Apple‘s iPhone has grown immensely over the years, enhancing endures while keeping a familiar look and feel. While only two years apart, the iPhone 11 and iPhone 13 demonstrate how technology can improve features to outsmart competitors.
Although the iPhone 13 delivers exciting upgrades over its popular predecessor, the iPhone 11 remains a very capable phone with plenty to offer at a more affordable price point. This comprehensive comparison of the iPhone 11 vs. 13 analyzes all the key differences and similarities to determine which iPhone is better suited for you.
iPhone 11 vs. 13: Design and Display
The iPhone 11 and 13 share a very similar 6.1-inch display size, but the technology powering these screens differs greatly:
- The iPhone 13 has a brighter, high-resolution OLED panel that delivers more vivid colors and deeper blacks thanks to pixel-by-pixel lighting control. This is a major upgrade over the LCD screen of the iPhone 11.
- The iPhone 13‘s notch is 20% smaller, allowing a bit more screen real estate for content while still housing the TrueDepth camera for Face ID.
- With a sturdy Ceramic Shield front panel, the iPhone 13 is more crack-resistant, while both phones have IP68 water resistance.
- The flat-edged design with a flush rear camera array sets the iPhone 13 apart from the 11‘s curved sides and square camera bump. This gives it a sleeker, updated look.
While minor, you‘ll notice some size and weight reductions moving to the iPhone 13 from the 11:
| Spec | iPhone 11 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm |
| Weight | 194 grams | 174 grams |
With color options, the iPhone 11 offers more variety with black, green, yellow, purple, white, and red. The iPhone 13 comes in more subdued "basic" colorways of midnight (black), starlight (silver/gold), blue, pink, and Product Red.
Cameras: Significantly Improved Photography and Video
The camera upgrades from the iPhone 11 to 13 are considerable, bringing exciting new features:
- Stronger low-light performance: The new f/1.6 aperture wide camera on iPhone 13 lets in 47% more light for crisper, clearer shots in dim conditions. Night mode is improved as a result.
- Sensor-shift optical stabilization: Previously limited to iPhone 12 Pro Max, sensor-shift OIS stabilizes the sensor itself vs. the lens for superior image sharpness, especially in low light.
- Photographic Styles: This new computational feature applies customizable tone and warmth profiles to your photos in real-time based on personal preference.
- Cinematic Mode for video: Automatically shifts focus between subjects when filming for a professional "rack focus" effect.
There are also upgrades to true-tone flash, Smart HDR 4 for contrast, and improved noise reduction–all leading to better-looking photos and selfies on the iPhone 13 compared to 11‘s already excellent dual 12MP camera system.
For videography, the iPhone 13 brings:
- Improved HDR with Dolby Vision: Supports improved contrast and color for better highlight and shadow details.
- Extended dynamic range for more highlight details in up to 60 fps video
- Cinematic mode for auto "rack focus" between subjects
Overall, the iPhone 13 has more compelling photography and especially videography gains that creative users will hugely benefit from.
Performance: Faster Speed with A15 Chip and 5G
The iPhone 13‘s 5nm A15 Bionic processor beats the A13 chip in the iPhone 11, bringing a CPU performance gain of around 10-15% based on benchmarks. For graphics-intensive apps and games, the advantage is even greater at around 30% faster speeds.
Of course, the A13 Bionic still delivers excellent performance and an extremely smooth iOS experience. But the A15 enables more demanding apps, AR experiences, AI-powered features, and future-proofing.
Additionally, the iPhone 13 adds 5G connectivity with support for super-fast mmWave and mid-band networks where available. The iPhone 11 is still very fast on LTE 4G alone. But 5G gives you futureproof ability to maximize network speeds.
Some other performance specs for those curious:
| Spec | iPhone 11 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | A13 Bionic (7nm) | A15 Bionic (5nm) |
| CPU cores | 2 high-perf, 4 high-efficiency | 2 high-perf, 4 high-efficiency |
| GPU cores | 4 | 5 |
| Neural engine cores | 8 | 16 |
| ML accelerators | N/A | New machine learning |
| 5G | No | Yes |
| Max network speed | LTE Gigabit | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) |
Battery Life and Charging
Good news – both the iPhone 11 and 13 deliver excellent all-day battery life lasting over 12 hours mixed usage. Standby time is equally strong at around 20 days on a full charge.
- The iPhone 13 does gain a bit in actual size (3,227 mAh vs 3,110 mAh) which powers the brighter OLED display and 5G connectivity.
- On paper, the iPhone 13 lasts about 1.5 hours longer on internet use (video streaming, web browsing etc). For straight video playback, both last about the same 20 hours.
