Apple iPhone 11 Pro / Max vs iPhone XS / Max vs iPhone X – Should you upgrade?

With most people stuck in the cycle of 2-year contracts and upgrades, a lot of people will no doubt be wondering if it is time to renew their phone contract so they can get the latest and greatest from Apple, the iPhone 11 Pro or Max.

To make things less confusing I have separated the cheaper models off into another post.

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Design

While most phones look the same nowadays, the new iPhone has a bit of an unusual camera layout on the back which will no doubt be very contentious for people that think phone aesthetics are important.

The lenses are located all in a square, all of which stick out quite a bit. I can’t say I am fond of the design and a lot of people are throwing the trypophobia term around. This is the price you have to pay for lots of camera lenses though

You still get a massive notch, no dewdrop or pop up selfie cameras here.

It does have a new matte type finish, which looks very nice from photos and will be interesting to see in real life.

Incremental Upgrades

We have not seen any massive upgrades from Apple for quite a few years, though that could be said for most companies. You get the usual incremental upgrades, the CPU has been upgraded to the ambiguously named A13, up from A12, and A11 the year before. Apart from the fact it is 6 cores, with 2 high performance and 4 efficiency cores, Apple is a little coy about their processor specification, unlike Android-based SoCs.

All we know is that it is made on the second-generation 7nm process which is probably the same as the one used for the Kirin 990. The new chip is quite large and measures in at 8.5 billion transistors, which is a 23% increase over last year’s 6.9B of the A12.

What this means is a claimed 20% faster and 30% lower power performance. Similarily the GPU claims the same number improvements.

The overall screen and dimensions are similar from the previous generation, there is still a 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch OLED option, both running and the same resolution as previously. Brightness has been upped and can now achieve a peak brightness of 1200cd/m² in HDR content.

3D touch has been completely dropped now, with just haptic feedback.

The 128GB model has been sacked off there is now 64GB, 256GB and 512GB. At the prices they charge, they could have got rid of the 64GB option used the 128GB as the base.

Apple is now the second company to integrate Wi-Fi 6 on their phones, Samsung have done it for the Galaxy S10 and Note 10. This is a big upgrade that no one will use yet, Wi-Fi 6 routers costs a fortune, but if you keep your phone for 2-3 years, then maybe it will be more common then.

What are the main upgrades?

The big one is the new 12MP 120° Ultra-wide Angle camera, something that has been common on Android phones for years has finally come to Apple, and it is about time. For me, and many people I speak to, ultra wide is one of the best modes possible. If you are a keen (mobile)photographer this could be worth the upgrade alone.

Battery life is essential to me, so while it may sound boring, the +4h and +5h battery life could end up being the most important upgrade for many. How much of a difference that really means is another question?

There is now a UWB U1 Chip for “Spatial Awareness”, at the moment this appears to be for AirDrop only, but this is supposed to be the underlying technology for the new tracking tags Apple are developing.

And that’s about it as far as the big upgrades go. Mainly, more battery, and a new camera.

Where is the 5G model?

There is none!

Likely to the dismay of all the carriers that are rolling out 5G networks, you are going to have to wait a year for a 5G model. It is an interesting decision, with it being so new, uptake will be slow, and saving it for the next model ensures a big upgrade for a lot of people next year, allowing them to maximise profits with the upgrade cycle.

On the flip side of this is the age-old argument of Apple did this first / Android did that. I’m indifferent to brands, but Apple do appear to be falling behind in (hardware) innovation.

Price

It will no doubt come as no surprise that the new phones are some of the most expensive options on the market, the 64GB base model finally breaks the £1k barrier at £1049.

It is the people coming from the iPhone 8 / 8 Plus that are going to be in for big sticker shock if they want to upgrade to an OLED based model. The normal iPhone 11 is still only £729 though and you still get the ultra-wide camera.

Apple iPhone 11 Pro / Max vs XS / Max vs X – Comparison Chart

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.