Apple Highlights iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max Reviews

[macduke]

I feel like it's not getting enough coverage about how much sharper the camera is in normal lighting conditions. Everyone is talking about night mode.

Check out this screen grab from The Verge review on YouTube in 4K showing a crop from the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone XS. Note the extra detail in the hair, the eyelashes, the teeth, the lines on the lips.

But the night mode isn't to be forgotten. It's certainly amazing. Just look at these crops between the iPhone 11 Pro and the Pixel 3. You lose details to noise on the Pixel 3, and some areas compared to the iPhone just look like a mushy, unsaturated mess. Note the clarity of the graffiti at the top of the building in the first shot, or the green bush/grass detail in the center of the frame along with the texture on the rock and twigs on the tree in the second shot, or the clarity of the fence without blowing out saturation on the windows in the final shot.

I regularly use my Sony a7R III mirrorless camera which has amazing resolution and dynamic range but I have to say that the iPhone is finally becoming a great camera. I won't feel too bad about leaving my kit at home when I'm just out at the park having fun with my kids and want to take a few shots. I know they'll look great.

 

[now i see it]

reviews from those on Apples "A" list. This is just another arm of their advertising. What do people expect them to say? "Not really thrilled with the whole package"?
"Boring upgrade"?
"Not a good value"?
If they did utter any negative comments — sorry, no free gear next year.
Granted these may be good phones, but these early reviews promoted by Apple should be viewed with a bit of skepticism

 

[jakeowens]

Wrong, it’s the industry we are talking about. There will be no major innovations coming out of any smartphone manufacturers short of foldable phones. You just need to learn to accept it.

Totally. Everyone keeps chasing that "WOW" feeling when iphone first came out and there was lots of room for big updates to the external hardware. Everything will be iterative going forward. Think of phones now like laptops: sure they come out every year and get faster but you only update when you need to rather than expecting every version to be this AMAZING new invention. There is a TON of innovation going on each year but because people can't see it they think they didn't do anything. A 20% faster processor using 40% less power is a huge deal.

 

[jgbr]

I wouldn’t say stellar reviews. Wait for 5G and USB C.

 

[GoodWheaties]

And other than two guys comparing the size of their RAM, it doesn't matter in the least. all that matters is that it has enough RAM to do the job it is designed to do. I have never had a problem with my phone not having enough RAM.

It seems people lose the appreciation for how big 4GB of RAM is. That is still plenty for most people to use on their PCs/Chromebooks/Macs, and phones are optimized for lighter footprints.

Yeah I always have to laugh when people claim 4GB of RAM isn’t enough for an iPhone to run one app at a time. I mean iPads can run 3 apps SIMULTANEOUSLY with only 2GB. Complain about multitasking if you want but RAM isn’t a problem with current devices.

 

[GuruZac]

Quotes like this are completely useless... Why in the world would a company like apple make such a dramatic camera change and it not be at least one of the best at the time of release? How about focus on a benefit that's actually tangible and relatable? C'mon, The Verge!

Tangible like what? A much better camera is very tangible. Much better battery life is very tangible. Having an 18W USB-C-to-lightning charger included is very tangible. There are indeed some really nice tangible improvements this year.

 

[newyorksole]

reviews from those on Apples "A" list. This is just another arm of their advertising. What do people expect them to say? "Not really thrilled with the whole package"?
"Boring upgrade"?
"Not a good value"?
If they did utter any negative comments — sorry, no free gear next year.
Granted these may be good phones, but these early reviews promoted by Apple should be viewed with a bit of skepticism

Really? Lol maybe... idk... They’re actually good phones? Idk why people have to be so cynical of everything. The 11 Pro might not be a major upgrade from the XS aside from cameras, battery, U1 chip and WiFi 6, but it’s still an excellent device. Even compared to the competition, it’s a great device.

This happens every year. Hate to break it to you, but Apple makes a damn good smartphone. It should be of no surprise that there aren’t negative things to say about this new model.

 

[Cmd-Z]

It's a shame that reviewers are calling a 64GB iPhone for $699 a good value. It's a terrible value! It costs Apple literally $10 more to get the 256GB chip instead of the 64GB one , and they charge a $350 premium for it. They are ripping their customers faces off with the higher storage markups.

That's one way to look at it. Another way is to consider that 64GB is only a $10 savings in material, but Apple is discounting the 64GB model way more than $10 to create a lower cost of entry.

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

They are indeed nice phones but, I will hold on to my 7+ for another year.

Agree...Still hanging on to my 6+...iPhone 12 5G awaits!

 

[44267547]

That's one way to look at it. Another way is to consider that 64GB is only a $10 savings in material, but Apple is discounting the 64GB model way more than $10 to create a lower cost of entry.

64GB I’d still wager is plenty sufficient for storage for many, 128 GB seems to be probably the ‘safest bet’ if someone was teetering if they need the extra storage, but surprisingly, I don’t consider myself to be a heavy user, but I take a decent amount of photos, and I still have plenty of storage on my 64 GB iPhone.

 

[JGIGS]

Wrong, it’s the industry we are talking about. There will be no major innovations coming out of any smartphone manufacturers short of foldable phones. You just need to learn to accept it.

True but this years iphones could still have been notchless, less bezels, 5g capable and a new form factor. I don't blame them on not doing 5G this year but they still technically could have. I'm hoping they go to the iPad pro design aka iphone 5ish looking.

Those changes still wouldn't be innovative though as it's been done by other manufactures but this still shows how the iphone is behind other makers.

