iPhone 11 Pro Is 11 Pro worth the extra $300 vs 11?

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

For me, the absolute beauty of the stainless steel and attention to detail is worth it along with the 5.8" OLED screen which is a perfect size for me.
Everything in the 11 Pro is truly perfect!

 

[Mac2019]

Considering a move from the XR (wife needs a new phone and she would happily take my xr so may pass it on) to an 11 or 11 pro max and want to understand the key differences other than the screen and the size. How much better is the pro max camera than the 11? What other noticeable upgrades would the layman find useful? Currently struggling to justify the cost differential.

For me, the absolute beauty of the stainless steel and attention to detail is worth it along with the 5.8" OLED screen which is a perfect size for me.
Everything in the 11 Pro is truly perfect!

Where do you see the main differences screen wise? I ask because I went into a phone store at lunch and really couldn't see much difference between the 11 pro max and 11/XR screen. From what I've read OLED is the bees knees, but where and for what?

 

[one more]

It is very subjective, as the major differences between them come down to three bits:

a) OLED vs LCD screen (no consensus on this one
b) overall screen/iPhone size and
c) an extra camera (only useful in certain conditions)

Then, of course, there is the price itself, including a possible resell value, etc.

Most reviewers agreed that iPhone 11 offers the best feature/price balance, but if you absolutely need/want OLED or that extra camera and you are happy to pay for it, then iPhone 11 Pro is for you.

 

[sean000]

Considering a move from the XR (wife needs a new phone and she would happily take my xr so may pass it on) to an 11 or 11 pro max and want to understand the key differences other than the screen and the size. How much better is the pro max camera than the 11? What other noticeable upgrades would the layman find useful? Currently struggling to justify the cost differential.

Unless you are a photography enthusiast, you may not find the additional lens of the 11 pro (and Pro Max) to be worth the cost. The third lens doubles the focal length of the standard wide lens. It’s still not a true telephoto in optical terms. It’s what you call a “normal” lens, while the other two lenses are wide and ultrawide. The ultrawide lens is worth getting excited about in my opinion, and both models have it. iPhone 11 users can crop or digitally zoom (same thing, but digital zoom happens when you capture the photo and cropping is done after you capture a photo) a shot taken with the standard wide lens so it has the same field of view as the third lens. The only problem is that you lose resolution as you crop or digitally zoom, so a 12 MP image might end up being an 8 or 6 (or less) MP image. Given that most of us share and view images on phones and tablets, you can crop 12 MP a bit before you start seeing a noticeable degradation in image quality.

If you are happy with the camera on your XR, go with the iPhone 11. If you wish you could digitally zoom or crop your XR photos more to get a bit more reach, you will appreciate the additional camera lens of the 11 Pro/Max. Just understand that it’s not a dramatic increase in focal length. It’s not a birding or wildlife lens. Just a normal lens you can comfortably crop or digitally zoom to look like a short to moderate telephoto.

 

[ab2c4]

Is there a difference in sound quality with the speakers between the 11 and 11 Pro?

Some review sites say they are the exact same speakers, other review sites say the Pro models have better speakers than the regular 11.

 

[Septembersrain]

Is there a difference in sound quality with the speakers between the 11 and 11 Pro?

Some review sites say they are the exact same speakers, other review sites say the Pro models have better speakers than the regular 11.

The 11 Pro was louder than th. 11 when I tried it in store. Though the 7 Plus is louder than the 7 too. I'm thinking the bigger the phone, the better the sound? The dynamics I can't explain but size makes a difference.

Just my opinion.

 

[breezyf808]

If you look it in the sense of craftsmanship. It’s the same comparison as the Apple Watch regular and SS version. I love the steel feel of the pro. Camera upgrade is also the debate. Would you want to carry another device to take stunning photos or would you use that money to have a compact “powerful” camera in your phone.
I would have to say that the extra $400 (Purchased pro max) for me is well worth it, coming from a 6s plus.

 

[Mac2019]

If you look it in the sense of craftsmanship. It’s the same comparison as the Apple Watch regular and SS version. I love the steel feel of the pro. Camera upgrade is also the debate. Would you want to carry another device to take stunning photos or would you use that many to have a compact “powerful” camera in your phone.
I would have to say that the extra $400 (Purchased pro max) for me is well worth it, coming from a 6s plus.

The steel feel makes no odds to me as it will always be in a case - never using something that expensive without a case!

