s Pro’s 100W charging is a game-changer. Reaching 50% charge in just 12 minutes is significantly faster than the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 30-minute timeframe. This means less downtime and more time using your phone. While the iPhone’s overall battery life is excellent, the vivo’s charging speed provides a convenience advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
❓ What wireless charging standards does the iPhone 15 Pro Max support, and what is the impact of the iOS 17.2 update?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max supports 15W wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi wireless charging. The iOS 17.2 update enabled support for Qi2, the next-generation wireless charging standard, offering potentially faster and more efficient wireless charging with compatible chargers. However, the 15W limit remains unless using MagSafe.
❓ Is the reverse wired charging feature on both phones useful for topping up accessories?
Both phones offer reverse wired charging, but the vivo X100s Pro’s 100W output is significantly more powerful than the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 4.5W. This means the vivo can charge accessories much faster, making it a more practical option for topping up earbuds or other devices on the go. The iPhone’s reverse charging is primarily for emergencies.