Apple originally announced the iPhone 11 Pro on September 10, 2019. The iPhone 11 Pro is part of the 13th generation of the iPhone, and it was introduced alongside the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Apple opened pre-orders for these three models on September 13, 2020, and the phones went on sale on September 20, 2020.
The iPhone 11 Pro had a higher resolution display and a nicer camera setup as compared to the iPhone 11. However, the iPhone 11 fell in line as the most popular model that year, in part, due to the lower price point. Of course, now that the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups have been released — we’re seeing big price drops on the iPhone 11 Pro, which means now would be a great time to upgrade from an older model iPhone.
Keep reading to see how the iPhone 11 Pro stacks up against other iPhone models.
iPhone 11 Pro vs 13 Pro
Upgrading from an iPhone 11 Pro to an iPhone 13 Pro is a common path, as this is a two-year upgrade cycle, and also an upgrade path that keeps you with the pro model in the lineup. Following this upgrade path means getting a newer iPhone with a newer and more powerful processor, larger storage options, and the newer squared-off design that arrived with the iPhone 12.
| iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro | |
| Processor | Apple A13 Bionic with Third-generation Neural Engine | Apple A15 Bionic (6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) |
| RAM | 4GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Display | 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR display (2436 x 1125) | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display (2778 x 1284) |
| Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | Triple 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto | Pro 12MP telephoto, wide, and ultra-wide |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Battery | 3,046 mAh | 3,095 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $999 | Starting at $999 |
The display size is close between these two models, with the iPhone 11 Pro being 5.8” and the iPhone 13 Pro being 6.1”. However, the iPhone 13 Pro display features ProMotion. At first glance, the rear camera setup appears to be similar, with each model offering a triple 12MP array with telephoto, wide, and ultra-wide cameras, but the 13 Pro has additional features such as a LiDAR scanner, Apple ProRaw, Night mode portraits, and Cinematic mode for recording videos.
Some of the other key iPhone 13 Pro improvements include 5G connectivity, MagSafe charging, up to 1TB of storage space, and up to 22 hours of battery life. In comparison, the iPhone 11 Pro offered up to 18 hours of battery life (based on video playback times).
The current iPhone 11 Pro pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 11 Pro compares to the iPhone 13 Pro in our comparison guide.
iPhone 11 Pro vs 12 Pro
Upgrading from an iPhone 11 Pro to an iPhone 12 Pro probably isn’t an upgrade path that many will choose. Sure, you’ll get the new squared-off look of the iPhone 12, and some new color options, but a fair amount of the specs remain the same, or very close between these two models.
| iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 12 Pro | |
| Processor | Apple A13 Bionic with Third-generation Neural Engine | Apple A14 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine |
| RAM | 4GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Display | 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR display (2436 x 1125) | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display (2532 x 1170) |
| Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | Triple 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto | Pro 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Battery | 3,046 mAh | 2,815 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $999 | Starting at $999 |
For example, both models have the same options for internal storage, and the displays are similar in size. The 11 Pro is a bit smaller at 5.8-inches, compared to the 6.1-inches on the 12 Pro. But both are Super Retina XDR and have features such as HDR and True Tone. The camera setup improved a bit on the 12 Pro, notably with the aperture on the wide-angle lens, which went from f/1.8 on the 11 Pro to f/1.6 on the 12 Pro. But the camera setups are close enough that most people probably will not notice the differences. If you’re currently using an iPhone 11 Pro and feel like you cannot live without the new look and new color options of the 12 Pro, consider an upgrade, but if you are otherwise happy with your 11 Pro, you may want to consider keeping your current phone.
The current iPhone 12 Pro pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 12 Pro compares to the iPhone 11 Pro in our comparison guide.
iPhone 11 Pro vs 11 Pro Max
Choosing to upgrade from an iPhone 11 Pro to an iPhone 11 Pro Max would be done for one specific reason — that you want a bigger iPhone. Both of these models were released at the same time, which means the overall specs and features are about the same across the board.
| iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 11 Pro Max | |
| Processor | Apple A13 Bionic with Third-generation Neural Engine | Apple A13 Bionic with Third-generation Neural Engine |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Display | 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR display (2436 x 1125) | 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display (2688 x 1242) |
| Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | Triple 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto | Triple 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Battery | 3,046 mAh | 3,969 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $999 | Starting at $1,099 |
The display goes from 5.8-inches to 6.5-inches, and that also means a jump in the overall size of the phone. The measurements of the 11 Pro are 5.7 (H) x 2.81 (W) x 0.32 (D) inches, and the 11 Pro Max measures in at 6.2 (H) x 3.06 (W) x 0.32 (D) inches. Aside from the display and overall size, the only other difference is the battery, which goes from 3,046 mAh to 3,969 mAh, and that means less time charging and more time using your phone.