I do like the idea of the all in one device with a fantastic camera, but the cost.....
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Unless you are a photography enthusiast, you may not find the additional lens of the 11 pro (and Pro Max) to be worth the cost. The third lens doubles the focal length of the standard wide lens. It’s still not a true telephoto in optical terms. It’s what you call a “normal” lens, while the other two lenses are wide and ultrawide. The ultrawide lens is worth getting excited about in my opinion, and both models have it. iPhone 11 users can crop or digitally zoom (same thing, but digital zoom happens when you capture the photo and cropping is done after you capture a photo) a shot taken with the standard wide lens so it has the same field of view as the third lens. The only problem is that you lose resolution as you crop or digitally zoom, so a 12 MP image might end up being an 8 or 6 (or less) MP image. Given that most of us share and view images on phones and tablets, you can crop 12 MP a bit before you start seeing a noticeable degradation in image quality.

If you are happy with the camera on your XR, go with the iPhone 11. If you wish you could digitally zoom or crop your XR photos more to get a bit more reach, you will appreciate the additional camera lens of the 11 Pro/Max. Just understand that it’s not a dramatic increase in focal length. It’s not a birding or wildlife lens. Just a normal lens you can comfortably crop or digitally zoom to look like a short to moderate telephoto.

Is there a noticeable difference in photo quality between the xr and 11?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I do like the idea of the all in one device with a fantastic camera, but the cost.....

This is the thing, any iPhone from the past 4 years still takes a decent picture. The cost of the Pro or Pro Max is in the ball park of semi pro cameras. My Canon 5D MkIV was the cost of the 512GB version and a phone camera will never compete with that. I know phones offer super convenience but when people say they are happy paying just for the camera then it’s worth saying it’s a lot of money for a phone camera IMO. The iPhone 11 has the same camera apart from the third lens which is only advantageous in certain situations, not overall, and that phone is 700 quid.

 

[Mac2019]

This is the thing, any iPhone from the past 4 years still takes a decent picture. The cost of the Pro or Pro Max is in the ball park of semi pro cameras. My Canon 5D MkIV was the cost of the 512GB version and a phone camera will never compete with that. I know phones offer super convenience but when people say they are happy paying just for the camera then it’s worth saying it’s a lot of money for a phone camera IMO. The iPhone 11 has the same camera apart from the third lens which is only advantageous in certain situations, not overall, and that phone is 700 quid.

Completely agree. I’m not keen enough on photography to simply buy it for the camera, but having the best camera possible for my budget is important. I look at it as an overall computing device as I use it to read, to surf, to photograph, to work on productivity tasks amongst all the other standard uses so do tend to look at the full package. To me, the max seems to offer a better battery, slightly better camera for certain situations, better battery larger screen and sleeker look with the smaller bezels, so lots of positives but still maybe not enough for the extortionate price.
That said, I don’t spend much on tech (not bought a laptop for 12 years, a tv for 7, any sort of home surround sound, never even bought a standalone camera, Xbox/PS4 games etc.) which is partly why I’m considering it as it is effectively a big, luxury splurge on the one thing that I use every single day, for many hours.

 

[sean000]

Is there a noticeable difference in photo quality between the xr and 11?

The XR has one lens, while the iPhone 11 (non-pro) has the ultrawide lens as well. I'm a fan of ultrawide, but not everyone will find it appealing. The newer iPhones have better low light capability (night mode) and better HDR. For shooting in good light (daylight) I doubt you will see much difference other than the ultrawide capability on the 11.The selfie lens on the 11 is also higher resolution and can do the new slow-motion selfie trick.

Sean
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Completely agree. I’m not keen enough on photography to simply buy it for the camera, but having the best camera possible for my budget is important. I look at it as an overall computing device as I use it to read, to surf, to photograph, to work on productivity tasks amongst all the other standard uses so do tend to look at the full package. To me, the max seems to offer a better battery, slightly better camera for certain situations, better battery larger screen and sleeker look with the smaller bezels, so lots of positives but still maybe not enough for the extortionate price.
That said, I don’t spend much on tech (not bought a laptop for 12 years, a tv for 7, any sort of home surround sound, never even bought a standalone camera, Xbox/PS4 games etc.) which is partly why I’m considering it as it is effectively a big, luxury splurge on the one thing that I use every single day, for many hours.

I'm kinda the same way...I spend on the tech I use a lot, but not on the tech I don't use a lot. I built our home computer a few years ago for a total of about $450 in parts. We have a very old 37 inch HDTV. Old iPads. We are a single car family and I walk to and from work (1.5 miles each way) listening to music and podcasts. The things I do splurge on are my camera gear and iPhone gear. I use the iPhone, Apple Watch, and Airpods every single day. I use my camera gear most days.