For charging speed and technology:
- Both iPhones support 18W fast charging with a USB-C power adapter (sold separately). But the iPhone 13 charges slightly faster at up to 20W with MagSafe.
- The iPhone 13 adds support for MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W speeds. The iPhone 11 maxes out at 7.5W wireless charging.
So in summary – you‘ll get very good battery life on both phones, but faster charging capabilities with the iPhone 13. Keep in mind neither ships with the wall charger or headphones in box.
Pricing and Value Comparison
With the launch of iPhone 13, Apple reduced the iPhone 11 price to $499 – an incredible value offering:
| iPhone Model | Current Pricing | Launch Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 | $499 | $699 |
| iPhone 13 | $799 | $799 |
The $300 price difference is substantial when you consider how capable the iPhone 11 remains, even two years since launch. For many budget-focused shoppers, it offers the best bang for buck and is still sold directly by Apple.
Some things to consider regarding value:
- The iPhone 11 remains fast and smooth for everyday tasks with a great camera, bright LCD display, and premium design. For kids or secondary devices, it‘s a great pick.
- Power users who take lots of photos/videos or play graphics-intensive games will benefit more from iPhone 13 upgrades. As will those who want maximum future-proofing.
- Over a long ownership period, the extra $300 for iPhone 13 can be worthwhile to get extended software support until 2026 (vs. 2024 planned for iPhone 11).
Ultimately there is no definitively "better value" – it depends vastly on your budget and needs. Both deliver premium performance and a great iOS experience.
Pros and Cons Compared
To summarize the standout strengths of each iPhone model:
iPhone 11 Pros:
- Great value and discounted pricing from Apple
- Powerful A13 Bionic still delivers fast performance
- Excellent rear cameras with night mode and great video
- Bright, color accurate LCD display
- Very good battery life supports over 12 hours usage
- IP68 water / dust resistance
- Fun color options like green, yellow, or purple
iPhone 11 Cons:
- Lacks 5G connectivity
- Standard 60Hz LCD screen lacks OLED‘s vivid colors
- Low 7.5W wireless charging speed
- No sensor-shift stabilization or Photographic Styles for photos
- Max 18W wired charging (no MagSafe)
- No under-display Face ID/ smaller notch
iPhone 13 Pros:
- Brighter, more vibrant Super Retina OLED display
- Much improved wide and ultra-wide rear cameras
- Next-level video recording with Cinematic Mode
- Very fast A15 Bionic processor and neural engine
- 5G connectivity and WiFi 6 support
- 15W faster wireless charging and 20W wired
- Sensor-shift optical image stabilization
- Ceramic Shield front glass for durability
- Smaller notch leaves more screen space
iPhone 13 Cons:
- Very expensive at $799 starting price
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No high refresh rate ProMotion display
- Charger/headphones still excluded
- Minor year-over-year changes from iPhone 12
Which iPhone Is Better for You?
The iPhone 13 brings fantastic upgrades that power users, photo/video creators, and early tech adopters will greatly benefit from the most. But at nearly $300 more, the two-year old iPhone 11 remains extremely capable – arguably Apple‘s best-ever value phone for the price conscious.
For most everyday folks seeking a reliable phone with great cameras, the iPhone 11 will serve you very well while saving a lot of money. Power users who demand peak performance for gaming or content creation are better served springing for the iPhone 13 however.
Hopefully this detailed and data-driven iPhone 11 vs. iPhone 13 comparison gives you clarity on the right Apple phone for your needs and budget! For any additional questions, check the FAQs below or reach out in comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the iPhone 11 or iPhone 13 better?
The iPhone 13 is certainly "better" in terms of features, technology and future-proofing. But performance wise, most users would be very happy with iPhone 11 still, especially for the price.
Is the iPhone 13 bigger or smaller than the 11?
The iPhone 13 is slightly more compact at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7mm vs. the iPhone 11 at 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm. It‘s also 20 grams lighter weight. The screen size remains 6.1-inches diagonally for both.
Does iPhone 13 use a different charger?
No – both iPhone 11 and iPhone 13 still use Apple‘s Lightning charging port, not the more modern USB-C. So existing cables will still work. But iPhone 13 supports faster charging wattages.
Is it worth moving from the iPhone 11 to 13?
For casual users, probably not – the iPhone 11 remains very fast and capable. More demanding users who capture lots of media and want the latest tech will benefit more from the iPhone 13. Consider if 5G, cameras and display upgrades are personally worth $300+.
Do you need a SIM card for the iPhone 13?
No physical SIM is required – the iPhone 13 lineup uses eSIM technology. So you can transfer an existing cellular plan or activate a new one without needing to insert a small SIM card.
