Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro
The Quick Answer
Apple's iPhone 13 Pro Max commands a premium price at $1099 and justifies it through superior display technology, processing power, and camera sophistication.
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 13 Pro Max commands a premium price at $1099 and justifies it through superior display technology, processing power, and camera sophistication. Its 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen with 1000 nits brightness and 120Hz LTPO refresh rate vastly outperforms the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro's 6.6-inch PLS LCD with 600 nits and fixed 120Hz. The A15 Bionic processor crushes the Snapdragon 778G in real-world performance, while computational photography on the Pro Max's quad camera system (including 3x telephoto) produces noticeably better results than the XCover 6 Pro's more basic setup, despite the latter having higher megapixels at 50MP. Samsung's rugged device shines with MIL-STD-810H durability, a removable battery, and practical water resistance, appealing to those needing durability over refinement. Battery capacity slightly favors the iPhone at 4352mAh versus 4050mAh, though both offer moderate endurance. The XCover 6 Pro represents exceptional value at half the price for someone prioritizing toughness and cost. However, the iPhone 13 Pro Max's superior display, performance, camera quality, and software ecosystem make it the stronger choice for most users willing to invest in premium technology.
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 XCover 6 Pro if…
- →MIL-STD-810H rugged certification for extreme durability
- →IP68 waterproof with removable battery — unique combination
- →Removable battery allows hot-swapping for extended field use
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 XCover 6 Pro
Pros
- MIL-STD-810H rugged certification for extreme durability
- IP68 waterproof with removable battery — unique combination
- Removable battery allows hot-swapping for extended field use
- 120Hz display is smooth for a rugged phone
- Programmable side key for push-to-talk or custom actions
Cons
- Thick at 9.9 mm and heavy at 235 g
- Only 15W charging is very slow
- PLS LCD display has weaker colors than AMOLED
- 4050 mAh removable battery is smaller than competitors
- Enterprise pricing at $549 is high for the specs
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 12 (One UI 4.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 238 g | 235 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Rugged textured plastic, MIL-STD-810H |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm | 168.8 x 79.9 x 9.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/1.8, PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 13 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision ProRes | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 3x | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4352 mAh | 4050 mAh (removable) |
| Charging | 27W wired | 15W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | PLS LCD |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2408 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1000 | 600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Adreno 642L |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
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