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Apple iPhone 11 Pro Review Leave a comment

The 2019’s iPhone 11 and 11 Pro versions have been out for almost a year and a half. It’s still a pretty solid phone in almost every aspect. With this line of iPhone, Apple launched their “Pro” smartphones for the first time ever. If we talk about facts, there isn’t much “Pro” about this phone that could’ve been, given the name “iPhone 11 Pro”. But names don’t usually matter, what matters is that this phone is the second-best phone that Apple has ever created and it still beats most of its competitors even today.

With this phone, Apple’s focused on major upgrades. And after a year and half of release, let’s have a look at the things that still hold up today. Is it worth buying in 2021? Is this phone worth the switch from Android to iOS? All the answers to your questions are summed up in this review.

Specifications

As Apple’s first-ever phone for “Pro” content creators, this phone had to deliver a lot of heavy expectations of the users. And Apple delivered them likewise. Here are the specifications of the Apple iPhone 11 Pro.

  • Apple iPhone 11 Pro has the Apple’s A13 Bionic Chip as its processor and runs on iOS 13 by default (upgradeable to iOS 14.4.2). 
  • The display of the phone is a 5.8 inches Super Retina XDR OLED capacitive touchscreen and 1125 x 2436 pixels resolution and is protected by scratch-resistant glass and oleophobic coating.
  • There are three rear cameras, a 12 MP (wide) + 12 MP (telephoto) 2x optical zoom + 12 MP (ultrawide) lens.
  • The front-facing camera is also a 12 MP one + TOF 3D camera sensor. The phone’s sensors consist of an improved Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, and compass.
  • The smartphone has 4GB RAM and 64GB, 256GB, 512GB internal storage (with no expandable storage).
  • Non-removable Li-Ion 3190 mAh battery + Fast battery charging 18W: 50% in 30 min + USB Power Delivery 2.0 + Qi wireless charging + Magsafe (Announced with the iPhone 12).
  • Apple iPhone 11 Pro comes in various cool colors like Space Gray, Silver, Gold, and Midnight Green.

Design

When the renders and the leaks first dropped, it looked wonky and nobody thought it looked pretty. People were comparing the phone to the iPhone X’s design and how it was a downgrade. However, when the phone launched, in-person it was a different thing, and Apple’s design grew on everyone. The matte finish on the back gives a sleek look to the phone and adds to its visual appeal. 

The front of the phone looks exactly the same as the previous iPhone Xs. The button is slightly lower on this phone, it is probably because it’s easier to reach. They have also upgraded the water-resistance slightly which is still IP68 certified. Though it’s a slim phone, the iPhone 11 Pro Max weighs 20 grams more than last year’s Max.

The Three-Camera Design

The back camera rig was rectangular on iPhone Xs with the two cameras. However, with the 11 Pro phones, they introduced three cameras on the back. The camera square on the back is made of glass which blends nicely with the matte and gives the phone a two-tone finish. The camera square slightly sticks out the back, and it does rock on the table.

Display

Apple iPhone 11 Pro has a 5.8 inches Super Retina XDR OLED ‘capacitive touchscreen’ as Apple calls it. The screen is an 1125 x 2436 pixels resolution. Which is also the same screen size, same notch, resolution, and bezels as the previous iPhone Xs. If you put both phones facing upwards side by side it would be hard to tell the difference. There are some times when you can notice a slight upgrade on the iPhone 11 Pro between the two phones, but not always. Apple has said that this is their most scratch-resistant glass to date.

This display can hold a higher 800 nits of brightness, and also, it’s now up to a 2 million to 1 contrast ratio. The display is impressive indoors and outdoors.

The 3D touch is gone now which is replaced by a haptic touch. This means by long presses you can have the same functionality as the 3D touch. However, the 3D touch’s pressure sensitivity is no longer there, unfortunately.

