I switch to iPhone 11 after two years using Android, my experience

I have been an Apple user for several years. In my work, all the devices I use are from the apple company: computer, mouse, laptop and even the new iPad Air. Which, by the way, I posted my analysis a few weeks ago. After months and months of testing different products, I have been able to verify that the different Apple devices, and in general its operating system, make it more productive when it comes to work. But there is a product that I have not dared to try for 2 years, when the iPhone 8 Plus was launched. Yes, it is the iPhone. Apple terminals have never caught my attention as an iPad or a MacBook Pro. And I am very, very used to using Android and all the options it offers. But with the launch of the new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, it was time to re-test the experience and see what had changed and how using an iPhone again would affect me.

The truth is that I have been very attentive to the launch of these new iPhone. If you are a regular reader of OneExpert, you will see that many of the articles about rumors of the iPhone 11, I have published. I wanted to know in detail how these products were going to be. And yes, I was not surprised by practically nothing of the launch, since I knew practically everything about these phones with iOS. The one that most caught my attention was the iPhone 11, the dual camera. And I decided to buy this device for about 810 euros on the Apple website. The same September 13, at 2:00 p.m. I wanted to live that experience of reserving the iPhone that my friends and colleagues in the sector comment so much. Finally I decided to opt for the iPhone 11 of 64 GB and in green color. These are the reasons.

• Cheaper : the iPhone 11 is the cheapest terminal of the new models. There is a difference of 300 euros compared to the 11 Pro, which for me is crucial. I don't know how long I will last with this device, and I don't want to spend more than 1,000 euros to use it for just a few months.
• The design: compact, but not as compact as the 11 Pro. Also quite ergonomic.
• The colors: since I saw it, I fell in love with that mint green. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the colors - or the design in general - of the Pro models.
• The iPhone 11 is enough for me: in terms of performance, the iPhone 11 is more than enough for me. It has the same power as the 11 Pro, the same extras, the same main and secondary cameras, the same selfie camera… It only changes on the screen, battery and finishes.

Of course, the iPhone 11 has some lower features than the Pro model. For example, the screen is of a lower quality: LCD vs OLED in the 11 Pro,  smaller resolution and less brightness and contrast in the model that I have. selected. Also longer battery life in the iPhone 11 Pro, as well as one more camera that allows us to zoom in 2 times with hardly any loss of quality. Seeing the differences and why I opted for this iPhone 11, let's see what I thought after several days using it as the main device.

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET IPHONE 11

A design that draws attention to its colors

The iPhone 11 changes slightly in design compared to the previous generation. The exact same front is kept, with the same screen and the same resolution as the iPhone XR, but now the rear has some changes. Yes, it is glass, but change the camera and the location of the logo. The camera is dual, and although it may not seem like it, the design is very similar to that of the iPhone 11 Pro, but it is as if that third telephoto camera had been taken out of it. The lens is located on the left, in a box that protrudes slightly from the edge, but merges with the same glass on the back. That is, there is no metal bezel that breaks the path between the camera boss and the rear glass. It's like a kind of 3D slit that also has a matte finish.

In the finish there is a detail that I find very interesting. The iPhone 11 Pro have a matte finish back, it is not the conventional and shiny glass that we see in previous models. This finish is also present on the iPhone 11, but in the camera area. The rest of the back is a shiny glass (the classic glass that we have seen from the iPhone 8). However, in the iPhone 11 Pro it is the other way around.

In the area of ​​the camera we have the double sensor, each sensor does have a metal bezel, of a somewhat brighter color . We also see the dual-tone flash and a microphone for video recording and zooming. The bitten apple logo is now in the center. Personally, I don't get used to seeing that apple so low. And I haven't used an iPhone for 2 years.

The frames are made of aluminum, a matt aluminum that has the same color as the back, although somewhat less pronounced. b . At the bottom we find the main speaker and the microphone for calls, as well as the lightning connector. In the right area is the power button, which also serves to summon Siri and Apple Pay. Just below is the tray for the SIM card. On the right side is the volume button. As well as the button to silence calls and notifications.

