So, the time has come for you to buy a new phone, and you’ve already narrowed down your choices to an iPhone. But which model will your new iPhone be? While it’s no longer the newest iPhone on the market, the Apple iPhone 11 Pro is still a fantastic choice for a wide variety of users: it’s ranked #3 on our list of the best smartphone for vlogging and #2 on the best large screen phone list. With its fabulous triple camera system and far-improved battery life over its predecessor, the iPhone XS, the 11 Pro is our top pick for the best low light camera phone.
Why We Like It – Apple iPhone 11 Pro
The Apple iPhone 11 Pro was a bit of a showstopper when it was first released, thanks to its new triple camera system. This system, which allows you to take standard, telephoto, and ultra wide photos, greatly expands the iPhone’s use as a camera. But what really takes the cake here is night mode, which makes it possible to shoot some fabulous low light photography.
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- Stellar triple camera system that will impress even photography buffs
- Takes truly incredible night mode photos
- Improved battery life over iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
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- Durability varies
- So-so selfie camera in low lighting
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Overall Performance
We’ve all more or less come to expect top-of-the-line performance from Apple products, and the Apple iPhone 11 Pro is no exception: this is one of the best small phones around. Apple’s A13 Bionic chip is one of the fastest in the mobile-phone market, making this phone able to perform faster than the Samsung Galaxy Note S20 Ultra during tasks like video editing and exporting. Less taxing tasks, like using Face ID for passwords, using Apple Pay, or surfing the web via wi-fi, work even faster. What really sets this phone apart from all others is its triple-lens rear camera that can shoot from ultra wide, regular, and telephoto perspectives. Night mode, which the 11 Pro triggers automatically, produces some of the best low-light photos possible on a smartphone camera. The front camera doesn’t take low-light photos as well as the main cameras, but it still can produce some wonderful selfies in portrait mode given the right conditions, making it the best selfie camera phone on our list.
Battery Life
The battery life on the Apple iPhone 11 Pro is a marked improvement over its predecessor, the iPhone XS. Lasting a good 10.5 hours on a full charge, this phone can surely make it through the day with ease. Although it doesn’t last as long as its less-expensive brother, the Apple iPhone 11, the differences in battery life are minimal enough that it’s worth it to go for the Pro for its fabulous triple camera system. Charging is fast, with this phone gaining about 50% charge in just a 30 minute period.
Display
The display on the Apple iPhone 11 Pro is equally as impressive: the 5.8” OLED screen is vibrant, crisp, and incredibly bright. In tests, this phone produced anywhere from 750 to 800 nits, which beats out the AMOLED display on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. This brightness really demonstrates the 11 Pro’s versatility. It’s super simple to adjust brightness for sunny outdoor conditions or dimmer lighting indoors. Colors on this screen aren’t quite as accurate to the sRGB color gamut as the Note 20 Ultra, but it’s a relatively minor difference that the average user probably won’t notice.
Durability
While promoting the iPhone 11, Apple greatly emphasized the durability of all three models. The phone is definitely durable, but it’s still ill-advised to unnecessarily test its strength. Various reviewers conducted their own durability tests with mixed results: sometimes, the screen cracked from a short drop, other times, the cameras broke but the screen remained intact. If you decide to test this phone’s durability for yourself, your results may vary even further. The phone fares better in waterproof tests, but you still don’t want to go around dunking your phone in the pool or bath for fun. No matter which model you choose or what color you go with–this phone comes in space gray, midnight green, silver, and gold–it’s not a bad idea to also invest in a protective case.
Value
There are obviously cheaper phones out there, and the Apple iPhone 11 Pro isn’t the phone for everyone. Buyers deciding between the Pro and regular Apple iPhone 11 should mostly consider how much they plan to use the Pro camera, and how important the OLED display is for them. If neither of these are big draws, the standard 11 is a fine phone with a larger screen and better battery life for a substantially lower price. Seeing as the iPhone 12 is out now, the price of the 11 Pro has gone down, but not as much as some consumers would like to see. Depending on where you buy the iPhone 11 Pro, some deals may apply, so it isn’t a bad idea to check around. If you want an all-round smartphone with almost similar features you can check out the OnePlus 8 Pro.
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Wrap Up
It’s no secret that the best thing about the Apple iPhone 11 Pro is its triple camera system: this thing takes some truly wonderful photos and 4k videos that makes it an absolute joy to use, especially in night mode. The selfie camera doesn’t work as well in low light, but it, too, can shoot some great photos in the right conditions. Durability here is a bit of a mixed bag, but short drops or dips in water shouldn’t render the phone completely useless either. This phone’s battery life, though, is a great improvement over previous models. Overall, if the price is right and you fancy yourself a photographer, the Apple iPhone 11 Pro might be the phone for you.
