The iPhone 13 Pro Max is the largest and most expensive model in Apple’s 2021 smartphone line-up and features a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with 1284 x 2778 pixels resolution. Like the smaller iPhone 13 Pro, it is powered by Apple’s latest A15 Bionic chipset and comes with up to 1TB of internal storage.
Both models also use the same camera setup that now comes with a larger sensor and faster aperture in the primary cam, compared to last year’s 12 Pro and Pro Max models. On the ultra-wide sensor, size remains unchanged but there’s also a faster aperture plus a PDAF autofocus system versus the fixed-focus lens on the iPhone 12 series. On the tele camera, Apple has increased the reach, and the models now offer a 3x optical magnification compared to the primary camera.
Read on to find out how the all-new iPhone 13 Pro Max camera performed in our DXOMARK Camera tests.
Overview
Key camera specifications:
- Primary: 12 MP sensor, 1.9µm pixels, 26 mm equivalent f/1.5-aperture lens, sensor-shift OIS, Dual Pixel AF
- Ultra-wide: 12MP sensor, 13mm equivalent f/1.8-aperture lens, PDAF, 2cm macro
- Tele: 12 MP sensor, 77 mm equivalent f/2.8-aperture lens, OIS
- 3D sensor
- 4K at 24/25/30/60 fps, 1080p at 25/30/60 fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision
- Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field (1080p at 30 fps)
Scoring
Sub-scores and attributes included in the calculations of the global score.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
141
camera
110
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (130)
115
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Best: Apple iPhone 16 Pro (130)
111
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (125)
106
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Best: Apple iPhone 15 Pro (124)
87
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (117)
71
Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G
Best: Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G (82)
75
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (85)
81
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Best: Apple iPhone 16 Pro (93)
87
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Best: Xiaomi 14 Ultra (120)
89
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (122)
115
Oppo Find X8 Pro
Best: Oppo Find X8 Pro (116)
115
Oppo Find X8 Pro
Best: Oppo Find X8 Pro (120)
115
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (120)
111
Oppo Find X6 Pro
Best: Oppo Find X6 Pro (118)
116
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Best: Apple iPhone 16 Pro (120)
73
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
Best: Xiaomi 12S Ultra (86)
112
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Best: Apple iPhone 16 Pro (119)
Use cases & Conditions
Use case scores indicate the product performance in specific situations. They are not included in the overall score calculations.
Outdoor
Photos & videos shot in bright light conditions (≥1000 lux)
Indoor
Photos & videos shot in good lighting conditions (≥100lux)
Lowlight
Photos & videos shot in low lighting conditions (<100 lux)
Friends & Family
Portrait and group photo & videos
Position in Global Ranking
31
st
4. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
157
10. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
154
21. Honor Magic4 Ultimate
147
24. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
146
24. Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
146
29. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
144
31. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
141
31. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
141
35. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
140
41. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
137
48. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
135
48. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
135
55. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
133
55. Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Exynos)
133
55. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
133
55. Samsung Galaxy S24 (Exynos)
133
65. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
132
66. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
131
66. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
131
77. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
128
79. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
127
79. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
127
79. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
127
84. Vivo X70 Pro (MediaTek)
126
88. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra
125
88. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
125
93. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
124
96. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
122
101. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus 5G
121
102. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
102. Samsung Galaxy S22 (Exynos)
120
102. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G
120
107. Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G
118
110. Apple iPhone 12 mini
117
110. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
117
110. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon)
117
110. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon)
117
116. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)
116
119. Motorola Edge 50 Neo
115
119. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon)
115
119. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
115
129. Crosscall Stellar-X5
113
129. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G
113
133. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
112
135. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
111
135. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Exynos)
111
135. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Exynos)
111
140. Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
108
140. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Exynos)
108
145. Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
107
146. Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G
106
149. Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
104
150. Motorola Edge 40 Neo
103
150. Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 5G
103
152. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G
102
154. Motorola Edge 30 Pro
101
156. Apple iPhone SE (2022)
100
158. Motorola Moto g75 5G
96
164. Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
92
164. Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
92
168. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G
91
170. Motorola Moto g85 5G
88
170. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
88
170. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
88
174. Motorola moto g54 5G
85
174. Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
