BeastCompare - Independent Smartphone Battles & Specifications
Home/Battles/Pixel 8a vs iPhone 18 Pro Max
Lab Benchmark Battle

Pixel 8a vs iPhone 18 Pro Max

Direct side-by-side battle analyzing display brightness, chipset benchmark percentiles, multi-camera arrays, battery capacity, and charging speeds.

Smartphone Battle
Comparing 2 devicesSwipe across ⇄
Pixel 8a
· 2024

Pixel 8a

$499
81.6/ 100
Overall
Exceptional
BeastScore
81.6
Benchmark
Performance80/100
Camera88/100
Battery70/100
iPhone 18 Pro Max
Apple · 2026

iPhone 18 Pro Max

$1499
92.8/ 100
Overall
Exceptional
BeastScore
92.8
Benchmark
Performance96/100
Camera94/100
Battery94/100

Which Phone Should You Buy: Key Reasons & Hardware Advantages

Swipe across ⇄
Reasons to buy Pixel 8a:
  • ✓61g lighter chassis (188g) optimized for one-handed ergonomics
  • ✓$1000 lower launch MSRP ($499 vs $1499)
  • ✓64MP primary camera sensor with 4K/120fps video recording
Reasons to buy iPhone 18 Pro Max:
  • ✓Larger 5,567 mAh battery capacity (+1,075 mAh more capacity)
  • ✓48MP primary camera sensor with 4K/120fps video recording
  • ✓6.9" display with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate

How Do the Specifications Compare Side-by-Side?

Swipe across ⇄
SpecificationPixel 8aiPhone 18 Pro Max
1. Display & Screen
Screen Type & TechOLEDLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision
Screen Size6.1"6.9"
Resolution & Density2400x1080 (429 ppi)1320 x 2868 pixels (19.5:9 ratio) (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate120 Hz ProMotion120 Hz ProMotion
Brightness2,000 nits peak1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Screen ProtectionScratch-resistant glassCeramic Shield 2, Anti-reflective coating, Always-On display
2. Platform & Performance
Chipset / ProcessorHigh performance SoC Apple A20 Pro (2 nm) (2nm)
CPU CoresMulti-core high performanceHexa-core (2x High Performance + 4x Efficiency)
GPU GraphicsIntegrated GraphicsApple GPU (7-core graphics)
Operating SystemAndroid 14iOS 27
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory8 GB12GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage128GB / 256GB256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB
Storage SpeedHigh-speed flashNVMe fast flash
Card SlotNoNo
4. Main Camera Optics
Primary Camera64 MP, f/1.89, OIS, Samsung GN248 MP, f/1.5, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, OIS, Dual pixel PDAF, Sensor-shift OIS (gen 2)
Telephoto ZoomNone (Digital zoom only)48 MP (4x optical zoom), f/2.8, 100mm (periscope telephoto), OIS
Ultrawide Camera13 MP, f/2.248 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)
LiDAR / DepthNoneTOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth sensing & night portrait)
5. Video Recording Capabilities
Main Camera Video
4K@60fps1080p@240fpsHDR
4K@24/25/30/60/100/120fps1080p@240fps10-bit HDRDolby Vision HDR (up to 120fps)ProRes RAWApple Log 2Spatial 3D video & stereo sound
Front Video
4K@60fps1080p@60fpsgyro-EIS
4K@24/25/30/60fps1080p@120fpsgyro-EISDolby Vision HDR
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens13 MP, f/2.218 MP, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide multi-aspect)
7. Body & Dimensions
Dimensions152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
Weight188 g249 g (8.78 oz)
Build MaterialsGlass front, metal/glass frameGlass front (Ceramic Shield 2), aluminum frame, aluminum/glass back
SIM TypeNano-SIM / eSIM supportNano-SIM + eSIM + dual eSIM support
Water ResistanceIP67IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min)
8. Battery & Charging
Battery Capacity4,492 mAh5,567 mAh
Wired Fast Charging18W wired fast charging45W wired fast charging
Wireless Charging18W wireless charging25W wireless charging
Reverse ChargingReverse wireless chargingReverse wireless charging
9. Sound & Audio
LoudspeakerStereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (Spatial Audio)
3.5mm Headphone JackNoNo
10. Connectivity & Comms
Wi-Fi StandardWi-Fi 6EWi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band, hotspot)
Bluetooth5.3Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE
USB Port & SpeedUSB-C 3.2USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps), DisplayPort video out
NFCYes (contactless payment)Yes (Apple Pay Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
11. Sensors & Security
SensorsBiometric fingerprint/face, accelerometer, gyro, compassFace ID, LiDAR scanner, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Satellite FeaturesEmergency SOS via satellite (select markets)Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite
12. Colors & Overview
ColorsStandard finishesBlack, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy
Launch Price$499$1,499 / €1,600
Editorial Lab Verdict

iPhone 18 Pro Max edges ahead with a BeastScore of 92.8/100

After comprehensive hardware benchmark comparisons, iPhone 18 Pro Max ranks as the overall top pick in this matchup. Key differentiators include its Apple A20 Pro architecture and verified 94/100 camera rating.

