iPhone XR vs iPhone 11
Last updated
Specs from Apple.com
Category Scorecard
Size Comparison
Scaled at 1.2px per mm. Both phones are the same size — but the camera modules are completely different. Cases are not interchangeable.
Full Specifications
| Specification | iPhone XR | iPhone 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch year | 2018 | 2019 |
| Display | 6.1-inch · LCD · 60Hz | 6.1-inch · LCD · 60Hz |
| Display type | LCD | LCD |
| Resolution | 1792x828 | 1792x828 |
| PPI | 326 ppi | 326 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness | 625 nits typical | 625 nits typical |
| HDR display | No | No |
| True Tone | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | No | No |
| Notch style | Classic notch | Classic notch |
| Chip | A12 Bionic; 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 8-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 | Not published | Not published |
| Front camera | 7MP | 12MP |
| Video max | 4K/60fps | 4K/60fps |
| Battery (video) | Up to 16 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 | aluminum / glass | aluminum / glass |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 150.9 × 75.7 × 8.3 mm | 150.9 × 75.7 × 8.3 mm |
| Weight | 194 g | 194 g |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Launch price | $749 | $699 |
The same body, with a camera and battery step
The iPhone 11 adds an ultrawide camera and Night Mode that the iPhone XR lacks, upgrades the front camera from 7 MP to 12 MP, and runs the A13 instead of the A12. Both bodies have the same listed dimensions and weight. Choose the iPhone 11 if the price gap is small; choose the XR when the lower price matters and you do not need an ultrawide camera or Night Mode.
Display
The displays are the same. Both the iPhone XR and 11 use a 6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina panel at 326 ppi and 625 nits brightness. Neither phone has OLED — that came with the iPhone 12. The difference between the XR and 11 is in the camera, chip, and front sensor.
Performance
The iPhone 11 uses Apple's A13 Bionic, one chip generation ahead of the XR's A12. The A13 was the first chip Apple designed with a dedicated machine learning accelerator, enabling features like faster Night Mode processing and the Neural Engine tasks that power iOS computational photography. For everyday use both phones run current apps well, but the A13 is newer and handles computational photography and demanding apps better. Tasks like Live Text, Translate, and advanced photo processing are faster on the 11.
Camera
The camera is the main real-world difference. The iPhone XR has a single 12MP rear camera; the iPhone 11 adds a second 12MP ultrawide lens with a 120° field of view. Ultrawide lets you capture architecture, landscapes, and group shots in tight spaces that a standard lens can't frame. The 11 also introduced Night Mode, a multi-frame computational technique for low-light shots. On the front, the 11 upgrades from 7MP to 12MP, improving selfie sharpness and Portrait Mode quality.
Battery
The iPhone 11 is rated at 17 hours of video playback versus 16 on the XR — a one-hour difference that's within the margin of daily variation. Both use an 18W-or-higher adapter for Apple's fast-charge claim (maximum device draw is not published) and neither has MagSafe (that debuted with the 12). Battery is not a compelling reason to choose one over the other; both will get through a typical day comfortably.
Design & Build
The XR and 11 are physically identical at 150.9 × 75.7 × 8.3 mm and both weigh 194g. Same aluminum frame, same glass back, same notch size, same rounded corners. The one design difference that matters functionally: the XR's IP67 rating means water resistance up to 1 meter for 30 minutes, while the 11 upgraded to IP68 (2 meters for 30 minutes). The camera module on the back is visually very different — the XR has a single circular lens while the 11 has a square two-lens module — which is why cases designed for one won't fit the other.
Value
The iPhone XR launched at $749 — $50 more than the iPhone 11's $699. Apple positioned the 11 as a more affordable upgrade with practical improvements. Today, used XRs are available at low prices, but so are 11s. The camera gap between the two is large enough that the 11 is worth the marginal extra cost when prices are close. The XR makes sense if it's much cheaper or you don't care about the camera at all.
Who Should Buy Which: iPhone 11's ultrawide versus iPhone XR's price
Buy the iPhone XR if…
- You find one at a much lower price and use your phone mainly for calls, texts, and social media browsing
- You rarely take photos outside of bright daylight where both cameras perform similarly
- It's a secondary or travel phone where you don't need the strongest camera
- Budget is the primary driver and the price gap over the 11 is substantial
Buy the iPhone 11 if…
- You want to shoot group photos or indoor spaces where an ultrawide lens makes a difference
- You take photos at night or in dim settings — Night Mode alone justifies the upgrade
- You use FaceTime or video calls regularly and want a sharper 12MP front camera
- You're near or in water and want the extra IP68 protection over the XR's IP67
Case Compatibility
iPhone XR and iPhone 11 cases are not compatible, despite both phones being exactly the same size (150.9 × 75.7 mm). The XR has a single circular camera lens while the 11 has a square dual-lens module. The camera cutouts are completely different shapes. A case designed for one will not fit the other — always check the specific model listed on any case packaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do iPhone XR cases fit iPhone 11?
No. Both phones are 150.9 × 75.7 mm, so the shell fits, but the camera cutout doesn't match. The XR has a single circular lens and the 11 has a square dual-lens module. Any case designed for the XR will cover one of the 11's cameras.
What does the iPhone 11 have that the iPhone XR doesn't?
The key additions: ultrawide rear camera (the XR has only one lens), Night Mode for low-light photography, a 12MP front camera (vs 7MP on the XR), A13 Bionic chip (newer, faster), IP68 water resistance (vs IP67), and Dolby Vision HDR video recording. That's a meaningful list of practical improvements.
Is upgrading from iPhone XR to iPhone 11 worth it?
If prices are similar, yes — primarily for the ultrawide camera and Night Mode. These are features you use constantly, not just occasionally. The front camera upgrade from 7MP to 12MP is also meaningful if you video call often. If the XR is substantially cheaper, it's still a capable phone for non-photography tasks. But between these two at comparable used prices, the 11 wins.