Is the iPhone 11 Really Worth Buying?

An article by Ralf Llanasas

Apple’s new iPhone lineup has hit the market

Apple launched the new iPhone lineup on the 20th of September The iPhone 11;

• iPhone 11 Pro and;
• The iPhone 11 Pro Max.

The iPhone 11 lineup changes the 2018 design and revises some features. They also come with some first-seen specs, such as the coveted A13 bionic chip and Apple’s latest operating system – iOS 13.

For Apple consumers across the globe, the new iPhone simply means their current device is due for an upgrade. This seems to be the case every year since the Apple brought the first iPhone to market. There has been a staunch following, a fan base of some sort, finding it necessary to upgrade their iPhone device whenever a new lineup is launched.

According to Statista, individuals who utilise iPhones are more likely to upgrade their mobile devices than any other mobile phone user.However, whilesome consumers are simply enamored by the prospects of owning the latest iPhone,many more are becoming wary of spending hundreds– even thousands –of dollars for what often turns outto be inconsequential upgrades to their former iPhone devices.

For those wary consumers, the following question needs an answer: Is the iPhone 11 really worth buying? We can’t make a decision for you, but here’s a close look at the facts.

More about Apple’s iPhone 11 lineup, and how they compare to previous models

 Here’s a look at several factors that should help determine which iPhone 11 model packs the most value.

Pricing

As far as pricing goes, the iPhone 11 is the most economical, similar to last year’s iPhone XR. The iPhone 11 retails at $699 for its lowest storage version, $50 dollars less than its older counterpart, the iPhone XR. At this price point, the iPhone 11 is the cheapest phone the tech giant has launched within the last few years.

The iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max are also competitively priced, when compared to last year’s iPhone XS and XS Max. They retail at $999 and $1,099, respectively, for their lowest storage versions.

Source

Speed

All models in this lineup run on the coveted A13 Bionic chip. As reported by The Verge, there is little noticeable improvement from last year’s A12 to this year’s A13 chip. Face ID and overall performance are slightly faster on the iPhone 11, however. But consumers may have to purchase Pro models to experience the full capabilities of the A13 chip.

Camera

The most notable changes inthe latest iPhone lineup are design related – particularly, the cameras. All models of the iPhone 11 feature a 12-megapixel sensor alongside an ultra-wide f/2.4 camera. This goes in conjunction with the main f/1.8 camera. The Pro and Pro Max models each sport an extra camera known as the telephoto, amounting to a triple-rear camera setup.

These models have very impressive when compared to older models ,including last year’s lineup. All models feature better HDR photography, 4K video capabilities,and an all-new, impressive feature called ‘night mode’. Night mode lets consumers capture pictures effectively in low light. According to The Verge, the iPhone 11 Pro camera is the best camera on the smartphone market currently.

For example, compare the two entry models from both this year’s and last year’s lineup – the iPhone 11 and the iPhone XR. The iPhone 11 comes with dual rear cameras, compared to the iPhone XR’s single rear camera. In addition, the iPhone 11’s rear cameras have a 12 megapixel ultra-wide angle frame as well as Night mode, making the iPhone XR’s single rear 12 megapixel TrueDepth camera sound a bit underwhelming. The iPhone 11also has a 12 megapixel front camera capable of 4K videos, while the iPhone XR’s can only boast of 7 megapixels.

Display

 The iPhone 11 sports an LCD Retina Display, and the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max models sport OLED Super Retina XDR Displays. Despite both names being a mouthful, there is not much difference between the display of these models and existing iPhone models. As reported by Engadget, the Pro models only sport a slightly warmer tone compared to their predecessors, the XS and XS Max.

Battery

Applepromised impressive battery performance with theiPhone 11 lineup.Early reviews agree Applehave delivered onthis promise – both the iPhone 11 and Pro models boast impressive battery lives, better than all previous iPhone models.

According to Tech Crunch, the batteries on the Pro Max lasted 12 hours in “extremely challenging conditions”. This is nearly 4 hours longer than its year old counterpart, the iPhone XS. The iPhone 11 boasts equally impressive battery capabilities at a lower price. According WIRED, the batteries on this model lasted nearly 24 hours before entering the red-zone (less than 20%), under “heavy phone usage”.

Final words: Which model is worth buying?

The decision on whether or not to purchase one of Apple’s iPhone 11 models is really up to you. After comparing their base features to last year’s models, the differences aren’t that significant– apart from the cameras. Yes, the iPhone 11 lineup come with larger displays, more RAM, larger batteries, iOS 13 and more, but the differences just aren’t striking enough to demand an upgrade for those who already purchased last year’s iPhones.

However, if an upgrade is necessary, the iPhone 11 stands out as the value-filled choice. The iPhone 11 gives you similar value to the 11 Pro for $300 less. Both devices pack similar features except for a few differences such as improved LTE performance; a feature the consumer will barely notice.

As a closing thought, if you do, in fact, pick up one of Apple’s new iPhones, it might well be worth considering not just the device itself but whether it’s worth buying it on a contract with a phone company or outright, and adding a prepaid SIM yourself. More than 50% of people are now buying the hardware themselves and adding a SIM, something that, only a few years ago was almost unheard of. With increasing tenures (the time people hold on to their iPhone has risen from only 24 months to nearly 36 months in the last half decade) and Apple now providing cheaper versions of their range, if you get the math’s right, it’s possible you could save yourself some money.

The real let-down of all models in this line-up is their inability to support 5G network coverage. This, perhaps, may be the key reason why none of iPhone 11 models are worth buying. Apple’s line-up for next yearis expected to be 5G-capable, which makes a great argument for saving your hard earned dollars until 2020.

Ralf Llanasas