vivo X100s vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing ecosystem integration, long-term software support, and consistently excellent video recording, the iPhone 15 Pro Max remains the superior choice. However, the vivo X100s delivers comparable, and in some cases superior, raw performance and significantly faster charging, making it a compelling option for Android enthusiasts and power users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo X100s | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 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, 53, 66 - A3106 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 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 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, May 13 | 2023, September 12 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, May 17 | Available. Released 2023, September 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 163.1 x 75.8 x 7.8 mm (6.42 x 2.98 x 0.31 in) | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | 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) |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density) | 1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3000 nits (peak) | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720) | Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm) | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) |
| GPU | Immortalis-G720 MC12 | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 14, OriginOS 4 | iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, LED flash, panorama, HDR, 3D LUT import | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), 1/1.49", PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 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) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p, gyro-EIS | 4K@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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR |
| Single | 32 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) |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 100W wired, 50% in 11 min Reverse wired | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 5100 mAh | Li-Ion 4441 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Titanium, White, Grey, Green | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
| Models | V2359A | A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2 |
| Price | About 520 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
- Significantly faster 100W wired charging
- Potentially higher multi-core CPU performance
- Android’s open ecosystem and customization options
- Uncertainty regarding camera performance without detailed specs
- Potentially shorter software support lifespan compared to iPhone
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Industry-leading video recording quality
- Exceptional battery life and efficiency
- Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem
- Slower charging speeds (30 minutes to 50%)
- Less flexible operating system compared to Android
Display Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a peak brightness of 1787 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the X100s’s display specs aren’t provided, vivo typically employs high-quality AMOLED panels. The iPhone’s ProMotion technology (adaptive refresh rate) is a key advantage, offering smoother scrolling and animations. Apple’s color accuracy is renowned, and the 15 Pro Max likely benefits from improved calibration. The absence of PWM dimming rate information for the X100s is a concern, as lower rates can cause eye strain for sensitive users.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is known for its exceptional video recording capabilities and consistent image processing. While specific sensor details aren’t provided, Apple’s computational photography excels in dynamic range and detail preservation. The X100s’s camera specs are missing, but vivo often focuses on large sensors and advanced image processing algorithms. Without knowing the sensor sizes and lens apertures, a direct comparison is difficult. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on many Android phones is often a marketing gimmick, offering limited real-world benefit. The iPhone’s ProRes video recording capabilities are a significant advantage for professional videographers.
Performance
The core of this comparison lies in the chipsets. Apple’s A17 Pro, fabricated on a 3nm process, features a hexa-core CPU with a peak clock speed of 3.78 GHz. This architecture prioritizes efficiency and single-core performance. Conversely, the vivo X100s utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 9300+, a 4nm chip with an octa-core configuration, including a unique arrangement of Cortex-X4 cores clocked up to 3.4 GHz. The Dimensity 9300+’s core count suggests a potential advantage in multi-threaded workloads, while the A17 Pro’s 3nm node likely provides superior power efficiency. The iPhone’s GPU is also a significant advantage, offering console-level gaming capabilities. The X100s’s RAM configuration (not specified) will impact multitasking performance, but LPDDR5x is expected.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves an impressive 16:01h of active use and an endurance rating of 118 hours, demonstrating excellent battery life. The vivo X100s compensates for a potentially smaller battery with its 100W wired charging, achieving 50% charge in just 11 minutes. The iPhone 15 Pro Max takes 30 minutes to reach 50% charge. The X100s also offers reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the iPhone. While the iPhone excels in longevity, the X100s’s charging speed is a game-changer for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo X100s if you need blazing-fast charging (100W vs 30W), prefer the flexibility of Android, and prioritize raw CPU performance for demanding tasks. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you value seamless ecosystem integration, industry-leading video quality, and a proven track record of long-term software updates and resale value.