iPhone XS Max vs. OnePlus 7 Pro

[MacRumors]

OnePlus earlier this month unveiled its new flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 7 Pro, which offers multiple attractive and unique features along with an affordable price tag.

MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera checked out the OnePlus 7 Pro when it first launched, but has spent some more time with it for an in-depth comparison that's been shared on our YouTube channel.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

The OnePlus 7 Pro is priced starting at $669, making it significantly cheaper than the iPhone XS Max, which is priced starting at $1,099. Though cheaper, the OnePlus 7 Pro doesn't sacrifice many features.

It has a 6.67-inch OLED display that's edge to edge with no bezels aside from a small chin at the bottom. Unlike the iPhone, there's no notch and no cutout for the front-facing camera, and that's because OnePlus has designed a pop out front camera that snaps up when you need to take a selfie.

There have been questions about how durable this pop up camera is, and the short answer is that even though we've spent a bit more time with it, we still don't know how it's going to hold up over time and when exposed to the elements, though it seems to be durable.

The OnePlus offers facial recognition, but as with all Android devices, it's not on par with the iPhone's Face ID. It's 2D image recognition, which means it can't be used for secure operations like making payments. That's fine, because with a pop up camera, it's easier to use the in-display fingerprint sensor.

In-display fingerprint sensors are convenient, but in this case, while it works okay, it's not as fast or as easy to use as Face ID.

The AMOLED display is high-quality and looks great, and there's no denying that no notch is superior to a notch. It does have curved edges at the side, which can make cases and screen protectors inconvenient, but there's the benefit of a 90Hz refresh rate. The iPhone XS Max has a flat display that's more practical, and still just as vivid, bright, and crisp.

When it comes to performance, these are modern smartphones that are equipped with high-end components and in day to day use, both are super quick and you're not going to notice much of a difference between them. The One Plus 7 Pro offers up to 12GB RAM while the iPhone XS Max has 4GB RAM, but Apple has always been better at memory management and thus there's not a discernible difference in performance.

There's a 4,000mAh battery in the OnePlus 7 Pro, but its battery life isn't really beating out the iPhone XS Max. It does win out when it comes to charging, though, because it has a fast charging feature that takes it from 0 to 100 percent in an hour.

The iPhone, of course, has fast charging, but the difference is the OnePlus 7 Pro ships with the power adapter needed to enable the quicker charging while the iPhone doesn't. The OnePlus 7 Pro doesn't have wireless charging though, which is one downside.

There's no water resistance rating on the OnePlus 7 Pro, while the iPhone XS Max has an IP68 rating, meaning it can hold up to submersion in water. OnePlus claims that water resistance certification for the OnePlus 7 Pro would have made each device $30 more expensive and that the smartphone is capable of being soaked in water, but you're going to have to take OnePlus' word for it.

When it comes to the camera, the iPhone XS Max wins. Even though the iPhone's camera is dual lens and not triple lens like the One Plus 7 Pro, the iPhone produces better images. OnePlus has never been known for camera quality, and the company has acknowledged there are issues with the 7 Pro camera. An update is in the works to address some customer complaints, but as is, the iPhone outperforms the OnePlus.

Specifically, highlights are overblown on the OnePlus compared to the iPhone, and the Portrait Mode just isn't as crisp. We did like the ultra wide-angle camera lens, which the iPhone is rumored to be getting in 2019.

The hardware may be similar in terms of ultimate performance between the two smartphones, but there's still a major difference in software, aka iOS vs. Android.

Even though there are pros and cons to both operating systems, most people who are deep into the iOS ecosystem and who prefer iOS devices aren't going to want to venture over into Android even though Android devices like the OnePlus 7 Pro can be much more affordable.

What do you think of the OnePlus 7 Pro? Is its feature set and lower price point worth leaving the Apple ecosystem? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: iPhone XS Max vs. OnePlus 7 Pro

 

[AdonisSMU]

If Apple was priced at $800US people would still be buying iPhones in droves.

 

[jezbd1997]

The iPhone XS is IP68 not 67

 

[Khedron]

"but Apple has always been better at memory management and thus there's not a discernible difference in performance"

But Apple has never allowed split screen multitasking so if you've already accepted a crippled OS there no need for more RAM

 

[heov]

You need to talk more about the 90Hz. It's just briefly mentioned. And FaceID being easier and faster than a fingerprint? That seems subjective, and I'm not so sure Face ID is faster given its implementation requiring you to swipe up.

Also, since there's a lot of talk on bezels.. can we get a bezel comparison on all 4 sides vs the iPhone XS? I feel the top and 2 sides on OnePlus is smaller, but bottom is larger, but only a bit.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

"but Apple has always been better at memory management and thus there's not a discernible difference in performance"

But Apple has never allowed split screen multitasking so if you've already accepted a crippled OS there no need for more RAM

Lmao please. That has to be the most gimmicky feature in the world. Home bar swipes between apps is way more practical

 

[Khedron]

You need to talk more about the 90Hz. It's just briefly mentioned. And FaceID being easier and faster than a fingerprint? That seems subjective, and I'm not so sure Face ID is faster given its implementation requiring you to swipe up.

Also, since there's a lot of talk on bezels.. can we get a bezel comparison on all 4 sides vs the iPhone XS? I feel the top and 2 sides on OnePlus is smaller, but bottom is larger, but only a bit.

It's always the same talking points.

