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After iPhone 14 Reveal, the iPhone 11 Could Be a Great Bargain

Despite the hype of iPhone 14, the iPhone 11 is still a quality iPhone that costs less than $500, and it could get even cheaper.

Sareena Dayaram Senior Editor
Sareena is a senior editor for CNET covering the mobile beat including device reviews. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with more than a decade's worth of experience producing stories for television and digital publications across Asia's financial capitals including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Mumbai. Prior to CNET, Sareena worked at CNN as a news writer and Reuters as a producer.
Expertise Huawei, Oppo, smartphones, smartwatches Credentials
  • More than a decade of journalism experience
Sareena Dayaram
5 min read
iPhone 11 Pro in green

Although the iPhone 14 is now here, the iPhone 11 still could be the right iPhone for many people.

James Martin/CNET

It's been three years since the debut of the iPhone 11, with Apple launching the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 in the years since. And at Wednesday's Apple event, we got all the news about the imminent iPhone 14, which will become available on Friday, Sept. 16.

Although the iPhone 11 is almost three years old, it might still be a good choice for many iPhone users, especially if the price drops considerably after Apple's "Far Out" event today. Prices for earlier iPhone models usually decrease after the official announcement of new models. Even if its price doesn't drop much, the iPhone 11 still has a lot to like for a phone that's under $500.

Do you mind using an iPhone that feels a bit dated? Or do you think saving several hundred dollars is more important than carrying the latest phone? What about 5G -- how important is that to you? If you're shopping on a budget, the iPhone 11 is still a great choice. Although you'll be missing out on some newer features, the iPhone 11 gives you all the basics you'd want from an iPhone, including battery life that's on par with the iPhone 12, a great dual-lens camera that includes night mode and a processor that's still fast enough for everyday tasks. 

But if you have some wiggle room in your budget, here are some questions to ask yourself. (For the purposes of this article, I'm going to assume that you are currently using an iPhone.) And if you're still mulling over your decision after these questions, be sure to peruse our list of the best iPhones and check out all the differences between the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max.

5G connectivity: iPhone 11 doesn't have 5G. But do you really need it right now?

One of the iPhone 11's biggest missing features compared to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 is 5G connectivity. The iPhone 11 is an LTE-only device, and if you don't care for the next-gen wireless tech just yet (service is patchy in the US after all), then the iPhone 11 should suit you just fine. Remember that 5G debuted on the iPhone 12 lineup and getting access to faster bands of 5G depends on where you live, so going for the iPhone 12 makes your purchase more future-proof

An iPhone lying on two old logs surrounded by grass
Angela Lang/CNET

Display quality: You won't get a 120Hz refresh rate on an iPhone 11 (or iPhone 12)

The iPhone 11 uses a crisp LCD screen that refreshes at 60 frames per second, or 60Hz. Apple traded up in the iPhone 12, equipping it with an OLED screen, though it kept the display at 60Hz just like most phones. OLEDs are typically more vibrant than their LCD counterparts, with richer contrast and inkier blacks. If you watch a lot of videos on your iPhone and want a superior viewing experience, an OLED screen might make more sense for you. The iPhone 13 also boasts an OLED panel too, though Apple bumped up the refresh rate for the Pro models to 120Hz. The faster refresh rate will translate to smoother, snappier scrolling through apps and websites. 

Apple's Wallet app on an iPhone screen showing a mock driver's license

Apple's Wallet app will be able to store driver's licenses in iOS 15. 

Screenshot by CNET

Software support: How long will the iPhone 11 get iOS software updates? 

Apple's latest operating system, iOS 15, is supported on many older iPhones, and the oldest is the 2015 iPhone 6S (Here's how to download the new OS, but you may want to wait.) Based on that and some quick mental math, we can deduce that Apple plans to provide iPhone support for up to six years from launch. As a result, with the iPhone 11, unveiled in 2019, you can rest comfortably knowing that you can expect updates through 2025. 

Read more: iOS 16: All the Cool, New Features Coming to Your iPhone

Durability and water resistance: How durable do you want your iPhone to be?

If you do opt for the iPhone 11, you will miss out on a few durability features that are available on the newer iPhone models. One of the iPhone 12's big improvements is the material of its display. Apple calls it "ceramic shield" glass. Made by Corning, the ceramic shield glass covering the phone's display is apparently harder than most metals. Indeed, we can confirm that the iPhone 12's ceramic shield is tough. Our iPhone 12 drop tests show it protected the hardware from drops as high as 9 feet. (CNET's iPhone 12 Mini drop tests yielded similar results.) The iPhone 13 also has the same ceramic shield glass on its display.

So if you're a big klutz and are prone to slips and drops, springing for the iPhone 13 or iPhone 12 is a wise move (or just get a really nice iPhone case). Keep in mind, the iPhone 11 isn't a delicate darling, either. It also survived CNET's drop and water tests and earned a CNET Editors' Choice Award. You can read our iPhone 11 review for more details. 

Read more: Farewell iPhone case: The case for the caseless phone

Price and budget: How much do you want to spend on an iPhone?

Before its fall 2022 "Far Out" event, Apple was selling the nearly three-year-old iPhone 11 for $499, making it a good choice for those shopping on a budget. Now that the iPhone 14 has been officially released, the company no longer sells the iPhone 11 on its website -- you'll need to check licensed resellers in order to compare prices.
It's worth noting that the current iPhone 12 and 12 Mini might come down in price and hit that same $499 level, as typically Apple lowers the price of existing iPhone models after the newest model goes on sale. As of Sept. 7, Apple is still selling the iPhone 12 starting at $599.

iPhone buyers looking for a deal should also consider carrier deals from Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T, all of which may subsidize the price of an iPhone in exchange for committing to a cellular service plan. Last year the three companies offered hundreds of dollars off with those contracts, and could even pay off the phone entirely with a device trade-in. Just keep in mind that there are plenty of caveats to those deals, such as service commitments ranging from 24 to 36 months.

iPhone 11 and 11 Pro in all their new, vibrant colors

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