iPhone 11 vs iPhone 13: What’s the Difference?
Another Apple event passed, and with it the iPhone 13 appeared. With a new model, the question always arises, “is it worth updating?” and we’re here to answer that question for iPhone 11 owners.
While the iPhone 13 may be a minor update to the iPhone 12, the difference between the two generations will be larger.
Price and availability
In true tradition, Apple iPhone 11 is still part of the official line of smartphones, but now at a lower price – from £ 489 / $ 499… It is now the second cheapest model in the lineup still available from Apple with SE takes the budget crown…
The new iPhone 13 sells for a price £ 779 / $ 799 which is slightly cheaper than last year’s 12 in the UK, but the same in the US. However, you get more for your money if you double the standard storage.
The models available are listed below, but it’s also worth noting that the iPhone lineup doesn’t ship with EarPods or a charging adapter in the box. This is part of Apple’s green initiative and means that if you need something, they are now optional add-ons. You only get the cable.
Also note that there is iPhone 13 mini available starting at £ 679 / $ 699 but we’re comparing the regular version here.
IPhone 11 pricing
- 64GB – £ 489 / $ 499
- 128GB – £ 539 / $ 549
Get iPhone 11 from Apple Store…
IPhone 13 pricing
- 128GB – £ 779 / $ 799
- 256GB – £ 879 / $ 899
- 512GB – £ 1,079 / $ 1,099
You can take the iPhone 13 from Apple Storeand take a look at our best iPhone buying guide if you’re not sure which is best for you.…
Design and build
The iPhone 13 follows the design of the iPhone 12 in many ways. In fact, it is almost identical, that is, it is more compact and square than the iPhone 11 with flat sides. The compact size also means it’s lighter – 174g versus 194g, despite the same screen size.
One of the main design differences between the two is that the iPhone 13 supports MagSafe accessories, from wallets to chargers. They fit securely to the back of your phone for more security and ease of use with wireless chargers.
Like the iPhone 12, Model 13 has a “Ceramic Shield” front panel that offers four times the drop protection of iPhone 11. And despite being IP68 waterproof, Model 13 is rated at 6m depth, double the drop. than model 11.
Since both phones have a Lightning port and a notch in the screen, the last design element is color. They are very different from the iPhone 11, which is available in purple, yellow, green, black and white, and (commercial) red.
The iPhone 13 comes in the latest version, but then you’ll have to choose between Starlight, Midnight, Blue, and Pink.
Specifications and features
Given the two-year gap, it should come as no surprise that there are quite large specs differences between the iPhone 11 and 13. Having doubled storage (plus the 512GB variant) and 5G on the new model is just the beginning.
You get the latest chip in the iPhone 13, of course, and while the iPhone 11 is still great to use, the A15 Bionic is significantly more powerful and will also keep up with tomorrow’s demands.
Both phones have dual 12MP cameras on the back with much similar specs, but the iPhone 13 has a few more features if you delve into the details. Key elements: larger 1.7μm pixels, f / 1.8 aperture, more advanced sensor-shift optical image stabilization, cinematic video recording, and Dolby Vision HDR video recording.
So, the iPhone 13 is a good upgrade if you enjoy shooting a lot of videos. Just for photography, the performance will be closer.
Finally, it’s worth noting that both screen sizes are 6.1-inches, but the iPhone 11 is limited to a fairly simple IPS LCD. The iPhone 13 comes with the superb Super Retina XDR with OLED panel and HDR support. It has a much better contrast ratio and higher brightness.
Here is a comparison of the characteristics of the iPhone 13 and 11:
| iPhone 13 | iPhone 11 | |
| Colors | Starlight, midnight, blue, pink, (product) red | Black, green, yellow, purple, white, (product) red |
| Display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR (2532 x 1170, 460 PPI) OLED, HDR | 6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina (1792×828, 326ppi), IPS |
| CPU | Apple a15 bionic | Apple A13 Bionic |
| Storage | 128/256/512 GB | 64/128 GB |
| Rear camera | 12 MP, f / 1.6, SS OIS + 12 MP, ultra wide, f / 2.4, Smart HDR 4 | 12 MP, f / 1.8, OIS + 12 MP, ultra wide, f / 2.4, Smart HDR |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f / 2.2, 4K video, night mode, Deep Vision, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 30fps | 12 MP TrueDepth, f / 2.2, 4K video |
| Video recording | 4K @ 24/25/30/60 fps, slow motion 1080p @ 240 fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 30fps, Cinematic Mode | 4K @ 24/30/60 fps, slow motion 1080p @ 240 fps |
| Biometric security | Face ID | Face ID |
| Wireless | Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax | Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax |
| 5G | Yes | No |
| Wireless charger | MagSafe and Qi | Qi |
| Apple Pay (NFC) | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproofing | IP68 (6m) | IP68 (3m) |
| dimensions | 71.5×146.7×7.65 mm | 75.7 x 150.9 x 8.3mm |
| Weight | 174 g | 194 g |
| Price | From £ 779 / $ 799 | From £ 489 / $ 499 |
| Buy without SIM card | Order now | Order now |
| Buy by contract | Order now |
Verdict
The age-old “is it worth renewing?” The question that iPhone 11 owners might ponder is a lot easier than when the 12th arrived.
If you can afford it, the iPhone 13 outperforms in many ways: more storage (standard and optional), 5G, better IP68 water resistance, and MagSafe.
It also features the latest processor, XDR display, camera, and other things like the Ceramic Shield front panel. All of this goes into a more compact phone if you can find the color you like.