Comparison iPhone 11 and iPhone 12: Camera, Battery and More Specifications

The next generation of Apple phones is here, the iPhone 12. Again divided into two types: the models for the majority with more affordable prices and the ‘Pro’ with the latest features. In this post we compare the iPhone 11 with the iPhone 12. Have there been many changes between them? Which one is worth more? We analyze it.

We ignore the iphone 12 mini

Along with the iPhone 12 has arrived the iPhone 12 mini, a 5.4-inch version that despite changing in size and battery, shares most of the specifications with the large model. However, we will not compare this version with the iPhone 11, since in the end it corresponds to more other types of comparisons in its target audience. Therefore, we will compare the iPhone 11 with its natural successor.

Comparison iPhone 11 and iPhone 12

IPhone 11 and iPhone 12 Specifications

We believe that the experience with a device says much more than what they are on paper. In this case it is not an exception and we will analyze later other sections that must be taken into account, but we believe it is important to know in advance what both terminals offer us in their table of technical characteristics.

iPhone 11 y iPhone 12

features iPhone 11 iPhone 12
Colors -Black
-White
-Red
-Green
-Yellow
-Violet
-Black
-White
-Red
-Green
-Blue
Dimensions -Height: 15.09 cm
-Width 7.57 cm
-Thickness: 0.83 cm
-Height: 14.67 cm
-Width: 7.15 cm
-Thickness: 0.74 cm
Weight 194 grams 162 grams
screen 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD (LCD) 6.1-inch Super Retina Display XDR (OLED)
Resolution 1,792 x 1828 pixels at 326 pixels per inch 2,532 x 1,170 pixels at 460 pixels per inch
Brightness 625 nits typical 625 nits typical and 1,200 nits (HDR)
Processor A13 Bionic with 3rd Generation Neural Engine A14 Bionic with 4th Generation Neural Engine
Internal memory -64 GB
-128 GB
-256 GB
-64 GB
-128 GB
-256 GB
Speakers Two stereo speakers Two stereo speakers
Autonomy -Video Playback: 17 hours
-Video streaming: 10 hours
-Audio playback: 65 hours
-Video Playback: 17 hours
-Video streaming: 11 hours
-Audio playback: 65 hours
Frontal camera 12 Mpx lens with f / 2.2 aperture 12 Mpx lens with f / 2.2 aperture
Rear camera -Wide angle: 12 Mpx with aperture f / 1.8
-Ultra wide angle: 12 Mpx with f / 2.4 aperture and 120º field of view
-Wide angle: 12 Mpx with aperture f / 1.6
-Ultra wide angle: 12 Mpx with f / 2.4 aperture and 120º field of view
Connector Lightning Lightning
Face ID Yes Yes
Touch ID Not Not
Price From 689 euros at Apple From 909 euros at Apple

You are probably wondering what about things like RAM or battery capacity. Well, Apple does not offer this data for marketing reasons. The operation of these components in an iPhone is different from that of Android devices, since the fact that it is Apple itself that designs both the hardware and the software (processor included) gives it the advantage of offering less capacity in RAM and drums.

A similar, but not identical design

If you only look at the front or the back of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 you could even say that they are the same phone. All this taking into account that you compare them in white, black or red colors, which are the ones they share. However there are slight differences on the sides. Those of the iPhone 11 are slightly curved, being something standard in Apple phones since the iPhone 6. In the 12 however we find a design with straight edges and curved at the corners that is reminiscent of the classic iPhone 4 and the current iPad Pro and iPad Air.

iPhone 11 y iPhone 12

In the end this will depend on personal tastes of each one, but it is a noticeable difference when you pick up the phone. They both really have a good grip, so there should be no problem handling it in fear of it slipping and hitting.

As far as construction materials are concerned, the iPhone 11 is composed of glass both in its front and back, accompanied by aerospace-quality aluminum. The iPhone 12 for its part also includes aluminum, but has a front made with what Apple has called Ceramic Shield, which ends up giving up to 4 times more resistance to the device against drops and scratches. Although none are indestructible, the truth is that a priori one should be more secure with the latest generation model.

Different measurements and weights on the iPhone 12

Despite the fact that these two devices mount a screen of the same size, the truth is that their measurements are slightly lower in the iPhone 12. This, at least in our opinion, is a point very much in favor of the terminal due to the fact that makes it much more manageable and comfortable to use.

In weight we find that the iPhone 11 weighs 32 grams more . It is not a drama nor does it really make it a heavy phone if we look at other terminals, but the reduction made in its successor is the less striking. Also in height, width and thickness there are more than obvious differences that make the 12 more practical. And yes, it shows when it is used, but in any case we insist on emphasizing that it is not something really crazy or that it can be defining to time to decant the balance.

iPhone 11 vs iPhone 12

Reasonable chip differences, but can you tell?

