The camera module iPhone 11 pro
The camera module has been redesigned into an eye-catching square shape, which houses a trio of 12-megapixel lenses – the standard lens, a telephoto lens and the aforementioned wide-angle lens. That all three lenses share the same megapixel count suggests Apple intends the quality of images produced by all three lenses to be consistent. That would contrast with the early wide-angle lenses from LG and Huawei, whose picture quality varied wildly from that of photos shot with their models’ standard lenses.
Both Pro models have upgraded OLED display panels that get brighter (up to 800 nits) than those of the iPhone 10 range and support HDR 10 video playback.
Everything else is the same as before: the notch that houses the face scanning sensors is the same size, although Face ID unlocks a bit faster now thanks to an improved software algorithm, and the phone still charges via Apple’s proprietary Lightning port (reliable rumours say next year’s iPhones will finally make the switch to USB-C).
The 11 Pro gets the usual annual spec bump: it runs on Apple’s new A13 Bionic, the most powerful mobile processor right now and likely to remain so well into next year.
Software and features
All the new iPhones ship with iOS 13 out of the box, but, surprisingly for Apple, the operating system is buggier than previous retail-ready versions. While trying out the phones I’ve seen the camera app freeze up and apps crash more than a few times.
Worry not. Apple has the best track record of all smartphone companies for providing timely software updates and patches, and iOS 13.1 has been promised for September 24.
As with all major software updates, iOS 13 brings a host of improvements and new features. The three I like most are “Dark Mode”, which turns the phones’ UI into either black or grey shades so it’s easier on the eyes; the ability to swipe across the keyboard to type instead of needing to peck individually at the keys; and a more dynamic photo gallery that intelligently displays photos in varying sizes and grids, so superior images are easier to find.
Performance and battery life
The iPhone 11 Pro Max improves on the previous iPhone XS Max in two significant areas: battery life and camera performance. Apple says the iPhone 11 Pro Max’s battery lasts “five more hours” than that in last year’s iPhone XS Max; the figure is subjective, as each person has different usage habits, but I can say that the 11 Pro Max’s battery does, indeed, last noticeably longer – enough for an entire 12-hour day of heavy use. Previous iPhones could not do that.
Still, Apple is playing catch-up here, as Android phones, most notably those from Huawei, have been offering all-day battery life for years. It is the other major improvements – in photography and videography – that may have put Apple ahead of the pack.