Convince me: iPhone 11 or iPhone Pro...or...?

TazCaz

Hello,
I'm well overdue to buy a new phone. I currently have the SE, which I love, but it's only 16G and I take a lot of photos so I desperately need more space (and would love a better camera). I know there's the possibly an improved SE coming out but that could be anytime between March and September, depending on the rumours and I don't think I can wait much long as I'm constantly having to offload apps to use other apps and download photos every couple of days. Have been looking at the iPhone 11, iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max and I *think* I'm tossing up between the 11 and the 11 Pro, mostly because I am after a great camera in the smallest possible handset. I don't need to have the newest, shiniest thing, but it does make sense to me that if I'm only upgrading every five years or so, I might as well get the best I can afford at the time to last me as long as possible.

Questions:
1. Now that everyone has had time to play with them, is there a general consensus as to whether the 11 or the 11 Pro is the better buy?
2. I'm no fan of wireless earbuds, can I still use good old fashioned earbuds with a cord attached in both these phones?
3. Will both connect to my MacbookPro, bought in 2014? (I note there is some chat about USB ports in this thread)
and finally
4. I am thinking buying an unlocked phone in the US on an upcoming trip just because they are cheaper there, will there be any issues with bringing this back to the UK, or taking it to Australia where I travel frequently (just in terms of functionality and insurance/repair/AppleCare – not worried about the actual act of bringing it into the country).

Thanks in advance!

Frozen_up_north

Apple lack a 5G phone, they might offer them next month... if so the current models will be cheaper... also the rumour is that the MK2 SE is due in March, assuming they are deliverable from the Chinese factory under the corona virus worker holiday/quarantine  situation.

fiish

1. I think the 11 is better value for money for most people (it would be my first recommendation if I didn't know the person's needs more specifically). However since you have mentioned wanting the smallest possible handset, the 11 Pro is smaller than the 11.
2. Yes you can, you will need the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter. Unfortunately Apple have not included this in the box from the iPhone XS onwards (since 2018). They cost £9.99.
3. Yes, using the included Lightning to USB cable.
4. Legally, you need to pay VAT and import duty when returning to the UK from the US. This would make the overall cost about the same as buying it in the UK. With AppleCare, I think you get coverage anywhere in the world. The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro support basically all 4G frequencies, so you should have no issues using it in the UK, US, or Australia.

[Deleted User]

I think you should consider the XS at £629 from JL. 
I'd you were willing to use Android you could get a lot more for your money and a headphone Jack and the widely used type C connector.  

TazCaz

Deleted_User said:

I think you should consider the XS at £629 from JL. 
I'd you were willing to use Android you could get a lot more for your money and a headphone Jack and the widely used type C connector.  

Thanks for the reply. Why do you suggest this model? Obviously the price is a bit better, but would I not be better off with at least the iPhone 11? I really don't have a lot of experience buying new phones as I try to keep them as long as possible (another reason I thought it best to get the newest model I can afford). Aren't the cameras on the 11 and Pro significantly better than the XR? And unfortunately I'm a slave to Apple. I get frustrated trying to use a Samsung, though I do know they are much better value for money!

TazCaz

Frozen_up_north said:

Apple lack a 5G phone, they might offer them next month... if so the current models will be cheaper... also the rumour is that the MK2 SE is due in March, assuming they are deliverable from the Chinese factory under the corona virus worker holiday/quarantine  situation. 

Thanks for the reply. As mentioned in my post, I've heard rumours the new SE will be out sometime between March and September - given the delays in China. If it's early March, great I can get it on my trip, but I'd like to have an upgraded phone with a better camera and more storage while I'm away as it'll just be too frustrating running out of space constantly. If I can get the camera of an iPhone Pro in an SE size with all the normals jacks and plugs I'll be well happy!

TazCaz

fiish said:

1. I think the 11 is better value for money for most people (it would be my first recommendation if I didn't know the person's needs more specifically). However since you have mentioned wanting the smallest possible handset, the 11 Pro is smaller than the 11.
2. Yes you can, you will need the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter. Unfortunately Apple have not included this in the box from the iPhone XS onwards (since 2018). They cost £9.99.
3. Yes, using the included Lightning to USB cable.
4. Legally, you need to pay VAT and import duty when returning to the UK from the US. This would make the overall cost about the same as buying it in the UK. With AppleCare, I think you get coverage anywhere in the world. The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro support basically all 4G frequencies, so you should have no issues using it in the UK, US, or Australia.