The world of performance analysis goes a long way. In terms of figures and figures, the A13 and A14 of these iPhone 11 and 12 respectively offer interesting differences that provide a better overall performance to the last generation device. This really should not be a surprise, since it is logical that it happens with every new mobile. However, it must be borne in mind that since it is a jump from a single generation, the difference is not enormous in the user experience. In both terminals actions can be executed with total fluidity, either opening apps on a daily basis or demanding a little more with heavier processes such as photo or video editing and even video games.

A13 Bionic vs A14 Bionic iPhone 11 vs iPhone 12

In the field of software updates, precisely the chip that each device mounts is taken into account. Apple grants an average of 4-5 years of updates to its devices, although we intuit that from the A12 they could even be longer thanks to the neural engine that accompanies them. Therefore these phones will continue to update their version of iOS for many years, with a difference of only one year in favor of the iPhone 12.

Two screens and two different worlds

LCD and OLED . These are the display technologies that both devices have. While it is true that the historical experience with LCD panels has given Apple a good result, the truth is that the improvement with OLEDs is more than considerable. An iPhone 11 looks very good despite having inferior features and in fact in high or low light circumstances it is still an excellent panel. However, the change to that of the iPhone 12 is very noticeable, with new materials and a very balanced color calibration that makes everything look more alive without sacrificing naturalness.

Pantalla iPhone 11 y iPhone 12

Water and dust resistance

Both the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 share IP68 certification against water and dust, although with slight changes between them. The iPhone 11 can dive up to 2 meters deep for 30 minutes, while the 12 can dive up to 6 meters for the same time. In any case, it is not advisable to use them in water , since Apple is not responsible for any damage that may be caused. And yes, they are supposed to be ready for it, but this is achieved by means of a special seal that ends up suffering over time despite the fact that it looks new to the naked eye.

Speaking of memory, did Apple forget something?

Well yes, it seems that Apple forgot to increase the base capacity of the iPhone 12, since part of the same 64 GB as the iPhone 11. Even the intermediate version of 128 GB and the larger 256 GB is shared. Logically it was not something fortuitous, but planned. Many users may be satisfied with 64 GB, but in many cases having to resort to cloud storage services such as iCloud.

However, another good handful of consumers could be forced to opt for a greater capacity in either of these two iPhones considering that the 64 GB can be relatively easy to consume. Applications are taking up more and more space, to which we must also add the weight of high-resolution photos and videos that these phones are capable of taking, so a bad choice in capacity could be a jug of cold water if we also take into account that none is extended by microSD .

4G vs 5G connectivity? Is that connectivity real?

5G iPhone

Anyone who saw the iPhone 12 launch event would realize the emphasis Apple put on promoting the 5G connectivity adopted by its iPhone 12 and that its predecessors such as the iPhone 11 did not have. A video even circulated on the networks in which the number of times this technology was mentioned was counted. However, there are certain aspects to take into account.

The first weight factor is that real 5G connectivity will only reach the United States , having in Europe a kind of improved 4G that does not end up matching the excellent speed results of the authentic one. Therefore, if you are in Spain or any other country other than North America, you will not even have the antenna that allows this connection.

The other factor to take into account is that 5G lacks sufficient infrastructure today . Even if there were a real 5G in territories like ours it would be something unnecessary, unless today. Although this is something that is solved over time and is already in full expansion, 5G should not be something to take into account today. However, if you are going to choose to buy one of these iPhones with the vision of having them for many years, without a doubt the iPhone 12 will allow you to better adapt to these new times.

Identical autonomy in the two cases

Despite not being officially known the capacity of the iPhone batteries, it has been possible to transcend the fact that the iPhone 12 has a lower capacity than the iPhone 11. The most curious thing about this is that despite this, both maintain the same autonomy. Although to tell the truth this is not something magical, but it is achieved thanks to the optimization of resources of the A14 Bionic processor.

precio bateria iphone 11

Therefore, other things being equal, both terminals should last the same time. Although Apple specifies one more hour of streaming video playback for the iPhone 12, it does not seem that in the end it will be entirely accurate. There is no generic indicative of hours taking into account the different uses that each person makes, but in general it could be said that on rare occasions it will be necessary to go through the plug before night.

And yes, it is not the best autonomy on the market, but it cannot be said that it is bad either. Both devices comply for most users and this section should not be a problem in any case.

