The naming of iPhones has been a minefield for shoppers over the past few years. First Apple skipped the number 9 and released the iPhone 8 and iPhone X in the same year. Next it released the iPhone XS, which sounds exactly like the iPhone 'Tennis', and introduced the iPhone XR as a budget model. Previously, Apple has used other letters for the cheaper phones, like iPhone 5c and iPhone SE.
This year, you might expect the iPhone 11 to be the flagship model because it has the simplest title and no extra letters. Instead, this is actually the budget model, designed to replace the iPhone XR. The actual flagship models with all of the new enhancements are the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Go figure.
Confusing names aside, the iPhone 11 looks like it might be the best iPhone to buy in 2019. There are a few trade-offs to make compared with the iPhone 11 Pro, but not as many as you might expect. You get the same Apple A13 processor, the same primary 12-megapixel camera and all of the same software features.
2019 iPhone specifications
| iPhone 11 | iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 11 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch LCD | 5.8-inch OLED | 6.5-inch OLED |
| Resolution | Retina | Super Retina | Super Retina |
| Material | Aluminium | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Rear-Facing Camera | 12MP+12MP | 12MP+12MP+12MP | 12MP+12MP+12MP |
| Processor | A13 | A13 | A13 |
| Storage | 64GB - 256GB | 64GB - 512GB | 64GB - 512GB |
| Water-Resistance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | From $1,199 | From $1,749 | From $1,899 |
The LCD display in the iPhone 11 is a lower resolution than the OLED screens in the Pro models, but you'll be hard pressed to see the difference with the naked eye. The screen in the iPhone XR was good, great even, and we expect the same quality here.
You can't buy an iPhone 11 with 512 GB of storage, but then few of us actually need that much memory for our apps and photos. The 64GB, 128GB and 256GB options will be sufficient for most of us.
iPhone 11: Cameras
The most noticeable difference between the new iPhone models seems to be the number of camera lenses that each has. The iPhone 11 has two, whereas the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max have three -- similar to several current Huawei and Samsung flagships. But when you have to pay at least an extra $500 to step up from the iPhone 11 to a Pro model, you have to wonder how much a zoom lens is worth to you.
- iPhone 11: Single 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens
- iPhone 11 Pro: 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, 12-megapixel 2x zoom lens, 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens
- iPhone 11 Pro Max: 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, 12-megapixel 2x zoom lens, 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens
We've found that a 2x zoom lens is a very handy thing to have on a smartphone. There are plenty of times when you will wish you were a bit closer to the action, like a sporting event or a concert. Ultra-wide angle lenses we've used in cameras like the Samsung Galaxy S10 have been less essential. It is always nice to have more options, but we don't think this convenience is worth paying hundreds of dollars extra for.
We'll be putting all of the new iPhone models through their paces over the coming weeks, so check back in for a full review and an in-depth comparison of the new iPhones very soon.
iPhone 11: Release Date
All new iPhone models will go on sale on 20 September. The new phones are available on plans through Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, and outright through Apple stores and online.
You can check out plans with 24-month repayments below. However, note that both Telstra and Vodafone offer the option to pay your phone off over 36 months to lower your monthly bill. Vodafone will also let you pay off your phone over 12 months if you want to own it faster.
Joseph Hanlon
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