vivo X70 Pro vs. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The vivo X70 Pro and Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max represent the pinnacle of smartphone engineering from their respective ecosystems. While the iPhone 13 Pro Max remains a benchmark for iOS performance and camera consistency, the X70 Pro, particularly the China variant with the Exynos 1080, offers a compelling Android alternative with a focus on fast charging and a distinct photographic style. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a seamless, polished experience and long-term software support, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max is the superior choice. However, the vivo X70 Pro delivers excellent value, particularly for those seeking faster charging and a different camera aesthetic, especially in the Chinese market with its Exynos 1080 variant.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X70 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, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 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, 5, 7, 28, 40, 41, 78, 79 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 / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 3, 5, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India1, 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, September 092021, September 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 17Available. Released 2021, September 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Schott Xensation Up), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions158.3 x 73.2 x 8 mm (6.23 x 2.88 x 0.31 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
Weight183/184/185/186 g (6.46 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 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - InternationalOcta-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - ChinaHexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 1200 (6 nm) - InternationalExynos 1080 (5 nm) - ChinaApple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUMali-G77 MC9 - InternationalMali-G78 MP10 - ChinaApple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, Funtouch OS 14 (International), OriginOS (China)iOS 15, 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
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Pixel Shift, dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Quad50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, AF-
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 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-EIS, HDR10+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
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
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
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/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
Battery
Charging44W wired 5W reverse wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
Type4450 mAhLi-Ion 4352 mAh (16.75 Wh)
Misc
ColorsCosmic Black, Aurora Dawn, WhiteGraphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green
ModelsV2134A, V2105A2643, A2484, A2641, A2644, A2645, iphone14,3
PriceAbout 1040 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 123h Endurance rating 121h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.5 LUFS (Good) -24.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 694499 (v9) GeekBench: 2956 (v5.1) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 801691 (v9) GeekBench: 4706 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X70 Pro

  • 44W Fast Charging significantly reduces charging time.
  • Distinctive camera aesthetic with vibrant colors.
  • Gimbal stabilization for exceptionally smooth video.

  • Dimensity 1200/Exynos 1080 chipset is less powerful than the A15 Bionic.
  • Software support may be shorter compared to Apple.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

  • Industry-leading A15 Bionic performance.
  • Consistent and reliable camera system with natural colors.
  • Long-term software support and ecosystem integration.

  • Slower charging speeds compared to the vivo X70 Pro.
  • Less customizable software experience.

Display Comparison

Both devices feature 'infinite' contrast ratio displays, typical of OLED technology. However, the iPhone 13 Pro Max boasts a measured peak brightness of 1050 nits, exceeding the vivo X70 Pro’s 993 nits. This translates to better outdoor visibility for the iPhone, particularly in direct sunlight. While both offer excellent viewing experiences, the iPhone’s higher brightness provides a tangible advantage. Neither specification details refresh rate, but both are expected to have ProMotion/LTPO technology for variable refresh rates.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in photography, but approach it differently. While detailed sensor sizes aren't provided, both offer photo and video capabilities. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is known for its natural color reproduction and consistent image processing across all lenses. The vivo X70 Pro, on the other hand, tends towards more saturated colors and a distinct aesthetic, appealing to users who prefer a bolder look. The iPhone’s computational photography is highly refined, offering features like Cinematic mode for video. The X70 Pro’s gimbal stabilization system provides exceptional video smoothness, a key differentiator. Without specific sensor details, it's difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the iPhone’s consistency and software features give it a slight edge for most users.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s Apple A15 Bionic (5nm) consistently outperforms the vivo X70 Pro’s Mediatek Dimensity 1200 (6nm) and Exynos 1080 (5nm) in CPU and GPU benchmarks. The A15’s hexa-core architecture, with its Avalanche and Blizzard cores, delivers superior single-core and multi-core performance. The Dimensity 1200 and Exynos 1080, while capable, are less efficient, potentially leading to more thermal throttling during sustained workloads. The A15’s integrated GPU also provides a significant edge in graphics-intensive tasks like gaming. The Exynos 1080 variant of the X70 Pro, built on a 5nm process, offers a slight performance advantage over the 6nm Dimensity 1200 version.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of approximately 121-123 hours, indicating comparable battery life. However, the charging speeds differ dramatically. The iPhone 13 Pro Max supports 50% charge in 30 minutes with wired PD2.0, 15W MagSafe wireless, and 15W Qi2 (with iOS 17.2). The vivo X70 Pro, in contrast, offers a significantly faster 44W wired charging, allowing for a full charge in considerably less time. The X70 Pro also includes 5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the iPhone. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the X70 Pro’s faster charging is a major convenience factor.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X70 Pro if you need exceptionally fast 44W wired charging, prefer a more vibrant and potentially customizable Android experience, and appreciate a camera system geared towards bold, saturated colors. Buy the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if you prioritize a consistently excellent camera experience, unmatched performance optimization within the iOS ecosystem, and guaranteed software updates for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1080 chip in the China variant of the X70 Pro overheat during extended gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 1080 is a capable chip, it's built on a 5nm process, which is less thermally efficient than the A15 Bionic's 5nm process. Users have reported some throttling during prolonged gaming, but the vivo X70 Pro's cooling system mitigates this to a degree. Expect slightly lower sustained performance compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max in demanding games.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the vivo X70 Pro actually useful for detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras are more of a marketing feature than a genuinely useful tool. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. While the X70 Pro's macro capabilities are present, don't expect professional-grade close-up photography. The iPhone 13 Pro Max does not include a dedicated macro lens, relying on its main camera for close-up shots, which generally yields better results.
❓ Does the iPhone 13 Pro Max support 90fps or 120fps gaming for popular titles like PUBG Mobile?
The iPhone 13 Pro Max's A15 Bionic chip and ProMotion display (variable refresh rate up to 120Hz) allow for smooth gameplay in many titles. While native 90fps or 120fps support depends on the game developer, the iPhone 13 Pro Max can often achieve higher frame rates than the vivo X70 Pro, resulting in a more fluid gaming experience.
❓ How does the iPhone 13 Pro Max's MagSafe wireless charging compare to standard Qi wireless charging?
MagSafe offers a more secure connection and faster wireless charging speeds (up to 15W) compared to standard Qi wireless charging (also 15W, but less efficient). The magnets ensure optimal alignment and prevent energy loss. However, both MagSafe and Qi wireless charging are significantly slower than the vivo X70 Pro's 44W wired charging.