vivo X90 Pro vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max: A Deep Dive Comparison

The vivo X90 Pro and Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max represent the pinnacle of smartphone engineering from their respective ecosystems. While both are premium devices targeting demanding users, they take fundamentally different approaches to achieving flagship status. The X90 Pro prioritizes charging speed and a vibrant display, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max focuses on sustained performance, camera consistency, and ecosystem integration. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which phone best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing long-term performance and a refined software experience, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is the superior choice. Its A16 Bionic chip and significantly longer battery endurance outweigh the vivo X90 Pro’s faster charging and slightly brighter display.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X90 Pro Apple iPhone 14 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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - 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 - A2894, A2896
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2894, A2896
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2895
Launch
Announced2022, November 222022, September 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 06Available. Released 2022, September 16
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, eco leather backGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions164.1 x 74.5 x 9.3 mm (6.46 x 2.93 x 0.37 in)160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· 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)
Weight214.9 g (7.58 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
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 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
 -Always-On display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.05 GHz Cortex-X3 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9200 (4 nm)Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
GPUImmortalis-G715 MC11Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 14, Funtouch 14 (Global), OriginOS 3 (China)iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 UFS 4.0NVMe
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/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple50.3 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.6, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.4", 0.7µm, AF, 2x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 108˚ 16mm (ultrawide), AF48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video8K@24fps, 4K@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/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30/60fps4K@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
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, 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 Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging120W wired, 50% in 8 min 50W wireless Reverse wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
Type4870 mAhLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsLegendary Black, RedSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
ModelsV2242A, V2219A2894, A2651, A2893, A2895, A2896, iphone15,3
PriceAbout 1200 EUR€ 530.79 / $ 489.81 / £ 446.75
SAR-1.15 W/kg (head)     1.07 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 96h Endurance rating 121h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.5 LUFS (Very good) -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 1228735 (v9) GeekBench: 4273 (v5.1) GFXBench: 74fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 955884 (v9) GeekBench: 5423 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X90 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W wired charging
  • 50W wireless charging and reverse charging
  • Vibrant and bright display
  • Customizable Android experience

  • Shorter battery life compared to iPhone
  • Performance lags behind A16 Bionic

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

  • Exceptional battery life (121h endurance)
  • Industry-leading A16 Bionic performance
  • Superior camera consistency and video quality
  • Seamless Apple ecosystem integration

  • Slower wired charging (50% in 30 min)
  • Less customizable software

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s display dominates in peak brightness, reaching a measured 1760 nits compared to the vivo X90 Pro’s 934 nits. This translates to significantly better visibility in direct sunlight. Both displays share an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, but the iPhone’s higher brightness provides a more impactful HDR experience. While the X90 Pro’s display is excellent, the iPhone’s is demonstrably superior for outdoor use and visual pop. The iPhone also benefits from ProMotion, Apple’s adaptive refresh rate technology, which dynamically adjusts up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and animations, a feature also present on the X90 Pro.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in photography and videography, but approach it differently. While detailed sensor specs are missing for the X90 Pro, its camera system is known for its vibrant color science and strong low-light performance. The iPhone 14 Pro Max, with its larger main sensor (48MP), delivers exceptional detail and dynamic range, particularly in well-lit conditions. Apple’s image processing prioritizes natural-looking images, while vivo tends towards more saturated colors. The iPhone’s Cinematic mode for video recording remains a standout feature, offering shallow depth-of-field effects with rack focus capabilities. Both offer excellent video stabilization.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. Apple’s A16 Bionic, a hexa-core processor built on a 4nm process, consistently outperforms the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 in CPU and GPU benchmarks. While the Dimensity 9200’s octa-core configuration (1x3.05 GHz Cortex-X3, 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A715, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) is powerful, the A16’s architecture and software optimization provide a noticeable edge in real-world performance, especially in demanding tasks like video editing and gaming. The iPhone’s sustained performance is also superior, benefiting from Apple’s efficient thermal management. Both utilize 4nm fabrication, but Apple’s chip design is more efficient.

Battery Life

The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s endurance rating of 121 hours significantly surpasses the vivo X90 Pro’s 96 hours. This translates to a full day of heavy use with more headroom on the iPhone. While the X90 Pro’s 120W wired charging is incredibly fast – reaching 50% charge in just 8 minutes – the iPhone’s 50% charge in 30 minutes is considerably slower. However, the iPhone’s superior battery life mitigates the slower charging speed for most users. The X90 Pro also offers 50W wireless charging and reverse wired charging, features absent on the iPhone, which relies on 15W MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X90 Pro if you need incredibly fast charging – 120W is a game-changer for topping up quickly – and prefer a more customizable Android experience. It’s ideal for users who frequently find themselves needing a rapid power boost. Buy the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max if you prioritize consistent performance over extended periods, a seamless user experience within the Apple ecosystem, and a camera system known for its reliability and video capabilities. It’s the better choice for content creators and power users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 in the vivo X90 Pro overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 9200 is a powerful chip, it can experience some thermal throttling during extended, graphically intensive gaming. The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s A16 Bionic, with its superior thermal management, maintains higher sustained performance over longer periods.
❓ How does the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s battery life hold up with Always-On Display enabled?
Even with Always-On Display enabled, the iPhone 14 Pro Max maintains its impressive battery life due to the A16 Bionic’s efficiency and the large battery capacity. Users can still expect a full day of usage, though it will be slightly reduced compared to disabling the feature.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the vivo X90 Pro significantly faster than the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s MagSafe?
Yes, the 50W wireless charging on the X90 Pro is considerably faster than the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s 15W MagSafe. It provides a more substantial charge in a shorter amount of time, making it a convenient option for quick top-ups.
❓ What are the benefits of the Apple ecosystem for an iPhone 14 Pro Max user?
The Apple ecosystem offers seamless integration with other Apple devices, such as AirPods, Apple Watch, and Macs. Features like Handoff, AirDrop, and iCloud provide a unified and convenient user experience.