Smartphone Comparison

OnePlus 9 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max

Verdict
OnePlus 9 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: iPhone 18 Pro Max is the faster phone

Head-to-head specifications

MetricOnePlus 9 ProiPhone 18 Pro MaxDifference
AnTuTu v10 score915,8522,980,000-69.3%
ChipsetSnapdragon 888Apple A20
Display6.7" 120 Hz6.9" 120 Hz
Battery (mAh)4,5004,900-8.2%
Rear cameras48+8+50+2 MP48+48+48+LiDAR MP
Front camera (MP)1624
RAM / storage (base)8 GB / 128 GB12 GB / 256 GB
Max configuration12 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 1024 GB
Weight (g)197219-10.0%
Connectivity / unlock5G · Under-display5G · No - Face ID
Launch price (USD)$969–$1,069$1,249–$1,649-22.4%
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max leads on raw performance by about 69% on AnTuTu v10 (Snapdragon 888 vs Apple A20).
  • OnePlus 9 Pro is the cheaper option at launch pricing, though these phones launched 5 years apart — street prices will differ from launch MSRPs.

Verdict: OnePlus 9 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Our recommendation
These two are closely matched — the right pick comes down to which specific strengths you value and the price you actually pay.

OnePlus 9 Pro advantages

  • Camera resolution (+4%)
  • Lightness (+10%)
  • Affordability (+22%)

iPhone 18 Pro Max advantages

  • Raw performance (+69%)
  • Battery capacity (+8%)
  • Memory (+33%)

Which should you choose?

  • Choose the OnePlus 9 Pro if photography is your priority.
  • Choose the iPhone 18 Pro Max if you game or want the most headroom for years of updates.
  • Choose the OnePlus 9 Pro if you want a lighter phone for one-handed use.

Value for money

iPhone 18 Pro Max delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.

OnePlus 9 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: which should you choose?

OnePlus 9 Pro — OnePlus Android 11 smartphone (2021) with a 6.7-inch 120 Hz LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, Snapdragon 888, 4500 mAh battery and 50MP main camera, scoring about 915,852 on AnTuTu v10; launched at $969.

iPhone 18 Pro Max — Apple iOS 20 smartphone (2026) with a 6.9-inch 120 Hz Super Retina XDR OLED, Apple A20, 4900 mAh battery and 48MP main camera, scoring about 2,980,000 on AnTuTu v10; launched at $1,249.

OnePlus 9 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: iPhone 18 Pro Max is the faster phone. iPhone 18 Pro Max leads on raw performance by about 69% on AnTuTu v10 (Snapdragon 888 vs Apple A20). OnePlus 9 Pro is the cheaper option at launch pricing, though these phones launched 5 years apart — street prices will differ from launch MSRPs.

Performance and everyday use

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is the faster device on raw benchmarks (2,980,000 vs 915,852 on AnTuTu v10), running the Apple A20 against the Snapdragon 888. For messaging, browsing and social apps both feel instant — the gap matters most for gaming and long-term headroom.

Display and battery

OnePlus 9 Pro carries a 6.7-inch 120 Hz LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED against a 6.9-inch 120 Hz Super Retina XDR OLED on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Batteries are 4,500 and 4,900 mAh — though software tuning and chipset efficiency shape real-world endurance as much as capacity.

Cameras, storage and price

Rear arrays are 48+8+50+2 MP versus 48+48+48+LiDAR MP, with 16 MP and 24 MP front cameras. Base configurations start at 8 GB / 128 GB and 12 GB / 256 GB. The OnePlus 9 Pro is the more affordable at about $969 launch price, which may matter more than a small spec gap.

The verdict

Both are credible choices in the smartphone comparison space; the specification table above lays out every metric so you can weigh the trade-offs that matter to you. Pick the one whose strengths line up with how you will actually use it.

Frequently asked questions

Is the OnePlus 9 Pro better than the iPhone 18 Pro Max?

These two are closely matched — the right pick comes down to which specific strengths you value and the price you actually pay. iPhone 18 Pro Max leads on raw performance by about 69% on AnTuTu v10 (Snapdragon 888 vs Apple A20).

What is the main difference between the OnePlus 9 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max?

iPhone 18 Pro Max leads on raw performance by about 69% on AnTuTu v10 (Snapdragon 888 vs Apple A20). OnePlus 9 Pro is the cheaper option at launch pricing, though these phones launched 5 years apart — street prices will differ from launch MSRPs.

Which is better value?

iPhone 18 Pro Max delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.

Which should I choose?

Choose the OnePlus 9 Pro if photography is your priority. Choose the iPhone 18 Pro Max if you game or want the most headroom for years of updates.

Methodology

Smartphones are compared on AnTuTu v10 benchmark scores, chipset, display size and refresh rate, battery capacity, rear and front camera resolution, RAM and storage across launch variants, weight, and launch pricing (USD). Each model shows its base variant with the top-spec configuration noted where multiple variants exist. Benchmark scores reflect the listed chipset variant; real-world battery life and camera quality depend on software tuning, not just hardware numbers.

ER
EquivalentTo Research
Data & Benchmarks Team

We compile published benchmark results (Cinebench 2024, Geekbench 6, AnTuTu v10, 3DMark), manufacturer specifications and market pricing from nine regions into normalized, comparable datasets. Every figure traces to a named public source listed on each page.

Benchmark leaderboard compilationMulti-market pricing normalizationUnit & currency conversion
✓ Reviewed by EquivalentTo Editorial Review, Data Quality & Methodology.
Last updated 2026-07-01
OnePlus 9 Pro profile → iPhone 18 Pro Max profile → Compare something else

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