Last September Apple announced the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro as updates to iPhone XR and XS, respectively. The new phones have significantly improved cameras, a lightning-fast processor and an overall better build quality. To top it off, the iPhone 11, which starts at $ 699, is $ 50 cheaper than the iPhone XR when it was first released. And just for your information, there are new $ 399 iPhone SE for 2020.
Between iPhone 11 and 11 ProIt can be difficult to figure out which one to get. Both phones have the same processor, main, ultrawide and selfie cameras and run iOS 13. On the one hand, iPhone 11 is still one of the best values for a flagship that you can buy today, and it has many of the same 11 Pro features. On the other hand, the iPhone 11 Pro has some important additions that make it the best iPhone ever. At $ 999 (£ 1,049, AU $ 1,749), the price also starts at $ 300 more than the iPhone 11.
For six months I used the iPhone 11 as my daily driver and the 11 Pro as my work phone. I took lots of photos and videos with the new ultra-wide angle camera, pushed the A13 processor to the extreme with games and photo editing, and explored it everything iOS 13 has to offer.
For most people, including me, the iPhone 11 is more than enough, and if I took it a step further, I would actually pay $ 50 more for the 11 to upgrade the storage from 64GB to 128GB. But here’s the crease: size. The iPhone 11 Pro is slightly smaller and lighter than the 11 that I personally love, and it could be the reason to become a Pro. (For your information, if you want something bigger with the longest battery life, the iPhone 11 Pro max wait there to fill your pocket and empty your bank account.)
Angela Lang / CNET
The heart of the iPhone 11 Pro is an iPhone 11. With upgrades such as a high-resolution OLED display, a matt glass finish and a stainless steel side band, it receives VIP treatment. It has a third rear-view camera that takes better zoomed photos in combination with Apple’s new Deep Fusion image processing. However, probably the most welcomed upgrade of the 11 Pro is how much longer the battery life of the previous generation iPhone XS. In fact, the 11 Pro lasts almost as long on a single charge as the 11.
Read our iPhone 11 Pro review.
How we tested
Detailed comparison of iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro max
| iPhone 11 | iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 11 Pro max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 6.1-inch LCD liquid retina; 1,792 x 828 pixels | 5.8-inch OLED Super Retina XDR; 2,436 x 1,125 pixels | 6.5-inch OLED Super Retina XDR; 2,688 x 1,242 pixels |
| Pixel density | 326 ppi | 458 ppi | 458 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 inches | 5.67 x 2.81 x 0.32 inches | 6.22 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm | 144 x 71.4 x 8.1 mm | 158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm |
| Weight (ounces, grams) | 6.84 ounces; 194 g | 6.63 ounces; 188 g | 7.97 ounces; 226 g |
| Mobile software | iOS 13 | iOS 13 | iOS 13 |
| camera | 12 megapixels (wide), 12 megapixels (extremely wide) | 12 megapixels (wide), 12 megapixels (ultra wide), 12 megapixels (telephoto) | 12 megapixels (wide), 12 megapixels (ultra wide), 12 megapixels (telephoto) |
| Front camera | 12 megapixels with face detection | 12 megapixels with face detection | 12 megapixels with face detection |
| Video recording | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| processor | Apple A13 Bionic | Apple A13 Bionic | Apple A13 Bionic |
| camp | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| R.A.M. | Not revealed | Not revealed | Not revealed |
| Expandable memory | None | None | None |
| battery | Not announced, but Apple claims it will take 1 hour longer than the iPhone XR | Not announced, but Apple claims it will take 4 hours longer than the iPhone XS | Not announced, but Apple claims it will take 5 hours longer than the iPhone XS Max |
| Fingerprint sensor | None (face ID) | None (face ID) | None (face ID) |
| Interconnects | lightning | lightning | lightning |
| Headphone jack | No | No | No |
| Special features | Waterproof (IP68); Dual SIM functions (nano-SIM and E-SIM); Wireless charging | Waterproof (IP68); Dual SIM functions (nano-SIM and E-SIM); Wireless charging | Waterproof (IP68); Dual SIM functions (nano-SIM and E-SIM); Wireless charging |
| Price outside the contract (USD) | $ 699 (64 GB), $ 749 (128 GB), $ 849 (256 GB) | $ 999 (64 GB), $ 1,149 (256 GB), $ 1,349 (512 GB) | $ 1,099 (64 GB), $ 1,249 (256 GB), $ 1,449 (512 GB) |
The smaller iPhone was better
Perhaps the most obvious and important reason to buy iPhone 11 Pro over iPhone 11 is size. They are very different sized phones and fit differently in your hands.
With a 5.8-inch screen and a weight of 188 grams, the iPhone 11 Pro is the smallest of the three iPhone 11 devices. (Even though, If you’re looking for a small phone, the new iPhone SE may be the better option, at 4.7 inches and 5.22 ounces.) The phone with the solid feel is easiest to use with one hand. Weighing 6.84 ounces, the iPhone 11 is heavier than the 11 Pro, but doesn’t feel as tight. The iPhone 11 is 0.2 millimeters thicker than the 11 Pro, which makes it feel a bit chunky.
