vivo X80 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro Max: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The vivo X80 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 quality, the X80 Pro arrives with a cutting-edge Dimensity 9000 chipset and blazing-fast 80W charging, challenging Apple’s dominance. This comparison dissects these two titans to determine which one reigns supreme for different user needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a seamless ecosystem, long-term software support, and consistently excellent camera performance, the iPhone 13 Pro Max remains the safer bet. However, the vivo X80 Pro delivers comparable performance with significantly faster charging and a competitive camera system, making it a compelling alternative for Android enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X80 Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - InternationalHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International, China1, 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, 8, 28, 38, 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 / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 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
Announced2022, April 252021, September 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, April 29Available. Released 2021, September 24
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather backGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions165 x 75.2 x 8.3 mm or 8.8 mm160.8 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
Weight203 g / 206 g (7.16 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)1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR, 1500 nits (peak)Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.05 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9000 (4 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MC10Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14, Funtouch 14 (Global), OriginOS Ocean (China)iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB 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)
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)
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.0, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, AF12 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 Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
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/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
Charging80W wired, 50% in 11 min Reverse wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
Type4500 mAhLi-Ion 4352 mAh (16.75 Wh)
Misc
ColorsCosmic Black, Urban Blue, OrangeGraphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green
ModelsV2183A, V2144A2643, A2484, A2641, A2644, A2645, iphone14,3
PriceAbout 560 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 121h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 801691 (v9) GeekBench: 4706 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X80

  • Significantly faster 80W charging
  • Android OS flexibility and customization
  • Potentially better thermal management due to 4nm process

  • Less established ecosystem compared to Apple
  • Software update longevity may be shorter

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

  • Polished iOS ecosystem and user experience
  • Excellent video recording capabilities (ProRes)
  • Long-term software support and updates

  • Slower charging speeds compared to vivo X80 Pro
  • Less customization options compared to Android

Display Comparison

The iPhone 13 Pro Max boasts a 1050 nit peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the X80 Pro’s peak brightness isn’t explicitly stated, it’s likely competitive, though potentially slightly lower. Both devices offer excellent contrast, with the iPhone leveraging an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio typical of OLED panels. The iPhone’s ProMotion technology (adaptive refresh rate) isn’t mentioned for the X80 Pro, suggesting a fixed refresh rate, potentially impacting smoothness during scrolling and animations. The iPhone’s color accuracy is renowned, and while vivo typically delivers vibrant displays, the iPhone’s calibration is often considered more precise.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in photography and videography, but approach it differently. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is known for its cinematic mode and consistently accurate color science. The X80 Pro, while lacking specific sensor details in the provided data, likely features a large main sensor paired with vivo’s image processing algorithms, often emphasizing vibrant colors and detail. The iPhone’s strength lies in its video recording capabilities, offering ProRes video recording for professional workflows. The X80 Pro’s camera system is likely optimized for low-light performance and portrait photography. Without detailed sensor specs, a direct comparison is difficult, but both phones are capable of producing stunning images.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: Apple’s A15 Bionic (5nm) versus MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000 (4nm). The A15’s hexa-core architecture (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) is optimized for iOS, delivering exceptional single-core performance. The Dimensity 9000’s octa-core configuration (1x3.05 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) aims for a balance of power and efficiency. The 4nm process node of the Dimensity 9000 *should* offer better thermal efficiency than the A15’s 5nm node, potentially leading to less throttling under sustained load. However, Apple’s software optimization often mitigates throttling effectively. Both devices likely feature LPDDR5 RAM, but the speed and configuration could vary, impacting multitasking performance.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an impressive endurance rating of 121 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The iPhone 13 Pro Max offers 50% charge in 30 minutes with wired charging, 15W wireless charging with MagSafe, and 15W with Qi2 (requiring iOS 17.2). The vivo X80 Pro, with its 80W wired charging, achieves 50% charge in just 11 minutes – a significant advantage for users who prioritize quick top-ups. The X80 Pro also offers reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the iPhone.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X80 Pro if you need incredibly fast charging (0-50% in just 11 minutes), prefer the flexibility of Android, and value raw processing power for demanding tasks. Buy the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if you prioritize a polished user experience, a mature ecosystem with strong app support, and a camera system known for its consistent results and video capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 in the vivo X80 Pro overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Dimensity 9000’s 4nm process is designed for improved thermal efficiency. While some throttling is inevitable under sustained load, the X80 Pro’s cooling system and the chip’s architecture should mitigate overheating better than older chipsets. Real-world testing suggests it handles demanding games well, but prolonged sessions at maximum settings may lead to some performance reduction.
❓ How does the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s MagSafe charging compare to the vivo X80 Pro’s wired charging in terms of convenience?
MagSafe offers a convenient, cable-free charging experience, but it’s limited to 15W. The vivo X80 Pro’s 80W wired charging is significantly faster, fully charging the device much quicker. While MagSafe is convenient for occasional top-ups, the X80 Pro’s wired charging is ideal for quickly replenishing the battery when time is limited.
❓ Is the difference in CPU architecture (Hexa-core A15 vs Octa-core Dimensity 9000) noticeable in everyday tasks?
For most everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and video streaming, the difference in CPU architecture is unlikely to be noticeable. Both chips are incredibly powerful and can handle these tasks with ease. The A15 Bionic excels in single-core performance, which benefits responsive app launches, while the Dimensity 9000’s octa-core design may offer advantages in heavily multi-threaded applications.