The whole iPhone 12 lineup finally hitten the shelves after a delay caused by reasons related to the coronavirus pandemic. But if you want one of the new devices released by Apple, you need a high amount of money. However, you can still get a new iPhone at a more affordable price since Apple decided to keep several other models in commerce. Among the most affordable ones, we got the iPhone 11 and the iPhone XR. A lot of people are wondering which one to choose in 2020 to save money while still getting an amazing phone. This comparison between iPhone 11 and iPhone XR will clear your idea by analyzing the differences between their specifications.
Apple iPhone 11 vs Apple iPhone XR
| Apple iPhone 11 | Apple iPhone XR | |
|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm, 194 g |
150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm, 194 g |
| DISPLAY | 6.1 inches, 828 x 1792 pixels (HD+), Liquid Retina IPS LCD | 6.1 inches, 828 x 1792 pixels (HD+), Liquid Retina IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Apple A13 Bionic hexa-core 2.65 GHz | Apple A12 Bionic hexa-core 2.5 GHz |
| MEMORY | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB | 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – 3 GB RAM, 128 GB – 3 GB RAM, 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | iOS 13 | iOS 12 |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS |
| CAMERA | Dual 12 + 12 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 |
Single 12 MP, f/1.8 Dual 7 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 front camera |
| BATTERY | 3110 mAh, fast charging 18W and Qi fast wireless charging | 2942 mAh, Fast Charging 15W, Qi wireless charging |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | optional dual SIM, optional eSIM, IP68 waterproof | IP67 water resistant, optional dual SIM, optional eSIM |
Design
The front designs of the iPhone 11 and the iPhone XR are exactly the same. In both cases, you get a notched display with a 6.1-inch diagonal and narrow bezels on three sides. You even get the same materials: glass for the back and 7000 series aluminum for the frame. The rear side is different: the iPhone XR looks cleaner because it does not come with a big camera module and it only sports one single camera sensor and the LED flash. With the iPhone 11, you get a big and square-shaped camera module including two sensors. On the other hand, iPhone 11 offers better water resistance: with its IP68 certification, it is waterproof up to 2 meters deep, while iPhone XR goes up to one meter.
Display
The iPhone 11 and the iPhone XR have exactly the same display: a 6.1-inch panel with a resolution of 828 x 1792 pixels, the True-tone technology, and a wide color gamut. They are both IPS panels, so do not expect those vibrant colors you can get with OLED displays. But we are talking about great IPS panels, two of the best ones out there. So you still get a great image quality. Unlike Android phones, iPhones do not rely on a fingerprint scanner for authentication: iPhone 11 and iPhone XR support Face ID for 3D facial recognition.
Specs & Software
The iPhone 11 has a stronger processor than the iPhone XR: we are talking about the Apple A13 Bionic built at 7 nm+ with a max frequency of 2.65 GHz. It even sports a higher amount of RAM (4 GB against 3 GB). So you get definitely better performances, but the iPhone XR is still a fast and smooth phone with its Apple A12 Bionic and 3 GB of RAM. The iPhone 11 ships with iOS 13 out of the box, while the iPhone XR is born with iOS 12. However, Apple decided to update both the devices to the latest iOS 14. Naturally, more recent phones get longer software support.
Camera
iPhone 11 and iPhone XR are equipped with the same main camera sensor: a 12 MP unit with f/1.8 focal aperture, phase detection autofocus, and OIS, as well as a Quad-LED flash. But the iPhone 11 comes with an additional 12 MP ultrawide sensor, while the iPhone XR lacks secondary sensors on the rear side. This means you can shoot better photos in a lot of scenarios with the iPhone 11. But if you do not need a wide-angle, then the iPhone XR may be enough for you. Besides offering more cameras on the rear side, the iPhone 11 is also equipped with a better front camera sporting a 12 MP resolution (against the 7 MP snapper found on the iPhone XR).
Battery
The iPhone 11 has a bigger battery than the iPhone XR, as well as a more efficient chipset. This means that its battery life is longer. iPhone 11 and iPhone XR support wireless charging, but the former has faster charging speeds if you use the cable. The iPhone 11 supports 18W fast charging, while the iPhone XR stops at 15W.
Price
The iPhone 11 is actually priced at $599/€719 in its base variant, while the XR costs $499/€619. Are those 100 bucks of difference worth the upgrades offered by the iPhone 11? In my opinion, yes. With the iPhone 11, you get better water resistance, a stronger processor, a higher quantity of RAM, an additional camera, and even a slightly bigger battery with faster charging, as well as a more recent native operating system. Unless saving money is your main priority, I believe you should spend $100 more and opt for the iPhone 11.
Apple iPhone 11 vs Apple iPhone XR: PRO and CONS
Apple iPhone 11
PRO
- Better cameras
- IP68 certification
- Bigger battery
- Better hardware
CONS
- Higher price
Apple iPhone XR
PRO
- More affordable
- Clean design
- The same main camera as the iPhone 11
CONS
- Older hardware
- Born with iOS 12
