Apple launches iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max

iPhone 11

Apple Park, Cupertino CA. Apple has pulled the wraps off its new iPhone 11 series at the Steve Jobs theatre at Apple Park.

The refreshed range has three new iPhones starting with a lower-priced 6.1-inch iPhone 11 (good), the 5.8-inch iPhone 11 Pro (better) and iPhone 6.5-inch 11 Pro Max (best).

The ‘standard’ model has fewer inclusions than the ‘Pros’. The key differences are a dual instead of a triple-lens camera system and an IPS screen versus premium OLED displays. In all they are very similar to last years X-series.

Notable omissions from this year’s line-up include 5G mobile network compatibility and reverse wireless charging. These features are found on Samsung, LG, Huawei and Oppo’s flagship phones.

Now Apple has resolved issues with 5G chipmaker Qualcomm we can expect 5G with next year’s refresh of the iPhone 11 ‘S’ and then the iPhone 12-series.

And, reverse-wireless charging is where the phone can be used as a wireless charger to power accessories like earbuds or even other phones.

I only mention these omissions as Apple would need completely new design to accommodate them. The iPhone 11 series are an evolution, not the revolution that we hope to see in the 12-series.

And as Apple fans were expecting, yes, Tim Cook did say the iPhone 11 was the best Apple had ever produced!

First some iPhone Specs

iPhone 11 Pro Pro Max
Same = Pro
Display 6.1”, 1792×828, 326ppi, IPS
1,400:1
625 nits max brightness
P3 gamut
Dolby Vison/HDR10
5.8”, 2436×1125, 458ppi, OLED
2M:1 contrast 800nits
Same

6.5” 2688×1242
Same
Processor A13 Bionic
Third gen Neural engine
Same Same
RAM/Storage 64/128/256 64/256/512 Same
Rear Camera Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.4
Wide: 12MP, f/1.8   OIS
2X Optical 5X Digital zoom
Night mode
Portrait mode
HDR
4K@260fps
Ultrawide: 12MP, ƒ/2.4
Wide: 12MP, ƒ/1.8 aperture
Telephoto: 12MPm, ƒ/2.0
Dual OIS
2x optical 10x digital zoom
Same
Same
Selfie 12MP, f/2.2 Screen fill light
HDR
Portrait mode
Bokeh
4K@60fps
EIS at 30fps
Animoji and Memoji
Same Same
Coms Wi-Fi 6 AX MIMO
BT 5.0
NFC
GPS
Same Same
Security Face ID Same Same
Calls FaceTime video and audio
VoLTE
Wi-Fi calling
1 x Nano/1 x eSIM
FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66)
TD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48)
Same Same
Battery mAh not disclosed
Lighting connector
Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with optional 18W adapter
Same but includes 18W charger Same
Build Alloy frame
Glass back
IP68 (2M x 30min)
SS frame
Textured matt glass back
4M x 30min
Same

Size 150.9×75.7x 8.3mm x194g 144×71.4×8.1mm x 188g 158×77.8×8.1,226g
Colours Purple
Yellow
Lime Green
Black
White
Red
Midnight Green
Silver
Space Grey
Gold
Same
Price $1199/1279/1499 $1749/1999/2349 $1899/2149/2499

iPhone 11

Similar to last year’s iPhone XR, the iPhone 11 has a 6.1 inch LED display. While not as high performance as the Pro/Max OLED screen, it’s still very bright and looks great.

It also gets the same A13 processor, so in many ways, it’s just as capable as the Pro models. The new dual-camera system includes the same ultra-wide and wide lens units as the Pro and has improved low light performance.

The front True Depth 12MP camera can capture at 4K 60fps and can record Slo-motion videos.

iPhone 11

An upcoming Deep Fusion image processing feature (US fall) uses machine learning to take a photo in low and medium light. It takes eight images before you press the button, and one when you press the button. Then it examines 24 million pixels to optimise your photo. It is computational photography mad science.

iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max

The Pro’s OLED Super Retina XDR display looks incredible. There is still the largish notch.

Apart from size. weight and battery capacity the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max are identical. These represent Apple’s most advanced technology

The new 12MP triple-lens camera system matches the look and feel of some of the earlier design leaks, which drew some criticism due to not being up to Apple’s usual aesthetics. But hey, for a better camera who cares?

iPhone 11 Pro and Max

The A13 Bionic processor is claimed to be 100% more powerful than the A12 found on last year’s models. There’s also a 200% increase in graphics (GPU) performance. The 3rd generation neural engine can perform over 1 trillion operations per second. They fit 85 billion transistors into the 7nm chip.

The A13 Bionic chip and the OLED screen are optimised to save power. This means that the iPhone 11 Pro/max will last four/five hours longer than the iPhone XS/Max.

Another benefit of the Pro/Max is they have the 18W fast-charger in the box to fill 50% in 30 minutes. This isn’t as fast as some competitors, who can do 70% or more in 30 minutes, but at least customers don’t need to shell out extra for the fast charger.

GadgetGuy’s take: More iPhone 11 – refinement and evolution

The new iPhone 11 series are a step up from last year’s models. The new camera systems offer more creative options and the low light performance is welcome.

Otherwise, there are some new colour options, but the phone’s general look and feel has not changed much. The new camera system isn’t as unattractive as some of the early renders might have suggested.

For the price, and considering the competition it would have been nice to have 5G capability along with USB-C instead of the proprietary lighting cable.

Again – hey that is Apple and there will be a lot of happy Apple Aficionados loving all the upgraded camera features.

Valens Quinn travelled to the Apple iPhone 11 launch event in Cupertino, California as a guest of Apple Australia.