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iPhone 11 Ok, coming from an iPhone X, what would you guys do?

S

snarestud940

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 3, 2012
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So, I have a white iPhone X (64GB), and I loved it for the past two years! My battery life isn't great, I barely get a day out of it. But it still does the trick. I was really looking forward to getting a new iPhone this year. I am a big fan of the product red version for years now, and was always upset that it didn't make it to the higher end line. However, I'm having a problem justifying buying the iPhone Pro Max, when I could just get the iPhone 11 in red.

I'm not a big tech Savy guy, so I don't know what I will be missing out on. Is the iPhone 11 an upgrade from the iPhone X? Will the screen be that obvious that it's terrible? Will the camera bump go down? What do you guys think? I have an iPad Pro 12.9 (the new one), a MacBook Pro, and an iMac. I really don't use my iPad for any pro capabilities. Just bought it because I like the size. I always do want the latest and greatest, but I can't justify spending 400 dollars more for a phone with another camera (when I hear the camera is almost the same). Also, I really like the red. If I go for the pro, I'd get the midnight green I think.

Any thoughts? Anyone in the same boat? I would greatly appreciate any input anyone has. Thanks!
 
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Go to Apple Store and change battery - if the battery life is a problem. There are some evidence that 2020 iPhone will bring more significant changes (it seems Apple is on 3 years cycle nowadays).

It's all rumors of course. I have XS and I feel, that I will keep it for next 2 years. iPhone is too expensive and jumps are too small - remember 3GS to 4? Or 4S to 5S? 6 to 6S? IMO iPhone X is still VERY good phone. Keep your money, change the battery and will be fine! :)
 
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As already stated in the first reply, buy directly from a place with a great return policy and try the new iPhone out. If it’s worth the upgrade during that time, keep it. If not, return it, maybe then get a battery service on your old phone and keep it for another 1-2 years.

From the sound of it you’re just after a new device but apart from the nice red colour there isn’t really anything that you perceive as value so far. Until that point, upgrading is kinda pointless in my opinion.
 
snarestud940 said:
So, I have a white iPhone X (64GB), and I loved it for the past two years! My battery life isn't great, I barely get a day out of it. But it still does the trick. I was really looking forward to getting a new iPhone this year. I am a big fan of the product red version for years now, and was always upset that it didn't make it to the higher end line. However, I'm having a problem justifying buying the iPhone Pro Max, when I could just get the iPhone 11 in red.

I'm not a big tech Savy guy, so I don't know what I will be missing out on. Is the iPhone 11 an upgrade from the iPhone X? Will the screen be that obvious that it's terrible? Will the camera bump go down? What do you guys think? I have an iPad Pro 12.9 (the new one), a MacBook Pro, and an iMac. I really don't use my iPad for any pro capabilities. Just bought it because I like the size. I always do want the latest and greatest, but I can't justify spending 400 dollars more for a phone with another camera (when I hear the camera is almost the same). Also, I really like the red. If I go for the pro, I'd get the midnight green I think.

Any thoughts? Anyone in the same boat? I would greatly appreciate any input anyone has. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Without careful study of the displays and side by side comparison, I cannot tell a big difference in the XR vs XS Max. I know it there and I know technically what is different but I'm saying the XR line has a fine display. If you're interested and not super critical you will be perfectly happy with the iPhone 11 in red. The non-pro model will be by far the biggest seller. I'm one of the people that buys the Max just because but if the 11 was given to me I would be happy.
 
Sounds like you’d be happy with iPhone 11. Not pro. But don’t sweat marketing terms. The 11 looks easily like the best value.
 
snarestud940 said:
Makes sense. stupid question, does the iPhone X currently have a telephoto lens?
Click to expand...

It does - the telephoto lens allows you to optically zoom at 2x - though it seems like you may not use that feature all that much. The iPhone 11 now has an ultrawide second camera that lets you zoom out at 0.5x - the iPhone 11 Pro has all three options (regular, telephoto, ultrawide). If you use 2x zoom a lot, you may miss it on the iPhone 11. If you don't, the 11 will be a good choice for you. If you like owning the latest and greatest (which seems to be 33% or more of Apple consumers), just get the 11 Pro.
 
