iPhone 18 Pro Max vs vivo X500 Pro Max Camera Comparison in Shanghai
Apple and Vivo Clash at the Top of Mobile Photography The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max and the vivo X500 Pro Max feature contrasting hardware approaches, pitting Apple’s variable aperture against vivo’s LOFIC sensor technology.
iPhone 18 Pro Max and Vivo X500 Pro Max Camera Specs
Both smartphones feature triple camera systems evaluated on a walk through Shanghai under varying lighting conditions. The iPhone 18 Pro Max main camera utilizes a 48 Mpix sensor sized at 1/1.28 inches with a 24 mm focal length, optical stabilization, and a variable aperture ranging from f/1.48 to f/4.0. In comparison, the vivo X500 Pro Max main unit employs a 50 Mpix LOFIC sensor of the same 1/1.28-inch size with a 24 mm focal length, f/1.57 aperture, and optical stabilization.
For ultra-wide shots, the Apple device features a 48 Mpix sensor (1/2.55 inches) with a 13 mm focal length and an f/2.2 aperture, while vivo counters with a 50 Mpix sensor (1/2.75 inches) at a 15 mm focal length and an f/2.0 aperture. In telephoto setups, the iPhone 18 Pro Max pairs a 48 Mpix sensor (1/2.55 inches) at 100 mm (4x optical zoom) with an f/2.8 aperture and optical stabilization. Conversely, the vivo X500 Pro Max uses a much larger 200 Mpix sensor (1/1.4 inches) spanning an 85 mm focal length (3.5x optical zoom), an f/2.67 aperture, and optical stabilization.
Vivo Offers More Dramatic Colors than Natural Apple Imagery
When comparing output quality, the vivo X500 Pro Max wins in zoom range and portrait performance, offering noticeably more effective foreground and background separation. While the Apple device generally targets more natural imagery, vivo pushes contrast, enriches colors, and brightens the night sky on default settings to create a dramatic aesthetic. Both devices allow users to select alternative photography styles beyond these default presets. The Apple device also benefits from an antireflective layer and features a 2 nm processor, alongside a variable aperture mechanism that allows users to choose between f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4 values to control light intake and depth of field.