the iPhone 11 Pro is a bad buy in 2022

The iPhone 11 Pro is now two years old, and still a fantastic device. But you can read in this review update that we still advise against buying the iPhone 11 Pro in 2022.

Review update: iPhone 11

They are the first iPhones with the Pro label: the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. They were announced by Apple in September 2019, along with the cheaper iPhone 11. What particularly stood out about the iPhone 11 Pro (Max) was the camera: it was the first iPhone to have a triple camera system.

With that camera system you can take beautiful pictures – even in the dark. In addition, the showpiece from 2019 has a beautiful OLED screen, with a strong processor under the hood. They’re all reasons to want the iPhone 11 Pro. Still, you better not do that, because there are two better alternatives.

iPhone 11 Pro design: still stylish

Let’s get into the design first. The differences are not very big, but the iPhone 11 Pro looks slightly different from its successors. On the sides, the edges of the device curve, while the latest iPhone 12 (Pro) and iPhone 13 (Pro) have flat sides and are much more angular.

That’s not a downside: the iPhone 11 Pro still looks particularly chic and premium with its stainless steel frame and glass front and back. However, the notch (notch for the selfie camera) is slightly wider than on the iPhone 13.

In terms of color, there are four versions: green, space gray, silver and gold. You can also choose between two screen sizes: 5.8 or 6.5 inches. Besides the size (and therefore also the battery life), there are no differences between the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

iPhone 11 Pro camera: not the best

On the back of the 11 Pro are three 12-megapixel cameras: a wide-angle lens, an ultra-wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens. The ultra-wide angle lens is ideal for vistas: it has a field of view of 120 degrees, so you can capture much more of the environment. With the telephoto lens, you can zoom in without loss of quality.

Two years ago we were very impressed with the camera – especially thanks to the arrival of the Night mode. If we now compare the pictures with those of the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro, we see that the camera of the iPhone has made a big jump. Especially in low-light situations, the differences are large, with the photos from the 11 Pro looking much darker and grainier.

Speed ​​and battery

The iPhone 11 Pro’s A13 Bionic chip still feels fast. Everyday tasks such as WhatsApp and surfing in Safari run smoothly and without delay. Even with more graphically intensive tasks such as playing games or fiddling with Snapchat filters, the A13 Bionic does not quickly reach its limits.

The battery life is fine. The smaller 11 Pro lasts about a day, with the Max version we last about a day and a half. The new iPhone 13 Pro models also have a larger battery and are more energy-efficient, so the battery lasts longer.

Should you buy the iPhone 11 Pro in 2022?

There is little to fault with the iPhone 11 Pro. It is armed with a triple camera system, the A13 Bionic chip is still powerful and it looks stylish. Still, we don’t think you should buy the iPhone 11 Pro because there are better alternatives.

This has to do with the price. The 11 Pro is already more than two years old, but the price has not fallen much. After launch, the device cost 1,159 euros. If we look at the current iPhone 11 Pro prices, the cheapest new price at the time of writing is 923 euros.

This makes the difference with the newer 12 Pro small. According to the iPhone 12 Pro price comparator, it is about a hundred euros more expensive. You get 5G support in return, a camera that is slightly better on almost all fronts and a fresher chip that Apple will support for a year longer.

Conclusion iPhone 11 Pro in 2022 review

The iPhone 11 Pro is still an excellent device. But despite the fact that he is already two and a half years old, the showpiece of 2019 has only been slightly reduced in price. The price difference with the iPhone 12 Pro is small, and with the 5G support and a better camera, it is worth the extra price. Only go for the iPhone 11 Pro if you can buy it second-hand from someone, or if you are looking for a refurbished iPhone.