Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The Modern “ affordable ” model in Apple ’s iPhone lineup is a suitable successor to the iPhone XR , featuring a new dual camera apparatus , immobile speed , and a low-toned basic price .
Best Prices Today: iPhone 11
Last year , Apple introduced theiPhone XRas the “ affordable ” offering in its young iPhone batting order . We like the XR a spate , and we even say that it might be the best iPhone Apple has ever made . The follow - up to the iPhone XR is the newiPhone 11 , and the fact that Apple decided to bless this model with the “ iPhone 11 ” title — and not call it something like the iPhone 11R — says a lot about where the company positions the phone .
But can this speech sound carry the burden of being known astheiPhone 11 ? As a matter of fact , it can . The satisfying upper boost , dual camera setup , and tenacious battery life mix to make the iPhone 11 even better than last year ’s iPhone XR . And given its comparatively low price tag , it ’s in all likelihood the best new iPhone for most hoi polloi .
Read our full review of the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Maxor check into out our breakdown of theiPhone 11 vs. iPhone 11 Pro vs. iPhone 11 Maxin all the key areas .
The iPhone XR (left) has a single wide camera. The iPhone 11 (right) has wide and ultra wide cameras.
iPhone history
This iPhone has been replaced with a raw model . recover nexus below to our reviews of all iPhone mannikin , including the latest generation.iPhone 16is require to establish in September 2024 ( seewhen is the best time to corrupt a Modern iPhone ) , whileiPhone SE ( 4th generation)andiPhone 17are likely to appear in 2025 . feel out aboutApple ’s September result detailsandhow to watch the Apple September event live flow ; or for other Apple mathematical product , see more about all thenew Apple product coming this yearandwhen is the next Apple event . You might also care ouriPhone buying guidebook , good iPhone dealsandcomparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today .
Camera improvements
The marquee characteristic of the iPhone 11 is its 12 - megapixel dual camera setup . It seems as though Apple decide that with this year ’s phones , they would make the camera bump deliberately eye - catching . The iPhone XR ’s single television camera is just detectable , and the iPhone XS ’s dual camera hump design does n’t make you think double about what it look like . But the iPhone 11 ’s dual tv camera demands your attention , shout out , “ Smile ! You ’re on camera ! ”
The iPhone XR ( impart ) has a single panoptic tv camera . The iPhone 11 ( right wing ) has wide and ultra wide camera .
The iPhone 11 has a wide camera like the one on the iPhone XR , but the iPhone 11 ’s second camera is an ultra wide camera that offers a 2x rapid growth out , give up you to capture more of whatever environment you ’re blast . These two television camera are also on the iPhone 11 Pro , which add up a third , telephotograph camera to zoom in really unaired .
The iPhone XR (left) has a single wide camera. The iPhone 11 (right) has wide and ultra wide cameras.
The ultra widely is an excellent gain , giving you even more tractableness when shooting pictures . Fortunately , Apple make it easy to switch between across-the-board and radical wide . When couch a shot in the Camera app , a 1x push button appears at the bottom of the image frame , which means the wide camera is in habit . Tap this button , and the phone switch to the ultra wide photographic camera , and the 1x button becomes a 0.5x button . pink the push button again to trade back . Also , when you ’re in the 1x camera scene , you ’ll get a preview for what a 0.5x ultra all-inclusive shot would look like .
Shot using the iPhone 11 1x wide camera .
While using the broad television camera , you may see a preview of the ultra blanket view without cause to switch to the ultra broad camera .
Shot using the iPhone 11 1x wide camera.
The result range of a function using the iPhone 11 ultra wide photographic camera .
In footing of actual picture quality , both the encompassing and extremist wide produce great - looking photos . Colors are exact , and the cameras deliver a stunning level of particular and image lucidity . Of of course , we ’ve say the same thing about former iPhones , and it ’s still on-key with the iPhone 11 . But exclusive to the iPhone 11 ( and 11 Pro ) is a new Night mode that altogether reinvent Apple ’s low - light picture taking game . Indeed , if you ’re looking for just one reason to buy a raw iPhone , this is believably it . Night mode takes images shoot in dark environment and uses package processing to let on item that would otherwise be lost .
We havedetails on how to employ Night mode and how it works in a freestanding article . Low - light enhancement has been available in Android headphone , and it ’s finally on the iPhone , and it works really well . Our sis publication , PCWorld , even receive thatApple ’s dark mode is undecomposed than Android ’s version . Bottom line : It ’s a utilitarian feature that produces big results .
While using the wide camera, you can see a preview of the ultra wide view without having to switch to the ultra wide camera.
Shot without using Night fashion .
take with Night mode dynamic .
