iPhone 11 full upgrade: from camera to software
Full Upgrade: From Camera to Software. iPhone 11 Review
iPhone XR is an Apple smartphone model that became one of the most popular in 2018. Immediately, it was clear that there would be a continuation. And of course, the company did not disappoint. The new model is called the iPhone 11 and it is now the main flagship of the company. For those who need more options for taking photos, there are now Pro versions. So let’s see what the new product has to offer its users and how it differs from the iPhone XR.
The front of the iPhone 11 has not changed at all since 2018. A thick and uniform bezel surrounds the 6.1-inch screen, and at the top there is an equally wide notch that carries the TrueDepth camera and sensors for Face ID. Compared to phones like the OnePlus 7 Pro or Galaxy Note 10, the iPhone 11 looks a bit dated.
The scale of the iPhone 11 is ideal for people who want a large screen but at the same time the ability to easily control the smartphone with one hand. Compared to the iPhone 11 Pro Max, which looks too bulky, the iPhone 11 is a middle ground.
The new iPhone 11 has a glossy back cover, thanks to which it does not slip in the hand. This model looks very solid and respectable. But compared to the Pro models, the iPhone 11 is not as durable since it is made of aluminum instead of stainless steel. iPhone 11 is certified according to the IP68 standard, in theory, it can be immersed in water to a depth of 2 meters for up to 30 minutes.
The main advantage of the new model is six color options: yellow, green, purple, black, white, red. Each of the colors looks wonderful.
Two phone cameras are located on the module, which is raised from the rear glass. But it would be much better if the edge of the camera module did not stick out.
The huge new cameras are not thin, but they look much more aesthetically pleasing than the three cameras on the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. If the edge of the camera module did not raise so much and merge with the body, it would be better. Therefore, the XR model is more pleasant and convenient in this regard.
Low-Resolution Display
The 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 11 is its weak point. Compared to some competitors with the same pricing policy, it is not an OLED panel and has a resolution of only 1792 × 828 (326 pixels per inch, PPI).
Screen Comparison v2 OnePlus 7 Pro, which costs $20 cheaper, has an OLED screen with a resolution of 3,120 × 1,440 pixels and a display with a frequency of 90 Hz. This allows the phone to work faster and smoother. Or, for example, Google Pixel 3a for 399 dollars has a resolution of 2220 × 1080.
If you compare the screen of the OnePlus 7 Pro and the iPhone 11, you can see that the 7 Pro colors are brighter and richer, including black. On the iPhone 11, black is more dull and blurry.
Although the screen resolution is low, this is hardly a problem. If you put the iPhone right in front of your eyes, it will be impossible to notice the difference. The phone’s screen is bright enough to see almost everything well and clear even in sunny weather (it can reach 625 nits, while the iPhone 11 Pro can reach 800 nits).
Unfortunately, the iPhone 11 does not have a screen that matches its pricing policy. And it absolutely cannot compete with some models in the same price category. No, it’s not bad, but you can find better screens at the same price or less.
If we talk about audio, the stereo speakers for surround sound are not as loud as the speakers on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus, but nonetheless, this is more than enough for watching videos and movies. The new model has no headphone jack.
What About Cameras?
When the iPhone XR came into being, it had one lens and was not universal for photography. With the iPhone 11, everything has changed for the better. Developers have added a 120-degree ultra-wide-angle lens that allows you to capture a more detailed scene. You will not find this in Google Pixel 4, and no other model on the market can compete this function yet.
In the new model, it is worth noting the 12-megapixel sensor, which has an aperture of f / 1.8 and is identical to the main lens on the iPhone 11 Pro models. High-quality and improved Smart HDR make pictures more balanced even in contrast lighting. Another important things to mention are autofocus and a new feature ‒ semantic rendering. Perhaps these are the most important changes that the company has introduced.
The camera independently tries to understand elements of the photo, such as faces, and Smart HDR processes them separately, using captured frames.
With all the updates, the iPhone 11 has the best smartphone camera you can buy. And thanks to the smooth interface of the updated camera, it can capture the smallest details while maintaining natural colors.
A year later, Apple returned to the top, but hardly for long. This is because the iPhone 11 is not a giant leap in the competition, especially compared to the Google Pixel 3. And we can assume that in the near future the new iPhone 11 will again be in the race.
It would be perfect if the developers improved the autofocus. This is a fixed focus lens, which means you need to be 1 meter away from the subject so that it is in focus. With such a camera, you will not be able to take high-quality close-up photos. But this will likely be finalized in the following models.
If, again, we compare it to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus, then the quality of the photos is much better. The latter tends to oversaturate and frames often look flat and completely inanimate. iPhone 11 makes pictures more detailed and voluminous, just as we see them with our eyes.
Creature of the Night
The best feature in the new model is the night mode, which turns on automatically when it detects a lack of lighting. It is possible to disable it or keep the automatic configuration for it. You can also set a high shutter speed that the camera considers necessary. Most shots require an exposure time of two to three seconds. Night Sight provides sharper details, but only when choosing the maximum exposure. This may vary, but the camera can work up to 28 seconds of exposure (if it is dark enough and the phone is mounted on a tripod).
What is the difference between colors? iPhone 11 tends to maintain natural colors, unlike the Pixel, which may not hit the target. The iPhone night mode also fully preserves the natural picture when it illuminates certain parts of it, while the Pixel aggressively balances the white color of the photo and brightens everything.