Don't get me wrong, I think the iPhone 11 is a very good device for the money. But coming from an iPhone X, you will just think that the display of the 11 is mediocre compared to the X (XS/11 Pro) as soon as you turn on the device. If you're okay with that, I think you're good to go. Would I trade the iPhone X for an iPhone 11? Definitely not. If you cannot wait, I'll suggest you to go to the Apple Store and have a look at the current XR to get a rough impression of what the iPhone 11 will feel like.
 
snarestud940 said:
Makes sense. stupid question, does the iPhone X currently have a telephoto lens?
Click to expand...

If you didn't know that you have a 2X telephoto lens on your two year old iPhone X then I'd respectfully suggest that you just do a battery swap service on it & save the rest of your money this year.

FWIW, my Launch Day X is at 93% battery health and comfortably lasts all day on iOS 12.4.1 with a daily overnight wireless charge.
 
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I’ve got a 64GB X, my battery isn’t great atm and I struggle with 64GB, also hated the Space Grey for the last 12 months, so I’ll either buy a refurbed X 256GB from Apple (£850 roughly but become £400 with the trade in of my X) or I’ll buy a brand new XS 256GB once reduced in price at other retailers both in Silver
 
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snarestud940 said:
So, I have a white iPhone X (64GB), and I loved it for the past two years! My battery life isn't great, I barely get a day out of it. But it still does the trick. I was really looking forward to getting a new iPhone this year. I am a big fan of the product red version for years now, and was always upset that it didn't make it to the higher end line. However, I'm having a problem justifying buying the iPhone Pro Max, when I could just get the iPhone 11 in red.

I'm not a big tech Savy guy, so I don't know what I will be missing out on. Is the iPhone 11 an upgrade from the iPhone X? Will the screen be that obvious that it's terrible? Will the camera bump go down? What do you guys think? I have an iPad Pro 12.9 (the new one), a MacBook Pro, and an iMac. I really don't use my iPad for any pro capabilities. Just bought it because I like the size. I always do want the latest and greatest, but I can't justify spending 400 dollars more for a phone with another camera (when I hear the camera is almost the same). Also, I really like the red. If I go for the pro, I'd get the midnight green I think.

Any thoughts? Anyone in the same boat? I would greatly appreciate any input anyone has. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I literally have my son's XR at my desk next to my Max, and I can tell you, there's no noticeable difference in their displays. Maybe darker blacks, but that's about it. Apple makes an outstanding LCD display. I'd assume the iPhone 11 display would follow suit. There's been tests done where people polled couldn't tell which display was LCD and which was AMOLED. If size is a factor, then I'd suggest the Pro, even though the 11 isn't that much bigger. I've said many times, the only reason I have a Max is for the telephoto lens, I was hoping the 11 would have this. That may be another factor in your decision.
 
If you go for the 11 Pro, you could always put a red skin on if you insist on red. There’s some pretty decent skin manufacturers out there and they’re cheap.
 
snarestud940 said:
So, I have a white iPhone X (64GB), and I loved it for the past two years! My battery life isn't great, I barely get a day out of it. But it still does the trick. I was really looking forward to getting a new iPhone this year. I am a big fan of the product red version for years now, and was always upset that it didn't make it to the higher end line. However, I'm having a problem justifying buying the iPhone Pro Max, when I could just get the iPhone 11 in red.

I'm not a big tech Savy guy, so I don't know what I will be missing out on. Is the iPhone 11 an upgrade from the iPhone X? Will the screen be that obvious that it's terrible? Will the camera bump go down? What do you guys think? I have an iPad Pro 12.9 (the new one), a MacBook Pro, and an iMac. I really don't use my iPad for any pro capabilities. Just bought it because I like the size. I always do want the latest and greatest, but I can't justify spending 400 dollars more for a phone with another camera (when I hear the camera is almost the same). Also, I really like the red. If I go for the pro, I'd get the midnight green I think.

