iPhone XR vs iPhone 11

If you are looking for an affordable and relatively new refurbished iPhone, then you will undoubtedly consider the iPhone XR and the iPhone 11. The iPhone XR was released in 2018, shortly after its predecessor, the iPhone X. The X family was extremely popular due to the significant changes made: the home button disappeared and Face ID was added. The iPhone 11 followed a year later, in 2019. The question now, of course, is how much difference that year has made. To find out, we compare the iPhone XR and iPhone 11 in terms of design, display, camera, processor, and other features. Will you go for the iPhone XR or iPhone 11?

Design

In terms of design, these two iPhones are very similar. They have the same dimensions and weight, namely 6.1 inches and 194 grams. Both the iPhone XR and iPhone 11 have an aluminum body and a glass back. There are also no differences on the front. The only way to distinguish them is by the camera, which we will discuss later, and the colors. The iPhone XR is available in black, white, red, yellow, blue, and coral, a varied color palette. But the iPhone 11 is also available in many different colors: black, white, red, yellow, purple, and mint green. There is some overlap here, but the colors blue, coral, purple, and mint green are truly characteristic of these two iPhone models and are not used in other iPhone generations. Also, the position of the Apple logo has changed slightly; on the iPhone 11, it is placed in the middle of the device, rather than higher up.

Screen

The iPhone XR and iPhone 11 both have an LCD display. They do not have an OLED screen, like the iPhone XS and iPhone 11 Pro. The XR and 11 have a Liquid Retina display, which combines the advantages of both LCD and OLED. For example, the refresh rate and color contrasts have been greatly improved, bringing it much closer to OLED than a standard LCD screen. The display extends across the full size of the device. Both phones also feature a notch, housing a speaker and the selfie camera. The home button is absent, and the iPhones can be unlocked using Face ID.

Camera

Visible differences between the iPhone 11 and iPhone XR only become apparent when we compare the cameras. What is already visible from the outside is that the XR has only one lens, while the 11 has two. The 11 has a wide-angle lens and an ultra-wide-angle lens, and it also features Night Mode, a function that the XR does not have. Additionally, the iPhone 11 has 2x optical zoom, which the XR lacks. Both phones have a 12-megapixel camera on the back.

At the front, the two iPhone models also differ. The selfie camera of the iPhone 11 has received a significant upgrade. While the selfie camera of the iPhone XR has 7 megapixels, the selfie camera of the iPhone 11 boasts 12 megapixels. It can even record in 4K. These are the new standards for the selfie camera, which are also seen in newer models like the iPhone 12 and 13.

Processor

There are indeed differences in terms of processors between these two iPhones. The iPhone XR is equipped with an A12 Bionic chip, which already makes it super fast and powerful. The iPhone 11, however, has an A13 Bionic chip, which Apple claims is 20% faster than its predecessor. Additionally, the iPhone 11 also has slightly more RAM than the iPhone XR, namely 4GB instead of 3GB. This also ensures that apps run faster on the iPhone 11 than on the iPhone XR.

Other features

Both devices are available with 64GB or 128GB of storage, but the iPhone 11 is also available with 256GB of memory. Thanks to the glass back, it is also possible to wirelessly charge the iPhone 11 and iPhone XR using a MagSafe charger.

While the iPhone XR is water-resistant and can withstand up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter, the iPhone 11 is waterproof. This iPhone can last up to 30 minutes at a depth of 2 meters underwater. In theory, the iPhone 11 is therefore more water-resistant. However, for refurbished iPhones, it cannot be guaranteed that the phone is still water-resistant or waterproof, as the phones have been opened and some parts may have been replaced.

Since iPhones are generally supported with new iOS updates for about 6 years, it is expected that the iPhone XR will receive its last update to a new iOS version in 2023. For the iPhone 11, this moment is expected in 2024. When this happens, Apple will still continue to provide security updates for the older operating systems. This means that your iPhone will not become unusable after that time.

Conclusion

Although the two phones appear very similar at first, there are still some clear differences. The iPhone 11 is indeed significantly better than the iPhone XR. The processor and camera are the decisive factors here. This is also reflected in the price. At Refurbisheddirect, a refurbished iPhone XR is up to €150 cheaper than a refurbished iPhone 11.

A refurbished iPhone XR is still a great purchase, especially if you're looking for a large phone with Face ID, but don't plan on using it intensively or as a camera. A refurbished iPhone 11 is recommended for slightly more intensive users who also want to make extensive use of the camera.

Both iPhones fall into an attractive price category, and you'll always be better off financially compared to buying a new phone. Additionally, refurbished is, of course, a conscious choice. Good for your wallet and for the environment.