The one issue I have with the iPhone 11 ’s rearward camera is the lack of ocular zoom . As it was with the iPhone XR , the iPhone 11 has only digital zoom , up to 5x . In some illustration , especially when you go past 2x digital zoom , you get noticeable image noise , making for an unsightly pic . So , if you ’re like me and you be given to use zoom a fate , you need to rethink how you use it on the iPhone 11 .
The resulting image using the iPhone 11 ultra wide camera.
There ’s no optical zoom with the iPhone 11 camera , though it does offer 5x digital zoom .
It ’s worth cite that Apple finally elevate the front - confront TrueDepth camera , from a 7 - megapixel camera that frivol away 1080p/60fps video to a 12 - megapixel photographic camera that sprout 4K/60fps video recording photographic camera . And the front camera can record dull apparent motion video , which was n’t antecedently usable . So , yeah . Let ’s see if Apple can make “ slofies ” happen .
Fast phone gets even faster
At the heart of the iPhone 11 is a new A13 Bionic processor , the successor to the A12 Bionic that ’s in the iPhone XR . The A12 Bionic is an telling cow chip , so what does the A13 Bionic do to follow it up ? With central processor functioning , the gains are modest . InGeekbench 5benchmarks , the iPhone 11 saw a 14 percent addition over the iPhone XR in single - heart and soul CPU performance , while multi - core CPU performance parachute 18 percent .
result are lots . recollective bars / eminent issue are better . Click to enlarge .
In benchmarks that stress the iPhone ’s nontextual matter performance , the iPhone 11 showed more telling gains over the iPhone XR . In 3DMark’sSling Shotbenchmark , the iPhone 11 was 29 per centum faster in both the Sling Shot Extreme and Sling Shot Extreme Unlimited tests . In the 3DMark’sIce Storm Unlimitedbenchmark , the iPhone 11 was 20 percent quicker .
Shot without using Night mode.
The numbers show a cost increase in execution , but does the iPhone 11feelfaster than the iPhone XR ? It most for certain does . In casual use , the iPhone 11 feels snappier , apps experience like they launch faster , and graphics performance in games is perceptibly smoother . This is even true when comparing the performance to the iPhone XS , which uses the same processor as the iPhone XR .
The iPhone 11 has the same processor as the iPhone 11 Pro , and the bench mark results overall for those phone were in melodic phrase with each other . So , basically , for a few hundred dollars less , you may get the same performance in the iPhone 11 as you do the Pros . If functioning is your top consideration , this is a value proffer that ’s difficult to ignore .
A little longer battery life
Apple says that the iPhone 11 ’s 3,046 mAh bombardment lasts up to one hour longer than the iPhone XR ’s 2,942 mAh shelling , and you’re able to get up to 17 hours of video playback , 10 hours of well out video , and 65 hr of audio playback . Notably , Apple no longer render an estimate for what it cry “ public lecture metre ( wireless ) . ” For the iPhone XR it was 25 hour , and we can count on that you could get up to 26 hours on the iPhone 11 . According to an Apple representative , the longer battery life was achieved through a combination of a large battery , and software and computer hardware optimizations .
We used the Geekbench 4 Battery Life test to gauge battery life and to compare it to other iPhones . Our mental testing result showed that the iPhone 11 and the iPhone XR have similar battery life . In fact , in our examination , the iPhone 11 lasted only a few seconds longer than the iPhone XR . Our Geekbench 4 Battery Life trial run runs mainframe - intensive tasks ( with screen dimming turned off ) until the battery is drain , so it ’s not representative of existent - world exercise . nevertheless , it ’s an in force way to consistently prove different phones .
Results are times in minutes . Longer bars / high effect are better . Click to expound .
Shot with Night mode active.
During casual use , I never had to charge the iPhone 11 before the ending of my day . I think I ’m a more demanding drug user than most , because I playPokémon Goduring my commute to and from work and on dog walks . On my most demanding daytime ( a Saturday saunter through San Francisco ’s Golden Gate Park take on PoGo , watching my boy ’s association football match , and using Apple Maps navigation ) , I ended the day with 24 percent battery left . Not bad at all .
The one major flaw in regard to the battery life is the included charger . Apple still includes a puny , slow 5 - W courser with its humiliated - oddment poser iPhone . For $ 29 , you could buy Apple’s18W USB - C Power Adapter — the same one that ’s include with the iPhone 11 Pro . It ’s a bummer that Apple does n’t include this battery charger with the service line poser . The iPhone 11 also supports wireless charging , but you ’ll have to buy a Qi wireless charger separately .
The design: Don’t mess with what works
Apple did n’t change much when it comes to industrial blueprint . The iPhone 11 is very much like the iPhone XR , with anodized aluminum sides , the display notch , and a glass back useable in black , green , purple , white , yellow-bellied and ( Product)Red . That said , color execution this yr is different : Apple decided to go with pastel - corresponding shades that are more insidious than the brilliant colour of the XR .
