Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 11 - 3110 mAh - 1792 x 828 - 4G LTE
iPhone 12 - 2815 mAh - 2532 x 1170 - 5G
iPhone 13 - 3227 mAh - 2532 x 1170 - 5G
iPhone 14 - 3279 mAh - 2532 x 1170 - 5G
iPhone 15 - 3349 mAh - 2556 × 1179 - 5G
iPhone 16 - 3561 mAh - 2556 × 1179 - 5G
 
The iPhone 12 is weird and seems to be able to start throttling somewhere between 80% and 90%. I definitely notice it and other 12 users reported getting the battery changed restored full speed. Getting Apple to replace a battery over 80% is not an easy task so I'm stuck with it for now. The 12 was always known to have poor battery life.

I figure an 11 with 78% could experience the same.
Interesting. Luckily my 11 (77%) isn't being throttled - as far as I can tell.

It's certainly not noticeable slower than it was when new, which is pretty remarkable considering I've got iOS 18.1 beta on it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Parowdy and Paddle1
Our 11 year old has a hand-me-down 12 Pro and it handles everything great. I'm still on the fence about her having it as I can see her getting more addicted to it but she is at a new school and has to travel about an hour each way on public transport. Think I may try more restrictive screen time for it and take the popularity hit at home.

She is still wearing an Apple Watch 5 (SS so with cellular and plan) and I think I'm happier with that than a phone but at this point the battery struggles to last the day even with School Time turned on, especially now she is travelling so far to school. I could get a new battery but £100 for such an old watch feels like a bad idea. I could also give her my AW7 cellular which just had AppleCare battery replacement—and get myself a shiny new 10—but I've a feeling that she'll quickly wreck an aluminium one…
 
Brought my daughter a refurbished iPhone 11 64gb about 18 to 24 months ago and it’s starting to struggle with video calls, WhatsApp which is frustrating for her.

Would an iPhone 13 Pro be worth it nowdays or am I better of stretching to get her an iPhone 14 Pro?
Both will be a nice upgrade for her but want to try and avoid hitting the same problems in 12 to 18 months.

Part of me would like to wait to see how much the iPhone 15 Pro comes down by, but the price difference is not that great between a refurbished one of these and a brand new one.

From the UK btw.
paid 750€ for a 15 Pro, used but in very good condition. Price down from 1.149€ Apple retail here in Germany. Would have liked to wait some more but couldn't as my 11 Pro broke down :D. The 13 Pro is still a great phone and will last quite long id assume. The 14 Pro brings nothing much to the table compared to the 13 Pro for your daughter.
OLED, ProMotion, 128GB of storage, 3 cameras and a new design are a worthwhile upgrade and the 13 Pro should be reasonably priced, compared to the 14 Pro (1.300€ original retail price, 150 more than the 15 Pro a year later 0_o)
 
It should not be overheating unless it is in a poorly designed case?

Dave
I've used my 11 Pro without a case and can confirm, it does get very hot with certain use patterns, including video calling, It does get uncomfortably warm and even dims the display way down. Don't know why you think only cases can heat up phones when video calling.
 
I would check the battery health in settings. If it’s being used inside in AC, it shouldn’t overheat. I’ve heard people say using an iPhone while charging can cause it to overheat under certain conditions. Also using it outside in direct sunlight.

I don’t make a lot of video calls so I can’t really say I’ve tried to see how it works on my 14 Pro Max.

Maybe she just wants a new phone and that’s perfectly fine I guess. People like the latest and greatest and if you can afford it then why not.
I think OP mentioned they'd like not to spend too much on an iPhone, and I don't think itd be the right message for a 11 year old to be like your phone is getting hot when you're using it (excessively), have the newest one! The upgrade from the 11 to the 13 Pro would be more than enough for someone that doesn't actually need more then the 11 for anything but video calling.
 
Will have a think on this, with how my daughter uses her phone, this would happen on any device she has.
if any phone would struggle, any phone would suffice, no? then its not about the phone but the user, and with 11 that sounds like waay to much usage and dependancy. I don't know if you're already using this, but if not put the screen time widget on your Home Screen for your daughter and check it periodically. Maybe that alone will curb her usage, otherwise it might give you insight you didn't have previously. Albeit I have a feeling you're doing that already.
 
  • Like
Reactions: winxmac
if any phone would struggle, any phone would suffice, no? then its not about the phone but the user, and with 11 that sounds like waay to much usage and dependancy. I don't know if you're already using this, but if not put the screen time widget on your Home Screen for your daughter and check it periodically. Maybe that alone will curb her usage, otherwise it might give you insight you didn't have previously. Albeit I have a feeling you're doing that already.

Got my daughter’s iPhone locked down already like you said, more downtime than up-time.
Max of up to 2 hours a day and anything else she has to request it.

Usage wise, even though my daughter is on it for about an hour or two each day, the constant video calls, gaming at the same time, and being plugged in is killing the battery.

Told her last night she can get a new phone but only when she gets into the habit of letting it fully charge first before use, something I know won’t happen anytime soon and until then she is stuck with the iPhone 11.

Bit off topic, but I don’t want people thinking I let me daughter use her phone 24/7!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: hanser and Parowdy
So trying to raise others kids is ok as long as they have “right” opinion?

Even adults don’t know how to use their devices. We have social issues from people spending their lives in these devices. So no 11 years old does not know and as she gets to teenager years it will only become worse if there’s no boundaries.

