5 Reasons Why the Apple iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max Are Worth the Splurge
The iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max are luxurious and capable successors to the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max. As the first Apple-made smartphones to carry a "Pro" moniker, the newcomers take everything you’d expect from your iPhone to a whole new level.
Key Specs
• 5.8- and 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 458 pixels per inch, HDR compatibility
• A13 Bionic chip with all-new Neural Engine
• Up to 512 GB of storage
• Triple 12 MP camera with optical image stabilization
• 12 MP front-facing camera with Face ID
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Fast wired and wireless charging
• IP68 water-resistant
• Dual-SIM capable
Just like the products they're replacing in Apple’s smartphone lineup, the iPhone 11 Pro and the Pro Max are available with a 5.8- and a 6.5-inch Super Retina display, respectively. That aside, the phones offer the same performance and user experience.
Apple's pricing has remained the same — the iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999, while the Pro Max is $1,099 and up. In addition to silver, gold, and space gray, the new iPhones are available in an all-new, midnight green color.
I tested both of the iPhone 11 Pro variants extensively and found them to be the smartphone industry’s new apex in terms of craftsmanship, performance, and user experience. Here’s why either device deserves to be your next smartphone.
They Are Luxurious and Tough in Equal Measure
Apple took their smartphone craftsmanship up a notch with the iPhone 11 Pro and the Pro Max. The phones have retained the surgical-grade, stainless steel frame of their predecessors, but thanks to a matte-glass back, they look and feel even more luxurious.
The back of both devices are made from a single piece of glass. That’s a noteworthy feature, because the camera enclosure has a contrasting glossy finish. To top things off, the glass used in both the front and back of the iPhone 11 Pro and the Pro Max is tougher than ever.
Both phones are more water-resistant than any other iPhone to date. They can survive for 30 minutes in up to a whopping 4 meters of water (more than 13 feet). They can also withstand spills just as well.
They Are Peerlessly Powerful
In terms of processing and graphics power, the all-new Apple A13 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 11 Pro duo is in a league of its own. It delivers welcome upgrades in power and power efficiency, as well as an updated Neural Engine with expanded machine-learning capabilities.
The Neural Engine is particularly crucial, because it speeds up every task you perform — from unlocking the device with Face ID, all the way to opening your favorite apps and games. The Face ID improvement is particularly noteworthy. It's not only faster, but also capable of detecting your face from wider angles.
During my testing, I found both new iPhones to be fast, responsive, and simply impossible to slow down. They are a noticeable upgrade over the previous generation, and laps ahead of their Android-powered competitors.
They Have Outstanding Cameras
The feature-packed triple camera of the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max is Apple’s finest to date. The trio includes a wide-angle camera with a blisteringly fast autofocus, a sensor with an ultra wide lens, and one that’s capable of two-times magnification optical zoom. Combined, they all but guarantee that you will be able to capture high-quality photos for any occasion.
The camera interface is intuitive and well-suited for even mobile-photography newbies. The selection of tools for editing photos and video that iOS 13 brings, on the other hand, is incredibly rich and just as easy to navigate.
The sheer amount of creative opportunities the triple camera brings is endless. It includes an all-new Night Mode, which is as impressive as it is easy to use (it's automatic). By combining multiple images into a single brighter one, it will allow you to take shareable photos in almost complete darkness.
Of course, the new iPhone 11 Pro models can also capture portrait shots with amazing quality. The available effects include a new one for studio-quality monochrome images.
The smartphones’ video-recording capabilities are alone deserving of the "Pro" naming. The iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max can record optically stabilized 4K video with exceptional quality, at up to 60 frames per second. The A13 Bionic chip’s Neural Engine ensures that the footage you capture looks consistently amazing.
The True Depth front-facing camera found in both Pro iPhones can capture sharp 12 MP selfies, portrait photos, and 4K video at a brisk 60 frames per second. Its all-new ability to capture slow-motion selfie videos (dubbed "slofies"), is fun beyond belief.
I took the iPhone 11 Pro cameras for a spin and was blown away by their performance. I also couldn’t help but marvel at how easy it was to access their vast capabilities.
They Have a Phenomenal Display and Sound
The Super Retina XDR OLED display of the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max is sensational. It is sharp, vibrant, and compatible with both HDR10- and Dolby Vision-enhanced content, making every interaction with the phones a memorable one.
The Dolby Atmos-compatible stereo speakers of the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max are a perfect match for their displays. Their sound can "move" alongside the on-screen action. Such an immersive audio experience will make you feel like you're listening to a bigger device, not one that fits in your pocket.
They Have Epic Battery Life
The iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max have impressive battery life. The devices last noticeably longer between charges than the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max, courtesy of the more power-efficient A13 Bionic chip and display panel.
I easily got a full day of heavy mixed use from each iPhone 11 Pro iteration. The battery endurance of the Max variant is particularly head-spinning. I was beyond surprised to discover that the device had 40% battery left after a full day of testing.
The devices support fast-wired and wireless charging. Apple deserves a hat tip for including a fast-wired charger in their retail package. The 18-watt adapter is considerably faster than the charger of your old iPhone, and every bit worthy of the Pro series.
Wrap-Up
You will be hard-pressed to find another feature-packed smartphone that’s as effortless to use as the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max. I believe that it’s worth upgrading to either one for the industry-leading craftsmanship, the effortlessly powerful, future-proof hardware, as well as the vast potential of its cameras.
Apple offers the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max with 64 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB of onboard storage. I highly recommend that you budget an extra $150 to quadruple to storage of the entry-level models. Going from 256 GB to 512 GB, on the other hand, will cost you $200 extra.
Read More:
Essential iPhone Tips and Tricks
How to Pick the Best iPhone for You
The Best Wireless Earbuds for Your New iPhone
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