Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy A04s
The Quick Answer
These phones operate in entirely different market segments.
The Verdict
These phones operate in entirely different market segments. The iPhone 13 Pro Max delivers flagship performance with its A15 Bionic chip, 120Hz Super Retina XDR OLED display at 1000 nits brightness, and exceptional camera system featuring 4K Dolby Vision video recording. Build quality is premium with stainless steel construction and IP68 water resistance. Storage reaches 1TB, and MagSafe wireless charging adds convenience. The Galaxy A04s targets budget-conscious users with a larger 6.5-inch display but relies on a 1600x720 LCD panel and Exynos 850 processor that struggles with demanding apps. Its 50MP main camera sounds impressive on paper, yet lacks the computational photography and video capabilities of Apple's 12MP system. Battery capacity favors Samsung at 5000mAh versus 4352mAh, though the iPhone's efficiency typically delivers comparable real-world endurance. The A04s includes USB-C and costs roughly 86% less, making it accessible for basic tasks like messaging and social media. However, the iPhone 13 Pro Max's consistent performance, superior display technology, and advanced imaging make it vastly superior for content creation and demanding usage. Choose the iPhone for performance and longevity; select the Galaxy A04s only if budget is your sole concern.
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 Samsung Galaxy A04s if…
- →Extremely affordable Samsung phone at $149
- →5000 mAh battery provides multi-day endurance
- →90Hz display is smoother than typical entry-level 60Hz phones
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
Samsung Galaxy A04s
Pros
- Extremely affordable Samsung phone at $149
- 5000 mAh battery provides multi-day endurance
- 90Hz display is smoother than typical entry-level 60Hz phones
- NFC support for contactless payments at the budget tier
- 50 MP main camera takes acceptable daylight photos
Cons
- HD+ resolution is pixelated on the 6.5-inch screen
- Exynos 850 is very slow — struggles with basic multitasking
- Only 15W charging takes hours for a full charge
- No 5G connectivity
- 2 MP macro and depth cameras are useless
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy A04s |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 12 (One UI Core 4.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 238 g | 195 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm | 164.7 x 76.7 x 9.1 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/1.8 |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision ProRes | 1080p@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 3x | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | — |
| Depth | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 3 GB / 4 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4352 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 15W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | PLS LCD |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 1600 x 720 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1000 | 400 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (8x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Mali-G52 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | Samsung Exynos 850 |
| 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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