Even the iPhone 11 Pro isn't going to measure up to my Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II with an Olympus pro lens attached, but there are times when I don't have that camera with me and I want to have the best photo quality I can get in a phone. I've been very pleased with the iPhone X for photos and videos in good light, but it's not very good in low light (even though it's far better in low light than my previous iPhone 6). As much as I use it, the phone is worth it to me. But even being a photography enthusiast, I'm a little on the fence about spending extra on the iPhone 11 Pro. I'm more excited about the ultrawide lens than I am about the third lens on the Pro. But I do like the size and OLED display of my iPhone X.

 

[Morrissey]

I have the Pro Max for the screen and a better battery, last year I had the XS MAx.

I take a lot of photos, but I rarely use the telephoto lens, just the lens with wide and regular camera. Next year I will evaluate and wait, probably the standard iPhone is the ideal for me.

 

[valinda]

Well, since I was able to take advantage of the recent Costco trade-in promo to greatly reduce the cost, I got the 11 Pro as a birthday gift to myself. I do like it more in my hand than the regular 11. But is it worth the extra $300 regular cost? Definitely not. Worth the extra ~$30 that I'll pay after the rebate? Yes.

I thought you had already bought it from Costco.

 

[bushman4]

YES. if you Have a use For the extra features

 

[That70sGAdawg]

Is there a difference in sound quality with the speakers between the 11 and 11 Pro?

Some review sites say they are the exact same speakers, other review sites say the Pro models have better speakers than the regular 11.

I had all 3 phones in Sept and the Pro max has the deepest bass (for a phone), widest separation, and the loudest sound of all. The reg pro is less tinny than the reg 11 also.I kept the Pro Max mainly for this reason & larger screen and "zoomed view".

 

[ab2c4]

I had all 3 phones in Sept and the Pro max has the deepest bass (for a phone), widest separation, and the loudest sound of all. The reg pro is less tinny than the reg 11 also.I kept the Pro Max mainly for this reason & larger screen and "zoomed view".

That's good to know. I am deciding between the 11 and 11 Pro in the upcoming months (getting a new phone in June). Trying to factor in Display, Speakers, Battery, and Camera and much like this topic, trying to figure out if the Pro is worth the extra $300 to me.

 

[dmk1974]

I thought you had already bought it from Costco.

Hi. Yes, I actually had a month or so ago for full price and then returned it 2 days later. But with a different promo and adding lines for additional family members, it worked out much better price-wise and i decided to make the change.

 

[bobsamm]

Yes. NZ.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Yes. NZ.

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Would none of those pics have been as good on the iPhone 11? Nice wide angle outdoor photos with the same camera system after all.

 

[bobsamm]

Would none of those pics have been as good on the iPhone 11? Nice wide angle outdoor photos with the same camera system after all.

Lol, no that’s what pro stands for. I didn’t use wide angle for those anyway. I have been there 3 times in last 18 months with a X, XR and now Pro, not saying the others photos were no good, I have a big canvas print I got done from a X photo in our dining room that looks good. The pro is just better and should be it’s 2 years newer phone.
After spending $10k on and to get to my Sons wedding in NZ last week, the extra $$ on the pro just for the better camera was chicken feed haha.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Lol, no that’s what pro stands for. I didn’t use wide angle for those anyway. I have been there 3 times in last 18 months with a X, XR and now Pro, not saying the others photos were no good, I have a big canvas print I got done from a X photo in our dining room that looks good. The pro is just better and should be it’s 2 years newer phone.
After spending $10k on and to get to my Sons wedding in NZ last week, the extra $$ on the pro just for the better camera was chicken feed haha.

I only say as the third camera on the pro is suggested to be better in certain situations like low light mainly. The two other cameras on the 11 are the same as the Pro with identical quality supposedly in outdoor well lit situations. What does Pro stand for? I’ve never seen an accurate explanation other than it being a name convention for Apple.

 

[FenrirWolf]

For me it wasn’t worth the increased price and decreased screen size compared to the 11. With the price difference you could get an AirPods Pro which was what I did.

 

[nill1234]

For the price difference you can almost get an Apple Watch 4 or 5. Definitely the smarter choice.

 

[VertPin]

Personally I’d get the 11 and save the money or use that money toward an iPad mini or Apple Watch, idk.

 

[breezyf808]

I got my pro max through the buy one get one promotion. ($2000 - $700 ==> $1300 divided by 2 ==> $700 for each phone.)
My wife just had to change her number, which she didn’t mind.
I think if I keep this phone for couple years and sell it privately, I’d get my money’s worth but lose a hundred or so. If I keep it for at least 4 years and sell it I’d get my money worth.
But if you buy a pro and sell it to buy the next iPhone iteration then you will prob lose money.