The best iPhone 11 Pro

GIGABIT-CLASS LTE

LTE in the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max is faster than ever thanks to the inclusion of Gigabit-class LTE with 4x4 MIMO and LAA. 4x4 MIMO and LAA are different LTE technologies that use multiple antennas, multiple data streams, and unlicensed spectrum paired with licensed spectrum to boost LTE speeds up as fast as possible.

The iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max have the most advanced LTE technologies in an iPhone, with the cheaper iPhone 11 also offering Gigabit LTE but limited to 2x2 MIMO. Though the two new iPhones feature faster maximum LTE capabilities, there is no support for 5G and the they won't work with 5G networks. Both the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max are equipped with Intel modems.

When it comes to LTE bands, the new iPhones support up to 30, which is useful when traveling. Different countries use different LTE bands, so with more LTE band support, there's a better chance that your iPhone is compatible with local LTE networks when you travel.

DUAL-SIM SUPPORT

Dual-SIM support, which allows two phone numbers to be used at one time, is included in the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. Dual-SIM functionality is enabled through the inclusion of one physical nano-SIM slot and an eSIM.

The eSIM feature is available in many countries around the world, and Apple has a full list of carriers that support eSIM on its website.

Dual-SIMs work with select carriers in Austria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, India, Spain, the UK, and the United States.

ULTRA WIDEBAND

The iPhone 11 Pro models feature a new Apple-designed U1 chip that enables Ultra Wideband technology for improved spatial awareness. The chip lets the iPhone 11 precisely locate other U1-equipped Apple devices, which is ultimately going to make it easier to find a device that's lost.

Apple likens Ultra Wideband to "GPS at the scale of the living room," which is accurate as the technology is designed specifically for improved indoor positioning.

One example of how Apple is using the U1 chip is AirDrop. Apple says you can just point your iPhone at someone else's iPhone and their device shows up first on your list of AirDrop targets. This feature is set to launch in iOS 13.1.

BLUETOOTH AND WIFI

The iPhone 11 Pro supports Bluetooth 5.0. Bluetooth 5.0 offers longer range, faster speeds, larger broadcast message capacity, and better interoperability with other wireless technologies.

Compared to Bluetooth 4.2, Bluetooth 5 offers four times the range, two times the speed, and eight times the broadcast message capacity.

WiFi 6 with 2x2 MIMO, aka 802.11ax WiFi, is supported. WiFi 6 is the newest WiFi protocol and it lets you download up to 38 percent faster than WiFi 5 (aka 802.11ac). WiFi 6 is a new WiFi protocol and it's not widely used, but support will become increasingly important over the course of the next few years.

GPS AND NFC

Support for GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS location services is included in the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max.

NFC with reader mode is included, and there's a background tag feature that allows the iPhone models to scan NFC tags without the need to open an app first.

Apple is selling the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max alongside the iPhone 11, a much more affordable device priced starting at $699.

The iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max are the top-of-the-line iPhones, designed for those who want the most advanced technology in an iPhone, while the iPhone 11 has a few feature compromises to keep the price low.

All of the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models share features like the A13 bionic chip, Face ID, TrueDepth camera system, and some photographic capabilities, but there are some notable differences.

The iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max feature OLED displays that are superior to the LCD display used in the iPhone 11, with HDR and a much greater contrast ratio for brighter, more vivid colors. The new higher-end iPhones use a stainless steel frame rather than an aluminum frame, and have a better water resistance rating (IP68 at 4 feet rather than IP68 at 2 feet).

Most notably, the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max feature a triple-lens camera system with telephoto, wide-angle, and ultra wide-angle lenses, while the iPhone 11 has a dual-lens camera with wide-angle and ultra wide-angle lenses.