iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 11: Is it time to upgrade?

Figuring out when it is worth upgrading to the newest iPhone isn't an easy decision. Upgrades to the phones themselves have been incremental over the past few years, which makes passing up the latest model easier.

However, if you're sitting with the iPhone 11 and coming up to the end of your plan then it is worth comparing the two to see if it's worth your money to switch. While one generation might not make a big difference, two small levels of improvements can feel huge when sitting in your palm.

If you're wondering if it's worth trading in your iPhone 11 for an iPhone 13, here is everything you need to know about what separates the two handsets.

Here are how the iPhone 11 and iPhone 13 compare:

• Specs
• Price
• Camera
• Connectivity
• Design
• Display
• Performance
• Battery

iPhone 11 vs. iPhone 13: Specs

iPhone 11 vs. iPhone 13: Price

When you're looking at the price of a two-year-old phone, and a brand new one then of course it's going to be staggering. Right now, if you wanted a new iPhone 11 then you could snag a bargain, but bear in mind that the prices below are for 2019 tech. Here are how the iPhone 11 and iPhone 13 stack up side by side;

Prices don't change whether you're buying your iPhone outright or on a plan. Every telco follows the same plan structure - you'll pay for your phone in monthly repayments which are equal to the outright price of the phone divided by how many months on your plan (12, 24, or 36-months). Then, your SIM-only plan fees will be added on top of that.

For comparison, an iPhone 11 (128GB) on a 24-month plan will cost $38.70 per month + SIM costs, while an iPhone 13 (128GB) on the same repayment period will be $56.20 + SIM fees. This shouldn't change much between Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.

Over a 24 month period, you’ll end up paying about $18 more each month by opting for the iPhone 13 over the iPhone 11, or $12 if you choose a 36-month plan instead.

The iPhone 11 has seen a further price cut (starting at $849 for 64GB now) with the announcement of the iPhone 13, but it can take telcos a little bit of time to implement the changes.

Here is every iPhone 13 plan available.

iPhone 11 vs. iPhone 13: Camera

There should be a marked improvement from the iPhone 11 camera set up to the iPhone 13. Between the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 12, the near-identical camera set-up still saw improvements due to backend work. The iPhone 12 performed better in low light, and long exposure night mode was introduced to the 12MP ultra-wide lens.

These upgrades will continue from the iPhone 12 to the iPhone 13, and in addition, the iPhone 13 has the same kind of 12MP primary lens as the iPhone 12 Pro Max. This lens has a bigger sensor and better stabilisation which makes for sharper, clearer and brighter photos. The ultra-wide lens on the iPhone 13 is also brand new, with Apple claiming that it will perform better in low light.

Apple has also added a "Cinematic" video mode to all of it's iPhone 13 devices, aimed at creating professional focus transitions. Supposedly it can anticipate when a subject enters the frame, or change focus when your subject gazes at something else. Get ready for your TikToks to have a higher production value.

iPhone 11 vs. iPhone 13: Connectivity

The iPhone 13 family are the second generation of 5G Apple handsets available in Australia. This time around the Australian models will continue to support Sub 6 5G, but mmWave won't come down under yet. Although mmWave isn't currently widely available in Australia, Telstra has begun rolling out the small cells in densely populated areas.

While 5G still isn't an absolute neccessity, with the Australian roll-out slowly trucking along, it is worth future-proofing your purchase. If you're thinking about jumping on an iPhone 11 plan, keep in mind that in 12 to 24 months you may regret not having access to the fastest available mobile network available.

iPhone 11 vs. iPhone 13: Design

Style-wise, the two devices are rather similar apart from the more squared-off edges on the iPhone 13 and thinner bezels.

Last year the iPhone 12 was slightly slimmer than the iPhone 11, but this year the iPhone 13 has added some extra padding again. Where the iPhone 11 measures in at 150.9mm x 75.7mm x 8.3mm, the iPhone 13 sits at 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.65mm. These snippings amount to a handset that is around 21 grams lighter than the 11. 

Of course, there are other minor differences between the two, including a slightly altered camera bump on the iPhone 13 and some other colours. The iPhone 11 comes in purple, yellow, green, black, white and red, while the iPhone 13 comes in black, white, blue, pink and red.

It is also worth noting that the iPhone 13 has the same Ceramic Shield glass front that came out in the iPhone 12. Apple says this makes the iPhone 13 four times more drop-resistant than the iPhone 11. With this upgrade comes further water-resistance as well with the handset now rated to six metres for up to 30 minutes, as opposed to the two metres for 30 minutes on the iPhone 11.

iPhone 11 vs. iPhone 13: Display

You'll only see a minute difference between the display on the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 13. Where the 11 has a Liquid Retina HD display, the iPhone 13 has a Super Retina XDR display. This means that the iPhone 13 has a higher resolution display with improved contrast, and sharper and more vibrant colours.

 All around the iPhone 13 screen will just look sleeker than the iPhone 11. You'll see deeper blacks, text will be clearer, and life will be better in general. There's nothing wrong with the iPhone 11 display, but the iPhone 13 is just that bit nicer. 

iPhone 11 vs. iPhone 13: Performance

Equipped with the latest A15 processor, the iPhone 13 should feel noticeably faster than the iPhone 11.  While Apple hasn't provided direct comparisons, it previously said the iPhone 12's A14 chipset was 50% faster than the A13 in the iPhone 11.

The iPhone 13's  A15 chip is bound to be a further improvement, so you can expect an iPhone 13 to be over 50% faster than an iPhone 11.

Both phones should perform admirably, however. 

iPhone 11 vs. iPhone 13: Battery

Apple beefed out the iPhone to incorporate a bigger battery, but practically speaking there shouldn't be too much of a difference between the iPhone 11 and 13.

According to Apple's stats, the iPhone 11 should handle 17 hours of video playback while the iPhone 13 can handle 19.

The bigger battery is to be able to handle 5G, which can be a battery drain. At peak performance, the iPhone 11 lasts around a day-and-a-half on one charge, while the iPhone 12 held out for about a day in our testing.

Hopefully, the larger battery on the iPhone 13 will see the new device sitting on par with the iPhone 11, but we can't make any guarantees until we get our hands on one.

Anula Wiwatowska

Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram

Anula is the Off-Site Editorial Lead for WhistleOut Australia, and an award winning tech journalist. She has been writing about the Australian telco industry, and consumer technology for over five years, and has been known to tell her Uber driver which phone they should upgrade to next.

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