iPhone 11 Pro vs iPhone 11 Pro Max: which one should you choose?

What makes the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max interesting?

In September 2019, Apple released the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max . The first major change that we notice compared to the previous generation (the XR, XS and XS Max) is the chip, the A13 Bionic. If you buy one of the iPhone 11 series phones or even the (smaller and cheaper) iPhone SE 2020, you can expect many years of updates. In three, four, even five years, phones should still work perfectly, despite advances in software and image quality. We have already written articles to go further if you want to get an opinion on the iPhone 11 Pro.

The A13 Bionic chip

With the A13 Bionic chip, Apple has developed new technology that will prevail over the next few years. Although there is already the A14 variant in the iPhone 12, the concrete differences in the fluidity of daily use with the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max are not obvious. What stands out is the six-core 64-bit ARM. Two of the cores here that Apple calls Lightning - so they're said to be lightning fast at 2.66GHz. Beneath this is Power Efficiency (Thunder), which is made up of four cores that thunder across the world at 1.73 GHz.

AMX units are new and dramatically sped up computations in AI applications. It must be said that the competition is not sleeping either. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, with its eight cores, ensures extremely smooth processes in Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy S20 , Xiaomi Redmi K30s and Sony Xperia 5 II.

Here are the technical characteristics of the A13 Bionic chip, for those who are interested:

• 64-bit ARM architecture with six cores.

• Two 2.66 GHz Lightning cores.

• Four 1.73 GHz Thunder cores.

• Integrated graphics processor with four shader clusters.

• Dedicated neural network hardware with eight cores.

• 8.5 billion transistors.

• 16 MiB system cover.

If that sounds like gibberish to you, no worries, it just means that the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max are fast, smooth, and perform well in any situation. Simple!

What are the features of the iPhone 11 Pro?

The iPhone 11 Pro features a thin-film OLED display that finally replaces the old LCD format, like the one used in the iPhone SE 2020. With its 14.73 cm (5.8 inches) , the screen is neither too big nor too small. It fits comfortably in your hand, but you have a wide enough field of view to enjoy videos. The resolution is 2436 x 1125 pixels at 458 ppi . It is therefore perfectly suitable for viewing images and videos from the 12-megapixel triple camera with wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle and telephoto lenses.

These three cameras record movies in 4K quality. As mentioned, the processor used is the A13 Bionic - which can rely on 4GB of RAM. As an option, you get internal storage for your data of 64, 256 or 512 GB. When it comes to network connectivity, the iPhone 11 Pro is compatible with GSM, UMTS, CDMA, and LTE. Also, for the first time, Apple has included a U1 chip for ultra-high-speed wireless connectivity. The battery is 3046 mAh and lasts about 18 hours in video playback alone without internet.

To summarise so far:

• 5.8-inch (approx. 15 cm) OLED display (2436 x 1125 pixel resolution at 458 ppi).

• 12 MP triple camera (wide angle, ultra wide angle and telephoto).

• 12 MP front camera.

• Apple A13 Bionic processor.

• 4 GB of RAM.

• 64, 256 or 512 GB of built-in storage space.

• Compatible with GSM, UMTS, CDMA and LTE.

• Ultra-wideband U1 chip.

• 3046mAh battery.

What's different about the iPhone 11 Pro Max?

With its 16.51 cm (6.5 inches), the iPhone Pro Max is more of a phablet (smartphone-tablet) than a smartphone. The ultra-high resolution of 2688 x 1242 pixels at 458 ppi lets you view razor- sharp images and videos. On the other hand, there is no difference with the iPhone 11 Pro in terms of cameras, processor, integrated memory and RAM. On the other hand, the battery is much more powerful with 3,969 mAh and lasts about 2 hours longer. To summarise, here are the key differences:

• The iPhone 11 Pro Max is much larger, at 16.51cm (6.5in).

• It has a higher resolution: 2,688 x 1,242 pixels at 458 ppi.

• Its 3969 mAh battery is more powerful.

• It is also heavier: 226 g against 188 g for the iPhone 11 Pro.

iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max Features Comparison Table

Which iPhone to choose based on usage?

The differences between the iPhone 11 Pro and the Pro Max are rather marginal:

Only image resolution, aspect ratio and battery are more important on the Max version. Choosing between the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max usually comes down to your screen quality preferences: if you stream a lot and want to use the phone for video consumption while travelling or at home, then you are better off with the Pro Max. It is also backed up by a particularly powerful battery. The iPhone 11 Pro, on the other hand, is much more manageable and therefore ideal as a mobile device for photo and video production as well as for classic downloading and surfing. For further details, take a look at our  iPhone 11 Pro vs 11 Pro Max comparison.

Are they more worthwhile than the iPhone 12?

The next-gen iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro already feature the new A14 Bionic chip, which offers faster performance by comparison (although you won't really notice it on a day-to-day basis). The RAM is more important with 6 GB of RAM. The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max can already be used for 5G technology . On the other hand, the battery has shrunk a bit on both variants.

Your decision between Series 11 and 12 clearly comes down to your finances and value for money. In general, you can't go far wrong with the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Especially when it comes to the quality of the cameras, there is no difference to its successor. The best thing to do is to check out the Back Market offers (up to 70% cheaper than new) and choose your favourite.

The benefits of buying a refurbished iPhone 11 Pro or Pro Max

Buying a refurbished iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max guarantees you low prices with discounts between 30% and 70%. You will always get a perfectly working, refurbished phone. And you'll do your part to reduce raw material extraction and e-waste. By buying on Back Market, you benefit from a minimum 12-month guarantee and a 30-day returns period.

If you're also deciding between an iPhone 12 Pro Max and an iPhone 11 Pro Max , take a look at our comparison tool.