85
174. Samsung Galaxy A16 LTE
85
177. Honor Magic6 Lite (5300 mAh)
84
177. Xiaomi Redmi Note 14
84
180. Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
83
182. Samsung Galaxy A15 LTE
81
183. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
79
185. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
78
187. Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
77
189. Motorola Moto G35 5G
75
189. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13
75
192. Honor Magic5 Lite 5G
74
194. Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
70
195. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
69
198. Motorola moto g34 5G
67
198. Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
67
200. Motorola Moto G62 5G
66
201. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S 5G
65
203. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
63
208. Honor Magic4 Lite 5G
61
210. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
60
212. Crosscall Stellar-M6
59
219. Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022
51
221. Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
48
Position in Ultra-Premium Ranking
27
th
4. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
157
10. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
154
19. Honor Magic4 Ultimate
147
21. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
146
21. Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
146
25. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
144
27. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
141
27. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
141
31. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
140
35. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
137
40. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
135
40. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
135
45. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
133
45. Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Exynos)
133
50. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
132
51. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
131
51. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
131
58. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
128
60. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
127
60. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
127
65. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra
125
65. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
125
68. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
124
70. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
122
73. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
78. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
117
80. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon)
115
80. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
115
86. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
112
87. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
111
87. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Exynos)
111
Pros
- Accurate and repeatable target exposure
- Nice color and white balance
- Nice skin tones in most light conditions, even in complex backlit scenes
- Fast, accurate and repeatable autofocus
- Good detail in indoor and outdoor conditions
- Accurate and stable target exposure with fairly wide dynamic range in video
- Well-managed texture/noise trade-off in video
- Accurate white balance indoors and outdoors, smooth transitions in scene changes
- Good autofocus tracking and smooth refocusing
Cons
- Luminance noise on primary, ultra-wide and tele, especially in low light
- Limited dynamic range in challenging high contrast scenes
- Artifacts including flare, slight ringing, and color quantization
- Limited detail in long-range zoom shots
- Occasional pink white balance casts in some conditions and some white balance variations in videos
- Lens flare and ghosting, especially in low light video
- Some loss of texture in video, especially on faces in daylight and indoor conditions
- Sharpness differences between video frames and strong residual motion in video that is recorded while running
With the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro sharing the same rear camera specs and processor, it’s fair to assume the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max results are very close to those of the iPhone 13 Pro in all conditions. We have confirmed this by putting the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max through the complete DXOMARK Camera test protocol. Let’s have a look at a few examples.
In this backlit indoor scene, you can see that image results from the 13 Pro Max and 13 Pro are as good as identical. Both cameras manage good exposure on the subjects, but limited dynamic range means the sky in the background is clipped fairly heavily. Detail is good on the front subject, but the larger sensor in the new models comes with a slightly more limited depth of field. As a consequence, the subject in the back is out of focus.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, backlit indoor scene, good subject exposure but limited dynamic range
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, crop: good detail, limited depth of field
Apple iPhone 13 Pro, pretty much identical exposure
Apple iPhone 13 Pro, crop: pretty much identical detail and depth of field
The situation is very similar for this medium-range tele shot that was captured in low light. The two images are pretty much indistinguishable, with the same amount of noise and level of detail.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, medium range tele
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, crop: some noise, loss of detail
Apple iPhone 13 Pro, medium range tele
Apple iPhone 13 Pro, crop: pretty much identical image quality
Like the 13 Pro, the 13 Pro Max comes with an excellent autofocus system. The camera focuses accurately and very quickly, thanks to a negative shutter lag; the image is captured even slightly before the shutter is triggered.
Autofocus comparison (20 lux, 7EV, handheld): identical performance to iPhone 13 Pro
Our testers observed a very similar video performance to the 13 Pro, too, with the same exposure and color rendering as well as very similar video stabilization results.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, same residual motion and sharpness differences between frames
Apple iPhone 13 Pro, very similar video performance
Given the identical results, we are posting only this short article for the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max. For the full set of sample images and measurements, as well as a complete analysis, please click on the link below and read the full review of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro.
Go to the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Camera review
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