IPhone 11 Face ID

We go to the front, and here there is nothing new compared to the previous generation. Apple has wanted to reuse the same front as in the iPhone XR, both in size and resolution. We continue with a classic notch, where the new 12 megapixel selfie camera and the TrueDepth camera for Face ID are hidden. Apple's facial recognition system works very, very well. Now it is somewhat faster than the iPhone X (I have been able to compare it and you can tell the difference, but it is not very big either). In addition, it allows unlocking from a greater angle. In this way, if we have it on a flat surface, we will no longer have to put our face in front of Face ID, something that happened in previous generations and that users complained about. She has recognized my face in any situation: with more or less light, with sunglasses, a cap, wet hair, just raised and even with one eye closed. With glasses it also detects correctly. However, I want to highlight something that has happened to me, and that if you use glasses, it may also happen to you when unlocking with Face ID.

The iPhone uses different lasers to detect the contour of our eyes. Some lenses have a filter on the lenses that prevents ultraviolet light reflections. In this way the artificial light does not reflect on the glass and allows us to see better. This is a problem for Face ID, because what the glass of the glasses does is not let the light through and prevents the Face ID from working properly. In my case, it does unlock, but not at the same speed as without using lenses or other conventional glasses.

Beyond the notch and Face ID, the screen has somewhat thicker frames than the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max , since the LCD panel needs to have lighting on the sides. It is not something to worry about, as they are quite well used.

I dare say that it is one of the least beautiful iPhones that I have seen. Although the design is quite comfortable in terms of dimensions, touch in materials, thickness and weight, the physical aspect is something that does not attract attention this year . The colorful back gives it a more interesting touch, and I think this version is a bit prettier than the Pros. However, it does not convince me in terms of appearance. The same thing happens on the front. The notch makes Face ID work very well, but aesthetically it is not pretty. Therefore, we could say that the iPhone 11 complies in terms of materials and durability, but is somewhat below its competitors in terms of design.

The iPhone 11 screen

The bezels of the iPhone 11 are slightly thicker than those of the iPhone 11 Pro.

Before acquiring this iPhone 11 I came from a Huawei P30 Pro as the main terminal, and I was still using the Oppo Reno Z, which I recently analyzed in Your Expert. Both terminals have a great screen, OLED and AMOLED panels of very good quality, with good sharpness, acceptable pixel density and very good colors. The iPhone 11 has an LCD screen with a resolution of 810 pixels and a density of 326 pixels per inch . I thought I was not going to notice change, but yes. Especially in the sharpness of the screen and in the pure blacks of the OLED panel. After a few days using only the iPhone I finished

It is true that it does not have pure blacks or saturated colors like the OLED panel, but in general, the quality of the iPhone 11 screen is very, very good. Pixel density is not a problem, because they are not noticeable with the naked eye, even if you approach the screen. The colors are really good and the brightness is more than enough even in bright conditions . The viewing angles are correct and the tactile response is very, very good.

A negative point of the panel is that the edges have a kind of shading that is quite noticeable in the white outlines. Especially in the notch area.

The two cameras of the iPhone 11 Pro that every Android mobile would like to have

From the screen, I want to jump directly to the camera, because without a doubt it is one of the best sections of this device . Dual camera on iPhone 11; a 12 megapixel main sensor with an f / 1.2 aperture. A second 12 megapixel ultra wide angle camera. In case you were wondering: they are the same as the iPhone 11 Pro, although this superior model has one more lens, which is telephoto.

I'm going to start with the main lens, the 12 megapixel one. On paper it points to the same camera as the iPhone XS, but the truth is that it has changed considerably. Especially in terms of color and detail compared to the previous model. The results of the photographs in broad daylight are excellent , of a very good level. The detail is amazing in practically any situation. It detects shadows correctly, has a very good white balance and does not overexpose the brightest areas, such as direct sun. Indoors with good light we find similar results: good detail and color, and with adequate brightness. We do not have the telephoto sensor of the iPhone 11 Pro, but we can do a 2x zoom in digital format. As you might expect, it loses quite a bit of detail.