When to buy Pixel 8a:
Higher resolution main sensor: 64 MP vs max 48 MP · Lighter body: 188g (61g lighter in hand)
When to buy iPhone 18 Pro Max:
Higher overall BeastScore: 92.8 vs top rival 81.6 · Larger battery capacity: 5,567 mAh (+1,075 mAh more)
Quick Answers

Frequently Asked Questions: Pixel 8a vs iPhone 18 Pro Max

Which phone is better: Pixel 8a or iPhone 18 Pro Max?

iPhone 18 Pro Max leads with an overall BeastScore of 92.8/100 compared to Pixel 8a (81.6/100), driven by advantages in Higher overall BeastScore: 92.8 vs top rival 81.6 and Larger battery capacity: 5,567 mAh (+1,075 mAh more).

What are the primary battery and display differences between Pixel 8a and iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Pixel 8a is equipped with a 6.1-inch display and 4492 mAh battery, while iPhone 18 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch display and 5567 mAh battery.

How do the camera capabilities compare between Pixel 8a and iPhone 18 Pro Max?

In lab hardware evaluations, Pixel 8a scores 88/100 in camera performance, while iPhone 18 Pro Max scores 94/100.

Similar Hardware Tier

Related Smartphones (Based on Benchmark Scores)

Galaxy Z Fold8
samsung · 2026

Galaxy Z Fold8

Score: 92/100
OnePlus 15
oneplus · 2025

OnePlus 15

Score: 93/100
Redmi Note 13 Pro+
xiaomi · 2023

Redmi Note 13 Pro+

Score: 91/100
Vivo X300s
vivo · 2026

Vivo X300s

Score: 93/100
Oppo Find X9 Ultra
oppo · 2026

Oppo Find X9 Ultra

Score: 92/100
ASUS ROG Phone 10 Pro Edition
asus · 2026

ASUS ROG Phone 10 Pro Edition

Score: 92/100
Realme GT 8 Pro
realme · 2025

Realme GT 8 Pro

Score: 93/100
Honor Pad 20 Pro
honor · 2026

Honor Pad 20 Pro

Score: 90/100
Trending Matchups

Related Smartphone Battles & Comparisons

Battle #182 vs 82

Pixel 8a vs Samsung Galaxy S26 FE 5G

Pixel 8a
Pixel 8a
V/S
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE 5G
Compare Both Phones→
Battle #293 vs 92

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Galaxy Z Fold8

iPhone 18 Pro Max
iPhone 18 Pro Max
V/S
Galaxy Z Fold8
Galaxy Z Fold8
Compare Both Phones→
Battle #382 vs 82

Pixel 8a vs Pixel 8

Pixel 8a
Pixel 8a
V/S
Pixel 8
Pixel 8
Compare Both Phones→
Battle #493 vs 93

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs OnePlus 15

iPhone 18 Pro Max
iPhone 18 Pro Max
V/S
OnePlus 15
OnePlus 15
Compare Both Phones→
Battle #582 vs 82

Pixel 8a vs OnePlus N6x

Pixel 8a
Pixel 8a
V/S
OnePlus N6x
OnePlus N6x
Compare Both Phones→
Battle #693 vs 91

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Redmi Note 13 Pro+

iPhone 18 Pro Max
iPhone 18 Pro Max
V/S
Redmi Note 13 Pro+
Redmi Note 13 Pro+
Compare Both Phones→
Battle #782 vs 82

Pixel 8a vs Redmi Note 11S 4G Standard Edition Global Dual SIM TD-LTE 64GB 2201117SY

Pixel 8a
Pixel 8a
V/S
Redmi Note 11S 4G Standard Edition Global Dual SIM TD-LTE 64GB 2201117SY
Redmi Note 11S 4G Standard Edition Global Dual SIM TD-LTE 64GB 2201117SY
Compare Both Phones→
Battle #893 vs 93

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Vivo X300s

iPhone 18 Pro Max
iPhone 18 Pro Max
V/S
Vivo X300s
Vivo X300s
Compare Both Phones→