IPhone 11 and 11 Pro Review: Think differently in the golden age of smartphones

by



[ad_1]

After more than a decade of writing about technology, reviewing a new iPhone has long been one of my simplest tasks.

Year after year, the formula was: I tested the most important new features of the latest Apple smartphone and evaluated if they were useful. Assuming the last iPhone works well, my advice was usually the same. I recommended upgrading it if you had your existing smartphone for two years.

But with this review of the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max – the latest models that Apple unveiled last week and will be available this Friday – I encourage a different approach. The bottom line? It's time to reset our upgrade criteria.

It's because we live in the golden age of smartphones, where the improvements made every year to gadgets are far from being seismic. The devices that debuted three years ago are still fashionable and more than capable. Those who have the iPhone 7 from 2016, for example, always have a very good phone with a star camera and fast speeds.

The time has come to ask ourselves: do we really need to upgrade our iPhones every two years?

According to my tests of the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, the answer is no. Do not get me wrong: the new models are cool. Apple has made them faster, improved cameras and extended the life of its battery. The new range also starts at a lower price of $ 700, compared to $ 750 a year ago, which is a relief in an era of dizzying costs for smartphones.

But none of this is enough to justify an immediate upgrade if you have your smartphone for two years. The latest iPhones are not a big step forward compared to the iPhone of last year or even the iPhone X of 2017.

So, here's what I'm suggesting in the end: You absolutely must upgrade if your current device is at least five years old. The iPhone 11 models all represent a significant advance over those introduced in 2014. But for all other smartphone users starting in 2015, nothing presses to buy. Instead, there is more mileage and value to be derived from the excellent smartphone you already have.

I've been testing the new iPhones for a week, starting with the entry-level iPhone 11 at $ 700 featuring a 6.1-inch screen, which I've been using. used as the main phone for three days. Then I switched to the iPhone 11 Pro, the $ 1,000 model with a 5.8-inch screen, for two days. And finally, the iPhone 11 Pro Max, the model at $ 1,100 with a large screen of 6.5 inches, for two additional days.

Then I compared the results with my notes and my photos from the iPhone X test in 2017. What I found was that the iPhone 11 was better, but not deeply.

  • All models of the iPhone 11 have a new ultra wide angle lens in their cameras, which offers a wider field of vision than traditional cameras. This makes them practical for photographing landscapes or large group gatherings. The iPhone X does not have a very wide-angle lens, but its dual-lens camera is capable of taking pictures in portrait mode, allowing the main subject of the image to focus in sharp focus. by slightly blurring the background.

  • The new iPhones all have the same computer processor, called A13 Bionic, which is about 50% faster than the iPhone X. Although it may seem important, the iPhone X is already incredibly fast to take pictures and run applications and games.

  • The new iPhones all have a longer battery life. Even after a day of intensive use, which included taking phone calls, using cards and taking many pictures, each iPhone had plenty of juice – at least 30% – at sleep. After similar tests with an iPhone X two years ago, there was about 15% of the battery at bedtime.

  • The back of Pro models is composed of a tough glass that makes them scratch resistant. It's impressive, but if you spend $ 1,000 on a phone, you'll probably protect it with a case that covers your back anyway, as many iPhone X owners do.

  • Pro models have OLED displays slightly brighter than the iPhone X screen.

There are a lot of little things that are a little better on the new iPhones compared to the two year old iPhone X. For early users who want the latest and greatest technologies, these differences can lead to substantial upgrades.

But for most of us, upgrades will not really change our phone experience.

The most remarkable novelty on iPhones 11 is the very wide angle lens. The use of ultra-high mode is simple and transparent: you pinch to the outside to zoom in. On a beach, the wider view captured my dogs playing on the sand, the waves of the ocean and the adjacent road.

The telephoto lens of the iPhone 11 Pro did an outstanding job by zooming in on my dog ​​Mochi's muzzle as she shook a bit of water out of the head.

The new iPhones also have a new mode for taking pictures in low light. Once the camera has detected that a setting is very dark, it automatically saves multiple images and then merges them by adjusting the colors and contrast. The result is that photos taken in low light without flash have a brighter, natural look.

The photos taken with the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro were crisp and clear and their colors were accurate. But once these tests ended, I watched my archived photos taken with an iPhone X.

These images, especially those taken in portrait mode, always seemed impressive. Some of the low-light devices seemed lousy compared to those of the iPhone 11, but I would not recommend buying a new phone just for better night shots. You can still use the flash.

Every year, the most common question my friends and colleagues ask me is whether they should buy a new iPhone. Here is a list of considerations to consider when making any upgrade decisions.

The software is the easiest place to start. The newest Apple mobile operating system, iOS 13 will only work on iPhones from 2015 (iPhone 6S) and later. Therefore, if you have an older iPhone, it is worth it to upgrade, because once you can not update the operating system, some of your applications may not work properly. .

For those with younger iPhones, there are ways to get the most out of your current device. While the latest iPhones have excellent battery life (several hours more than the previous generation), a new battery in your existing gadget costs only 50 to 70 USD and will extend its life considerably.

If you own the iPhone 6S of 2015 and the iPhone 7 of 2016, the iPhone 11 is faster, with camera enhancements and larger screens. This makes a nice update to have but not a must-have.

But if you spent $ 1,000 on an iPhone X two years ago, wait. The iPhone 11 is not enough to make the necessary innovation to guarantee more than $ 700 on a new smartphone.

If you wait another year or two, you will probably be rewarded by this leap forward. It can be an iPhone running on 5G fast cellular networks or a smartphone that can charge a wireless Apple Watch.

Patience has its benefits – and so will break free from the iPhone's two-year automatic upgrade cycle.

[ad_2]

Source link