iPhone 11 Pro Max loses from XS Max (and Huawei Mate 20 X) in audio test

You’ve certainly heard of DXOMARK, the respected test that adopts a scientific approach to the evaluation of cameras and, thus, establishes a disputed ranking with the best photographic devices (professional or mobile) available on the market. Now, the scientists behind the test are moving into another area: audio.

In a post on the DXOMARK blog, they explain that the audio quality on a smartphone – both the catch as for reproduction – has become an increasingly important aspect, as people use devices more and more frequently to record videos and voice clips, in addition to consuming more and more audiovisual content on cell phones.

For this reason, the laboratory will also start testing the audio performance of mobile devices, analyzing the capture of sounds from the microphones built into the devices, as well as the reproduction of the sound through its speakers (for now, the playback on external devices, such as speakers or headphones, will be left out).

DXOMARK will use objective and perception tests to evaluate smartphones in a number of categories, including timbre, dynamics, artifact, spatiality, volume, artifacts and noise; the video above shows a little of the arduous process that each device goes through in the evaluation battery.

Results

For the initial DXOMARK audio ranking, the lab tested seven devices from five brands. Apple, as expected, did well in the reviews, even though it did not win the first place. The surprise was due to the order of things: the iPhone XS Max conquered the vice-leadership of the group, with 74 points, while his successor, the iPhone 11 Pro Max, came just below, with 71 points.

DXOMARK smartphone audio ranking

THE Huawei Mate 20 X narrowly won the chart with 75 points – just one above last year’s top-of-the-line iPhone. Scientists did not go into the details of the tests, so it is not possible to know the reason why the XS Max won its successor in the evaluation; on the other hand, it is known that the Huawei device has taken the lead because of its stereo microphones, which are not seen in any of the other smartphones tested.

Completing the ranking, we had two devices from Samsung (The Note10 + it’s the S10 +), The Honor 20 Pro and, in the flashlight, the Sony Xperia 1, with a meager 45 points. Analyzing the playlists and recording separately, we can see that the Top 3 remained unchanged, with the iPhone XS Max winning the 11 Pro Max in both situations:

DXOMARK smartphone audio ranking

Let’s wait, now, for more lab tests – this will be an interesting fight to be followed in the near future.

via 9to5Mac