The portrait mode improves on the iPhone 11. In the XR we only had one camera, so the portrait was done through software. Apple limited portrait mode to faces, as it did not detect objects or animals. Now, as we have two cameras, we can take pictures of our pets or objects.The results are similar to the main camera in terms of color, detail, brightness, etc. Here the bokeh effect produced by this portrait mode matters mainly. In people it is very good. The background blurs correctly and in most cases makes a good cut of the face, although it is difficult for the camera to capture the hair. Also, we have different light filters. In objects and pets the results are somewhat similar, although it is sometimes difficult to capture the object so that the background can be properly blurred.

Actually, the main camera of the iPhone 11 is one of the best cameras we can find for photographs in scenarios with good light, what happens when the light goes down?

As you might expect, the camera loses some detail and we start to see some noise. However, follow that good interpretation of colors and a correct exposure in light areas . This is where the new night mode comes into play. Unlike Android terminals, this night mode cannot be activated as just another camera mode, it is activated automatically when the camera detects low light. Of course, there is a button in the upper area that allows us to activate the option manually. We can even set the capture time, which depends on whether the area is quite dark or not.

What the night mode does is increase the ISO of the camera automatically. In this way we will achieve a better result and much more light and color than if we shoot through automatic mode. If we compare it with the automatic mode, the difference is much appreciated. The results are good, with a decent color and a very good luminosity. Of course, we lack a little more color and light in some areas. Also, the focus is not as precise as, for example, the night mode of the Huawei P30 Pro.

An ultra wide angle lens

We move on to the wide angle camera. In this case, it does not replace the telephoto lens, since in the iPhone XR we only have one camera. This wide-angle sensor allows you to take more panoramic photos, so it captures more information in the image.Here the results in terms of quality are not as pronounced as the main camera, but they are jaw-dropping. I have personally tried a lot of wide angle lenses, and I think that one of the companies that does a very good job with these cameras is LG, as the results with the V50 ThinQ are quite good. However, the ultra-wide-angle sensor of the iPhone 11 has surprised me. The colors, brightness and overall image quality in broad daylight is very good. But what stands out the most is the correct cropping of the image. We do not see distortion in the edges, nor a too pronounced 'fisheye' when taking pictures in a vertical position. Without a doubt, one of the best lenses that we can find in a mobile.

In situations where the light is lower, we do begin to see a significant loss of quality and information. The contours begin to get a lot of noise and the result of the final image, in most cases, comes out somewhat casual. A negative aspect is that we cannot apply the night mode on this second camera. Therefore, we can say that it is designed mainly for photographs in high light conditions (during the day), although I have missed the night mode for this camera on occasion.

Video recording and selfie camera

Apple has also wanted to focus a lot on video recording. 4K resolution and 60 fps for both cameras. Optical stabilization on the main lens and digital on the ultra wide angle camera. Results? Again, surprising. The results can be seen in these YouTube videos. The first is recorded with the main camera at full resolution. We can see a very good stabilization, an excellent color although with some overexposure in the areas with light, and a very good detail of the closer and more distant objects. It really is wonderful to record with the iPhone. With the wide angle camera (second video) the results are similar. Very good color and image quality. Stabilization is also very, very good. This mode is perfect for capturing more information on the scene. Of course, we cannot pass between the cameras, something that I have missed.

I am not forgetting the selfie. I've always heard that Apple has one of the best front-facing cameras, and since it had improved on this version, I was really looking forward to trying it out. The truth is that yes, the results are very very good, but only when there is good light. In these types of scenarios we get good detail, a correct focus and a fairly well achieved portrait mode. When the light is low we start to see some more noise and we lose a lot of quality. We have the flash on the screen, but it is something that I do not recommend using, since the results are not very good.