The iPhone 11 ’s bezel ( right ) is wooden-headed than the bezel on the OLED sound , like the iPhone 11 Pro Max ( left ) .
The iPhone 11 still gambol black bezel that are thick than those on the iPhones with OLED . And as long as this modeling continue to use an LCD ( a lower - cost part than the OLED in the Pro model ) , the thick bezels will persist to help oneself hold back light leakage . take care you , I did n’t witness the bezel bothersome . In fact , I actually did n’t point out them until they were pointed out to me .
There’s no optical zoom with the iPhone 11 camera, though it does offer 5x digital zoom.
The most noticeable plan change between the iPhone 11 and the iPhone XR ( besides the colors and the photographic camera excrescence ) is the placement of the Apple logo , which is now centered instead of up near the tv camera . Rumor had it that one of the fresh features of the iPhone 11 was to be bilateral wireless charging , and the Apple logo would be center to mark the spot where user should place their devices . But when the new iPhones were released , bilateral charging was n’t part of the feature leaning .
On the iPhone 11 ( right ) , Apple moved the logo to the center of the speech sound . They also removed the “ iPhone ” tag .
A not - so - noticeable change is the iPhone 11 ’s ameliorate H2O resistance , which is now at 2 meter for up to 30 minutes , double the profundity of the iPhone XR .
Results are scores. Longer bars/higher results are better. Click to enlarge.
The iPhone XR ’s intention figure out well , so Apple was wise to amaze to it on the iPhone 11 . Best of all , the iPhone 11 does n’t feel like a cheaper version of the Pro models . It feels good and solid in the hand , and it ’s well-fixed to use . peradventure the bezel will bother you , but you ’d have to be pretty particular to find fault with them
Liquid Retina HD display
Another major feature that remain unchanged is the video display . Apple is again using a 6.1 - in LCD , while the iPhone 11 Pro has an organic light-emitting diode . The iPhone 11 screen door ( Apple calls it a “ Liquid Retina HD ” presentation ) is a Retina presentation with 326 ppi firmness , a 1,400 to 1 line proportion , and 625 nits of luminosity . The iPhone 11 Pro ’s “ Super Retina XDR ” display is rated at 458 ppi , has a 2,000,000 to 1 direct contrast proportion , and offers 800 nits of light .
If you put the iPhone 11 and the 11 Pro next to each other , you may see remainder if you reckon hard enough . The iPhone 11 Pro ’s screen is shiny , the colors have a little more pop , black look deeply , and the point is a tiny bit sharper .
The iPhone 11 uses the same good - attend LCD found in the iPhone XR .
Results are scores. Longer bars/higher results are better. Click to enlarge.
But miss any equivalence , the iPhone 11 ’s cover search great all on its own . The color tone , smartness , and sharpness are much more than satisfactory . Yes , the OLED correct a mellow bar , and no , the LCD ca n’t touch it . But the LCD still looks dandy , and unless you simply demand the good , you wo n’t find yourself trap for the Pro organic light-emitting diode .
Bottom line
Apple had a victor with the iPhone XR , and while its follow up does n’t have to rewrite the book on mobile phones , it take to do enough to be a desirable inheritor to the throne . The new iPhone 11 is up to the project , with compelling change to the camera that will have even users of the year - old iPhone XR seriously take upgrading .
To top it off , there ’s the iPhone 11 price . It set about at $ 699 for the 64 GB model , which is $ 50 less than the prefatorial price of the iPhone XR . Apple gets a quite a little of flak for its iPhone prices , so a cost reduction of the company ’s most affordable iPhone is very much welcome . It makes the iPhone 11 even more attractive , peculiarly when you compare its price to that of the $ 999 64 GB iPhone 11 Pro or the $ 1,099 64 GB iPhone 11 Pro Max . ( Apple still sells the iPhone XR , starting at $ 599 . )
If you have an iPhone 8 or older and you ’ve put off an ascent , now is the time to pull the trigger . You ’ll delight nifty speed improvement and longer battery life . You ’ll also be capable to have more playfulness with your photos with the twofold photographic camera setup and Night mode . You ’ll need to get used to an iPhone without a abode button and the replacement from Touch ID to confront ID , but give it a few sidereal day — the gestures and confront ID quickly become second nature .
Results are scores. Longer bars/higher results are better. Click to enlarge.
Results are times in minutes. Longer bars/higher results are better. Click to enlarge.
The iPhone 11’s bezel (right) is thicker than the bezel on the OLED phones, like the iPhone 11 Pro Max (left).
On the iPhone 11 (right), Apple moved the logo to the center of the phone. They also removed the “iPhone” tag.
The iPhone 11 uses the same good-looking LCD found in the iPhone XR.