Any thoughts? Anyone in the same boat? I would greatly appreciate any input anyone has. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I do have an iPhone X and the battery life could be better, much better. But I am not changing it for another one.

The upgrades last year and this year were only incremental, and not a big deal. The way I see it, compared to my iPhone X, the iPhone 11 Pro has the following advantages:
  • a faster processor, GPU and better specs overall (which I think is unnecessary, as my iPhone X is still blazing fast);
  • IP68 water resistance (my iPhone X already has IP67 water resistance, which is fine for my usage);
  • improvements in cameras, including three rear cameras (which I do not find necessary, as my iPhone X already takes great photos, and I am no photo addict myself);
  • higher display brightness, which Apple calls "Super Retina XDR" (which I find not necessary, as my iPhone X has a bright display and I do not use it at maximum brightness);
  • reported 4 more hours of battery life (which would be great if confirmed); and
  • other improvements such as faster Face ID, faster LTE modem, special chip to locate other devices (all of them secondary).
So, I find the advantages of the iPhone 11 Pro to be pretty weak for a 2-year gap. To justify an additional $1,000 for an upgrade, I would want, in addition to all of this, a notch-less design (or at least a smaller notch), 5G connectivity, USB-C connection, a ProMotion display (with 120 Hz), and so on. I will not change the phone just to get a larger battery life as the perceived advantage.

And I would not even consider the iPhone 11 (not Pro) since it does not have an OLED display. I would consider it to be a downgrade instead, as the LCD display of the iPhone 11 is inferior to the one in my iPhone X.

If you want to squeeze better battery life out of your iPhone X, there are options such as replacing it with a new one for $69 (https://support.apple.com/iphone/repair/service/battery-power). You can also consider buying a Smart Battery Case for $129 (https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MRXK2LL/A/iphone-xs-smart-battery-case-black), which, although built for the iPhone XS, should fit the X as well (and, together with the included battery, will give you far more battery life than any of the new iPhones without a similar battery case).

If you want a larger screen, just buy the iPhone 11 Pro Max, as you have some reasoning for doing so (which is the larger screen itself). But, other than that, I would recommend not changing your current phone.

Apple, like many other tech companies, must keep selling updated versions of its products year after year, and needs to find ways to justify a new purchase. The problem is, the iPhone, like other tech products, has already become good enough for many people, and the differences in the new models are becoming increasingly subtler and much less significant then they were years ago. Apple must sell the new phones to keep its business up and running and makes a splash every time a new iPhone is launched. But the fact is that people may not need a new one, and may get convinced by all the hype that Apple is adding some killer feature with cool names ("Smart HDR", "Super Retina XDR", "Core ML 3", "Neural Engine").

Just think about what you really need and want, and whether you will notice any difference in a new iPhone.
 
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hirsthirst said:
If you didn't know that you have a 2X telephoto lens on your two year old iPhone X then I'd respectfully suggest that you just do a battery swap service on it & save the rest of your money this year.

FWIW, my Launch Day X is at 93% battery health and comfortably lasts all day on iOS 12.4.1 with a daily overnight wireless charge.
Click to expand...
My XS is already only at 87% battery health and I just barely make it through a full 16hr day. ‍♂️
 
The naming and pricing models of the last few years have left us with some confounding choices. But over all I can’t help but think my original X 256GB is still ‘just right’ for me. I love the display over liquid crystal so the 11 isn’t a consideration for me. The 11 Pro is nice but much like the iPhone 6 thru 8 I don’t have a pressing reason for upgrading. I think it’s going to take a form factor or hardware feature like no notch or USB-C to get me to buy another $1000+ phone.

skaertus said:
I do have an iPhone X and the battery life could be better, much better. But I am not changing it for another one.