An interesting detail of the front camera is that it has a more open angle . In this way, when we go to take a group selfie and turn the device horizontally, the angle will open so that everyone can fit in the photo. The change can also be made with a button that appears in the center. Of course, this option is not available on video.

Finally, the Slo-fie, the new selfie mode in slow motion. It works at 260 fps and it is fun to see how you can create a selfie in slow motion , but it is that typical function that you will hardly use on your mobile.

Camera app and conclusions

I'm finishing the camera section talking about its app , which has supposedly been redesigned, although the sensations are the same as with the iPhone 8 Plus that I used two years ago. The interface is very similar, although now there are some new options, such as the roulette that allows us to switch between the cameras 'manually'. There is also an option to swipe and access some shortcuts, such as filters, timer, and more. I personally like this app. Although I miss a manual mode, the options that we find in the camera are more than enough and allow us to play with the double camera.

What did I think of the iPhone 11 camera? Without a doubt, it is one of the best that we can currently find on a mobile. The main lens performs very, very well in good light conditions and well-lit interiors. The night mode, despite the fact that some Android mobile takes some advantage of it, fulfills perfectly, and the wide-angle lens fulfills perfectly. Without a doubt, what stands out the most is the ease of taking pictures with the iPhone. It's as simple as point and shoot, without the need to control any other parameters. Photographs turn out well most of the time.

Performance, sound and autonomy

Apple updates its processor with each new generation of iPhone. In this case, the iPhone 11 has an A13 Chip, accompanied - supposedly - by 4 GB of RAM. It is the same setup as its older brothers. In addition, we have versions of 64, 128 or 256 GB of storage. Apple boasts that this A13 Bionic is the fastest on the market, surpassing even the processor mounted on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10. I have not been able to compare the power of the processors, but I have played a lot of Mario Kart, Fortnite, Apple Arcade … And I have also done many tasks with the iPhone . The result is always the same: fly.During this week of use I have not noticed any type of LAG or cut. Everything is moving like a charm. The applications are opened instantly, the games load very quickly and the downloads, with a good Wi-Fi connection, are done in a very short time. Of course, when we demand a lot of it, the terminal tends to overheat on the processor side, but it only happens when we spend a long period of time playing.

As for the sound, we have a double stereo speaker. One is located in the notch of the screen and another in the lower frame. Apple calls it 'Spatial Audio'. The truth is that it sounds very, very good. It is a good sound for playing games without headphones or playing music or consuming any type of multimedia content, such as series on Netflix or YouTube videos.

On the battery, the mAh of this model is really unknown. Apple claims it lasts 1 hour longer than the iPhone XR. In my case, I have noticed a correct duration with average use, being able to reach the end of the day with 20 or 10 percent and applying some limitations (brightness control, closing apps in the background ...). With a more (quite) intensive use I have hardly been able to reach it at the end of the day. Around 18:00 in the afternoon with 10 percent after spending time playing games, browsing social networks or consuming multimedia content. The iPhone 11 Pro is compatible with 18W fast charging, the truth is that it is not very fast, but the incredible thing (and for worse) is that it does not have a fast charge charger in the box, but that it comes with a 5W one .In 30 minutes it charges 20 percent, reaching a full charge in a long 3 hours . It is a very negative point considering that the base price is 810 euros. We also have wireless charging.

Software, iOS 13 is king

The operating system of this iPhone is iOS 13. It came with iOS 13 as standard, but it was quickly updated to iOS 13.1, which is a more stable version and with fewer bugs. We have already done the odd article explaining the news of this version and everything that comes to the iPhone: dark mode, new permissions, faster Face ID, new keyboard mode.

In this case, I would like to focus on what it has meant to me to abandon Android and move to a somewhat more closed operating system and limited to Apple devices. There are many positives, but also negatives. I want to start with what I liked the most, and that is the iOS ecosystem and all Apple products. Everything is really well synchronized: I can transfer a photo taken with the iPhone to the mac in just 1 click with AirDrop, or copy a text and paste it on the iPad. This is something that with Android you cannot do unless the manufacturer has some kind of software function.

