Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Realme C55
The Quick Answer
These phones occupy completely different market segments.
The Verdict
These phones occupy completely different market segments. The iPhone 13 Pro Max delivers flagship performance with its A15 Bionic chip, Super Retina XDR OLED display (1000 nits, 120Hz), and advanced camera system including 3x optical zoom and ProRes video recording at 4K 60fps. Build quality features stainless steel and IP68 water resistance. Battery capacity reaches 4352 mAh with 27W wired and 15W MagSafe charging. The Realme C55 targets budget-conscious users with a larger 6.72-inch IPS LCD screen, more modest 5000 mAh battery, and 33W SUPERVOOC fast charging. Its 64MP main camera with PDAF sounds impressive on paper but lacks the optical zoom and video capabilities of the Pro Max, shooting only 1080p at 30fps. Performance differences are significant: the A15 Bionic vastly outpaces the MediaTek Helio G88, and the iPhone includes 5G, NFC, and better connectivity overall. The C55 offers better value for basic tasks and longer battery life in real-world usage, yet lacks water resistance and wireless charging. For power users and photography enthusiasts, the iPhone 13 Pro Max justifies its premium price. Those needing reliable daily performance on a tight budget should consider the C55, though it can't match the iPhone's capabilities.
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 Realme C55 if…
- →33W SUPERVOOC fast charging is rare at $159
- →64 MP main camera captures good daylight photos
- →FHD+ resolution provides sharp text and images
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
Realme C55
Pros
- 33W SUPERVOOC fast charging is rare at $159
- 64 MP main camera captures good daylight photos
- FHD+ resolution provides sharp text and images
- 5000 mAh battery lasts two days with moderate use
- Mini Capsule Dynamic Island-style notification feature
Cons
- No 5G or NFC connectivity
- Helio G88 is very basic for gaming or heavy tasks
- 2 MP depth sensor is essentially useless
- IPS LCD panel has poor contrast
- No water resistance
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Realme C55 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 13 (Realme UI 4.0) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 238 g | 189 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm | 167.3 x 76.1 x 7.89 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 64 MP, f/1.79, PDAF |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision ProRes | 1080p@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 3x | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | — |
| Depth | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4352 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 33W SUPERVOOC |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.72 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1000 | 680 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz + 6x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | MediaTek Helio G88 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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