Introduction

The initial commercial success of the second effort to develop a more affordable iPhone was the iPhone XR. We thought that the producer would not pursue this idea again following the lackluster reception of the iPhone 5c in 2013. Given that the iPhone XR was the top-selling version of the three last year, we are happy to present the iPhone 11 this year.

The iPhone XR, which featured an LCD display, a single rear camera, and an impressively long battery life, was essentially a more affordable and less flashy alternative to the XS series. However, within Apple’s realm, the words “affordable” and “less expensive” carry distinct interpretations.

In reality, the iPhone 11 is now more affordable this year than the XR was at its launch; it is priced at $700 compared to $750. The positive aspect is that the base model iPhone includes several appealing enhancements and nothing has been omitted.

Consequently, the form factor and display of the iPhone 11 are identical to those of the XR. It utilizes the same 6. 1″ IPS LCD display with 326 ppi and features a Face ID technology notch at the top. The display’s brightness, contrast, haptic touch, and other characteristics remain unchanged.

The new Apple A13 Bionic technology, which powers the flagship iPhone 11 Pro models, is incorporated in the iPhone 11. Moreover, it includes a secondary camera, the new 12MP super wide-angle camera that was also part of the Pro models. Furthermore, you have the ability to capture 4K video with all of your cameras simultaneously and employ capabilities such as Crop Out of Frame.

The iPhone 11 now features the updated 12MP selfie camera. This 12MP camera comes with a 23mm wide lens and offers the capability to record 4K at 60 frames per second or 4K at 30 frames per second with an enhanced dynamic range. The front-facing camera includes cinematic stabilization across all modes.

The iPhone 11 is now equipped with a 3,110mAh battery rather than the 2,942mAh battery found in the XR, a result of Apple’s skill in accommodating a larger battery within the same chassis as the previous year.

Although the iPhone 11 supports 18W charging, it lacks a fast charger, unlike the Pro models.

The iPhone 11 is distinct from the XR because it features a new camera and chip, along with numerous new and exciting software functionalities. Furthermore, Apple is now offering the 11 in various colors, including purple and green (we have the green model here for review).

Specifications of the Apple iPhone 11

• Body: IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, aluminum chassis, oleophobic-coated Gorilla Glass front, glossy Gorilla Glass back. Color options consist of black, green, yellow, purple, white, and red.
• Screen: 6. 1″ IPS LCD display with broad color range, touch sensitivity at 120 Hz, 326 ppi, 625 nits brightness, and 828 x 1792 px resolution. A six-channel ambient light sensor is implemented to adjust the tone.
• Operating system: iOS 13
• Chipset: Hexa-core (2×2. 66 GHz Lightning + 4×1. 8 GHz Thunder) Apple A13 Bionic chip (7nm+) Three-generation Apple CPU, four-core Apple GPU, and eight-core Apple NPU
• Memory: 64/128/256GB of internal storage; 4GB of RAM
• Dual 12MP camera: 13mm ultra wide-angle, F/2. 4, 120-degree field of view; quad-LED flash with slow sync; 26mm main wide-angle, F/1. 8, OIS, Dual Pixel AF
• Video recording: OIS + EIS, 1080p@30/60/120/240 fps, 2160p@60/30 fps, featuring enhanced dynamic range and spatial audio.
• This selfie comprises two cameras: a 23mm 12MP F/2. 2 front-facing camera equipped with HDR mode and a 3D TOF camera; it captures videos at 2160p@60/30 fps and 1080p@60/120 fps with improved dynamic range, spatial audio, EIS, and depth detection for portrait mode.
• Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac/ax; Bluetooth 5. 0; dual SIM, 4G LTE (1 Gbps); GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and QZSS; NFC; Apple U1 chip ultrawideband.
• Battery: Qi wireless charging, 18W fast charging, 3,110 mAh.
• Miscellaneous: Taptic Engine, dual speakers, and a specialized TrueDepth camera for Face ID.

Enhanced water protection is yet another characteristic of the iPhone 11, which might have sturdier glass on both the front and back. The latter, we conjecture, will ultimately be verified through time and instances of dropping.

In any case, let’s commence this assessment now that we are ready to unbox the iPhone 11.

The white packaging of the iPhone 11 is somewhat larger than the device itself. The iPhone 11 is accompanied by a regular Lightning cable, a set of EarPods that connect to a Lightning port, and the outdated 5W charger.

Apple no longer includes a 3. 5mm adapter with the iPhones.

The new 18W Apple charger included with the Pro models is not included with the iPhone 11, despite its compatibility with 18W fast charging through USB Power Delivery. Nevertheless, since the iPhone 11 is $50 cheaper than the XR, you might be able to use the saved amount to buy the 3. 5mm converter ($9), the required USB-C-to-Lightning 1m cable ($19), and the previously mentioned 18W charger ($29).

