The brand new iPhone 11 was revealed this week. We have put together a guide, showcasing all the information you need about the new phone including price, release date and the camera specs.
This week, Apple unveiled three brand new iPhones, the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. But, what are the differences and which one should you choose when it comes to upgrading your old phone? Well, let’s break it down…
There are a lot of reviews already out, talking about the new phone and whether or not its better than the iPhone X and XR models from last year. Personally, I skipped all of the rumours and leaks from this year and just watched the Apple conference to really get a feel for the new iPhone.
I went into the event completely blind and wanted to be surprised by what Apple had to offer. I think this is the best way to go forward as I found that it takes me back to when I would genuinely get excited for the new iPhone without believing the hype built around it. So, here are my thoughts about the new device.
The iPhone 11 Reveal
Even after not knowing what was coming this year, I was still not surprised by the new features. It was unfortunate and a bit disappointing to see that Apple hasn’t really changed anything major on the new phone. Everyone expected a big camera, a better battery life and a nicer screen. Despite the fact that they are really good features, it would have been nice to see something different, something that blows you away and makes you want to spend £700 on a new iPhone.
It is a hard task to do, and we as consumers do expect and demand an awful lot from our smartphones these days. I guess based on that, we should cut Apple some slack. At the end of the day, it is just a phone, it looks cool and is slightly cheaper than the older versions.
The iPhone 11 features
Let’s start by looking at the standard iPhone 11 that starts from around £699 and releases to the UK on the 20th September with Apple taking pre-orders on the 13th September.
It can come in six different colours, green, yellow, silver, white, product red and black. Looking at the colours, they aren’t too bright but, more of a dull-looking colour. This is fine with me but, could put some people off.
The screen
The screen will be a 6.1-inch liquid retina display and has spacial audio.
The camera
Now for the camera… The iPhone 11 has a dual-camera system. How this works is that the phone uses one lens for a wide shot and the other for an ultra-wide shot. The new camera app allows you to quickly switch between the two modes. To be fair, this is a great feature, you can choose whether to shoot a wide shot or an ultra-wide shot. The ultra-wide shot will really give that ultra-wide look. it also allows photographers or just anyone picking up the new camera app a bit of freedom and creativity when it comes to taking photos.
There is also a new user interface in the camera app that allows you to see how wide the shot will be. Another cool thing about the camera is that it has a night mode which will allow you to take pictures in the dark. No matter how low the level of light is, night mode is still able to produce great photos that you can actually see. No more using flash to light the photo up and then realising that it has ruined your photo by blinding your friend and making them squint.
Video will be similar with 4k and 60fps. There is still slow-motion and timelapse so, nothing new there compared to older models.
The front-facing camera will be a 12 megapixel, true depth camera and will allow you to take slow-motion selfies or “slofies” as Apple called them.
The battery life
The iPhone 11 battery will offer an extra hour compared to the iPhone XR.
Overall run-down of the iPhone 11
So, overall the main features of the iPhone 11 are:
- Dual-camera system
- Six new colours
- One hour extra battery life
- A new A13 Bionic chip
iPhone 11 Pro
First of all, the material that Apple has decided to use is surgical grade stainless steel with a nice textured finish. It will come in four different colours: midnight green, space grey, silver and gold. The iPhone 11 will set you back around £999.
The screen
The screen is the brightest yet in an iPhone and can come in two sizes: 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch which is known as the iPhone 11 Pro Max. It also has spacial audio and features the A13 Bionic chip. The A13 Bionic chip is basically just an extremely energy-efficient chip and therefore, is one of the reasons why the battery life is better than the previous iPhone models.
The camera
The iPhone 11 camera system is slightly different from the iPhone 11 one as it features 3 lenses. The first one is a 12-megapixel wide camera lens with 100% focus pixels and integrated optical image stabilisation.
The second lens underneath the first one is also a 12-megapixel lens with optical image stabilisation. However, this lens is actually a telephoto lens.
The third lens is the 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens.
The camera also boasts new software called deep fusion which actually takes 9 photos. 4 of these are taken before you even press the button. It then combines these images and fuses them into a very clear photo. It also goes through every pixel, one-by-one and removes any noise. This gives incredibly detailed, crisp photos.
So, which one should I get?
In conclusion, when you are talking about getting an upgrade, think about what you are upgrading for. In my opinion, I would upgrade to the latest iPhone as I like the models and will enjoy testing out the new features.
So, with my opinion out of the way, is this an upgrade for the average consumer? I don’t think so. essentially you are paying the best part of £700 for a new look, new material on the device and a new camera system. It will also be a little bit faster but, would the average consumer notice the slight increase in speed, I also think not.
I can see people buying this to impress friends and show off to people, which is fine. Just like everything else, people enjoy having the latest phone and showing it off. However, if you are looking for the best features and value for money, I personally wouldn’t choose the iPhone 11.
Have an older model that needs repairing?
If you have an older smartphone and wish to replace the screen or battery instead of spending hundreds on a new one, check out our iPhone repair prices.