The upgrades last year and this year were only incremental, and not a big deal. The way I see it, compared to my iPhone X, the iPhone 11 Pro has the following advantages:
  • a faster processor, GPU and better specs overall (which I think is unnecessary, as my iPhone X is still blazing fast);
  • IP68 water resistance (my iPhone X already has IP67 water resistance, which is fine for my usage);
  • improvements in cameras, including three rear cameras (which I do not find necessary, as my iPhone X already takes great photos, and I am no photo addict myself);
  • higher display brightness, which Apple calls "Super Retina XDR" (which I find not necessary, as my iPhone X has a bright display and I do not use it at maximum brightness);
  • reported 4 more hours of battery life (which would be great if confirmed); and
  • other improvements such as faster Face ID, faster LTE modem, special chip to locate other devices (all of them secondary).
So, I find the advantages of the iPhone 11 Pro to be pretty weak for a 2-year gap. To justify an additional $1,000 for an upgrade, I would want, in addition to all of this, a notch-less design (or at least a smaller notch), 5G connectivity, USB-C connection, a ProMotion display (with 120 Hz), and so on. I will not change the phone just to get a larger battery life as the perceived advantage.

And I would not even consider the iPhone 11 (not Pro) since it does not have an OLED display. I would consider it to be a downgrade instead, as the LCD display of the iPhone 11 is inferior to the one in my iPhone X.

If you want to squeeze better battery life out of your iPhone X, there are options such as replacing it with a new one for $69 (https://support.apple.com/iphone/repair/service/battery-power). You can also consider buying a Smart Battery Case for $129 (https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MRXK2LL/A/iphone-xs-smart-battery-case-black), which, although built for the iPhone XS, should fit the X as well (and, together with the included battery, will give you far more battery life than any of the new iPhones without a similar battery case).

If you want a larger screen, just buy the iPhone 11 Pro Max, as you have some reasoning for doing so (which is the larger screen itself). But, other than that, I would recommend not changing your current phone.

Apple, like many other tech companies, must keep selling updated versions of its products year after year, and needs to find ways to justify a new purchase. The problem is, the iPhone, like other tech products, has already become good enough for many people, and the differences in the new models are becoming increasingly subtler and much less significant then they were years ago. Apple must sell the new phones to keep its business up and running and makes a splash every time a new iPhone is launched. But the fact is that people may not need a new one, and may get convinced by all the hype that Apple is adding some killer feature with cool names ("Smart HDR", "Super Retina XDR", "Core ML 3", "Neural Engine").

Just think about what you really need and want, and whether you will notice any difference in a new iPhone.
Click to expand...
 
I'm in the same positions as you..
Using iPhone X since release day but always had a love for the product red.

I usually go for the high end phone duo, but would never buy a Pro from my X.

Thinking about 11 Product Red... but damn.. the LCD screen.. the bigger bezels.. Not sure about those.
 
DevinNj said:
I literally have my son's XR at my desk next to my Max, and I can tell you, there's no noticeable difference in their displays. Maybe darker blacks, but that's about it. Apple makes an outstanding LCD display. I'd assume the iPhone 11 display would follow suit. There's been tests done where people polled couldn't tell which display was LCD and which was AMOLED. If size is a factor, then I'd suggest the Pro, even though the 11 isn't that much bigger. I've said many times, the only reason I have a Max is for the telephoto lens, I was hoping the 11 would have this. That may be another factor in your decision.
Click to expand...

My daughter has an XR. I took a long look at it compared to my X and agree the differences weren't as big as they are often made out to be (huge bezels! heavier! LCD screen!) I like more screen space and the improved battery life. The one thing I want to see is how the new models look with Dark mode. It's one of the key features of iOS and there is a noticeable difference, it may be worth keeping my X.

The biggest driver for me is being out of storage space on my 64 gig X. I'm considering every option from trading it in, to selling it to passing it down to my son. Will probably get a new one under IUP so I can keep my options open for next year.
 
