iPhone 11 Review: Should You Buy in 2023?

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I have one of the most selling iPhones in the world, which is the iPhone 11. More than 150 Million units of this phone have been sold in just 3 years since its launch, making it one of the best-selling iPhones after the iPhone 6.

So, should you buy an iPhone 11 in 2023 or not, and does the current price of the iPhone 11 in 2023 justify its purchase? We will discuss all of this in today’s post.

Specifications

Still a Premium Design

If we talk about my personal favorite reason, it is the design of the iPhone 11. It had curved edges, and then in the iPhone 12, as you know, the edges became flat. I personally like iPhone 11 build, it has a strong grip, and the glass body feels very premium, like a flagship phone, which it actually is.

Average Display

The display of this phone is still better than many phones today. It’s quite bright, and the touch response is quite accurate. Even in direct sunlight, the iPhone 11 doesn’t cause much trouble.

There is only one thing, that in today’s market, you can find Android phones in the range of $200-$250 with a 90Hz, 120Hz refresh rate, which is missing in the iPhone 11.

However, if you think at the product level, even the iPhone 13, which was launched just last year, has only a 60Hz refresh rate. In fact, even the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, which were launched this year, have a standard 60Hz refresh rate. So, what is the difference between the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 14 in terms of display refresh rate?

The Ceramic Shield, which started coming in iPhones after the iPhone 12, is also missing in the iPhone 11. So yes, if its display gets dropped, it will not provide as much protection as the iPhone 12, 13, or 14.

Great Battery Life

If I talk about the battery life, the battery of the iPhone 11 is still considered better than today’s iPhones, and many people have bought the iPhone 11 for this reason. In fact, I have also recommended it to many people who were looking for an iPhone with the best battery life. Apart from the 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max series, which have a larger battery, the iPhone 11’s battery life is quite impressive.

Besides, even in almost 1.5 to 2-year-old iPhones, you can get battery health up to around 85-90 percent, which is still very decent. But if you have FOMO that your battery health should be 100 percent, you can get a battery upgrade from an Apple official center for around $70. So, if you find a used iPhone deal for around $250, even after spending $70 on a new battery, an iPhone 11 for $320 is not a bad deal in my opinion.

Processor & Software

The iPhone 11 comes with the Apple A13 Bionic chipset, while the iPhone 13 and 14 series both come with the Apple A15 Bionic chipset. So, there isn’t much of a difference, only a gap of 2 generations.

When it comes to performance, having the latest processor, extra RAM, or extended virtual memory features doesn’t matter much to me, unlike the gimmicks that some Android phones have.

What matters is the day-to-day performance, which is quite good with the iPhone 11. Whether it’s reading, browsing, gaming, or using social media, WhatsApp, email, etc., this phone can handle anything quite easily.

In addition, Apple has also taken good care of software updates. Even the almost 5-year-old iPhone 8 has the iOS 16 update, so if I do some math, the iPhone 11, which is 3 years old, will receive updates for at least 2 more years. That’s one major reason for me to choose the iPhone 11, as updates are something that Android phones often lack. Some companies stop providing Android updates after just 2-3 years. This is why one has to change Android phones quite frequently, but with the iPhone, I can enjoy a longer lifespan.

Amazing Cameras

With the iPhone 11, you get both wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle features, as well as portrait mode, which makes it suitable for taking good photos and videos. Although it doesn’t have the cinematic mode feature available in the latest iPhone models, if you can compromise on that, the camera on the iPhone 11 is still very decent and better than many mid-range Android phones.

Now, talking about the camera, below are some latest samples taken with the iPhone 11 camera. You will be amazed to see that these photos were clicked by a phone that is 3 to 4 years old.

Moreover, you can also record videos at 4K 60 FPS with this camera. So, for all the upcoming creators out there, iPhone 11 can be a great camera phone.

5G is Missing

Yes, one of the biggest shortcomings of the iPhone 11 in 2023 is that it does not support 5G connectivity. Many people who want to use 5G may not consider buying this phone. However, it is important to note that 5G coverage is still not widespread in many parts of the world, so it may not be a big concern for some users.

On the other hand, the iPhone 11 is a dual-SIM phone that supports both a physical SIM and an eSIM. This can be convenient for users who want to use two different phone numbers on the same device or for those who frequently travel internationally and want to use a local SIM card.

Pricing & Availability

So, when the iPhone 11 was launched, its starting price was $699, but in 2023, if you go to buy it, you can easily get it for $499. And if you buy a refurbished one, it will cost around $350, or if you buy a used iPhone, it will cost you around $250-$300, but you will have to get a new battery installed in the used iPhone, which will cost around $70-$80.

Jaskaran Singh

Jaskaran, a tech enthusiast from childhood, inspired by his father, began his tech journey by rooting Android phones. He now writes on various tech topics, aiming to simplify complex ideas for a broad audience. His writing is direct, concise, and flows effortlessly, making tech topics accessible and engaging.