On September 10, Apple introduced the iPhone 11 line. In Russia, the novelty went on sale only on September 20, but users have already managed to get an impression of the product after its presentation. The model is called the successor of last year’s iPhone XR, the similarity with which is obvious. At first glance, the main difference is in the camera module, while the difference in cost is about 10,000 rubles. Similar models will exist on the market at the same time, while the iPhone XS and XS Max are being discontinued. We figure out how the iPhone 11 is better than its predecessor and whether it is worth buying it, or you can save money and take the iPhone XR.
Positioning
The naming was the first surprise. Following the iPhone XR, Apple’s line of budget smartphones was continued by the iPhone 11. Remarkably, the new product competes for buyers with its predecessor that remained on the market, while the flagship iPhone 11 Pro replaced the discontinued iPhone XS. The most expensive model in the new line is designed for lovers of large displays. Apple called it the iPhone 11 Pro Max, which provoked a lot of jokes in the Russian-speaking community. Users dubbed the gadget a «miss» and could not resist criticizing the «Apple». The flagship did not revolutionize the industry. Its functionality turned out to be albeit wide. but not impressive. For the most part, the changes were minor and quite expected.
Specifications
In terms of technical characteristics, the camera has undergone the most changes, but there have been other changes as well. What has the 11th iPhone inherited from the XR, and what has changed?
iPhone 11 display
There were no surprises here. The developers decided not to change what works well, and provided the iPhone 11 with an already proven option. As a result, the novelty has acquired a 6.1-inch Retina LCD display with a resolution of 1792 × 828 pixels with an image density of 326 pixels per inch. He was in the iPhone XR.
Nothing has changed in terms of display. True Tone technology, which adjusts the white balance to the ambient light, remained on board. From the iPhone XR, the iPhone 11 inherited another characteristic feature. Both smartphones use Haptic Touch technology instead of the usual 3D Touch. The principle of its action is as follows — a strong press is replaced by a long one.
iPhone 11
cameras
One of the main differences between the two similar models is the camera capabilities. Last year’s XR has a single-chamber photomodule. The lens is wide angle. The single 12MP rear camera with f/1.8 aperture boasts a 5x digital zoom. Due to the lack of a second lens, there is no optical zoom. There are only three Portrait Lighting effects and first-generation Smart HDR. The front camera is quite modest — a resolution of 7 megapixels. On the plus side, high-quality optical stabilization helps to record video in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.
iPhone XR
In terms of photography, the iPhone 11 surpassed its predecessor in every way. The novelty has a dual-camera module with a resolution of both sensors of 12 megapixels. One of them has a wide-angle lens, the other has a 120-degree ultra-wide-angle lens. The first has an aperture of f/1.8, while the second has an aperture of f/2.4. Of the other advantages, it is worth noting the presence of a 2x optical zoom along with a 5x digital zoom.
Optical stabilization has remained at the same level, new shooting modes have been added — Portrait Lighting with six effects and an improved night mode for quality photos in low light conditions. Other benefits include next-generation Smart HDR, capable of capturing 4K footage at 24, 30, and 60fps, as well as slow-mo video at 120fps. The front camera has also been improved over its predecessor. The 11th iPhone has a front camera with a resolution of 12 megapixels.
Hardware
As for the filling, in general, there were no big changes. The main difference is that the novelty has a more modern processor. The iPhone 11 was equipped with an A13 processor, while the XR installed the previous version — the six-core A12 Bionic, made using the 7nm process technology. It is also found in older iPhone models, so the performance of the XR was all right. A quad-core video accelerator with support for Metal 2 technology was responsible for the graphics. The solution looks relevant to this day, the processor’s power will be enough with a margin for several years to come, even to support games with maximum requirements.
For the novelty, the latest Apple A13 Bionic processor was chosen. It focuses on the work of neural networks and machine learning. The computing power is distributed by a separate controller. The developers promise a sharp increase in energy efficiency and a 20% increase in productivity. Not without the traditional assurances that this is the most powerful smartphone ever released by Apple.
iPhone 11
Both smartphones are released in three variations in terms of internal memory — 64 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB. Installing microSD to increase memory is not provided in any of them.
The new smartphone has been reinforced with RAM. The iPhone 11 received 4 GB, while the XR costs only 3 GB. Another small but pleasant change is the increase in battery capacity. From 2942 mAh it was raised to 3110 mAh. What does this mean in practice? According to Apple, the 11th iPhone will last an hour longer than the iPhone XR.
Everything else remains the same. Both devices have dual SIM support with nano-SIM and eSIM. Both XR and iPhone 11 charge via Lightning. Apple Pay contactless payment is supported both there and there. If we talk about the generation of cellular communication, then this is 4G.
