iPhone X vs iPhone 11
Last updated
Specs from Apple.com
Category Scorecard
Size Comparison
Scaled at 1.2px per mm. The iPhone 11 is 7.3mm taller and 4.8mm wider despite housing a larger LCD (vs the X's OLED).
Full Specifications
| Specification | iPhone X | iPhone 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch year | 2017 | 2019 |
| Display | 5.8-inch · OLED · 60Hz | 6.1-inch · LCD · 60Hz |
| Display type | OLED | LCD |
| Resolution | 2436x1125 | 1792x828 |
| PPI | 458 ppi | 326 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness | 625 nits typical | 625 nits typical |
| HDR display | Yes | No |
| True Tone | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | No | No |
| Notch style | Classic notch | Classic notch |
| Chip | A11 Bionic; 6-core CPU, 3-core GPU, 2-core Neural Engine | A13 Bionic; 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 8-core Neural Engine |
| Main camera | 12MP, f/1.8, OIS | 12MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Ultrawide camera | Not published | 12MP |
| Telephoto camera | 12MP, 2x optical zoom | Not published |
| Front camera | 7MP | 12MP |
| Video max | 4K/60fps | 4K/60fps |
| Battery (video) | Up to 13 hours | Up to 17 hours |
| Apple fast-charge adapter requirement | 18W-or-higher adapter for Apple's fast-charge claim; maximum device draw not published | 18W-or-higher adapter for Apple's fast-charge claim; maximum device draw not published |
| MagSafe charging | No | No |
| Connector | Lightning | Lightning |
| 5G | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 802.11ac | WiFi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Crash Detection | No | No |
| Satellite SOS | No | No |
| Dynamic Island | No | No |
| Camera Control | No | No |
| Action Button | No | No |
| Night Mode | No | Yes |
| Apple Intelligence | No | No |
| Apple lineup status | No longer sold by Apple, checked 2026-09-14 | No longer sold by Apple, checked 2026-09-14 |
| Biometrics | Face ID | Face ID |
| Frame / back | stainless steel / glass | aluminum / glass |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 143.6 × 70.9 × 7.7 mm | 150.9 × 75.7 × 8.3 mm |
| Weight | 174 g | 194 g |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Launch price | $999 | $699 |
OLED compactness versus iPhone 11 battery and ultrawide
When it launched in 2017, the iPhone X introduced Face ID, a full-screen OLED panel, stainless steel, and dual cameras. The iPhone 11 arrived two years later with a lower launch MSRP and better battery, chip, and camera hardware. The iPhone X's OLED at 458 PPI still has higher pixel density than the iPhone 11's LCD at 326 PPI. For a used purchase, choose the iPhone 11 for battery and ultrawide camera features; choose the iPhone X only if its OLED display is the priority.
Display
This is the one category where the iPhone X holds an advantage over the newer iPhone 11. The X uses an OLED (Super Retina HD) panel at 2436×1125 resolution and 458 PPI — delivering true blacks, an infinite contrast ratio, and pixel-dense imagery. The iPhone 11 uses an LCD (Liquid Retina HD) panel at 1792×828 and only 326 PPI — visibly lower resolution per inch, no true blacks, and a lower contrast ratio. However, the 11's display is physically larger at 6.1 inches versus 5.8 inches, and both panels share the same 625-nit typical brightness. Anyone who values display quality would prefer the X's OLED; for media consumption and outdoor readability, the larger screen of the 11 has its own appeal.
Performance
The iPhone 11's A13 Bionic chip is newer and faster than the iPhone X's A11 Bionic. The A13 delivers approximately 20% faster CPU performance and 40% faster GPU performance — the gap is especially noticeable in games, augmented reality, machine learning tasks, and photo processing. The A13 gives the iPhone 11 a newer hardware baseline for current apps and computational photography.
Camera
The two phones take different approaches to dual cameras. The iPhone X pairs a 12MP main sensor with a 12MP 2x optical telephoto — good for portraits and zoomed shots, but no wide-angle option. The iPhone 11 drops the telephoto entirely and instead pairs the 12MP main (with a faster f/1.8 aperture) with a 12MP ultrawide at 120-degree field of view. The ultrawide is a more useful addition for landscapes and architecture. The iPhone 11 also introduced Night Mode — computational photography that produces brighter low-light images than the X's hardware could achieve. The front camera also improved from 7MP on the X to 12MP on the 11, an upgrade for selfies and video calls.
