Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy A05s
The Verdict
Comparing flagship versus budget tiers reveals drastically different priorities and capabilities. iPhone 11 Pro Max delivers superior display technology with its 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen at 1200 nits brightness, paired with the powerhouse A13 Bionic processor and exceptional computational photography through its triple camera system including 2x telephoto zoom. Galaxy A05s compensates for lesser performance with practical advantages: larger 6.7-inch screen, significantly larger 5000 mAh battery, faster 25W charging, and modern USB-C connectivity. Camera specs favor Samsung on paper (50 MP main) but iPhone's processing excels in real-world output. Storage maxes at 512GB versus 128GB. Build quality clearly favors Apple's stainless steel and glass construction with IP68 rating against plastic durability. For users prioritizing premium performance, ecosystem integration, and longevity, iPhone 11 Pro Max remains superior despite its age. Budget-conscious buyers seeking battery life and basic functionality will find Galaxy A05s adequately capable.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max if…
- →Outstanding battery life — best iPhone at the time
- →Triple camera system with Night mode
- →Gorgeous Super Retina XDR OLED display
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A05s if…
- →Extremely affordable at $159 for a Samsung smartphone
- →Large 5000 mAh battery provides two-day endurance
- →Big 6.7-inch display for media consumption
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Pros
- Outstanding battery life — best iPhone at the time
- Triple camera system with Night mode
- Gorgeous Super Retina XDR OLED display
- 18W fast charger included in the box
- Excellent build quality with matte glass back
Cons
- No 5G connectivity
- 60Hz display refresh rate
- Heavy at 226 g
- Wide notch design
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
Samsung Galaxy A05s
Pros
- Extremely affordable at $159 for a Samsung smartphone
- Large 5000 mAh battery provides two-day endurance
- Big 6.7-inch display for media consumption
- 50 MP main camera takes acceptable daylight photos
- 25W charging is decent for the budget segment
Cons
- HD+ resolution is noticeably pixelated on the 6.7-inch screen
- No 5G — 4G LTE only
- Snapdragon 680 is slow for multitasking
- No NFC — no contactless payments
- Plastic build feels fragile and cheap
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy A05s |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 13 | Android 13 (One UI Core 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 226 g | 194 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, textured matte glass | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm | 167.0 x 77.8 x 8.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8 |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 13 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.0, 2x optical zoom | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | — |
| Depth | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB / 6 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3969 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.5 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | PLS LCD |
| Resolution | 2688 x 1242 | 1600 x 720 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 400 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz + 4x1.9 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 610 |
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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