Short answer: Is the iPhone 11 Pro worth it in 2021? The iPhone 11 Pro is definitely worth buying in 2021. Apple first released the iPhone 11 Pro in 2019, which means this is a relatively recent release. To that point, we’d argue that the iPhone 11 Pro is a better buy in 2021 than it was in 2019 because you can get a gently used model at a great price.
FOMO is often thought of as a trigger, or as a reason for why you do something. This can be the case when a new iPhone is released. Take the iPhone 11 Pro, for example, it was first released in 2019, and in 2020 it was ‘replaced’ by the iPhone 12 Pro. The iPhone 12 Pro release may trigger your fear of missing out, but we’re going to flip that and suggest you should be more worried about missing out on the iPhone 11 Pro deals. Continue reading to learn why the iPhone 11 Pro is worth buying in 2021.
Table of contents:
- What are the specs for the iPhone 11 Pro?
- What new features were introduced with the iPhone 11 Pro?
- Here are the top 5 reasons to buy an iPhone 11 Pro
- Is the iPhone 11 Pro worth it in 2021?
Read our iPhone 11 Pro Buyer’s Guide and our iPhone 11 Pro Upgrade/Comparison Guide
What are the iPhone 11 Pro specs?
The iPhone 12 Pro arrived in 2021, and it brought a refreshed housing that draws design cues from the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5. But the iPhone 12 Pro release also means you will be able to get a really good deal on an iPhone 11 Pro, or going back another year, an iPhone XS. The following table outlines the key specs for the iPhone XS, iPhone 11 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro.
| iPhone XS specs | iPhone 11 Pro specs | iPhone 12 Pro specs | |
| Display | 5.8-inch Super Retina HD | 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR |
| Processor | Apple A12 Bionic | Apple A13 Bionic | Apple A14 Bionic |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | Dual 12MP wide-angle and telephoto | Triple 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto | Pro 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| Battery | 2,658 mAh | 3,046 mAh | 2,815 mAh |
The iPhone 12 Pro has the best specs of the three, due in part, to the Apple A14 Bionic chip and 6GB of RAM. But in truth, any of these three models will be able to meet the needs of most users with ease. These models all feature a high-quality display, with plenty of available internal storage space, and a really good camera setup. We can understand if you want to get an iPhone 12 Pro due to the refreshed design, but if the design is not a priority, or if you plan to put your iPhone in a case the day you get it — we suggest keeping some of your hard-earned money and getting the iPhone 11 Pro instead.
What new features were introduced with the iPhone 11 Pro?
A good mix of new features arrived with the iPhone 11 Pro, some of which were hardware related and some were software related. Both the hardware and software features are important, but it is important to keep in mind that Apple is really good about keeping previous generations of the iPhone updated with the latest version of iOS. In other words, some of the software features that were introduced with the iPhone 11 Pro and iOS 13 were also made available on the iPhone XS and the iPhone 12 Pro.
iPhone 11 Pro software features
Some of the new software features that arrived with iOS 13 include Dark Mode, a more private way to sign into apps and websites with Sign In with Apple, and improvements for Apple Maps. These three features are important, but it should be noted that they are part of iOS 13 and are also available on the previous generation iPhone XS (along with older model iPhones).
Of course, some software features are tied to hardware upgrades, and not everything makes its way back to previous generations. For example, the iPhone 11 Pro camera arrived with Night Mode and Deep Fusion, which are two features that are not available on the iPhone XS. The iPhone 11 Pro camera setup also added a brighter True Tone flash and next-generation Smart HDR for photos, as well as Audio zoom and QuickTake on the video side.
iPhone 11 Pro hardware features
The new camera-related features come as a result of new camera hardware. The iPhone 11 Pro arrived with a triple 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.4), wide (f/1.8), and telephoto (f/2.0) camera array on the back. In comparison, the previous generation iPhone XS included a dual 12MP wide and telephoto array.
The front camera went from a 7MP TrueDepth on the iPhone XS to a 12MP TrueDepth on the iPhone 11 Pro. While this sounds like it is simply a 5MP bump in megapixels — there really is more involved. For example, the iPhone 11 Pro front camera now supports 4k video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 frames per second, and slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 frames per second.
Some of the other key features that Apple introduced with the iPhone 11 Pro include:
- Face ID which is now 30% faster
- Apple U1 chip for spatial awareness
- Spatial audio to provide a better, more immersive, surround sound
- WiFi 6 (802.11ax) with MIMO
Another new hardware feature, and one we’ve come to expect with each new iPhone release, is a newer processor. The iPhone 11 Pro is powered by the Apple A13 Bionic chip with the third-generation Neural Engine. The iPhone 11 Pro display was also bumped to XDR, which according to Apple, made it the “brightest and most advanced display” in an iPhone. Otherwise, the iPhone 11 Pro launch also included a new color, midnight green, along with other, more familiar colors such as space gray, silver, and gold.
Here are the top 5 reasons to buy an iPhone 11 Pro
- Performance: Apple A13 Bionic chip with the third-generation Neural Engine. Apple has said the A13 Bionic chip is up to 20% faster as compared to the previous generation A12 Bionic chip.
- Display: 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR. The iPhone 11 Pro display is brighter, and more power-efficient as compared to previous generations of the iPhone.
- Rear Camera: Triple 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto camera array. This setup means the addition of an ultra-wide lens, which allows for a wider field-of-view and better performance when capturing action videos.
- Fast charging: Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes using an 18W power adapter. The iPhone 11 Pro also supports wireless charging using the Qi wireless standard.
- Resale value: The iPhone tends to hold its value very well, which means you can get a great deal on an iPhone 11 Pro now, and still be able to resell it in a year or two to fund your next upgrade.
Is the iPhone 11 Pro worth it in 2021?
Yes, the iPhone 11 Pro is worth buying in 2021. In fact, we’d argue the iPhone 11 Pro is a better buy in 2021 than it was in 2020, or even when it was first released in 2019. Our recommendation on buying an iPhone 11 Pro in 2021 comes down to the fact that it has a high-quality display, a top-notch camera on the back and front, and great overall performance, as well as other perks such as the ability to fast-charge, and because it still gets regular iOS updates. Learn more in our iPhone 11 Pro overview, then get the best prices below.
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