Battery
Battery life is one of the starkest differences between these phones. Apple rates the iPhone X at 13 hours of video playback and the iPhone 11 at 17 hours — a 31% improvement. In real-world use this translates to the X being a one-day phone for moderate users, while the 11 handles a full day with room to spare. Both phones support 18W fast charging and Qi wireless charging — neither has MagSafe, which arrived with the iPhone 12 in 2020. Given both phones are 6-8 years old, battery health in any specific used unit matters more than the spec-sheet numbers.
Design & Build
The iPhone X uses a stainless steel frame — premium and polished, though it shows fingerprints. The iPhone 11 uses an aluminum frame, which is lighter and more scratch-resistant in matte finishes. The X is more compact: 143.6×70.9×7.7mm and 174g versus the 11's 150.9×75.7×8.3mm and 194g. The X's IP67 rating is slightly below the 11's IP68, meaning the 11 can handle deeper water submersion. Both phones have the same classic notch; neither has Dynamic Island. The X came only in Space Gray and Silver; the 11 launched in six colors including Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, (PRODUCT)RED, and White.
Value
The iPhone X launched at $999 in 2017 — Apple's first four-figure iPhone — while the iPhone 11 launched at $699 in 2019, a lower launch MSRP despite being a newer and in most ways better device. Compare live second-hand listings with matching condition and battery health. Unless you specifically want the X's OLED display quality, the iPhone 11 is the more practical second-hand purchase: better chip, better camera flexibility, and longer battery life.
Who Should Buy Which: iPhone X's smaller body versus iPhone 11's endurance
Choose the iPhone X if…
- Display quality is your priority and OLED's true blacks and 458 PPI sharpness are worth the tradeoffs
- You want a more compact body — the X is noticeably smaller and lighter than the 11
- You prefer the 2x optical telephoto for portraits rather than the 11's ultrawide
Choose the iPhone 11 if…
- Battery life matters — four extra hours of video playback is the difference between one and two days of use
- You shoot photos regularly — Night Mode and the ultrawide lens add meaningful creative flexibility the X can't match
- You want a faster chip for gaming, AR apps, and better current-app compatibility
- Budget is the deciding factor — the 11 is typically available for less on the used market despite being newer
Case Compatibility
iPhone X and iPhone 11 cases are NOT compatible. The X is a 5.8-inch phone at 143.6×70.9mm with a single wide-angle plus 2x telephoto camera layout. The iPhone 11 is a 6.1-inch phone at 150.9×75.7mm — 7.3mm taller, 4.8mm wider, and with an entirely different dual-camera system (wide + ultrawide). Camera cutouts, button positions, and overall dimensions are incompatible between these two models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the iPhone 11 better than the iPhone X?
Yes, in most practical ways the iPhone 11 is a meaningful improvement over the iPhone X. The A13 Bionic chip in the 11 is substantially faster than the A11 Bionic in the X. The 11 has a larger 6.1-inch display (though LCD vs the X's OLED), a 12MP ultrawide camera the X lacks, Night Mode photography, 17 hours of battery life versus 13, and 4K/60fps front camera video. The iPhone X does have one display advantage: its OLED panel produces true blacks and higher contrast than the 11's LCD.
Does the iPhone X have a better display than the iPhone 11?
For display technology, yes. The iPhone X uses an OLED panel (Super Retina HD) at 2436×1125 and 458 PPI with true blacks and an infinite contrast ratio. The iPhone 11 uses an LCD panel (Liquid Retina HD) at 1792×828 and 326 PPI — noticeably lower resolution, lower PPI, and unable to achieve true blacks. However, the iPhone 11 is larger (6.1 vs 5.8 inches) and offers 625 nits of brightness, same as the X. The X's OLED still looks better at a spec and panel-quality level despite being an older phone.
Do iPhone X cases fit the iPhone 11?
No. iPhone X cases do not fit the iPhone 11. The X is a smaller 5.8-inch phone (143.6×70.9mm) with a single wide-angle + 2x telephoto camera layout. The iPhone 11 is a 6.1-inch phone (150.9×75.7mm) with a different dual-camera system (wide + ultrawide) and a completely different form factor. The phones are incompatible for case sharing.