FaceID is faster (assuming you're already looking at the phone and don't include swiping)
FaceID is more secure (literally no one ever has had a problem because fingerprint sensors are slightly too insecure but FaceID would have just been secure enough)
iPhone has smaller bezels (assuming you compare to the largest bezel on the competitor and don't count Apple's digital chin)
iOS has better RAM management (because it doesn't support multitasking so only has to manage a single app at a time)
iOS users won't want to change (even though 95% of the apps they use are identical on Android)

 

[EchoplexSE]

The curved glass is a no go and the size, I know I'm in the minority but after having large screen devices for so long I feel like the XS is even a little cumbersome. I just don't like having that big of a phone, take pictures read the web and message and that's about it for me

 

[jclo]

The iPhone XS is IP68 not 67

I've fixed it.

 

[az431]

If Apple was priced at $800US people would still be buying iPhones in droves.

$31 billion in iPhones were sold last quarter, roughly 38 million phones. But I'd love to hear your definition of "droves."

 

[NickName99]

You can tell a lot about a phone by its resale value. Android phones are disposable tech.

 

[BootsWalking]

Lmao please. That has to be the most gimmicky feature in the world. Home bar swipes between apps is way more practical

Really? You think being able to watch Youtube and surf at the same time is gimmicky?

 

[now i see it]

Except for the inferior camera, the OnePlus seems to be a much better phone than the Max. And a heck of a lot cheaper too.

 

[69Mustang]

Damn. If this phone didn't have those Samsung edges, it would most likely be my phone next year. The price would be ~$450-$500, the color is fiyah, and Google will have intro'd a camera app to solve the snapper issues. Them edges though. Like Dan, I don't like the curved edges. Still, good job by 1+.

 

[kwikdeth]

dont expect much from any promised "fixes" for the OP cameras... they have always been disappointing even after updates. its an unfortunate trade-off for an otherwise generally excellent series of phones.
[doublepost=1558739322][/doublepost]

You can tell a lot about a phone by its resale value. Android phones are disposable tech.

OnePlus phones actually keep their value fairly well for android phones, I think mostly due to the unlocked bootloader so tinkerers can keep it going for a long time. I had given my stepdaughter my old oneplus 1, when tmobile started carrying the 6T, they offered 50% off in tradein value for *any* oneplus phone towards the 6T. Not too bad for what was a 5 year old phone at the time.

 

[FightTheFuture]

Really? You think being able to watch Youtube and surf at the same time is gimmicky?

On a phone? It’s the implementation. It’s not fluid to go into split screen, and it’s not easy to get back out. I’ve done this twice on my Galaxy Tab and haven’t done it since.

 

[s15119]

If Apple was priced at $800US people would still be buying iPhones in droves.

People ARE buying iPhones in droves. The Max is by far, the best little computer I have ever put in my pocket. It's also a damn fine phone.

 

[citysnaps]

Really? You think being able to watch Youtube and surf at the same time is gimmicky?

The way it's implemented? Heck yeah!

 

[44267547]

I watched Jerryrig Everything‘s test on the 1+7 Pro and it held up really well.

One really awesome feature the One Pro has, if the camera is open, and if it detects a fall, it will retract during the fall. (Which also is demoed in JerryRigs video durability test)-

 

[BootsWalking]

On a phone? It’s the implementation. It’s not fluid to go into split screen, and it’s not easy to get back out. I’ve done this twice on my Galaxy Tab and haven’t done it since.

LOL, it takes a few seconds to split the screen and then you're done. Then it's just tapping back and forth between the splits. It's not as if someone re-engages the split-screen function 30 times a day.

 

[brenton289]

One runs iOS and the other runs Android. There is no comparison.

 

[44267547]

One runs iOS and the other runs Android. There is no comparison.

Right, there is a definitive differentiation between both platforms, but the price point for this hardware is fairly compelling on the One Plus for what it’s offering, and that’s where the iPhone/Apple has struggled with the inflation of the Max/XS. The Comparison here is hardware, _not_ necessarily just android versus iOS.

 

[eoblaed]

iOS users won't want to change (even though 95% of the apps they use are identical on Android)

Only if you don't count all the baked in, fully unified integration between iOS and all your other Apple devices. Many (most) of us have more than one piece of Apple hardware. Personally, I have my XS Max, my iPad Pro, Apple Watch, iMac, Mac Pro, Mac Mini, MacBook Pro, a pair of Apple TVs, and multiple Home Pods. An Android would useless to me in that configuration.

It wouldn't matter to me if every app I used had an identical counterpart on Android, it will never be able to do all things I do with my iPhone; hence, I'll never even consider an Android device ... it wouldn't even come close to cutting it.

 

[I7guy]

On a phone? It’s the implementation. It’s not fluid to go into split screen, and it’s not easy to get back out. I’ve done this twice on my Galaxy Tab and haven’t done it since.

Options are great. My tv has PIP, I rarely use it however. It’s nowhere near a feature that matters to ME.
[doublepost=1558741253][/doublepost]

Right, there is a definitive differentiation between both platforms, but the price point for this hardware is fairly compelling on the One Plus for what it’s offering, and that’s where the iPhone/Apple has struggled with the inflation of the Max/XS. The Comparison here is hardware, _not_ necessarily just android versus iOS.

It’s the entire package vs the entire package. $500 amortized over a three year period to get an iPhone is a cup of coffee a day. (Well actually less) If one is looking for a cost effective solution the one plus offers a nice package. One has to decide what tangibles and intangibles the $500 buys.

 

[Exile714]

Neat, a different phone than the one I use looks cool. I hope people enjoy it!