iPhone 11 complete review: The best non-Pro iPhone model
iPhone 11 is one of the smartest phones Apple has ever made, in almost every way. It’s the phone of the people. Not only is it a workhorse with fast performance, but it’s also cheaper than its predecessor, which is a rarity when it comes to iPhones — and Apple products in general.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your phone, keep reading to see the pros and cons of iPhone 11 and what to expect when you open the box.
The Apple iPhone 11 review: What’s in the box?
When unbox an iPhone 11, the first thing you’ll see is the shiny device itself, which comes in a range of colors: white, black, green, yellow, purple, and red. Underneath it, you’ll find a user guide, some Apple stickers, and accessories like:
- 5w charger
- Lightning to USB cable
- EarPods
- SIM card removal tool
iPhone 11: The pros
There’s a lot to love about the iPhone 11. It has one of the best cameras on a smartphone and an impressive battery life. Upgrading from its predecessor, iPhone XR, is a no-brainer.
Camera
Like its Pro-model counterparts, iPhone 11 has a new ultra-wide lens and an upgraded sensor on the wide lens for sharper and brighter pictures. And even though iPhone 11 doesn’t have a telephoto lens, it still has a digital zoom up to 5x. This means you can capture some incredible pictures, all without having to move your camera closer or farther away.
In addition to the physical hardware upgrades to the rear camera, the iPhone 11 camera also supports some great new features like Night mode. Now, you can take stunning pictures with very minimal noise, even in low-light conditions.
The front camera was also improved. It was boosted to an impressive 12 megapixels and now flaunts features such as slow-motion selfies (or “Slofies,” as Apple has dubbed them).
Battery life
As with every new model of iPhone, Apple touted iPhone 11’s battery as being the best. But this time, it’s for real. According to Apple’s website, iPhone 11 lasts about an hour longer than its predecessor, which means you’ll get about 18 hours of video playback. So in real-world terms, the iPhone 11 battery should last all day long. Which begs the question, what more could you want from your iPhone battery?
Water resistance
Despite delivering a phone with a nearly identical design to its predecessor, Apple has gone to great lengths to make this model more durable. Apple gave more support to both the front and back glass, while, in turn, making it even more water-resistant. This means that iPhone 11 can be used in up to 2 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.
iPhone 11: The cons
While there are plenty of great things about iPhone 11, it’s far from the perfect phone. The iPhone 11 Pro models offer several features that are missing on iPhone 11, including a telephoto lens, as well as features that other phones offer, like a headphone jack or 5G connectivity.
No headphone jack
Starting with iPhone X, Apple said goodbye to the headphone jack on their phones. This isn’t a huge problem if you’re willing to fork out the cash for AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones. But if you want to use the free EarPods that come with the phone and charge your phone at the same time, then you’re out of luck. The only port on iPhone 11 is the single lightning port, so you’re unable to plug in two things simultaneously.
Missing 5G support
Apple has shown very minimal concern for future-proofing their phones, and iPhone 11 is no exception. While many cellular carriers are promoting 5G service, Apple has yet to make an iPhone that supports 5G connectivity.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing or even something you’ll notice if you’re using the phone today. But if you plan on keeping this phone for a couple of years, it’s something to keep in mind before you purchase a new iPhone 11.
iPhone 11: Frequently asked questions
Even after reading the pros and cons of iPhone 11, you might still have more general questions about the device. It’s great to know that it has a wide and ultra-wide lens, but what does that mean for your everyday use? Here are some frequently asked questions about iPhone 11.
Can you take pictures underwater with iPhone 11?
Earlier, you read about iPhone 11’s water-resistance feature. This means it was designed to withstand being dropped in the water; actually being used underwater is another story.
Your iPhone can still malfunction depending on how much water or for how long it has been submerged. If you want to take pictures underwater, you should put your iPhone 11 in a waterproof case.
Does iPhone 11 have fast charging or wireless charging?
Even though iPhone 11 doesn’t come with one of Apple’s 18w fast chargers, it is still enabled for fast charging. If you’re not familiar with fast charging, it involves using a beefed-up power adapter to charge your iPhone to 50% in 30 minutes.
iPhone 11 is also equipped with wireless charging and will work with any Qi-enabled charger. But you should keep in mind that cases and magnetic clips can interfere with this feature.
Is iPhone 11 good for gaming?
With all of the performance optimizations Apple has made on iPhone 11, it’s a great device for gaming. This applies not just for conventional mobile games but for amazing AR games as well. And when you couple Apple Arcade, their gaming subscription service, with the incredibly powerful hardware of iPhone 11, there’s no denying that it’s one of the best phones for gaming.
iPhone 11 really pushes the iPhone lineup forward in every way. There’s a lot to love with this phone, and you won’t be missing out on much compared to its Pro-model counterparts. It’s also faster and cheaper than its predecessor. So if you’re in the market for a new phone, iPhone 11 is a solid choice.