All hands and needs are different. I have big hands, but I prefer the slim feel of the 11 Pro. However, if you’re ready to compromise heavier weight for a bigger screen, get the 11 and save $ 300.
winner: Because of its small size, the 11 Pro is the right way for me.
Telephoto is nice to have
The iPhone 11 Pro (and 11 Pro Max) has a third telephoto camera that the iPhone 11 does not have. Sometimes it was nice to switch to the telephoto camera. And compared to the iPhone XS, the updated telephoto camera in combination with the Deep Fusion processing meant that I took photos with better image quality.
There were also times when I took a better picture with the 11 Pro’s telephoto camera than with the main camera. For example, when I was making a plate of food from top to bottom with the main camera, I could see the shadow of the phone on the plate. But when I switched to the telephoto camera and removed the phone higher from the table, there was no shadow.
However, there are some limitations with the iPhone 11 Pro’s telephoto camera. If you take 2x photos in night mode, the 11 Pro will not use the telephoto camera. Instead, a section of the main wide-angle camera is required. The telephoto camera is also characterized by excellent lighting conditions. However, when taking photos in medium to low light, I noticed better picture quality than when I took and cropped the same photo with the main camera.
Overall, the telephoto lens is useful on the 11 Pro, but I didn’t miss it when I used the 11. If I had to enlarge a photo, a 2x section of a photo I took with the main camera worked well. I recommend you look at the photos you have on your current phone and see how many photos have been enlarged and how many photos would look better if you could zoom in a bit. If you have a lot of pictures where you wanted a special telephoto camera, you should consider an iPhone 11 Pro.
For more information on the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro cameras, see the following comparisons:
winner: The 11 Pro’s telephoto camera is a nice thing if you value iPhone photography, but it is certainly not necessary
The iPhone 11 Pro has a beautiful OLED display
The iPhone 11 Pro has a 5.8-inch OLED screen, while the 11 has a 6.1-inch LCD display. When I look at the phones side by side, the 11 Pro’s screen looked better and brighter and showed more details. It’s a pleasure to watch videos and edit photos.
The OLED screen of the 11 Pro supports HDR and has a contrast ratio (the ratio of the brightest and darkest colors on a display) of 2,000,000: 1 compared to 1,400: 1 of the 11. On paper, this means that the iPhone 11 Pro can achieve darker black levels and higher color saturation. Side by side, however, the differences between the two screens are sometimes difficult to notice. In itself, the colors on the iPhone 11’s LCD are accurate and the videos look great.
winner: The screen on the iPhone 11 is good, but the one on the 11 Pro is even better.
Cracked screens and waterproofing
We both put those iPhone 11 and 11 Pro through a test where we dropped them from different heights. After being dropped from 3 feet, 6 feet, and 8 feet above the ground, both phones survived without a single crack on their screens or glass backs. The only flaw was a small scratch on the aluminum band of the iPhone 11 and a few damaged pixels at the bottom of the 11 Pro’s screen.
In terms of water resistance, both phones have IP68 protection. Apple claims that the iPhone 11 can be submerged at a depth of 2 meters for up to 30 minutes and the 11 Pro can survive at a maximum depth of 4 meters for up to 30 minutes. However, In our water tests with an underwater drone, both the 11 and the 11 Pro survived Submerged to 11.9 meters for 30 minutes.
winner: Tie; Both the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro are among the longest-lasting phones you can buy today.
Color, finish and extras
After six months without a case, the back of the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro still didn’t have a single scratch or scratch. The textured matte glass on the iPhone 11 Pro feels soft, smooth, and durable. The phone is easy to grip and never feels as if it is slipping out of my hand (its smaller size also helps here). I am happy to say that fingerprint stains do not easily accumulate.
The iPhone 11 now has a glossy glass back that feels slippery in my hand, and the phone is also prone to stains.
In terms of colors, the iPhone 11 does things better than the 11 Pro. You can buy an iPhone 11 in six bright and fun colors. The 11 Pro is less noticeable and is available in four fairly serious versions (space gray, silver, gold or midnight green). In a perfect world, I could have the 11 Pro’s matte glass finish and 11 color options.
The iPhones have wireless charging and support fast charging. Only the iPhone 11 Pro (and 11 Pro Max) have the 18-watt charger needed for quick charging. It’s annoying that the 11 doesn’t come with this charger and you have to buy it separately if you want it to. To make matters worse, Apple charges $ 29 (£ 29, AU $ 49) for the 18-watt fast charger and $ 19 (£ 19, AU $ 29) for the cable when cheaper compatible alternatives are available.
winner: The iPhone 11 only takes this for colors.