I've been harping on the fact that like computers and laptops there isn't a ton of innovation that can be made in the smartphone segment but Apple needs to catch up on existing features especially as a premium brand.
[doublepost=1568761363][/doublepost]

Quotes like this are completely useless... Why in the world would a company like apple make such a dramatic camera change and it not be at least one of the best at the time of release? How about focus on a benefit that's actually tangible and relatable? C'mon, The Verge!

Well they always release camera upgrades. The last few years older Pixel devices have been kicking iPhone butt in stills at least so seems like the quote is a useful one to me anyway?

 

[locovaca]

Yeah I always have to laugh when people claim 4GB of RAM isn’t enough for an iPhone to run one app at a time. I mean iPads can run 3 apps SIMULTANEOUSLY with only 2GB. Complain about multitasking if you want but RAM isn’t a problem with current devices.

It’s less about multitasking and more about longevity. iOS upgrades have long been tied to physical specs like cpu and ram. Just like ip6 support dropping off but iPad Air 2 living on because it has an extra gig.

 

[garylapointe]

I’m sick of hearing about “iterative” updates. They are not iterative for the target upgraders. An iPhone 6 or 7 iPhone to either the 11 or the Pro would be a large jump.

I don’t think Apple expects users with an XS to upgrade to the Pro.

Exactly, the car/TV/computer companies release new models every year, but no one is expecting yearly upgrades from the masses.

 

[newyorksole]

True but this years iphones could still have been notchless, less bezels, 5g capable and a new form factor. I don't blame them on not doing 5G this year but they still technically could have. I'm hoping they go to the iPad pro design aka iphone 5ish looking.

Those changes still wouldn't be innovative though as it's been done by other manufactures but this still shows how the iphone is behind other makers.

I've been harping on the fact that like computers and laptops there isn't a ton of innovation that can be made in the smartphone segment but Apple needs to catch up on existing features especially as a premium brand.
[doublepost=1568761363][/doublepost]

Well they always release camera upgrades. The last few years older Pixel devices have been kicking iPhone butt in stills at least so seems like the quote is a useful one to me anyway?

Here’s the thing though... Early reports, reviews and comments paint the picture that the iPhone 11 series is doing well and will continue to do well. They didn’t “need” to do a redesign this year or remove the notch or add 5G.

Apple is in a very good position with not only iPhone, but their other services and hero products. Sure there’s more that they can be doing, but they’re doing pretty damn well.

I think from here on out we’ll see some great updates.
[doublepost=1568762158][/doublepost]

Exactly, the car/TV/computer companies release new models every year, but no one is expecting yearly upgrades from the masses.

Exactly Lol. Just goes to show you that people generally only have high expectations and unrealistic expectations for Apple. I don’t see any of this scrutiny or criticism for other companies. It’s crazy.

 

[rp2011]

updated CPU for what? Its not that much faster and surely not noticeable in daily use.
So why waste money?

Trade in value was enough for me to get a wide angle camera and better cpu for not too much.

 

[Icaras]

I've said the same thing for 4 years now. It isn't happening buddy.

A redesign at the very least is guaranteed.

 

[Eggtastic]

Trade in value was enough for me to get a wide angle camera and better cpu for not too much.

Yeah, pretty good trade in values when selling outright will only net you probably $100 or so after shipping and what not (unless you sell on CL, but I won't do that with tech).

I have an X and I could use a better camera since its my only camera for anything.

Decisions decisions...

 

[Hi Tek]

it’d be pretty pathetic if the reviewers liked the Xs/Xs Max over the iPhone 11.

Yet the very first comment was about staying with the 7+ ?
What about the SE crew in the back ?

 

[hagjohn]

The 11 pro's look like a great phone but I'm waiting for next year. I can't spend money this year and next on a phone, so I'll keep my X another year.

 

[Macaholic868]

Some of my friends thoughts I was nuts for buying the iPhone X but there honestly hasn’t bee anything in XS or the 11 lines that has made me even slightly consider an upgrade. There also haven’t been any rumors about the 2020 iPhone line that’s made think that’s going to change.

Yeah the phone cost north of $1000 but it looks like I’ll get a good 4 to 5 years out of it. I don’t think $250 to $200 a year for your primary computing device is paying too much. Even if the rumors about Touch ID under the glass are true that’ll be great for those who want or need it but I’m doing just fine with Face ID.

The only thing that I can think of that would entice me to upgrade in the next year or two would be massive improvements to Siri or an AR wearable with some kind of truly game changing feature. I don’t see either of those things on the horizon anytime soon.

 

[Canada420]

This is a post that's highlighting an apple ad about highlighting good reviews. good grief.

 

[ikramerica]

Usually the Verge is pretty cynical about Apple, especially when it comes to the iPhone, so it seems like they’re extending high praise for the new ‘tri-lens’ camera and improved battery life. I admit, I thought these phones would probably be underwhelming for 2019, but I think Apple made some really nice changes with the additional water resistance and lowlight/camera additions.

They called them SOME of the best, not THE best.

 

[Arndroid]

“iPhone 11, a slam dunk, home run AND a touchdown.”

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

I've said the same thing for 4 years now. It isn't happening buddy.

My 6S and I have an understanding that we both hate each other but we'll wait it out for the day they release a compelling phone.

 

[Arndroid]

I’m sick of hearing about “iterative” updates. They are not iterative for the target upgraders. An iPhone 6 or 7 iPhone to either the 11 or the Pro would be a large jump.

I don’t think Apple expects users with an XS to upgrade to the Pro.

Yeah an iPhone 11 has 80% more battery life over an iPhone 6 and a gazillion% more powerful processor/gpu.

It’s a substantial boost for anyone who hasn’t upgraded in the last two years.