At its September event, Apple took the wraps off the iPhone 11, replacing the iPhone XR as the entry-level device in the lineup.
Between the two, just about everything seems about the same, from the design to the screen — at first glance, that is. Delving deeper, the differences become as clear as crystal.
iPhone 11 vs. iPhone XR
The two have the same 6.1-inch LCD display, including the same 1,792 x 828 resolution and, by the same token, 326 ppi, as well as the bezels. They're also identical when it comes to their appearances, even their size and weight. The only difference here is the rear dual camera setup on the iPhone 11, which consists of 12-megapixel wide and ultrawide lenses. Meanwhile, the iPhone XR only has one 12-megapixel wide camera.
Both of them also have iOS 13, Face ID, Haptic Touch, Lightning connector (no USB-C just yet for the iPhone 11), wireless charging support, and fast charging capability that provides 50 percent of charge in 30 minutes.
The differences start to show up starting from the processor and other core specs. The iPhone 11 sports an A13 Bionic chip, 4 GB of RAM, a 12-megapixel front snapper, IP68 rating, and a 3,110 mAh battery, which Apple touts to be capable of lasting one hour longer than the iPhone XR.
It also builds on its predecessor with an improved Smart HDR, Night mode for pictures, Dolby Atmos audio, and the new U1 chip for spatial awareness, which basically lets it communicate more accurately with other devices equipped with the same chip, such as other iPhone 11 models and locator tags to track personal things similar to Tile.
To put things into perspective, iPhone XR has an A12 Bionic chip, 3 GB of RAM, a 7-megapixel front camera, IP67 rating, and a 2,942 mAh battery. It features an older version of Smart HDR now that the iPhone 11 is introducing a newer one, and it doesn't have other niceties such as the U1 chip.
Which To Buy?
Choosing between the two is hard to say, and it really depends on where the buyer is coming from. When upgrading from the iPhone XR to the iPhone 11, it might be a good idea to hold out for a bit longer for a price drop or even until the next iPhone. That is, if the new features of the iPhone 11 aren't that important.
When buying a brand-new one, though, there's a pretty good reason to go for the iPhone XR: It's now available for only $599. The trade-off here is, of course, the aforementioned features of the iPhone 11, as well as its better specs, for that matter. Now the iPhone 11 starts at $699, and food for thought, that makes it more affordable than the $749 launch price of the iPhone XR. Still, the question here is whether saving $100 is worth it to skip on some of Apple's latest innovations.
The iPhone 11 will be up for preorder on Sept. 13 and hit the shelves on Sept. 20.
