The iPhone 11: The Future of Apple and iPhone Photography
10 years ago, the race to be the smartphone of choice was hot, and contenders couldn’t wait to let consumers see what they had next in line to challenge the iPhone’s monopoly on the word, “innovation”. A year ago, it seemed like Apple’s ubiquity with innovation was at risk.
After Apple’s launch event, a lot of iPhone Photographers, especially the prodigals who embraced Android devices, are ready to make the jump (back) into the iPhone 11, and finally embrace the Apple Ecosystem — and Apple proved once again, that they’re not opposed to giving people (iPhone Photographers to be specific) what they’re asking for...
Read: The New 2019 iPhone: A Photographer’s Wishlist Fulfilled?
Most websites that explore the new iPhone 11 (as well as the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max) specs do it from the vantage point of techies, but what exactly will the new tricked out iPhones bring to the table in the realm of photography?
If You’d like to know that, as well as whether the iPhone 11 is enough to get you to give the iPhone XS (and XS Max) a miss, then read more to find out…
An iPhone 11 Is How Much?!?
While Apple did spend a considerable amount of time talking about the iPhone 11 Pro’s specs, and of-course showcasing the iPhone’s three camera lenses, and bigger (therefore longer-lasting, as was requested) battery, they sort of murmured the fact that their iPhone 11 base model would be available at a price cut.
Yup! The new iPhone 11 will be $50 cheaper than the iPhone XR.
The iPhone 11, which looks quite similar to the iPhone XS and XS Max while sporting its dual-lens system, can be purchased at a starting price of $699. If you’d like additional storage, then yes, you’ll have to pay an extra $50, but what you’ll then have is a phone that laughs at the iPhone XR’s singular camera, for the same price!
So, this one is for the history books folks! Apple has finally forced all the other phone manufacturers to cap their price for a baseline phone model, while simultaneously teaching them about how much a tech company can expect to charge for their premium offering. For that, the consumer is grateful It’s true that smartphone sales are in decline (which a stark contrast from 10 years ago), it might explain why Apple decided to offer the iPhone 11 at a starting price of $699.
iPhone 11 Photography: Wide, Ultrawide, and Telephoto Lenses
If you’re up to spending a bit more money, then you’ll be pleased to know that the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max pretty much cameras that you can coincidentally text and make calls with. With these two iPhone 11 models, it is ALL about the camera capabilities.
Believe it or not, the three-camera set up on the iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max is Apple’s first foray into the triple-lens market and represents a pretty big risk for the company. Apple needs us to buy these phones! Each of the lenses at the rear of the premium iPhone 11s boast a wide lens, ultra-wide lens, and telephone lens. At the risk of sounding too technical, Apple has paired the wide-angle lens with both the telephoto lens and wide-angle lens’ sensors.
Basically, Apple thought about reducing the lag between switching between the 13-megapixel ultrawide lens, and the 12-megapixel camera and telephoto lenses respectively — especially since you’ll be making the switches on your screen and will need to instantly see the difference between each lens, in the scene.
Read: The Most Popular iPhone Photography Apps in 2019
The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone Pro Max Cameras
If you’re already thinking about the many ways that these three new lenses will step-up your Instagram game, then you’ll be glad to know that the telephoto lens (which is already zoomed in) will still come with 2x optical zoom, while the regular camera system that you’ve become accustomed to will come with 4x optical zoom.
Another thing that was ubiquitous with the iPhone XS and XS Max was dedicated night mode — that is still a feature in the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone Pro Max, which will make details bright without the noise that comes with increasing saturation in low-light conditions.
Something that you’re not going to find on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max is something called, “Deep Fusion”. Deep Fusion is a feature that takes all the best elements in nine (yes that’s 9) different images that the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max takes, and automatically combines them using AI (machine learning), to give you an image that is way better than something that you could shot yourself. I know a whole lot of iPhone Photographers who will want to put Deep Fusion through its paces to see if it’s real or just hype.
And finally, another feature that you won’t find on any other iPhone so far is slow-motion for the front-facing camera. Yes. slow-motion. Not quite sure what the application for this can be, but it would be interesting to see how to live streamers, etc. will take advantage of it creatively.
iPhone 11: Rumours v Reality
Okay— so the first disappointment is that reverse charging is still going to remain to be a Samsung feature, because Apple pretty much said, “no gracias” to that feature, as was rumored. It’s actually quite curious to think about where those rumors could have come from.
Apple has also not made the iPhone 11s compatible with the Apple Pencil or replaced the lightning connection with USB-C.
What the Pros Say...
Journalists at CNET got hands-on experience with the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Max, and they mention that the new kids on the block look quite similar to their older siblings, the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR — including the characteristic notches.
According to CNET, the new iPhone 11s colors and finishes look less like “fingerprint magnets” and way more sophisticated than the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.
Then there’s that, “midnight green shade” that had tongues wagging. Some calling it ugly outright, while others preferring to, “see it in person first”— which is pretty normal for most iPhone consumers. Considering how much the premium iPhone 11s retail for, it makes sense to play it by ear.
Read: Best Luxury Leather iPhone Cases: Meet the Ferra from Hitcase
Summary
Tim Cook is quoted to have said that all the iPhone 11s are, "the most powerful and stunning iPhones we've ever built," and whether you choose to believe him, is solely up to you.
One key takeaway from the launch is that Apple understands that gone are the days that consumers are willing to spend over $1,000 on a new smartphone — even if those consumers are so-called influencers.
The iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max go on preorder starting Friday, September 13 at 5 a.m. PT. They arrive in-store on September 20.
The iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max go on preorder starting Friday, September 13 at 5 a.m. PT. They arrive in-store on September 20.
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