Design

With a 6. 1-inch LCD display, a prominent Face ID notch, and considerable bezels reminiscent of the iPhone XR, the iPhone 11 upholds the classic iPhone aesthetic. It features a flat glass front with 2. 5D edges and Corning’s patented “toughest glass” protection. The brushed metal frame gives it a lightweight and smudge-resistant build. On the rear, a matte-textured square camera module houses two 12MP cameras—a primary wide lens equipped with OIS and an ultrawide camera that lacks a zoom lens—along with a glossy glass design that has the Apple logo placed centrally on the back. The device comes in new colors, including a vivid purple, and the camera bump is less pronounced than expected.

With a broader angle lens for improved Face ID functionality and digital stabilization, the front 12MP selfie camera is now capable of recording 4K video at 60 frames per second. Haptic Touch, which depends on prolonged presses accompanied by taptic feedback, substitutes 3D Touch in the iPhone 11. Its weight (194g) and dimensions (150. 9 x 75. 7 x 8. 3 mm) are the same as those of the XR, but it has been enhanced to IP68 water resistance, allowing for submersion in 2 meters of water for 30 minutes.

Similar to the XR’s, the display does not have the contrast and brightness of OLED but is still durable and cleanable thanks to its oleophobic coating. Stereo speakers, a quiet mode, and a Lightning port are included among the phone’s standard features. The mid-sized form factor makes it easy to use with one hand, and the brushed frame improves grip even though it is somewhat slippery.

Taking everything into account, the iPhone 11 delivers a familiar iPhone experience along with slight upgrades such as improved cameras, higher water resistance, and a solid design, making it a viable option for those seeking something more affordable than the Pro models.

Display

Similar to the XR, the iPhone 11 features a 6. 1-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD display with a large notch, 326 pixels per inch, and a resolution of 828 x 1792. While its LCD panel limits it from supporting HDR10 or Dolby Vision, it boasts a wide color gamut thanks to DCI-P3 and excellent color accuracy (average DeltaE 1. 1). The display can reach a maximum brightness of 644 nits with a contrast ratio of 1500:1, and True Tone adjusts the white balance based on the ambient light. Although the refresh rate remains at 60 Hz, the touch input has a polling rate of 120 Hz to minimize latency. Even in low light conditions, the display delivers sharp images, precise colors, and consistent performance, even though it has a lower resolution than OLED devices.

Battery Life

Slightly larger than the XR’s, the iPhone 11’s 3,110 mAh battery supports both wireless and 18W fast charging via USB Power Delivery. It includes a 5W charger, however, which only replenishes 18% of the battery in 30 minutes and may take as long as 4 hours to charge fully. An 18W fast charger enables a charge up to 55% in just 30 minutes. With an impressive endurance rating of 94 hours, the iPhone 11 surpassed the XR and 11 Pro in evaluations, providing 18 hours of 3G call time, 15. 5 hours for web surfing, and 18. 5 hours for video playback. Its efficient performance and standby time make it a strong contender for prolonged battery life.

Performance

 The iPhone 11 is powered by the Apple A13 Bionic chip, which contains 8. 5 billion transistors and is built on a 7nm+ technology. It features an 8-core Neural Engine for advanced tasks such as Deep Fusion and Night Mode, a 4-core GPU (20% faster, 40% more efficient), and a hexa-core CPU (2×2. 65 GHz Lightning + 4×1. 8 GHz Thunder cores). Benchmarks confirm the A13’s superiority with 15% quicker single-core and 20% quicker multi-core performance compared to the A12. In offscreen evaluations such as Manhattan and Car Chase, the GPU also delivers top performance. The A13 surpasses Android competitors and establishes a high benchmark until the A14 is released due to its 4GB of RAM, improved thermal management utilizing graphene layers, and consistent performance with minimal throttling. It remains the fastest chip in smartphones.

Summary

Building on the achievements of the iPhone XR, the iPhone 11 provides notable enhancements at a more affordable price. Exceptional performance is guaranteed by its 6. 1-inch LCD screen, dual 12MP camera setup (wide and ultra-wide), and powerful A13 Bionic processor. While it supports 18W fast charging, the battery (3,110mAh) delivers improved longevity, and the front 12MP camera records 4K video. Nevertheless, it is supplied with a 5W charger. The design includes fresh color choices, an aluminum frame, and IP68 water resistance. Although it does not support OLED or HDR, the display exhibits remarkable color precision. Taking everything into account, the iPhone 11 is a compelling choice for shoppers on a limited budget since it combines traditional iPhone characteristics with enhanced cameras, performance, and battery stamina.