iPhone 13 Vs. iPhone 11: What’s The Difference? How To Choose

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Before the start of the holiday shopping season, Apple always introduces the newest iPhone models. And there’s a strong urge to buy yourself a new iPhone. However, there is no requirement that when you are ready to upgrade, you must purchase the iPhone 13.

A quick look at iPhone 13 Vs. iPhone 11: iPhone 11 is a more than capable mobile device to help you get through the functional duties of your life as well as assist in any digitally creative notions. The iPhone 13 will keep you more current with the times and what’s to come if you’re looking for a pro-level phone with plenty of room to grow into—both literally and figuratively. You probably already own one. But if you’re deciding between the two, you’re probably searching for a deal. 

In order to give you more information to help you decide which iPhone to buy next, let’s compare the iPhone 11 and iPhone 13’s designs, cameras, and battery life.

For more information, continue reading.

Models & Prices: iPhone 13 Vs. iPhone 11

The 6.1-inch iPhone 13, 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max are the four models in the iPhone 13 lineup. The 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini is the smallest model. The mini and standard iPhone 13 are the main subjects of this comparison.

As of right now, the 128GB iPhone 13 mini starts at $599, while the 128GB iPhone 13 costs $699. For an additional $100 and $300, respectively, you can upgrade the storage on both phones to 256GB and 512GB.

For the best savings on all of the 2021 models, visit our iPhone 13 deals page.

Prior to being removed from the Apple Store a few weeks ago to make room for the iPhone 14, the 6.1-inch iPhone 11 was only $499. Before delving further into this debate, you may want to double-check where the iPhone 11 is still sold because you may still find leftover stock and possibly some refurbished units there.

Design & Colors: iPhone 13 Vs. iPhone 11

Compared to the iPhone 11, the iPhone 13 has some significant design changes. One change is that the notch is now 20% smaller, which results in a slight loss of screen space. The iPhone 13 also has a Ceramic Shield display, which helps shield the phone from damage caused by drops, just like the iPhone 12.

Since the iPhone 13 and iPhone 11 are both IP68 water resistant, you shouldn’t be concerned if either device is splashed with water or submerged completely. The water resistance rating of the iPhone 13 is slightly higher than that of the iPhone 11 though, reaching a maximum of 6 meters as opposed to 2 meters.

It’s nice to know that the iPhone 13 is a little bit more svelte when compared to the 6.1-inch iPhone 11. Compared to the iPhone 11, which is older, the iPhone 13 is smaller and lighter, measuring 5.8 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches and weighing 6.14 ounces.

Red, starlight, midnight, blue, pink, and other colors are among the five available color schemes for the iPhone 13. Another new hue is green. Black, green, yellow, purple, red, and white are the six available hues for the iPhone 11.

Displays: iPhone 13 Vs. iPhone 11

There are a few benefits to the iPhone 13’s display over the iPhone 11’s. For starters, the brightness was 795 nits as opposed to 625 nits for the iPhone 11. So the display on the iPhone 13 should be easier to see outside.

Additionally, the iPhone 13 has a sharper resolution with 2532 x 1170 pixels as opposed to the iPhone 11’s 1792 x 828 pixels. The iPhone 13’s screen is undoubtedly superior to the iPhone 11’s thanks to better contrast and a smaller notch. As opposed to the LCD panel used by the iPhone 11, the most recent iPhone also has an OLED display. Darker, punchier blacks result from this.

Cameras: iPhone 13 Vs. iPhone 11

The cameras on all iPhones are excellent for taking casual pictures and videos, but if you’re particularly enthusiastic about creating this kind of media or use the camera for work, the new features in the iPhone 13 leave the iPhone 11 and, to some extent, the iPhone 12 in the dust. A new sensor-shift optical image stabilization system, which the iPhone 11 lacks, will allow for steadier and sharper images thanks to the rear camera lens placement change mentioned above. Both phones have Apple’s excellent Night mode for low-light photos, but the iPhone 13’s is slightly superior because of its upgraded camera sensors.

The iPhone 13 has access to the newest features, such as the shallow depth of field you can create in Cinematic mode for drama and the color tone-editing Photographic Styles, thanks to the $300 price difference between the iPhone 11 and iPhone 13.

In particular, if you enjoy using creative tools, the new Cinematic mode for video recording on the iPhone 13 is nice to have. But it’s not a requirement.