But OP is asking basically what’s better 13 pro or 14 pro for more longevity and future proof, I guessed should skip the part about 11 yrs old and focus on technical advice
 
  • Like
Reactions: daleski75
Judging how it is 78% battery health, it definitely degraded and is now getting throttled so it doesn't randomly shut off.

Yes, a 13 Pro would be an amazing upgrade from an 11, 14 Pro would be a little more of an upgrade, but not much for someone who just sounds like an "average user".
A lot of people on this forum will say "Just replace the battery".

My take on it:
The 11 is starting to get outdated, and might not receive iOS 19 next year. These days, the software updates are very important for gen-z because it gives them new customization features. I can tell that since its already on iOS 18, she really wanted the new customization features in it. I would say that a 13 Pro would be an amazing upgrade for your daughter.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: daleski75
Eh...

My son had an iPhone 11 for the past 3 years.
My daughter had an iPhone 12 mini.

The trade in deals that AT&T was offering were really good, so I got her an iPhone 15 and him an iPhone 15 Plus. They should be good with these now for a few years. Of course my daughter is going to be pissed when she finds out that genmoji won't work on her iPhone 15.
 
That’s a very valid point, my daughter never ever lets it charge fully so it’s always charging and on video calls, however telling my daughter to let it charge 100% before using It, Is a challenge in itself!

And absolutely nothing to do with me getting a 16 PM lol…. *cough*
If she's like my 12 year old daughter.... I get an eye roll and a look that screams "Ok, boomer". LOL
 
I think OP mentioned they'd like not to spend too much on an iPhone, and I don't think itd be the right message for a 11 year old to be like your phone is getting hot when you're using it (excessively), have the newest one! The upgrade from the 11 to the 13 Pro would be more than enough for someone that doesn't actually need more then the 11 for anything but video calling.
I was trying to avoid that aspect of the situation. Younger people (under 30) are pretty much attached to their screen. I’m not sure if it’s going to make much difference if it’s an older device although in this situation overheating might induce required breaks 😂
 
Then stop giving advices on parenting.

I haven’t. I wrote only 11yrs old can use tech like the general observation about teenagers generation. Almost every teens I know are very capable of knowing their devices. E.g. my 12y nephew is so into planes and flights that he’s the one buying air tickets, searching cheap flights and even organizing family trip from tech side.
 
Got my daughter’s iPhone locked down already like you said, more downtime than up-time.
Max of up to 2 hours a day and anything else she has to request it.

Usage wise, even though my daughter is on it for about an hour or two each day, the constant video calls, gaming at the same time, and being plugged in is killing the battery.

Told her last night she can get a new phone but only when she gets into the habit of letting it fully charge first before use, something I know won’t happen anytime soon and until then she is stuck with the iPhone 11.

Bit off topic, but I don’t want people thinking I let me daughter use her phone 24/7!
iPhone SE4 early next year sounds like the one to get if you can wait, degraded battery is an issue (especially if it expands) but if it can be nursed through that would be an amazing upgrade If in budget.

im on the fence with getting a new battery for it, especially at Apple prices. could a power bank work If you can hold off? I’m waiting for an SE4 myself from an 11 which has a slightly better battery and is slowing up a bit Occasionally.

fully charging isn’t actually great news for a phone, the latest phones have settings to charge up to 80% which is far better for battery longevity but in an aged and degraded battery that ship has sailed.
 
iPhone SE4 early next year sounds like the one to get if you can wait, degraded battery is an issue (especially if it expands) but if it can be nursed through that would be an amazing upgrade If in budget.

im on the fence with getting a new battery for it, especially at Apple prices. could a power bank work If you can hold off? I’m waiting for an SE4 myself from an 11 which has a slightly better battery and is slowing up a bit Occasionally.

fully charging isn’t actually great news for a phone, the latest phones have settings to charge up to 80% which is far better for battery longevity but in an aged and degraded battery that ship has sailed.

That did catch me eye but Will hold off anything like this for the meantime
 
I haven’t. I wrote only 11yrs old can use tech like the general observation about teenagers generation. Almost every teens I know are very capable of knowing their devices. E.g. my 12y nephew is so into planes and flights that he’s the one buying air tickets, searching cheap flights and even organizing family trip from tech side.
My daughter is crazy about planes too, 24/7 researching them, tracking flights, plane spotting!
 
  • Like
Reactions: nathasnajperowa
My daughter is crazy about planes too, 24/7 researching them, tracking flights, plane spotting!

In my experience, tracking flights with most apps make my phone super hot and it’s an iPhone 15. Something about those apps takes a lot of energy.
 
I’d go with 14 pro best color deep purple, beautiful and power house. Should be good for her for minimum 3y. Don’t listen to anyone else trying to raise others ppl kids.
It’s tech  forum not parenting one. 11 yrs is big enough to well know how to use recent  tech
So much parenting advice. I had people absolutely losing their minds when I said I got my 12 year old an iPhone 15 earlier this year. Kids deserve nice things too 🤷🏻‍♀️ I wanted mine to have a high quality device and I’ve only had iPhones since the first one in 2007, so I know they’re solid. I wasn’t about to get her an iPhone 8 or a chintzy android stuck with a micro usb port just because she’s a kid. AppleCare + theft and loss and a case, no problems at all. My kid is very social and I’m happy to give her a way to talk to her friends.
 
  • Love
Reactions: daleski75
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.