5 Reasons Why the iPhone 11 Is Worth the Upgrade
The new iPhone 11 is a worthy successor to Apple’s most popular smartphone, the iPhone XR. It brings welcome improvements, including a more powerful chip, a vastly more sophisticated camera setup, and an even tougher build with enhanced water resistance. Like its predecessor, the iPhone 11 is available in six colors: black, white, red, yellow, purple, and green.
Key Specs
• 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 326 pixels per inch
• A13 Bionic chip with all-new Neural Engine
• Up to 256 GB of storage
• Dual 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
The iPhone 11 has a lower starting price of $699 — that’s $50 less than the iPhone XR, making the newcomer a much more affordable option by today’s smartphone standards.
I've spent the last few days testing the iPhone 11 and was blown away by its performance and value. The device is hands-down the best smartphone in its price range and well beyond. Below are a few good reasons why we think this model is Apple's most impressive iPhone yet.
It's Incredibly Durable
The iPhone 11 is built even better than its already solid predecessor. It retains the aluminum frame, but features tougher glass on both sides. The back of the device is crafted from a single piece of glass, and this is noteworthy because the area surrounding the device’s cameras has a matte finish, while the rest is glossy as usual.
The device’s praiseworthy build also includes enhanced water resistance, making it perfect for pool parties. The iPhone 11 can survive 30 minutes in up to 2 meters (almost 7 feet) of water. It can also endure spills from other liquids, including coffee and soda, among many others. For comparison, the iPhone XR is water-resistant for 30 minutes at a maximum depth of only 1 meter (a tad above 3 feet).
It's the Most Powerful Phone Money Can Buy
Equipped with Apple’s latest A13 Bionic chip, the iPhone 11 is the most powerful smartphone in the business. The new hardware brings a 20% bump in processing and graphics power, as well as up to a 40% increase in power efficiency over the already excellent, class-leading A12 Bionic chip found in last year’s trio of iPhones. Comparing the A13 Bionic chip to one found in an Android smartphone is pointless — Apple’s latest creation is simply miles ahead.
The A13 Bionic chip is also complemented by a faster and more energy-efficient Neural Engine. Designed for machine-learning duties, it's instrumental for a plethora of tasks, ranging from processing photos and video, all the way to speeding up the Face ID unlock.
Having a chip this powerful affects pretty much every interaction with the iPhone 11. I found the phone to be equally great at switching between a multitude of apps as it was for playing the most graphic-intensive mobile games.
It Has Excellent Cameras
The rear camera setup of the iPhone 11 includes a pair of 12 MP sensors. One of them is sitting behind an ultra wide lens, thus bringing a whole new range of opportunities to unleash your inner iPhone photographer. Of course, Portrait Mode is also available with an optional new monochrome effect.
Night mode is an exciting new camera feature, which allows the iPhone 11 to capture high-quality photos in almost complete darkness. Apple has accomplished the feat by making the device capture multiple shots, then fusing them together into one brighter image. I like that Night Mode will switch on automatically when your iPhone 11 determines that you need it.
The video-recording capabilities of the iPhone 11 have also improved dramatically. As expected, the phone can capture sharp 4K footage at a brisk 60 frames per second. Thanks to the latest Neural Engine’s vast machine-learning potential, your clips will sound as great as they look. Avid videographers will also love the option to begin recording by holding the camera shutter button, as well as the rich selection of editing tools in the Photos app.
And then there’s the brand-new 12 MP selfie camera with available Portrait Mode. It can also record 4K video at 60 frames per second, as well as slow-motion content at 120 frames per second. Dubbed "slofies" by Apple, such clips are pure, unadulterated fun.
During my testing, the iPhone 11 consistently captured instantly shareable photos and video with exceptional quality. Apple deserves a hat tip just for making the device’s incredible camera capabilities so intuitive.
It Has a High-Quality Display and Awesome Stereo Speakers
The Haptic-Touch-equipped 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display of the iPhone 11 is not as dramatically vibrant as the Super Retina OLED screen of the Pro models, but it’s plenty sharp and enjoyable to use. Its color accuracy is spot-on, while Apple’s signature True Tone tech ensures that the on-screen content looks great, regardless of the ambient lighting.
The built-in stereo speakers of the iPhone 11 are sensational. A drastic improvement over the ones found in the iPhone XR, they have a wide soundstage and Dolby Atmos support. As a result, the iPhone 11 sounds like a much bigger device. I enjoyed its sound quite a bit while watching movies and gaming, among other activities.
It Has a Stellar Battery Life
The battery performance of the iPhone 11 is phenomenal. Thanks to its more power-efficient A13 Bionic chip, the device lasts even longer between charges than the already superb iPhone XR. During my testing, I easily made it through a full day of heavy use with power to spare.
Apple has made the iPhone 11 compatible with fast-wired and wireless charging. I wish it had come bundled with the same rapid charger as its iPhone 11 Pro siblings, but hopefully the phone's affordable price tag will allow you to easily budget for an original or a third-party one separately.
Wrap-Up
Last but not least, I couldn’t help but marvel at the Face ID performance of the iPhone 11. It is not only noticeably faster than the previous generation of iPhones, but also capable of recognizing a face from more angles. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to keep tabs on notifications while sitting on the couch with the iPhone by my side.
The iPhone 11 is also as futureproof as it gets. It supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard, as well as Bluetooth 5.0. The device will also come with many years’ worth of iOS updates. Combined with its powerful hardware, they all but guarantee that your experience is always top-notch.
You can order the iPhone 11 with up to 256 GB of onboard storage. Upgrading the entry-level 64 GB variant to one with 128 GB costs only $50 extra, and I strongly suggest that you opt for it. The device’s excellent cameras alone deserve it.
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