We have seen the future and it is colourful. Apple’s made the iPhone 11 official and it looks for all the world like the budget iPhones we’ve seen in the past. Kinda. You know, quirky design and colourful options (including purple, yellow, red, and black). But this is the base model, rather than something featuring stripped back hardware. The concession? Seems to be the display and the camera sensors. Not the sensors themselves, just the number — there’s a dual camera in the iPhone 11.
Screen test
Seeing double
Not long at all for video, which has been upgraded — hard. Users will have 4K up to 60fps at their disposal, with a raft of features to make video footage better looking than ever. Apple’s claiming the highest video quality ever in a smartphone, a claim that we’re eager to test out. We’re not believing it. Yet. One thing we are believing is the new recording shortcut. While snapping an image, users can hold down the shutter button to record immediately. That’s… actually a nice touch.
And up front? A 12MP wide-angle front sensor, also capable of 4K video and slo-mo. And a little selfie magic. Not bad for the so-called budget handset.
Power Play
And they’ll stay in action for a while longer. Apple still won’t give up battery sizes but iPhone 11 users will apparently get an extra hour over the iPhone XR’s battery life. That’s a good place to start.
Counting the cost
Apple’s given us a price for the iPhone 11 — the handset range starts at $699 (about R10,300). What we weren’t told at the time? Storage options and availability. (Some of) that came out when Apple announced the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max’s availability. We’ll see em all launch from 20 September, with international pre-orders starting on 13 September. That’s this Friday.