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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a phone with a higher quality camera for both still photos and videos, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max is a superior choice with better overall camera quality. However, it comes at an upper midrange price compared to the Samsung Galaxy A53, which is more budget-friendly. The iPhone also has a larger screen and longer battery life but weighs a bit more. The Galaxy A53 offers a plastic body which may be less premium than the iPhone's glass back. It has a slightly smaller screen and lower camera quality but retains useful features like a 3.5mm headphone jack and expandable storage via an SD card, which the iPhone lacks. The operating systems are different too, with the iPhone using iOS and the Galaxy A53 using Android. Choose the iPhone for better performance and camera quality, or the Galaxy A53 for a more affordable price with some versatile features. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Good for taking photos
- Very good for recording videos
- Best in class display quality
- Very good performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy A53
- The Samsung Galaxy A53 has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.0
5.9
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy A53 has poor overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has standout camera features, including excellent photo software, dynamic range, and low light performance, as well as good camera versatility and very good selfie quality. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy A53, while also having respectable selfie quality, scores lower in photo software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance with modest camera versatility.
Photo Quality
7.8
6.2
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy A53 takes only fair photos.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max takes very good photos largely because it consistently delivers strong performance across various categories, with particular strengths in the photos software experience and selfie quality. Conversely, while the Samsung Galaxy A53 also captures very good photos, it does so with less versatility and robustness, especially noticeable in lower dynamic range and selfie quality.
Video Quality
8.6
5.2
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max takes very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy A53 takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max offers superior video capabilities with its higher video resolution/framerate and more advanced video software experience, which are complemented by excellent video stabilization, wider video dynamic range, and better low light performance. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy A53, while offering good video quality, falls short in these aspects along with a more basic microphone quality compared to the iPhone.
Battery
9.6 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has 9.6 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy A53 has 8 hours of battery life.
Cost
$639
$200
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has a price of $639 and the Samsung Galaxy A53 costs $200.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy A53 is 6.5 inches.
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How the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy A53 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy A53 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$639 | $200 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 24, 2021 | March 24, 2022 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.5" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 458 | 405 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | E1280 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 4 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8/10 | 6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.9/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.6/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Macro | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 64 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.6 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4352 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | No | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 0 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.33" x 3.07" | 6.28" x 2.94" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 8.47 oz | 6.67 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Plastic | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | No | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.1 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 5 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Alpine Green, Graphite, Sierra Blue, Gold, Silver | Blue, White, Black | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
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Tom's Guide
Mark Spoonauer | March 2023
"The iPhone 13 Pro Max is that rare phone that gets a 5-star rating from us. You get blistering performance and a very responsive 120Hz display. Plus, the battery life is among the best we’ve seen from a 5G flagship. Some may simply prefer the iPhone 13 Pro because it’s smaller and lighter, as there are no other functional differences between the two handsets. But if you prefer a bigger screen, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the closest thing to perfect you can get in a phone."
Samsung Galaxy A53
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Android Authority
Ryan Haines | May 2023
"Samsung’s quartet of rear cameras delivers the goods, both day and night, with the only blemish being the lack of 4K/60fps video recording. The large, 6.5-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display is crisp and smooth, making video streaming enjoyable. You should have no issues pushing the 5,000mAh battery to its limits and it’s not too slow to charge relative to its competitors in the US."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy A53
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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