Apple iPhone 11

The Apple iPhone 11 is the captain of the iPhone 11 series and therefore the new entry-level model. That sounds a bit negative because this iPhone 11 certainly has enough to offer. What exactly, what's in it for you and if it might not be better to go for the Pro model you can read here.

Captain with dual camera

With the iPhone 11, Apple is finally creating more clarity in naming. The 11 is the entry level model, the 11 Pro the bigger brother and the 11 Pro Max the bigger brother. Both look the same at first glance; a notch with face release and a borderless Retina screen. The old design with large bars above and below the screen with the large button with fingerprint recognition has been definitively retired. While its predecessor was a colourful mid-range model with some entry-level specifications, this year Apple is taking it much more seriously. For example, the iPhone 11 on the back has a double camera with impressive features.

Wide-angle lens and nite mode

For example, the second camera is not used to zoom in but to zoom out. It is in fact a camera with a 120 degree wide-angle lens. This allows you to get more in focus, which is ideal for capturing landscapes. Zooming in is done digitally this year, which is always accompanied by loss of quality. Let the sensor now be 12 megapixels which is enough to zoom in a bit without being noticed. If you want to have a physical zoom camera you have to be at the iPhone 11 Pro. The camera of the iPhone 11 gets even more camera capabilities including a nite mode. With Nite Mode enabled, you still shoot useable photos in low light instead of one black area. Compared to other manufacturers, Apple seems to opt for a more natural nite mode, which results in slightly less exposed photos but appears more natural.

Main Apple iPhone 11 specifications

• Borderless Liquid Retina screen of 6.1 inch large
• 2x 12 megapixel camera with 4K video and 120° wide-angle lens
• 12 megapixel TrueDepth self shot camera with new portrait exposures
• Gigabit fast mobile 4G internet
• Support for Dualsim (built-in eSIM)
• Waterproof housing, wireless charging
• Dolby Atmos support for spatial sound

Apple A13 Bionic

This year's video is shot in up to 4K at 60fps, zoom in then the sound also zooms in and there are new portrait exposures including for pets. Still, the most impressive new feature is one you'll never have to turn on: the next generation Smart HDR. Even before you take a photo, iPhone 11 captures and analyses images. Up to 11 images are merged to perfectly match exposure, detail and colour. You won't notice a thing except that it produces a perfect picture in almost every situation. The new Smart HDR feature is powered by the new A13 Bionic processor. It's so powerful, you'll have a fast iPhone at your fingertips and processing power for camera tricks like this.

More colourful and cheaper

The Apple iPhone 11 is made of two sheets of glass that are so seamless together that it is more waterproof than its predecessor. It has an IP rating of IP68; the same as the iPhone 11 Pro (Max). Yet the iPhone 11 survives 30 minutes at a depth of 2 metres, 2 metres less than the Pro. Strange because the IP rating is the same. Other differences between the Pro and this entry level 11 is the screen. Apple again uses a Liquid Retina LCD which is slightly less colourful than the Super Retina XDR of the Pro. If you are looking for more colour then you really need to be with the iPhone 11. At the time of release a total of 6 different colours are available, compared to 4 of the 11 Pro. If you want to spend a bit less money then you have to be with this 11, because the price difference is a few hundred euros.