Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Tops Consumer Reports' Smartphone Ratings
There’s a new phone atop Consumer Reports’ ratings.
Actually, make that two.
While Apple didn’t introduce huge design changes in the iPhone 11 Pro Max and 11 Pro (which start at $1,100 and $1,000, respectively), it did make some key improvements that helped lift the phones into the top two spots.
And that’s despite a tightly packed field of competitors. Just six points separate our first- and 10th-ranked phones.
In recent years Apple’s iPhones have been consistently edged out by Samsung’s. So what has changed this time around?
For one thing, the battery life is much better. The iPhone 11 Pro Max lasted a more-than-impressive 40.5 hours in our testing. That’s the longest stretch of any phone currently listed in our ratings. And it marks a big turnaround for Apple. Just a few years ago, iPhones tended to lag behind the competition in this area.
Apple has consistently set high standards for smartphone cameras, and those on the new iPhones have outperformed their predecessors. The company has also added a camera with an ultrawide lens to all three of its new phones, a feature already available on this year’s Galaxy phones.
If you like the new iPhones but can’t stomach paying a grand or more, you might be happy with the $700 iPhone 11. It also did exceptionally well in our testing, landing in our top 10. The model is missing just a few features found on its pricier siblings. And that might not be a big deal to you.
Here’s a closer look at how the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max did in our testing. Consumer Reports members looking for more detailed results can check out our full smartphone ratings.
Buy or Wait?
So taking all of that into account, are these phones worth buying?
If you already own an iPhone XS, XS Max, or even an XR, you can probably save your money and wait. Huge jumps in battery life and new cameras aside, there just might not be enough in the way of new features to justify spending $1,000 or more on a whole new phone.
If you are ready for an upgrade, though, these phones are high-performing, sleek machines. And if you want to save some scratch, don’t forget the $700 iPhone 11. Opt for one of those and you miss out on an OLED display, a 2X rear camera, and a superfast charger, along with crazy long battery life. But not everyone needs those frills.
Also, we can’t emphasize enough how tight the scoring is at the top of our smartphone ratings. In some categories, just fractions of a point separate the top models.
Meanwhile, don’t forget 5G is coming. iPhones compatible with these superfast networks are widely expected to launch next year. Some people might want to wait and futureproof their next phone purchase. Be warned, though: If Apple follows the example of Samsung, which started selling 5G phones this year, those iPhones will be some of the priciest on the market.