The release of the iPhone 11 marked several changes in terms of how iPhones are made. Many of the design choices that went into the iPhone 11 remain with the device to this day.

Even in 2025, the iPhone 11 remains a high-quality device thanks to its very capable processor, durable design, and 12MP camera. Its A13 Bionic chip even features 8 neural processing cores, making it one of the oldest phones to have some level of AI processing capability.

iPhone 11: First Look

Unique features

The most noticeable upgrade for the iPhone 11 over the iPhone XR is its 12MP camera. The iPhone 11 features a much larger camera system with larger sensors, larger lenses, and a dedicated image processor. It even sticks out from the main body of the device, a choice that Apple has stuck with ever since.

Design and build

The iPhone 11 introduced the raised square camera housing that we’re now familiar with, but it was also the last iPhone to feature rounded, pebble-like edges on its aluminium frame. Personally, this design choice is a huge win for me. The sharper, squared-off edges of more recent iPhones have never felt quite right in my hand.

The iPhone 11 keeps the notch display of iPhones before and since, and it has the iPhone’s signature glassy finish on both the front and back of the device.

How affordable is the iPhone 11?

In 2025, the iPhone 11 can be bought for just a quarter of its original price.

The only thing more impressive is that the iPhone 11 Pro can be bought for just over a fifth of its original price.

For the most affordable option, make sure you opt for the 128GB version for a good balance of storage space and affordability.

*Prices checked Aug 2024, available only while refurbished stock lasts.

Is 128GB enough storage for you?

For most users in 2025, we think 128GB is absolutely enough.

Once you take away the storage space needed for basic functions, you’re left with a comfortable 100GB. That’s enough for up to 30 hours of Full HD video, up to 22,000 photos, or 5 huge mobile games.

If you love taking 4K videos with your iPhone, you’ll only squeeze a few hours of footage onto your phone before needing to delete something. Serious camera lovers should consider a higher-spec iPhone anyway. Apple also offers affordable cloud storage options with iCloud+.

Processing Power: The A13 Bionic Chip

The iPhone 11 features the A13 Bionic processor. This chipset was a leap ahead in terms of processing power from previous iPhones, and is remarkably able to keep up with more modern processors. In everyday use, this chip offers smooth scrolling, great video playback, and more.

It has the same 4GB of RAM that can be found in the iPhone 12, and a maximum clock speed of 2.65GHz. It also features 8 Neural Engine cores that enable limited AI processing on the device, boosting features from photography to noise cancellation.

The iPhone 11 launched with iOS 13. Assuming 6 years of updates, the iPhone 11 could lose support for security updates as soon as 2026. The good news is that longer periods of device support are becoming more standard these days, with competitors offering 7+ years of updates, and the iPhone 11 may receive extended support. However, this is not something you can depend on.

Battery and Charging

The iPhone 11 is compatible with both wireless charging, using any Qi-standard wireless charging pad, and fast charging when paired with a compatible fast-charging iPhone charger.

The iPhone 11’s battery is advertised to provide up to 17 hours of video playback, or 10 hours streamed, when paired with a brand-new battery. How much battery life you can get out of your device will depend on how much battery health remains.

When buying a refurbished iPhone, be aware that cheaper grades may feature less battery capacity than higher grades.

Camera

The iPhone 11 features a significant camera upgrade compared to the iPhone XR. It has a much larger camera housing, which enables larger camera sensors, larger lenses, and better dedicated image processing.

All three cameras found on the iPhone 11 are 12MP in resolution, including a wide-angle lens, an ultra-wide lens, and a TrueDepth selfie camera.

Where the iPhone 11 lags behind the iPhone 12 is mostly in its visual processing. The processor on the iPhone 12 includes twice the number of neural cores, which among other things leads to improved photos on the iPhone 12.

Display: Liquid Retina HD

The iPhone 11 was the last of Apple’s mainstream iPhones to feature the Liquid Retina HD LCD display. This is probably the weakest feature of this iPhone.

For one thing, the contrast of the display is not as excellent as the Super XDR displays of more recent iPhones. For another, the iPhone 11 does not feature a Full HD display, and instead provides a display width of only 828 pixels, compared to 1080 pixels in a Full HD display.

Don’t get me wrong, the display is still high-quality, and Liquid Retina displays have remained in use in Apple’s MacBook laptops. However, if you want a fully premium smartphone display, the iPhone 11 is not for you.

Sustainability

"When it comes to the environment, buying an iPhone 11 in 2025 is completely guilt-free. Apple doesn’t even sell the iPhone 11 as a refurbished model anymore, so you can be certain that you’re not creating any demand at all for an original Apple product to have been manufactured."

— Steve Athwal, CEO and Founder of The Big Phone Store