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Apple's latest iPhones are here. There are three new iPhones to choose from -- the iPhone 11 Pro Max, the smaller iPhone 11 Pro, and the standard iPhone 11. If you're wondering which one is right for you and where to buy them, look no further. We've broken down all your options and parsed out everything you need to know along with all the pre-ordering information we've been able to dig up so far.
If you need to enter the reality distortion field and hear all about Apple's latest pocket-size technological marvels, check out [our full recap of Apple's big event](https://www.wired.com/story/everything-apple-announced-sept-2019/).
||||||||iPhone 11 Image||||||||
There are a few key differences between the new iPhones. Apple has a side-by-side comparison you can look at [here](https://www.apple.com/iphone/compare/){: rel=nofollow}, complete with all the specs if you're a spec-junky.
Our quick take is that all three phones are impressive pieces of hardware. The form factor hasn't changed much beyond the new camera layout (more on that below). The main hardware improvement is the new A13 Bionic processor.
Apple claims its A13 chip has the fastest-ever CPU and GPU in a smartphone. At its launch event the company touted some specs, claiming the A13 is capable of 1 trillion operations per second, and holds 8.5 billion transistors. That should translate to decent speed bump that keeps up with some of the more complex photo and video processing software in these phones.
Perhaps more impressive is that the new chip is brings some added battery life. The iPhone 11 gains an extra hour of battery life, and the Pro models claim four more hours per charge compared to previous models. The Pro screen is nicer. It's higher resolution, brighter, and supports HDR. Going Pro also gets you greater water resistance, four meters for 30 minutes compared to the iPhone 11's two meters for 30 minutes.
- **The iPhone 11 ($699) is the best phone for most people:** The iPhone 11 is very nearly as nice as its Pro siblings at a fraction of the cost. It has the same high-end chip and Neural Engine, very similar size screen, and all of the software improvements work just fine on the iPhone 11. It can shoot the same 4K video at 60fps, and sees some battery life improvements over the iPhone XR. What the iPhone 11 lacks is the brighter, sharper, HDR screen, the telephoto camera, and the added water proofing of the Pro models. Still, the iPhone 11 is a very capable phone. While it lacks the telephoto lens, it still has all the software upgrades like Night Mode, which reduces noise in low-light situations, the Portrait Mode improvements, and a new lighting effect called High Key Mono, which produces black and white images. You also get Smart HDR, Slo-mo selfies (no, we are not using that word), and all the rest of Apple's photo and video software upgrades.
- **The iPhone 11 Pro ($999) has a nicer screen and third camera:** If you want a flagship piece of hardware and don't mind paying for it, this is your phone. The iPhone 11 Pro adds a third, telephoto camera with a 52mm f/2.0 lens. The Pro models get a 2x optical zoom in, along with a 10x digital zoom. Together these extras open up some additional photographic possibilities. Combine the extra camera with the brighter HDR screen, and 11 Pro feels more of a camera that happens to take calls than a phone that takes pictures.
- **The iPhone 11 Pro Max ($1099) is the over-the-top phablet:** The iPhone 11 Pro Max is mostly identical to the Pro, but larger. It's 6.5 inch Super Retina XDR display is notably bigger than the plain Pro's 5.8 inch display. Otherwise though, it's the same phone, just turned to 11.
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### Accessorize
No matter which phone you end up with, get a case. The iPhone 11 line is mostly glass. Sure Apple has ads showing the new iPhone dropping and bouncing off the ground in slo-mo, and the company claims it's the most scratch-resistant glass ever, but trust me, glass does shatter.
Some people don't like the added bulk, but I prefer to protect my phone investment with a case. The [Speck Presidio Sport](https://fave.co/2UOGqJi){: rel=nofollow} provides good protection without being overly bulky, but if you want really bulletproof protection, go for an [OtterBox](https://fave.co/2UO5tvL){: rel=nofollow} case.
### Get an Unlocked iPhone
The easiest way to order is from Apple.com. We recommend you buy the phone unlocked. That way you'll be able to use it on any wireless carrier, should you ever decide to switch. When it comes time to upgrade in couple years, you'll get more money back for an unlocked phone.
- **$699+ from Apple.com (Unlocked, up to $300 trade-in credit)**
### iPhone 'Deals' From Wireless Carriers
While unlocked is really the way to go, since it frees you up to use any network or sell/gift your phone down the road, there are some carrier specific deals out there. If you're satisfied with your current wireless provider, here are the deals each of the major US networks are offering, along with some of the fine print that always accompanies these kinds of offers.
- **[Verizon Pre-order](https://www.verizonwireless.com/smartphones/apple-iphone-11/){: rel=nofollow}:** Verizon has a couple deals. If you switch to Verizon and pony up for the unlimited plan you can get a free iPhone 11, or up to $700 off any new iPhone when you trade-in your smartphone).You'll get your $700 credit in the form of a $500 credit applied over 24 months, and a $200 prepaid card. If you've been planning to switch anyway, and want and unlimited plan, this isn't a bad deal.
- **[AT&T Pre-order](https://www.att.com/buy/phones/apple-iphone-11-256gb-black.html){: rel=nofollow}:** TKTK
- **[Sprint Pre-order](https://www.sprint.com/en/landings/apple/iphone-11.html){: rel=nofollow}:** TKTK
- **[T-Mobile Pre-order](https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/apple-iphone-deals){: rel=nofollow}:** TKTK
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