POCO X3 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | POCO X3 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 860 | Apple A20 | — |
| Display | 6.7" 120 Hz | 6.9" 120 Hz | — |
| Battery (mAh) | 5,160 | 4,900 | +5.3% |
| Rear cameras | 48+8+2+2 MP | 48+48+48+LiDAR MP | — |
| Front camera (MP) | 20 | 24 | — |
| RAM / storage (base) | 6 GB / 128 GB | 12 GB / 256 GB | — |
| Max configuration | 8 GB / 256 GB | 12 GB / 1024 GB | — |
| Weight (g) | 215 | 219 | -1.8% |
| Connectivity / unlock | 4G · Side-mounted | 5G · No - Face ID | — |
| Launch price (USD) | $249–$299 | $1,249–$1,649 | -80.1% |
- POCO X3 Pro is the cheaper option at launch pricing, though these phones launched 5 years apart — street prices will differ from launch MSRPs.
Verdict: POCO X3 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max?
POCO X3 Pro advantages
- Battery capacity (+5%)
- Affordability (+80%)
iPhone 18 Pro Max advantages
- Memory (+50%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the POCO X3 Pro if you need all-day (or two-day) battery life.
- Choose the iPhone 18 Pro Max if you multitask heavily or keep many apps alive.
- Choose the POCO X3 Pro if you want the best value for money.
POCO X3 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: which should you choose?
POCO X3 Pro — POCO N/A smartphone (2021) with a 6.67-inch 120 Hz IPS LCD, Snapdragon 860, 5160 mAh battery and 48MP main camera; launched at $249.
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.
POCO X3 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: POCO X3 Pro has the bigger battery. POCO X3 Pro is the cheaper option at launch pricing, though these phones launched 5 years apart — street prices will differ from launch MSRPs.
Chipsets
POCO X3 Pro runs the Snapdragon 860 while iPhone 18 Pro Max uses the Apple A20. A benchmark score is unavailable for at least one of these, so judge performance by chipset generation.
Display and battery
POCO X3 Pro carries a 6.7-inch 120 Hz IPS LCD against a 6.9-inch 120 Hz Super Retina XDR OLED on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Batteries are 5,160 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+2+2 MP versus 48+48+48+LiDAR MP, with 20 MP and 24 MP front cameras. Base configurations start at 6 GB / 128 GB and 12 GB / 256 GB. The POCO X3 Pro is the more affordable at about $249 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 POCO X3 Pro better than the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
POCO X3 Pro is the clearly stronger overall choice, winning most of the dimensions that matter. POCO X3 Pro is the cheaper option at launch pricing, though these phones launched 5 years apart — street prices will differ from launch MSRPs.
What is the main difference between the POCO X3 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
POCO X3 Pro is the cheaper option at launch pricing, though these phones launched 5 years apart — street prices will differ from launch MSRPs.
Which should I choose?
Choose the POCO X3 Pro if you need all-day (or two-day) battery life. Choose the iPhone 18 Pro Max if you multitask heavily or keep many apps alive.
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.