Software
iPhone 11 has the new iOS 13, which means more features. There is a Find My app that combines Find My Friends and Find My iPhone, a sliding QuickPath Typing keyboard, a brand new Reminders app, and a host of other features. The XR will also support iOS 13 after the release of the software on September 19, so the models will be equal in this regard in the near future. Apart from the individual features of the iPhone 11, based on hardware, in general, the models have similar software.
Design
Smartphones are the same size. Dimensions are 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3, and the weight of the device is 194 g. The design has not changed much either. Both models are available in different color variations. Black, red and white remained unchanged, but the latter now looks more creamy. The palette has become more restrained — the yellow color has been made softer, and green and purple have been introduced instead of coral and blue.
The main difference in appearance is due to the technical features of the novelty. The dual camera is located under the glass covering the back of the smartphone. The platform is made under the main color, but protrudes above the surface.
The moisture protection has been improved. In the case of the iPhone XR, it was about the IP67 standard. To comply with it, the smartphone must withstand immersion to a depth of up to a meter for up to half an hour. The new product meets the requirements of the higher IP68 standard, according to which the device must cope with a two-meter depth when immersed for no more than 30 minutes.
Peculiarities
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 can hardly be called a fundamentally new product with bright distinctive features; rather, it is still the same iPhone XR, but modified and improved. For the most part, the changes are insignificant, but they cannot be ignored. iPhone 11 received a newer processor, which improved performance compared to the previous model.
It is also worth noting the increased battery capacity, which provides an additional hour of operation of the smartphone. Moisture protection has also been improved. If you drop the novelty into the pool, it most likely will not suffer. There were also new colors, but otherwise the design remained the same. The dimensions of both models are the same down to the millimeter. In general, the changes can be called cosmetic, except for one moment.
The main feature of the iPhone 11 and the pride of the developers, which there are reasons to focus on, is the triple camera on the back. Visually, this solution looks unusual, so many users were perplexed by the appearance of new items. After the presentation of the new line of smartphones, a lot of memes and jokes appeared on the Internet. If we ignore the controversial design and focus on the functionality of the triple camera, the solution can be called successful.
All three cameras have the same 12MP resolution but different lenses: wide, ultra-wide and telephoto. Each lens has its own aperture and focal length. Neural networks are responsible for creating the image. To create one photo, the smartphone takes nine frames, four of which are even before pressing the button. All of them form a single image with the greatest possible detail.
Camera software innovations deserve special attention. The redesigned interface for the shooting application has become simpler and more feature-rich, and the improved SmartHDR does a better job of detailing and optimizing lighting for face detection. There are also new algorithms and tools for higher quality portraiture.
Now, in low light conditions, «Night mode» is automatically activated. It allows you to record brighter videos and capture detailed photos without the need for additional settings. In this case, the footage is subject to further processing. Another useful feature has appeared — Quick Take, which allows you to instantly switch between photo and video shooting. To record videos, just hold down the shutter button, and you can go back to the photo with a swipe. The developers noted that they also improved the True Tone flash with Slow Sync. Subjects are now illuminated 36% brighter.
Price
Both smartphones are classified as Apple’s budget products. Last year’s XR today costs from 49,999 rubles. This is the price for the base model with a minimum of 64 GB of memory. Models with a capacious drive of 128 GB are more in demand. They are estimated at the official website of the supplier at 70,000 rubles. The maximum available memory is 256 GB. iPhone XR with such a drive will cost 79,000 rubles. On average, prices in the Russian market are kept at this level, but you can find offers with a price 5-10% lower than the price set by the official dealer.
iPhone 11
Sales of the new iPhone 11 started both in Russia and in the US on September 20. The cost of the smartphone has already been announced. In America, the base model will cost $699, which is equivalent to 45,600 rubles. The model appeared on domestic shelves on the same day, but with a significant markup. The starting price is 59,900 rubles. For 128 GB they ask for 64,900 rubles, and a smartphone with a maximum amount of memory will cost 74,000 rubles. If we talk about other versions, then the alignment is as follows: in the US, the iPhone 11 Pro costs $999, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max costs $1,099. Prices are for models with 64 GB of built-in memory. In addition to them, Pro is available with a drive of 256 and 512 GB.
How justified is the purchase of the iPhone 11? The novelty is close in basic characteristics to its predecessor XR. The only fundamental difference is the triple camera. It was she, along with a modified application for shooting, that became the main feature of the 11th iPhone. Apple focuses on photography enthusiasts and at the same time slightly improves the technical characteristics of the smartphone. At the presentation, it was announced that the price of the XR will be reduced after the start of sales of the iPhone 11, which makes last year’s version more advantageous against the background of the novelty. For a few more years, the XR will receive all the updates, in addition, all its “diseases” have already been cured, and what to expect from the 11th iPhone is still unknown. On the other hand, the novelty has a more powerful filling and enhanced shooting capabilities, but whether these improvements are worth at least 10,00 rubles is a big question.
iPhone smartphone