Our advice: If you don’t really care about elaborate photos and lengthy videos, you’ll probably be content with the iPhone 11’s flawlessly functional technology. However, if these are your main interests and you’re looking for features that will improve your shooting and editing abilities, you should consider purchasing the iPhone 13.

iPhone 13 Vs. iPhone 11 What's The Difference How To Choose
iPhone 13 Vs. iPhone 11: What’s The Difference? How To Choose

Sound Quality: iPhone 13 Vs. iPhone 11

Although the iPhone 13 and iPhone 11 are both devoid of a headphone jack, there is a discernible difference between the two when using the internal speakers.

The iPhone 13 has a loud speaker that surprises you with a large sound that you wouldn’t anticipate from a phone speaker. On the other hand, the iPhone 11 is only passably good and lacks some of the punch and clarity. The iPhone 13 offers a audible improvement in sound quality if you frequently watch videos, play games, or listen to music directly from your phone. See more about Can You Rearrange Photos On iPhone?

Performance & Battery Life: iPhone 13 Vs. iPhone 11

While the iPhone 13 uses the A15, the iPhone 11 uses Apple’s A13 Bionic chip. Both are sufficiently quick and capable of utilizing all of iOS 15’s new features. Power users will be able to tell the difference in speed, but for the majority of people, the iPhone 11 will be more than adequate.

According to Apple’s specifications, the iPhone 13 has a video playback time of 19 hours as opposed to the iPhone 11’s 17 hours. The iPhone 13 has a 75-hour audio playback battery life, which is 10 hours longer than the iPhone 11’s. In our testing, the battery life of the iPhone 13 was noticeably better than the iPhone 12’s. Both iPhones support Qi wireless charging, and the iPhone 13 has MagSafe as well, though you’ll need to purchase a separate charger.

Our pick: The iPhone 11 probably won’t last a non-hardcore user through the day and evening, even with a few hours less battery life on average. However, the extra time you get from the iPhone 13 is crucial if you’re a professional or have professional-level aspirations to use your device to document real or constructed life or if you simply want to listen to a lot of music.

iPhone 13 Vs. iPhone 11: Specs

 iPhone 11iPhone 13
Display6.1‑inch Liquid Retina HD LCD Multi-Touch display with IPS technology1792×828‑pixel resolution at 326 ppi6.1 inch Super Retina XDR OLED2532×1170 pixel resolution at 460 ppi
Dimensions5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 inches5.78 x 2.82 x 0.30 inches
Weight6.84 ounces6.14 ounces
ColorsBlack, Green, Purple, Product(RED), White, YellowBlue, Midnight, Pink, Product(RED), Starlight
ProcessorA13 BionicA15 Bionic
Storage64GB/128GB128GB/256GB/512GB
Rear CameraDual 12MPWide: ƒ/1.8 apertureUltra Wide: ƒ/2.4 apertureOptical image stabilizationNext-generation Smart HDR for photosDual 12MPWide: ƒ/1.6 apertureUltra Wide: ƒ/2.4 apertureSensor-shift optical image stabilizationSmart HDR 4 for photosPhotographic Styles
Front Camera12MP TrueDepthf/2.2 apertureNext-generation Smart HDR for photos12MP TrueDepthf/2.2 apertureCinematic mode for videosSmart HDR 4 for photosPhotographic Styles
Video Recording4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps or 60 fpsHDR Dolby Vision up to 60fpsNight mode Time-lapseCinematic Mode
Biometric SecurityFace IDFace ID
ConnectivityWi-Fi 64G LTEBluetooth 5.0LightningWi-Fi 65G LTEBluetooth 5.0Lightning
WaterproofingIP68IP68
SIMnano SIM, eSIMnano SIM, eSimDual eSIM
Wireless ChargingQiQi, MagSafe
Battery Life17 hours video playback10 hours video streaming65 hours audio playback19 hours video playback15 hours video streaming75 hours audio playback
Price$499/$549$799/$899/$1,099

Conclusion

The iPhone 13 is not a revolutionary improvement over the iPhone 11, but it offers enough enhancements to make upgrading worthwhile. By the end of 2022, it will also be much simpler to find on the market. The biggest updates in our book include 5G connectivity, a brighter display, improved wide- and ultra-wide-angle cameras, as well as computational photography features like Cinematic Mode and an improved Night mode. It is also a welcome change that the base model’s storage has increased.

Many thanks for reading.

Lily Miller