The iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max were Apple’s flagship iPhones for 2019, but with a new round of iPhones released in 2020, prices of older models continue to drop. This is great news if you’re looking to save a bundle of money on an iPhone 11 or 11 Pro. The hardest part for you will be figuring out which model is best for you. If you’re stuck between the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, Swappa is here to help.
Our iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro comparison guide will cover all the major differences between the two models — including features and pricing — so that you can make a more informed decision about the best model for you and your wallet. Let’s dive in.
iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro specs
iPhone 11 Pro (left), iPhone 11 (right)
When looking at an iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro comparison, the best place to start is with the hardware differences. Design-wise, both the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro share a lot in common with the previous year’s iPhone XR and iPhone XS, with the addition of a few new colorways.
Seeing as how the iPhone 11 is essentially the cheaper model of Apple’s 13th generation lineup, the phone is missing a few things that you’ll find on the higher-end iPhone 11 Pro. The biggest differences you’ll find between the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro are the size, screen technology, and the rear cameras. You can check the table below for a quick iPhone 11 vs 11 Pro cheat sheet.
| iPhone 11 (2019) | iPhone 11 Pro (2019) | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch 1792 x 828 LCD (True Tone) | 5.8-inch 2436 x 1125 OLED (True Tone) |
| Camera | 12MP regular + 12MP ultra wide (rear) / 12MP (front) | 12MP regular + 12MP ultra wide + 12MP telephoto (rear) / 12MP (front) |
| Chipset | A13 Bionic | A13 Bionic |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB / 128GB / 256GB | 64GB / 256GB / 512GB |
| Battery | 3,110 mAh | 3,046 mAh |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Water resistant | IP68 (2 meters, 30 minutes) | IP68 (2 meters, 30 minutes) |
| Colors | Purple, yellow, green, black, white, red | Black, white, gold, green |
Internally, the phones have much more in common than differences. Both use the same A13 Bionic processor, so speed is the same, while 4GB of RAM brings improved multitasking. Wireless charging, water resistance, and base storage sizes are also the same, although the iPhone 11 Pro skips the 128GB option in favor of a much larger 512GB.
Visually, the phones also look very similar, but there are small differences. For instance, the iPhone 11 has an aluminum frame, glossy glass back, and more colorful/fun colorways. Meanwhile, the iPhone 11 Pro is all business with its polished metal sides, frosted matte glass back, and more muted color options. This gives the 11 Pro a more premium look, worthy of its higher sticker price.
iPhone 11 (left) vs iPhone 11 Pro (right) size comparison
The most obvious differences between the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro is the size of the two phones. The iPhone 11 is larger than the iPhone 11 Pro, but smaller than the iPhone 11 Pro Max. The iPhone 11 Pro is by no means a “small phone,” but those who want the most premium phone in the smallest possible size will want to go with the iPhone 11 Pro. Those that want something larger, will probably want to lean toward the regular iPhone 11. Check out the table below for an exact size and weight comparison of the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro.
| iPhone 11 | iPhone 11 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm | 144 x 71.4 x 8.1 mm |
| Weight | 194 g | 188 g |
iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro screen
Although the iPhone 11 features a slightly larger 6.1-inch “Liquid Retina HD display,” the older LCD technology pales in comparison to the 5.8-inch “Super Retina XDR” OLED display found on the iPhone 11 Pro which is brighter, sharper, more vibrant, and features deeper blacks thanks to a much higher 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (iPhone 11 is only 1400:1).
There’s also a slightly thicker black border surrounding the iPhone 11’s display, which is a small cosmetic difference and doesn’t really affect usability. Chances are, your average iPhone user won’t notice any differences in the screens unless they were to do a side-by-side comparison of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro.
iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro camera
Image credit: YouTube
Both the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro feature almost identical camera hardware and software. You’ll find the same 12MP primary shooter, along with a new-for-2019 12MP ultra-wide camera that captures more of the surrounding environment.