Face ID

Apple said they have improved the Face ID, and it’s now 30% faster and can now work from a variety of angles. Face ID has definitely gotten faster and more secure, but it doesn’t work from a variety of angles as they claim. For example, if your phone is laying on a desk facing upwards you still have to lean fully forward at the screen to unlock it. But that being said, Face ID has improved noticeably.

Cameras

The cameras are the biggest and the most talked-about improvement in this phone. Even for Apple, in all the ads, keynote, and presentation videos, the cameras are the main focused subject for the iPhone 11 Pro. We are looking at triple cameras now with three new sensors. A 12 MP (wide) + 12 MP (telephoto) 2x optical zoom + 12 MP 0.5x (ultrawide) camera with about a 120 degree view.

Rear Cameras

The iPhone 11 Pro cameras are a very big improvement over the previous Xs. This smartphone took unarguably the best pictures of any smartphone ever when it came out at first. But now it’s overshadowed by its successor iPhone 12 Pro but there still isn’t much difference between the two. iPhone 11 Pro still holds its own very well.

The colors from the pictures are great, the dynamic range is great, the pictures are the sharpest and cleanest of any of its competitors. iPhone 11 Pro captures the closest picture to what a human eye can see out of all smartphone cameras. The ultrawide camera is very consistent with the other two cameras too.

The Night mode is improved too. You can take clear and sharp pictures even in little to no light.

Front Camera

It’s surprising how far HDR has come in the front-facing camera of the 11 Pro. With its 12 MP lens, the front camera captures a lot of detail. It could be a little brighter at times but overall it’s a massive upgrade.

You can now record 4K video at 60 fps with both of the cameras, although Hdr video is not supported with that format, and the quality is not so good from the front camera shoot at 4K 60 fps.

The front camera does take very impressive video overall with good stabilization and vibrant colors.

Performance: A13 Bionic Processor

The phone is powered with Apple’s A13 Bionic chip, which offers 20% faster CPU, GPU and performance. It’s a powerful chip and more than capable of doing all the “Pro” work of this phone. In fact, when this phone came out back in 2019, it was the world’s fastest phone according to GeekBench’s tests results.

RAM & Storage

iPhone 11 Pro has a RAM of 4GB. This is the part where most people wonder how a 4GB RAM could be enough for a phone of such high end. But in the past, Apple has proved themselves again and again with the fact that numbers don’t really matter for them. It’s all about the quality. Apple manufactures its own high-quality RAM, and for this phone, it’s no different. This 4GB RAM is more than enough to power this “Pro” phone.

There are three options for internal storage: 64Gb, 256GB, and 512GB, with no external storage options. Now, here’s where people bashed Apple when they made a 64GB Pro phone and not a 128GB one. Honestly, there was no need for a 64GB 11 Pro version. If anyone wants to buy this iPhone for “Pro” use, as Apple’s marketing it, then 64GB is not enough for a Pro user. The iPhone 12 pro now starts at 128GB instead of 64GB one. Guess Apple learned their lesson.

Battery

This smartphone is powered by a 3190 mAh battery. Getting rid of that 3D touch sensor has allowed more room for a bigger battery. This is one of the main reasons that the battery difference from the iPhone Xs to 11 Pro was 4+ Hrs and 5+ Hrs for the Pro Max versions, along with the faster A13 Bionic Processor.

With full brightness and heavy usage, iPhone 11 Pro gives 7 – 8 Hours of screen-on time and full day of battery. If you really try hard you could probably kill it in a day. That’s how much of a good battery it is.

Conclusion

iPhone 11 Pro is a great upgrade, and it mostly focuses on speed, battery life and camera. But, the features that a “Pro” phone demands, especially when it’s coming from Apple, are just not there. Some design changes or futuristic upgrades would’ve felt a bit more “Pro”.

Lastly, the main upgrades for this phone are the new A13, battery, slightly improved display, and most importantly the new cameras. If you’re someone who wants the best camera on your phone or to create “Pro” content, then this phone is perfect for you.

If you have any questions or takes on this review, be sure to let us know.

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