Another aspect that I liked about iOS is the optimization of the applications. On Android there is a large catalog of devices, while on iOS we only have a limited catalog of iPhones, and they all have the same screen format. This makes it easier for developers to optimize the applications for the system , and it is mainly noticeable in the design of the apps and the good integration with Apple services.

For its part, Apple also adds some of its own services, such as Apple Music, Arcade or Apple TV +, which will arrive soon. Here is a negative point, and it is that if I want to use Spotify as music services, I can do it without problems, but it does not integrate as well as Apple Music.

As for the interface, it is quite beautiful and minimalist . Icons in the same way, good design in the applications, more than necessary settings and a dark mode that can be activated or deactivated from the control center. iOS 13 also has a widget menu on the side to have direct access to some applications or see the battery status.

What aspects of iOS 13 didn't I like? The instability of this version. There are many bugs in the software, sudden closing of applications, cuts in some functions, sound bugs ... Obviously they will update with improvements, but during my week of use I have found these bugs. Also the non-compatibility with other non-Apple devices. For example, if we have a Windows computer, it will be difficult for you to transfer files in a comfortable way.

Price and conclusions

The iPhone 11 is for sale at a price of 810 euros for the 64 GB version , 860 euros for the 128 GB version and 980 euros for the 256 GB variant. It is one of the cheapest iPhones, but ... is it worth it?

The iPhone 11 has pleasantly surprised me. It is a very balanced terminal, with very, very good features, but with some other but. In terms of design it may not be quite convincing, especially if you come from an iPhone X onwards, since the classic Notch can be somewhat repetitive. Also if you come from an Android mobile, especially one that is all screen and does not have such a pronounced notch. And as for the screen, the truth is that we could have a little more resolution so that that pixel density increases, but it is not something that is going to bother us on a daily basis, since we hardly notice the pixels and the brightness and the colors are very very good. I think the change is only noticeable if you come from an AMOLED panel with Full HD resolution onwards, as is my case. Another aspect that has left me a bit bittersweet is the price.Yes, it is the cheapest mobile that we can find in the Apple catalog, but the fact that 64 GB is as a storage option, and above for about 810 euros, I think that this device can be called 'expensive'. On Android, the minimum versions already start at 128GB. And I'm not forgetting the inclusion of the 5W charger in the box.

But not everything is bad in this iPhone 11, it stands out in many respects. One of them, the camera: it is undoubtedly one of the best cameras that we can find on the market,with incredible detail, very good colors and nightly results that are very good. It seems to me a success that Apple has added a wide-angle camera instead of a telephoto lens, since it can give much more play than a 2X zoom. Undoubtedly, and along with video recording, one of the best sections of this iPhone. The performance is also excellent, the A13 Chip does a very good job and you will not notice any kind of cut or LAG on the device. Everything is moving like a charm. And I am not forgetting iOS, which is undoubtedly one of the reasons to buy this iPhone 11. Although it is not very stable, the options it includes, the ecosystem between devices, and the incredible optimization of applications, makes me forget ( at times) from Android.

In short, the iPhone 11 is one of the most balanced terminals that we can find today, and without a doubt the most recommended iPhone. For 800 euros we have the same two cameras as the iPhone 11 Pro (not counting the telephoto lens), practically the same performance as the Pro models, the same software and a very good autonomy. If you are not very demanding with the screen, or you come from an LCD panel or an AMOLED with low resolution, you will not notice the difference in this iPhone 11. Of course, iOS is also one of the main purchase options. If you are looking for a mobile and you do not mind using Android, there are many interesting and cheaper options , such as the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro.

Is it worth paying 300 euros more for an 11 Pro? If what you are looking for is mainly a screen and better versatility in the camera and a longer battery life, it may be better to consider spending that extra to have a more complete terminal.

Positive points

• Double chamber
• Excellent performance
• Very good sound

Bad points

• The screen could have raised some resolution
• There is no fast charging charger in the box
• The front design is the same as 2 years ago.