Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Nothing Phone (2a)
The Verdict
iPhone 13 Pro Max commands a premium price tier with flagship performance anchored by the A15 Bionic chip, superior 120Hz LTPO display technology, and industry-leading computational photography with ProRes video recording. Its stainless steel construction and IP68 rating justify durability expectations, though battery capacity lags the Nothing Phone 2a's 5000 mAh. Nothing Phone 2a delivers remarkable value with a larger battery, faster wired charging (45W), higher resolution ultrawide camera (114-degree), and brighter AMOLED display (1300 nits). However, the MediaTek processor underperforms the A15 in demanding tasks, and plastic construction feels less premium. For professionals needing video capabilities and performance, iPhone 13 Pro Max is essential. Budget-conscious users prioritizing battery life and camera versatility should choose Nothing Phone 2a.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if…
- →ProMotion 120Hz display arrived for first time on iPhone Pro
- →Best-in-class battery life among 2021 iPhones
- →ProRes video recording up to 4K
Buy the Nothing Phone (2a) if…
- →Distinctive transparent design with Glyph Interface
- →Clean Nothing OS with minimal bloat
- →Solid 50 MP dual camera setup
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Pros
- ProMotion 120Hz display arrived for first time on iPhone Pro
- Best-in-class battery life among 2021 iPhones
- ProRes video recording up to 4K
- Macro photography with ultrawide camera
- Cinematic mode for shallow depth-of-field video
Cons
- Very heavy at 238 g
- Notch still present despite slimmed-down design
- Lightning connector limiting transfer speeds
- Large size is unwieldy for smaller hands
Nothing Phone (2a)
Pros
- Distinctive transparent design with Glyph Interface
- Clean Nothing OS with minimal bloat
- Solid 50 MP dual camera setup
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Plastic build at this price
- No wireless charging
- Only IP54 splash resistance
- Mid-tier Dimensity chipset rather than Snapdragon
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Nothing Phone (2a) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 14, Nothing OS 2.5 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 238 g | 190 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Plastic frame, plastic back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP54 |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm | 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Samsung GN9 |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 32 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision ProRes | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 3x | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/2.2, 114-degree |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB / 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4352 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2412 x 1084 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1000 | 1300 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 + 6x2.0 GHz A510) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Mali-G610 MC4 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Nothing products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max or the Nothing Phone (2a).