A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a phone with a higher-quality camera and superior display, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max would be an excellent choice, though it comes at a premium price. Its camera setup offers exceptional still photo and video quality, supported by features like Dolby Vision HDR video. The OLED screen with higher brightness, coupled with a larger battery, provides a luxurious viewing and usage experience, albeit with a heavier build. Conversely, the Motorola Edge (2021) comes at a more affordable, midrange price point, still provides a large screen size, and decent camera capabilities. However, it trades off some premium features such as lower brightness display and plastic body construction. The Motorola runs on Android, which differs from the iPhone's iOS platform; this may influence your decision based on your ecosystem preference. 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 15 Pro Max
- Best in class for taking photos
- Best in class for recording videos
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class display quality
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Motorola Edge (2021)
- The Motorola Edge (2021) has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
10.0
5.2
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has best in class overall camera quality, while the Motorola Edge (2021) has poor overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers the best camera experience available, with a robust photo and video software experience, exceptional dynamic range, and superior low light performance, supported by a diversity of lens options and a high-quality selfie camera. In contrast, the Motorola Edge (2021) struggles in terms of camera performance, with lower ratings across critical camera aspects such as the software experience, dynamic range, and low light capabilities, including underwhelming results in selfie quality.
Photo Quality
10.0
5.3
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes best in class photos, while the Motorola Edge (2021) takes poor photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max captures superior photos due to its higher-rated selfie quality, as well as better performance in resolution, software experience, dynamic range, and low light conditions compared to the Motorola Edge (2021), which has lower performance in these areas.
Video Quality
10.0
4.7
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes best in class videos, while the Motorola Edge (2021) takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers superior video performance with the highest ratings in resolution/framerate, video stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and mic quality, whereas the Motorola Edge (2021) shows weaker capabilities in these areas, with particularly poor stabilization, dynamic range, and mic quality.
Battery
9.8 Hours
8.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has 9.8 hours of battery life. The Motorola Edge (2021) has 8.7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$1,100
$165
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has a price of $1,100 and the Motorola Edge (2021) costs $165.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Phone
Find your new phone
Key similarities
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Motorola Edge (2021) is 6.8 inches.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Motorola Edge (2021) compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Motorola Edge (2021) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $165 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Motorola | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 22, 2023 | September 2, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2460 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 395 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | LCD | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A17 | SD778G | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 256 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 10/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 10/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 10/10 | 4.7/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Super Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 108 megapixels | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.8 Hours | 8.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4441 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 | 6.3" x 3.02" | 6.65" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.80 oz | 7.05 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Plastic | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | No | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6e | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Side | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium | Nebula Blue | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Mark Spoonauer | September 2023
"The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a powerful flagship phone that delivers upgrade-worthy features, including a lighter and more compact titanium design, a bigger 5x zoom and a useful Action button. The A17 Pro chip is the fastest around and enables console-quality gameplay, while the battery lasts an epic 14 hours."
Motorola Edge (2021)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Philip Michaels | October 2021
"If you've overlooked Motorola's higher-end phones in the past, the Motorola Edge 5G UW does a very good job at trying to regain your attention. Improvements to the main camera impress. I'm also impressed by how quickly the phone recharges. It's the affordability that ultimately wins the day for the Motorola Edge. this phone offers enough premium features to put it at the forefront of midrange options."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Motorola Edge (2021)
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 Motorola
Motorola, a well-known name in the smartphone world, has a long-standing legacy in the industry, with a history dating back to the early days of mobile phones. The brand is mostly known for striking a balance between affordability and functionality, as well as providing a clean and straightforward interface with their software skin on top of Android. While they have traditionally been prominent in the budget and midrange categories, Motorola has also occasionally ventured into the high-end category for smartphones.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Phone guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Sony Xperia 1 V
VS
Compare Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
VS
Compare Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S23+
VS
Compare Motorola Edge (2021) vs. Motorola Moto G Stylus (2022)
VS
Compare Motorola Edge (2021) vs. OnePlus Nord N200
VS
Compare Motorola Edge (2021) vs. Samsung Galaxy S10e
VS
FAQs
FAQs about phones
Why trust us
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
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
152,100
Recommendations made
86,190
Consumer hours saved
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.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
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.
Featured in
