Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy A05s
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 13 Pro Max represents flagship technology with a stunning 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display delivering 120Hz refresh rates and 1000 nits brightness, paired with the powerful A15 Bionic chip and professional camera system featuring 4K Dolby Vision ProRes recording. Samsung's Galaxy A05s offers impressive value at $159, featuring a large 6.7-inch display, substantial 5000mAh battery, and 50MP main camera, though its 1600x720 LCD panel, Snapdragon 680 processor, and lack of 5G connectivity reveal its budget positioning. For professionals, content creators, or anyone demanding cutting-edge performance and camera capabilities, the iPhone 13 Pro Max justifies its premium price. However, budget-conscious users seeking basic smartphone functionality, extended battery life, and a large screen will find the Galaxy A05s adequate, despite significant trade-offs in display quality, processing power, and longevity support. Choose based on your priorities: premium experience or essential features at minimal cost.
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 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 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 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 13 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy A05s |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 13 (One UI Core 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 238 g | 194 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm | 167.0 x 77.8 x 8.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/1.8 |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 13 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 |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 4 GB / 6 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4352 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | PLS LCD |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 1600 x 720 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1000 | 400 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz + 4x1.9 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Adreno 610 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 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.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy A05s.