Apple was lagging behind in the quality of photos for a while, but the new model has clearly made a breakthrough and brought the phone to a different level. So to speak, it has made a step forward. Unfortunately, the night mode does not work on the selfie camera or on the ultra-wide-angle lens, which can be a limitation when shooting at night since the ultra-wide-angle lens has a narrower aperture than the main lens, and it cannot take so much light.
In addition to the above updates, there are several improvements to the portrait mode. Now there is the opportunity to make the portraits about anything: pets, people, objects, etc. On the iPhone XR, the camera could only capture a portrait of a person, and nothing more. The quality of these portrait photos, in general, is significantly higher compared to last year’s iPhone XS Max. iPhone 11 perfectly retains the outline of the object in the frame. It sounds believable with the new High Key Mono Portrait Lighting effect.
Moreover, the selfie camera has been greatly improved. Now it is 12 megapixels and takes much better pictures, especially in portrait mode. But users with an updated iPhone 11 should know that selfies shot in portrait mode will be shot in a cropped 7-megapixel resolution. You can zoom out to get more background if you want to take a group selfie (this automatically happens when you turn the camera to landscape mode).
After updating the video features for the camera, the iPhone 11 helps Apple maintain its dominant position in the field of video. The camera can shoot in 4K at 60 frames per second, and it copes well with stabilization. A great new feature is Apple’s new Slofies, which take slow-motion selfies at 120 frames per second at 1080p. Yes, it is extremely unusual to see slow-motion video selfies, but nevertheless it is interesting to work with it and it looks new.
These powerful camera updates push Apple back to the top. At the same time, Google Pixel 4 is just around the corner, and this means that we are waiting for a hot battle with cameras.
iOS 13 Review: Killer Performance
On iPhone 11, you get the same performance as on the iPhone 11 Pro, despite the lack of Pro status. This is because the entire range is equipped with the Apple A13 Bionic chipset.
In the updated version of the smartphone, all applications are downloaded instantly, and the feeds on Twitter and Instagram are flipped smoothly.
It would be great if the company stopped producing 64 GB phones and instead opted for 128 GB. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S10 starts at 128 GB and has more storage options, and the same goes for the more affordable OnePlus 7 Pro. That would be nice, considering that you still get only 5 GB of iCloud storage.
If you consider iOS 13 from the software side, it is wonderful. There is a dark mode that makes everything beautiful and protects your eyes at night. The updated Photos application is smarter and offers more reliable editing tools. Face ID works faster by just a second or two.
Battery Lasting the Whole Day? Everything is Possible!
Apple claims that the iPhone 11 now works an hour more than the iPhone XR, which already had an excellent battery life. In the updated model, the 3110 mAh battery is more powerful and quiet. They allow you to play games, take pictures, listen to music and watch videos on YouTube. And after all this, the company promises that the phone will keep its charge until the end of the day.
In a standard battery test, playing YouTube 1080p videos over Wifi with maximum brightness, the iPhone 11 lasted only 4 hours 54 minutes. However, such tests are not an ideal reflection of the actual battery performance.
In most cases, the iPhone 11 battery will last all day with normal use.
But not everything is perfect. A huge and significant con of the iPhone 11 is the lack of 18 W fast charging in the kit. Instead, you will find a traditional 5W charger. And such charging takes more than three hours ‒ extremely slow and uncomfortable! It supports fast charging, but the 18W brick is only available on iPhone 11 Pro models.
If you want to buy a new and fast charger for your new smartphone, you will need to spend an additional 50 dollars. iPhone 11 got to 50% in 50 minutes of charging with a fast charger, and more than 80% after an hour. Meanwhile, with the supplied cable and adapter, it reached only 16% before the 30-minute mark. This is absolutely not up to its price. It cannot compete with other phone market products.
Wireless charging is still available.
Price, Availability and Warranty
Apple offers a standard warranty that extends to manufacturer defects for one year from the date of purchase. You can extend your warranty with AppleCare + at an extra cost.
The cost of the iPhone 11 is $699, available from Apple and other carriers, and you can pay in installments without any interest. Moreover, you can exchange your old iPhone to get a discount of 600 dollars.
Conclusions about the New iPhone 11
iPhone 11 provides daily battery life, excellent performance and a really powerful and, so far, unique camera, more versatile than last year’s iPhone XR, not to mention all the improvements that come with iOS 13.
Is There a Better Alternative?
If it’s important for you to stick with iOS, yes. You can buy an iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max, and they will be better in almost every way. However, they are much more expensive and their price is not always justified. Therefore, opting for iPhone 11 might be the smartest solution.
OnePlus 7 Pro is a great alternative for $679. It boasts exceptional performance, fantastic display, good software. But it loses a lot in the camera and battery departments.
Google Pixel 4 is now available as a good and worthy alternative to Android. It has a camera system that is slightly worse than that on iPhone 11, but the price is more pleasant. However, Pixel 4 does lag behind in battery life.
How Long Will It Serve?
iPhone 11 will surely serve you for three to four years, if not more. All thanks to the new and powerful iOS 13 software. When the battery starts to run low, you can contact an Apple Certified Technician to replace it and your phone will be like new.
Is it worth buying?
Definitely, yes! The iPhone 11 is a phone that is worth buying.
