Vodafone Smart N9 Lite vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max: A David vs. Goliath Battle

The smartphone landscape is vast, ranging from ultra-affordable options to premium flagships. Today, we pit two extremes against each other: the budget-friendly Vodafone Smart N9 Lite and the powerhouse Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. This comparison will reveal which phone offers the best value and performance for your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 14 Pro Max utterly dominates in almost every category – performance, camera, display, and features. However, the Vodafone Smart N9 Lite offers a compelling option for users on a tight budget seeking basic smartphone functionality. It's a clear win for Apple, but a viable choice for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names Vodafone Smart N9 lite Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPAHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 281, 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 bands-1, 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
EDGEYes-
GPRSYes-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 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
Announced2018, June. Released 2018, June2022, September 07
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, September 16
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions148.2 x 68.9 x 9.4 mm (5.83 x 2.71 x 0.37 in)160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-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)
Weight155 g (5.47 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
Resolution480 x 960 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~201 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size5.34 inches, 73.6 cm2 (~72.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
 -Always-On display
Platform
CPUQuad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
ChipsetMediatek MT6739WA (28 nm)Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
GPUMali-T720MP2Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 8.1 Oreo (Go edition)iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDHCNo
Internal16GB 1GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single8 MP, AF12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple-48 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)
Video1080p@30fps4K@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
FeaturesLED flashHDR
Single5 MP12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video-4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth4.0, A2DP5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, gyro (market dependent), proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Ion 2460 mAh batteryLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsWhite Pearl, Black IceSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
ModelsVFD 620A2894, A2651, A2893, A2895, A2896, iphone15,3
PriceAbout 100 EUR€ 530.79 / $ 489.81 / £ 446.75
SAR-1.15 W/kg (head)     1.07 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.90 W/kg (head)     1.69 W/kg (body)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- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 955884 (v9) GeekBench: 5423 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Vodafone Smart N9 lite

  • Affordable
  • Compact size
  • Decent battery life (potentially)
  • Basic smartphone functionality

  • Weak performance
  • Low-resolution display
  • Basic camera
  • Limited features
  • Outdated chipset

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

  • Exceptional performance
  • Stunning display
  • Top-tier camera system
  • Long battery life
  • Premium build quality
  • Excellent software support

  • Expensive
  • Large size
  • Limited customization options (compared to Android)

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a stunning Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz) and a peak brightness of 1760 nits, offering incredible clarity and vibrant colors. The N9 Lite's display is likely a standard LCD with lower resolution and brightness, resulting in a noticeably less impressive visual experience. Contrast ratio is infinite on the iPhone, a significant advantage.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max's camera system is renowned for its exceptional image quality, advanced features, and impressive video recording capabilities. The N9 Lite's camera is likely a basic setup, offering acceptable photos in good lighting conditions but struggling in low light. The iPhone's computational photography and video stabilization are far superior.

Performance

The A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a performance beast, easily handling demanding games and applications. The Mediatek MT6739WA in the N9 Lite is a budget chipset, offering adequate performance for basic tasks but struggling with more intensive workloads. Expect significant lag and slower app loading times on the Vodafone device.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max achieving an endurance rating of 121 hours. The N9 Lite's battery capacity is likely smaller, but its less demanding processor may contribute to decent longevity. The iPhone also benefits from faster charging speeds (wired and wireless).

Buying Guide

The Vodafone Smart N9 Lite is ideal for first-time smartphone users, those needing a secondary device, or individuals prioritizing affordability above all else. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is perfect for power users, photography enthusiasts, and anyone seeking the best possible smartphone experience, regardless of price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Vodafone Smart N9 Lite good for gaming?
No, the N9 Lite's chipset is not powerful enough for demanding games. It can handle basic games, but expect low frame rates and potential lag.
❓ How much does the Vodafone Smart N9 Lite cost?
The Vodafone Smart N9 Lite is typically priced in the $100-$150 range, making it one of the most affordable smartphones available.
❓ What iOS version does the iPhone 14 Pro Max ship with?
The iPhone 14 Pro Max ships with iOS 16, and is upgradable to iOS 17.2 and beyond.
❓ Does the iPhone 14 Pro Max support Qi2 wireless charging?
Yes, it supports Qi2 wireless charging with the iOS 17.2 update.