vivo X60 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro Max: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power

The vivo X60 Pro, released in 2021, represented a significant push for vivo into the premium smartphone space, offering a compelling blend of camera technology and performance. Now, we revisit it against the still-relevant Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, a benchmark for iOS flagships. This comparison isn't about crowning a definitive winner, but understanding where each phone excels and who benefits most from its strengths.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing longevity and a polished ecosystem, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the superior choice, boasting significantly better battery life (121h vs 91h) and a more refined software experience. However, the vivo X60 Pro delivers excellent performance and camera capabilities at a potentially lower price point, making it a strong contender for value-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X60 Pro Apple iPhone 13 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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International1, 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 bands1, 3, 7, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2643, A2644
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 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
Announced2021, March 222021, September 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, April 02Available. Released 2021, September 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Schott Xensation Up), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions158.6 x 73.2 x 7.6 mm (6.24 x 2.88 x 0.30 in)160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight179 g (6.31 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionSchott Xensation UpCeramic Shield glass
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11, Funtouch 11.1iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 UFS 3.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, Pixel Shift, LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Quad48 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide)-
Single-12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple-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)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 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
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Virtual proximity sensingUltra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging33W wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
Type4200 mAhLi-Ion 4352 mAh (16.75 Wh)
Misc
ColorsMidnight Black, Shimmer BlueGraphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green
ModelsV2046A2643, A2484, A2641, A2644, A2645, iphone14,3
PriceAbout 570 EUR€ 423.38 / $ 394.86 / £ 355.00
SAR0.53 W/kg (head)     0.81 W/kg (body)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 91h Endurance rating 121h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.6 LUFS (Good) -24.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 734811 (v8) GeekBench: 3749 (v5.1) GFXBench: 62fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 801691 (v9) GeekBench: 4706 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X60 Pro

  • Potentially lower price point
  • Fast 33W wired charging
  • Versatile camera system (based on brand reputation)

  • Significantly shorter battery life
  • Less powerful chipset compared to A15 Bionic
  • Android OS fragmentation and update concerns

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

  • Exceptional battery life (121h endurance)
  • Powerful A15 Bionic chipset
  • Seamless iOS ecosystem integration

  • Higher price tag
  • Slower wired charging compared to vivo X60 Pro
  • Less customization options compared to Android

Display Comparison

The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s display boasts a peak brightness of 1050 nits, significantly exceeding the vivo X60 Pro’s 818 nits. This translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. Both displays share an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, but the iPhone’s higher brightness provides a more vibrant and punchy image. While neither specification details refresh rate, the iPhone 13 Pro Max features ProMotion (adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz) which the X60 Pro lacks, resulting in smoother scrolling and animations. This is a key advantage for users who consume a lot of video content or play fast-paced games.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are equipped with sophisticated camera systems, but their approaches differ. While both offer photo and video capabilities, detailed sensor information for the X60 Pro is missing. However, vivo is known for its computational photography prowess, particularly in low-light conditions. The iPhone 13 Pro Max excels in video recording, offering Cinematic mode and ProRes video capture. The iPhone’s image processing tends towards natural colors, while vivo often boosts saturation for a more visually appealing look. Without specific sensor size data for the X60 Pro, it’s difficult to definitively declare a camera winner, but the iPhone’s video capabilities and consistent image quality give it an edge.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Apple A15 Bionic (5nm) versus the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm). The A15’s 5nm process provides greater transistor density and improved power efficiency compared to the 870’s 7nm node. While the Snapdragon 870 is a capable performer with its octa-core CPU, the A15’s hexa-core architecture, optimized for iOS, delivers superior single-core and multi-core performance. This difference is most noticeable in demanding tasks like video editing and graphically intensive games. The iPhone’s advantage isn’t just raw power; Apple’s tight hardware-software integration further optimizes performance and responsiveness.

Battery Life

The iPhone 13 Pro Max dominates in battery endurance, achieving a remarkable 121-hour rating compared to the vivo X60 Pro’s 91 hours. This substantial difference is due to a combination of the A15 Bionic’s power efficiency and a larger battery capacity (though the exact mAh isn’t specified). The iPhone also supports faster charging with 30-minute 50% charge via PD2.0, alongside 15W wireless charging (MagSafe and Qi2). The vivo X60 Pro offers 33W wired charging, which is faster than the iPhone’s wired charging, but the overall battery life advantage remains firmly with the iPhone.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X60 Pro if you need a versatile camera system with excellent low-light performance and prefer the flexibility of the Android operating system, all while potentially saving money. Buy the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if you prioritize all-day battery life, seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, and a consistently smooth user experience, even if it comes at a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 870 in the vivo X60 Pro struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 870 is a capable chip, it will likely require lower graphics settings and may experience some frame drops in graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max running the A15 Bionic. The A15’s superior GPU performance and thermal management provide a smoother gaming experience.
❓ How does the iPhone 13 Pro Max's MagSafe charging compare to standard wireless charging?
MagSafe offers a more secure and efficient wireless charging experience compared to standard Qi wireless charging. The magnets ensure proper alignment, maximizing charging speed (up to 15W). Standard Qi wireless charging on the iPhone 13 Pro Max is also supported, but at a slower rate. The X60 Pro does not support MagSafe.
❓ Is the difference in battery life between the two phones noticeable in everyday use?
Absolutely. The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 121-hour endurance rating translates to comfortably lasting a full day of heavy use, and potentially two days for moderate users. The vivo X60 Pro, with its 91-hour rating, will likely require a top-up charge before the end of the day for power users.