Differences in iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 cameras

At a technical level this is what we find in devices at the photography and video level, ignoring data given in the previous table in which we specify the Mega Pixels or the focal aperture.

specs iPhone 11 iPhone 12
Photos front camera -Retina Flash (with screen)
-HDR smart
-Portrait mode
-Depth control
-Portrait lighting
-Retina Flash (with screen)
-HDR smart 3
-Portrait mode
Front camera videos -Expanded dynamic range for video at 30 frames per second
Cinema quality video stabilization in 4k, 1080p or 720p
-Video recording in 4K at 24, 30 or 60 frames per second
-Video recording at 1080p at 30 or 60 frames per second
1080p slow motion recording at 120 frames per second
-Video QuickTake
-Expanded dynamic range for video at 30 frames per second
Cinema quality video stabilization in 4k, 1080p or 720p
-Video recording in 4K at 24, 30 or 60 frames per second
-HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 30 frames per second
-Night mode
-Deep Fusion
-Video recording at 1080p at 30 or 60 frames per second
1080p slow motion recording at 120 frames per second
-Video QuickTake
Photos rear cameras -Optical image stabilization
Optical zoom out x2
-Digital zoom x5
-Flash True Tone with slow sync
-Portrait mode
-Portrait lighting
-HDR smart
-Night mode
-Deep Fusion
-Optical image stabilization
Optical zoom out x2
-Digital zoom x5
-Flash True Tone with slow sync
-Portrait mode
-Portrait lighting
-HDR smart 3
-Improved night mode
-Deep Fusion
Rear camera videos -Video recording in 4K at 24, 30 or 60 frames per second
-Video recording at 1080p at 30 or 60 frames per second
-Extended dynamic range for video up to 60 frames per second
Optical zoom out x2
-Digital zoom x3
-Audio zoom
-Video QuickTake
-Slow motion recording at 1080p at 120 or 240 frames per second
-Video in time-lapse with stabilization
-Stereo recording
-Video recording in 4K at 24, 30 or 60 frames per second
-Video recording at 1080p at 30 or 60 frames per second
-HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 30 frames per second
-Extended dynamic range for video up to 60 frames per second
Optical zoom out x2
-Digital zoom x3
-Audio zoom
-Video QuickTake
-Slow motion recording at 1080p at 120 or 240 frames per second
-Video in time-lapse with stabilization
-Video in time-lapse with night mode
-Stereo recording

Although the differences are not very great, there are certain aspects that the iPhone 12 incorporates and that must be taken into account. One of them is the arrival of Deep Fusion to the front camera , this being the computerized photo enhancement system. Also the fact of being able to have the night mode in this camera is appreciated, in addition to an improvement in the rear of which Apple says is 87%.

iPhone 12

The fact of also adding HDR in video in the iPhone 12 is a novelty in the sector, allowing more and more professional video work. Especially noteworthy is the time-lapse recording also with the night mode mode. They are, in short, small changes but that are appreciated if you compare both phones.

No adapter or headphones!

The iPhone 12 stood out negatively by not incorporating the well-known EarPods wired headphones or the power adapter in the box. However, this has also been extended to the rest of the devices that Apple continues to market, leaving them only with a USB-C to Lightning cable . Apple argued that it was due to ecological reasons, but the truth is that it was not exactly well received news by much of the public.

So, if you buy any of these terminals, you will have to choose to reuse your old adapters or buy a new one, either from Apple or some other third-party store.

If you already have an iPhone 11, is the 12 worth it?

iPhone 11

Probably not. We have seen some sections, especially that of the screen, in which the iPhone 12 stands out especially. However, we do not believe that it is a sufficient reason to make a disbursement for the new equipment. More if we take into account that the price has increased 100 euros compared to what the 11 cost at the time. If you are having a good experience with the 11, it does not compensate you, although if you think you need something more, perhaps the iPhone ‘Pro’ could be more object of your needs than this 12. Similarly if you need a smaller device, the ‘mini ‘will fulfill what you require.

If you have a previous iPhone or another mobile

We think the jump from an iPhone XS or earlier to either of these is more than acceptable. Although with the iPhone 12 the change will be much more noticeable, even with the 11 improvements would be noticed. It is true that coming from an iPhone X or XS the change of screen would be noticed, but you would win in terms of photography, video and autonomy. The case is already slightly different if you come from an Android, since it will depend on what benefits that terminal was offering you.

In the end, what the decision will depend on is also your purchasing power and how much you are willing to spend for one or the other. The iPhone 12 is better, but perhaps the differences are not so great as to pay the difference in price there between them. Again your needs will also come into play. Either way, any of these phones will be a great investment.