The iPhone 11 was a big surprise, packing more advanced technology (namely in the camera capabilities and the processing power under the hood) at a lower cost than the iPhone XR's price in 2018. It combines a large 6.1-inch display with a premium-feeling body, and comes in an array of colors too.
It's worth noting that the iPhone 11 isn't Apple's newest numbered smartphone A¢a,¬" that's the iPhone 13, which launched in September 2021 alongside the tiny iPhone 13 mini, the iPhone 13 Pro, and the bigger iPhone 13 Pro Max.
These didn't improve much on the iPhone 12 range that released in 2020, but they're still the most powerful Apple phones on the market.
The most eye-catching feature of the iPhone 11 is its imaging capabilities: with two sensors on the rear, you can now take wider-angle snaps alongside the A¢a,¬EoenormalA¢a,¬a,,¢ main images. These sensors are 12MP each, and are raised from the rear of the phone in a square glass enclosure - which weA¢a,¬a,,¢re not enamored with visually.
The night mode is the most impressive part of the iPhone 11's imaging quality, bringing brightness and clarity to impossibly dark scenes, and the Portrait mode, defocusing the background, is improved on the new iPhone too.
The phone has lost some of the spotlight now that the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lines are available.
As a result it's arguably no longer one of the best iPhones, and it's certainly not one of the best smartphones. But not being the newest iPhone on the block likely means significant discounts on the iPhone 11.
The design hasnA¢a,¬a,,¢t been updated much from the iPhone XR in 2018, although there are now six colors A¢a,¬" including a new lilac and mint green shade - to choose from. The edges of the iPhone 11 still have the same feel as the older iPhone 6, 7 and 8, although the larger 6.1-inch display in the middle takes up most of the front of the phone (although with slightly thick borders around the screen).
That display is bright enough and responds well under the finger, with bright sunlight performance good and the overall movie and video streaming playback strong - although not in the same league as the OLED-toting iPhone 11 Pro range, let alone the iPhone 12 range.