A Balanced Blend of Power, Photography, and Value
The iPhone 11 series launched in Australia on 20 September 2019, and it offered three models—the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max—each designed to deliver Apple’s signature quality in performance, camera, and battery life. With the iPhone 11 series, Apple caters to a wide range of preferences, from users seeking excellent value with the iPhone 11 to those wanting pro-grade features on the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. This lineup introduces significant camera improvements, an all-new Night Mode, and the powerful A13 Bionic chip, making it one of Apple’s most compelling releases.
Let’s dive into how the iPhone 11 series performs across design, camera, performance, and everyday functionality.
Design: Refined Build with Familiar Elegance
The iPhone 11 series continues Apple’s minimalist design ethos, featuring durable glass and aluminium on the iPhone 11 and a more premium matte-textured glass and stainless steel frame on the Pro models. The iPhone 11 is available in vibrant colours like green, purple, and red, while the Pro models offer elegant, muted finishes including Midnight Green, Space Grey, Silver, and Gold.
The Pro models feature a 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, providing deeper blacks and a sharper image quality ideal for those who prioritize high-quality visuals. Meanwhile, the iPhone 11 retains the 6.1-inch Liquid Retina LCD display, which is still bright, colourful, and perfect for everyday use, even if it lacks the OLED’s richer contrast.
Camera: Enhanced Dual and Triple-Lens Systems with Night Mode
The iPhone 11 series introduces a leap in camera quality, particularly with low-light performance.
- iPhone 11: Equipped with a dual 12MP camera system featuring wide and ultra-wide lenses, the iPhone 11 lets users capture more of their surroundings with ease. The ultra-wide lens is perfect for landscapes, large group photos, and creative shots, and Apple’s Night Mode makes low-light photography much clearer, reducing noise while enhancing detail and brightness. Deep Fusion processing also enhances texture, detail, and clarity in medium to low-light settings.
- iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max: The Pro models step up with a triple-lens system, adding a 12MP telephoto lens alongside the wide and ultra-wide cameras. The telephoto lens provides 2x optical zoom, ideal for portraits and close-ups. Night Mode and Deep Fusion are available across all lenses, allowing users to capture beautiful, balanced photos in nearly any lighting condition.
For content creators, the iPhone 11 Pro’s camera capabilities make it a versatile tool, offering high-quality photo and video options for a range of shooting environments.
A13 Bionic Chip: Efficiency and Power for Today and Tomorrow
All three models in the iPhone 11 series are powered by Apple’s A13 Bionic chip, which is designed to deliver top-tier performance while conserving battery. The A13 supports machine learning tasks on-device, ensuring fast, secure, and efficient processing without sacrificing performance.
For users who multitask, edit photos and videos, or engage in mobile gaming, the A13 Bionic chip keeps the experience smooth and responsive. Additionally, the chip’s energy efficiency contributes to longer battery life, helping each model in the series sustain all-day use comfortably.
Battery Life: Excellent Longevity Across the Lineup
Battery life sees a notable improvement with the iPhone 11 series, allowing each model to last throughout a full day of moderate to heavy use.
- iPhone 11: Offers an impressive all-day battery life, with around an extra hour over its predecessor, the iPhone XR.
- iPhone 11 Pro: Delivers up to four more hours of battery life compared to the iPhone XS, making it an ideal choice for heavy users.
- iPhone 11 Pro Max: The powerhouse of the lineup, with up to five extra hours over the iPhone XS Max, making it the best choice for those who prioritize maximum battery life.
Fast charging is available on all models, with the Pro models including an 18W charger in the box, allowing for a quick 50% charge in about 30 minutes. Wireless charging also remains a convenient option for all three devices.
Everyday Use and Productivity: A Well-Rounded Companion
The iPhone 11 series seamlessly fits into daily life, offering practical features that enhance productivity and ease of use.
- Face ID: Faster and more responsive, Face ID is ideal for quick unlocking and secure app access.
- Water Resistance: Improved water resistance on the iPhone 11 Pro models (IP68 up to 4 metres) adds peace of mind for users.
- iOS Ecosystem Integration: With features like iMessage, FaceTime, and iCloud, the iPhone 11 series integrates perfectly into the Apple ecosystem, making it easy to connect and sync data across devices.
The iPhone 11 series caters to different types of users. The iPhone 11’s price point and colour options make it accessible to a broad audience, while the Pro models appeal to professionals who need powerful cameras, premium display quality, and a refined look.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Impressive camera improvements with Night Mode, Deep Fusion, and an ultra-wide lens
- Excellent battery life across all models, with significant upgrades on the Pro versions
- A13 Bionic chip ensures fast, efficient performance suitable for high-demand tasks
- Varied price points and sizes cater to different needs and preferences
- Durable, water-resistant design in a range of stylish finishes
Cons:
- iPhone 11 lacks an OLED display, which may be a drawback for those who value deeper contrast
- No 5G support, making it less future-proof for users in areas with rapid 5G expansion
- Pro models are priced on the higher end, especially for users who mainly need standard features
- No significant design changes from the previous models (still with a notch, similar body shape)
Comparison: iPhone 11 Series vs Samsung Galaxy S10 Series and Google Pixel 4
| Feature | iPhone 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S10 / S10+ / S10e | Google Pixel 4 / 4 XL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1” Liquid Retina (11), 5.8” / 6.5” OLED (Pro models) | 6.1” / 6.4” / 5.8” Dynamic AMOLED | 5.7” / 6.3” OLED, 90Hz |
| Processor | A13 Bionic | Exynos 9820 / Snapdragon 855 | Snapdragon 855 |
| Primary Camera | Dual 12MP (11), Triple 12MP (Pro models) | Triple 12MP (wide, ultra-wide, telephoto) | Dual 12.2MP wide, 16MP telephoto |
| Battery Life | All-day battery, longest on Pro Max | All-day battery, S10+ has longest | All-day with Battery Saver |
| Face Unlock | Face ID on all models | Ultrasonic fingerprint | Face Unlock with radar sensor |
| Price Range | AUD $1,199+ (11), AUD $1,749+ (Pro Max) | AUD $1,199+ | AUD $1,049+ |
Key Takeaways
- iPhone 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S10: The Galaxy S10 series offers a high-quality AMOLED display on all models, while the iPhone 11 lacks OLED on its base model. However, Apple’s A13 Bionic chip outperforms the Exynos 9820 and Snapdragon 855 in terms of power and efficiency. The iPhone’s Night Mode and overall camera software create a more versatile photo experience, while the Galaxy S10 offers more display customization and options for screen size.
- iPhone 11 vs Google Pixel 4: The Pixel 4 series excels in computational photography, especially with Google’s AI-driven Night Sight, but it lacks the flexibility of the iPhone 11 Pro’s triple-lens system. The iPhone 11 series’ battery life is also more reliable, as the Pixel 4 is known for needing frequent recharging. However, the Pixel’s 90Hz display provides a smoother experience, which may appeal to users who prioritize display quality over battery life.
Final Rating: 4.6/5
The Verdict: The iPhone 11 series strikes an impressive balance between performance, camera quality, and battery life, making it one of Apple’s most versatile offerings. The iPhone 11 provides excellent value with powerful features at a reasonable price, while the Pro models cater to users seeking premium quality and pro-grade capabilities, especially in photography.
While the lack of 5G and OLED on the base model might be a consideration for some, the A13 Bionic chip and the advanced camera capabilities ensure that the iPhone 11 series remains competitive. For anyone seeking a reliable, feature-rich smartphone with a long-lasting battery and seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone 11 series is a top choice in 2019.