The only difference between the two is the iPhone 11 Pro comes with an extra 12MP telephoto lens that can capture 2x zoom, a hardware feature carried over from the iPhone XS and X before it. You’ll also find Portrait mode and Apple’s Smart HDR technology that drastically enhances dynamic range in bright, outdoor environments.
- Standard lens – 12MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture wide-angle lens (26mm focal length). This lens features optical image stabilization (OIS), and is likely the camera you’ll be using the most.
- Ultra-wide lens – 12MP sensor with an f/2.4 ultra-wide lens (13mm focal length). Delivers a 120-degree field of view, allowing you to capture up to 4x more of the scene than the standard lens. This lens does not work with Deep Fusion.
- Telephoto lens – 12MP sensor with a 62mm f/2.0 lens, providing 2x optical zoom and OIS. This lens is only available on the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max (not the regular iPhone 11).
When it comes to actual photo quality, both the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro take advantage of the A13 Bionic which adds Deep Fusion, Apple’s best software feature yet. Whereas previous generation iPhones fell short in medium-to-low lighting conditions, Deep Fusion on the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro helps the camera capture bright and sharp images, even when there’s very little light in the scene.
iPhone 11 with Night Mode vs previous generation iPhone XR (without)
For the most challenging low light conditions, Apple also has a new feature called Night Mode that’s slower than regular shooting modes, but can practically see in the dark. It really has to be seen to be believed. All of these software features are available on both devices, and for a direct iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro camera comparison, check out the spec sheet listed below.
| iPhone 11 | iPhone 11 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear cameras | 12MP wide-angle (f/1.8), 12MP ultra-wide-angle (f/2.4) | 12MP wide-angle (f/1.8), 12MP ultra-wide-angle (f/2.4), 12MP telephoto zoom (f/2.0) |
| Front camera | 12MP (f/2.2) True Depth | 12MP (f/2.2) True Depth |
iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro battery life
There are so many factors that can affect battery life, which makes it hard to give a hard number for any smartphone. Apple has attempted to standardized this a bit by providing general scores based on specific use cases, like video playback or average talk-time for each of their iPhones. We combined all of these together into an easy-to-read graph, providing you with an iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro battery life comparison.
When looking at the iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro, both of the phones are pretty evenly matched. The iPhone 11’s slightly larger 3,110 mAh battery doesn’t appear to help much with battery life, with a video playback score of 17 hours. Compare this to the iPhone 11 Pro’s 3,046 mAh battery which delivers 18 hours of video playback — 1 hour longer than the iPhone 11 — and you can see how the more battery-friendly OLED display really comes into play here.
In either case, both the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro deliver exceptional battery life, and can easily compete with the best smartphones out there. With both devices supporting 18W fast charging and wireless charging, the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro offer multiple ways to stay juiced up throughout the day, whether you’re in a hurry or stuck behind a desk.
iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro – which is a better buy?
Image credit: YouTube
Ultimately, the largest deciding factor in whether you choose to go with the iPhone 11 or the iPhone 11 Pro will likely come down to price. Obvious “Pro” upgrades aside (slightly improved battery life, much better screen, telephoto camera lens), the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro are pretty evenly matched. This means a huge difference in price might not be worth it when they can get 90% of the phone for a lot less money.
The good news is that on Swappa, you can find iPhone 11 prices starting at $440, while the iPhone 11 Pro starts at $551. With a difference of around $100 (depending on device condition, storage size, and carrier compatibility), you may find it worthwhile to upgrade to the iPhone 11 Pro, or save all of that money and go with the iPhone 11. When comparing marketplace prices to Apple’s MSRP, and you’re looking at big discounts simply by choosing a gently used model on Swappa.
The good news is that no matter which iPhone you decide to buy, you can rest assured knowing that you always find the best iPhone deals by shopping on Swappa. Our marketplace is free from the broken or blacklisted phones you’ll find on yard sale apps. With 24/7/365 support, help is never more than an email away. So don’t wait any longer and join the Swappa community today.
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