The current iPhone 11 Pro Max pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 11 Pro Max compares to the iPhone 11 Pro in our comparison guide.
iPhone 11 Pro vs XS
Going from the iPhone XS to the iPhone 11 Pro would bring some improvements. But in some respects, you would also get a phone with similar features and performance. For example, screen size and display resolution are the same. They also both have 4GB of RAM, and the same 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB options for internal storage.
| iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone XS | |
| Processor | Apple A13 Bionic with Third-generation Neural Engine | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Display | 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR display (2436 x 1125) | 5.8-inch Super Retina HD display (2436 x 1125) |
| Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth | 7MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | Triple 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto | Dual 12MP wide-angle and telephoto |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Battery | 3,046 mAh | 2,658 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $999 | Starting at $999 |
What you would be getting is a bump in the processor, going from the A12 Bionic to the A13 Bionic. The newer processor would bring better overall performance. But perhaps the better reason to consider this upgrade path would be related to the camera. The front-facing camera goes from the 7MP TrueDepth to the 12MP TrueDepth. Both models have a 12MP wide-angle and telephoto camera on the back, but the iPhone 11 Pro adds a 12MP ultra-wide, which will open new possibilities for capturing images.
Going from the iPhone XS to the iPhone 11 Pro would be a good upgrade path if you are currently using an iPhone XS that has seen better days. After all, now that the iPhone 12 family has been released — prices are getting better and better for the iPhone 11 Pro.
The current iPhone XS pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone XS compares to the iPhone 11 Pro in our comparison guide.
iPhone 11 Pro vs Xr
The iPhone Xr was released in 2018, which means it is only a year older than the iPhone 11 Pro. Typically, we recommend upgrading every few years, and often say you really do not need to upgrade every year. But the iPhone Xr was released in 2018 as a budget-priced model, so despite this being a year-over-year upgrade — you will experience a major boost in quite a few areas.
For example, you would get a newer processor and more RAM, which together will mean a better experience in your day-to-day usage. But you also have the option for much more internal storage, a better IP rating for water resistance, and a bigger battery.
| iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone Xr | |
| Processor | Apple A13 Bionic with Third-generation Neural Engine | Apple A12 Bionic with Second-generation Neural Engine |
| RAM | 4GB | 3GB |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 128GB |
| Display | 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR display (2436 x 1125) | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD display (1792 x 828) |
| Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth | 7MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | Triple 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto | 12MP wide camera |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
| Battery | 3,046 mAh | 2,942 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $999 | Starting at $749 |
The other key areas of improvement are the display and the camera setup. The iPhone 11 Pro display is actually a little smaller, at 5.8-inches compared to the 6.1-inch display on the Xr — but it has a much higher resolution. The camera setup goes from a 7MP TrueDepth to a 12MP TrueDepth on the front, and from a single 12MP wide camera on the back to a triple 12MP ultra-wide, wide-angle, and telephoto camera.
If you are currently using an iPhone Xr and are looking to spend less time worrying about running out of battery, or you want a nicer display or better camera set up — the iPhone 11 Pro would make an excellent upgrade path.
The current iPhone Xr pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone Xr compares to the iPhone 11 Pro in our comparison guide.
How to get a cheap iPhone 11 Pro
We’ve talked about how the iPhone 11 Pro stacks up against different iPhone models, some that are newer and some that are older. But there may still be an unanswered question: Is the iPhone 11 Pro worth it in 2021? The short answer is yes. But not only is the answer yes — it is a resounding yes. Not only will you be getting a phone that has a great set of specs and features, but you will be able to get one for much less money now that Apple has released the iPhone 13 lineup.
Buying the newest model iPhone can be fun…it can also be expensive, which is why the iPhone 11 Pro would be a great iPhone to consider at this time. But regardless of whether you choose the iPhone 11 Pro or another model, you can rest assured in knowing that you will get a great deal when you shop in the safe and easy-to-use Swappa marketplace.
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