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mantan said:
My daughter has an XR. I took a long look at it compared to my X and agree the differences weren't as big as they are often made out to be (huge bezels! heavier! LCD screen!) I like more screen space and the improved battery life. The one thing I want to see is how the new models look with Dark mode. It's one of the key features of iOS and there is a noticeable difference, it may be worth keeping my X.

The biggest driver for me is being out of storage space on my 64 gig X. I'm considering every option from trading it in, to selling it to passing it down to my son. Will probably get a new one under IUP so I can keep my options open for next year.
Click to expand...
Similar issue for me 64GB on my X has killed me for the last 9 months or so, so I need to upgrade mine for more storage, I dont think I can gamble on the 11, I can really notice the bigger bezels around the side and also how heavy it is, plus the size of the X is actually perfect for me

Thinking grabbing a refurbed X from Apple, or a XS form elsewhere

But there is summit thats making me think get the 11 Pro - but then I’d have to sell my iPhone X battery case which I really enjoyed when out the house for 15-19 hours at times and no access to a charger
 
Here’s my story: Have a 64GB iPhone X with 5 GB storage left, so need to upgrade to 128 GB. As much as I like this screen, there are 4 things I dislike about this iPhone X that has to be improved going forward for my use:

1) Face ID requires me to be exactly in front of my phone for reliable use without typing in the passcode either at my desk or in the car for 1,000 miles per week for business, which isn’t always possible.

2) The OLED screen shuts off quickly due to my concern with screen burn-in and together with second-rate iPhone X Face ID, it is not optimal. I’d tell Tim Cook I don’t love this iPhone X due to Face ID. [I’ve had every iPhone from the 4s to the X, and I like this phone the least of them all].

3) I think the camera software is mediocre at best and needs upgraded.

4) Battery life barely makes it through the day and health is at 90%.


128 GB iPhone 11 is $749. 128 GB iPhone 11 Pro does not exist because the choices are just 64 GB, which is way too small in late 2019 IMO, and $1149 for 256 GB. So, the difference between iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro for me is actually $400! A 128 GB iPhone 11 Pro for $999 would have been the clear winner.


This year, it looks like the $749 iPhone 11 (128GB) may fix the 4 complaints with the iPhone X assuming I can adjust back to the LCD screen. Another C’mon man: I’ve had the Apple leather case on every phone since the 5s, and Apple won’t make one for the iPhone 11. At least it looks like I can go to a 3rd party source for the leather case.

Input or ideas?
 
JPH675 said:
Here’s my story: Have a 64GB iPhone X with 5 GB storage left, so need to upgrade to 128 GB. As much as I like this screen, there are 4 things I dislike about this iPhone X that has to be improved going forward for my use:

1) Face ID requires me to be exactly in front of my phone for reliable use without typing in the passcode either at my desk or in the car for 1,000 miles per week for business, which isn’t always possible.

2) The OLED screen shuts off quickly due to my concern with screen burn-in and together with second-rate iPhone X Face ID, it is not optimal. I’d tell Tim Cook I don’t love this iPhone X due to Face ID. [I’ve had every iPhone from the 4s to the X, and I like this phone the least of them all].

3) I think the camera software is mediocre at best and needs upgraded.

4) Battery life barely makes it through the day and health is at 90%.


128 GB iPhone 11 is $749. 128 GB iPhone 11 Pro does not exist because the choices are just 64 GB, which is way too small in late 2019 IMO, and $1149 for 256 GB. So, the difference between iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro for me is actually $400! A 128 GB iPhone 11 Pro for $999 would have been the clear winner.


This year, it looks like the $749 iPhone 11 (128GB) may fix the 4 complaints with the iPhone X assuming I can adjust back to the LCD screen. Another C’mon man: I’ve had the Apple leather case on every phone since the 5s, and Apple won’t make one for the iPhone 11. At least it looks like I can go to a 3rd party source for the leather case.

Input or ideas?
Click to expand...
Nomad leather cases and Mujjo are excellent. The Mujjo is identical to the Apple leather cases, but lacks the plastic volume/power buttons like Apple’s.
 
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