If camera quality is a priority and you want a brighter, more vibrant display, the iPhone 12 with its OLED screen and improved overall camera performance is the better choice. The iPhone 12 also has a slightly longer warranty and better screen quality. However, if you're looking to save money and don't mind a slightly lower-quality LCD screen and camera, the iPhone 11 is still a very capable device offering good value. Keep in mind that the iPhone 12 has Dolby Vision recording and 5G connectivity, which the iPhone 11 lacks, but it has a bit shorter battery life than the iPhone 11. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 11
The Apple iPhone 11 has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 12.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 12
Good for taking photos
Good for recording videos
Very good display quality
Good performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
6.6/10
7.3/10
The Apple iPhone 12 has good overall camera quality, while the Apple iPhone 11 has only fair overall camera quality.
The iPhone 12 surpasses the iPhone 11 in camera performance as it boasts a better overall photos software experience and higher selfie quality, with improvements in other areas such as dynamic range and low light performance which contribute to a more versatile camera experience. Even though both models have cameras considered good for selfies, the update in software experience from the iPhone 11 to the iPhone 12 plays a significant role in enhancing the photo quality and user experience.
Photo Quality
6.2/10
7.1/10
The Apple iPhone 12 takes good photos, while the Apple iPhone 11 takes only fair photos.
The iPhone 12 takes better selfies than the iPhone 11 because it has improved selfie quality thanks to advancements in camera software and more versatile camera capabilities that enhance overall photo-taking experience, including better dynamic range and low-light performance. Additionally, while both phones have similar photo resolution, the iPhone 12's photos benefit from a more sophisticated photos software experience, contributing to its ability to capture good photos versus the fair photos of the iPhone 11.
Battery
7.1 Hours
6.2 Hours
The Apple iPhone 11 has 7.1 hours of battery life. The Apple iPhone 12 has 6.2 hours of battery life.
Cost
$271
$600
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 11 has a price of $271 and the Apple iPhone 12 costs $600.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple iPhone 12 to have good videos, while the Apple iPhone 11 takes only fair videos.
The Apple iPhone 12 produces better videos than the iPhone 11 due to advancements in video software experience, video stabilization, and video dynamic range, all of which contribute to more vibrant and stable imagery, especially in challenging lighting. Additionally, the iPhone 12 has improved video resolution/framerate capabilities and better microphone quality, making for clearer and more professional-looking video recordings.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 11 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Apple iPhone 12 is 6.1 inches.
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How the Apple iPhone 11 and the Apple iPhone 12 compare to other phones
"The iPhone 11 delivers superb cameras, fast performance and excellent battery life, making it the iPhone to buy for many people. The cameras are very good, thanks to an ultra-wide lens and a Night mode for better low-light performance. This device also has IP68-rated water resistance, which means that it can withstand 2 meters of water for 30 minutes, and is one of the best waterproof phones out there."
"The iPhone 12 offers many of the important things that you want from the iPhone: a decent camera, 5G, great screen, fast processor. For the group of people who want a new iPhone without the price tag of the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 13 range, this is a great choice. There's no settling for second best with this smartphone."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 11 or the Apple iPhone 12
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
151,800
Recommendations made
86,020
Consumer hours saved
About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.