Thanks for all your answers fiish. The temptation is to buy the Pro, just because it seems to have a better camera, which is important to me. Have you tried both? Why do you think the 11 is the better buy, besides being cheaper? I was planning on going into the Apple store and holding them all, just to see how they feel in my hand. I personally don't see the point in anything bigger than the SE as it defeats the idea of having a compact phone in your pocket, but I guess some people like bigger handsets.

Haha of course Apple haven't included the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter needed...not surprised there. Just another way for them to make money.

I was reading something about USB-A/USB-C with the newer iphones and their incompatibility with Macbooks, so glad to hear they are fine to use connect with a Macbook still.

Do you know if the VAT still applies if you use the item while you are away? Most people buy souvenirs or do shopping while overseas, is everyone legally required to declare everything they buy?

[Deleted User]

The XS is better than the 11 in many ways. It is smaller in the hand, has a superior screen being OLED, has a telephoto lens and a much more palatable price. 
You're right though, the 11 pro will be better but as this is mse it really isnt worth the extra 400 quid over the XS. 
The standard XR and iphone 11 are lacking in the above features which makes the XS such good value for iphone. 
I know what you mean about samsung, I was the same but I got sick of the ever increasing price rises and restrictions of Apple so decided just to go with android. 
Bagged myself an S8 plus for £215 which spec for spec is better than an iphone 11 and on a par with XS with the only caveat being no telephoto lens but the camera really is superb. I knew it would take me a while to get used to it but I was determined to make it work for the sake of saving a lot of money in the future. And it has taken a few weeks to work out how to set it up to my liking but I have done now and I love it. The iphone in comparison seems quite boring and inferior now. 
Also Samsung's bloatware is far less intrusive now than it used to be. 
Also its nice to be able to stick an sd card in and listen to my old music which apple dont seem to let you sync to iTunes anymore. 
Honestly there are so many restrictions using apple when you think about it, its its ridiculous. 

TazCaz

Deleted_User said:

The XS is better than the 11 in many ways. It is smaller in the hand, has a superior screen being OLED, has a telephoto lens and a much more palatable price. 
You're right though, the 11 pro will be better but as this is mse it really isnt worth the extra 400 quid over the XS. 
The standard XR and iphone 11 are lacking in the above features which makes the XS such good value for iphone. 
I know what you mean about samsung, I was the same but I got sick of the ever increasing price rises and restrictions of Apple so decided just to go with android. 
Bagged myself an S8 plus for £215 which spec for spec is better than an iphone 11 and on a par with XS with the only caveat being no telephoto lens but the camera really is superb. I knew it would take me a while to get used to it but I was determined to make it work for the sake of saving a lot of money in the future. And it has taken a few weeks to work out how to set it up to my liking but I have done now and I love it. The iphone in comparison seems quite boring and inferior now. 
Also Samsung's bloatware is far less intrusive now than it used to be. 
Also its nice to be able to stick an sd card in and listen to my old music which apple dont seem to let you sync to iTunes anymore. 
Honestly there are so many restrictions using apple when you think about it, its its ridiculous. 

Thanks Deleted_User. I really am just being fussy and preferring what I am used to. I just know that when my husband hands me his Samsung 10 to look at something, I end up accidentally shutting everything down without even knowing what I did. It just makes me frustrated though I am sure, that with time and more patience, I'd get used to it. Although his camera does seem to take terrible photos - worse than my iPhone SE. Very grainy and often out of focus, even though they should definitely be in focus. And not great at night. The camera quality is very important to me as I take a lot of photos.

Do you have a Macbook or other Apple products? If so, how do you find the Samsung integrates?

The idea of an SD card it good though - it would have certainly helped with the space issues I have with my current SE. This should be standard on iPhones - but I guess that wouldn't help them make money from people needing to upgrade to get more space! Why do you mean about iTunes not synching anymore?

I'm looking at buying in the US, and even just looking at the Apple store (not hunting around for a better price), I can get an:
- 11 128G for $898/£694 (in comparison £928.00 on the UK Apple site)
- 11 Pro 256G for $1,348.00/£1042 (in comparison £1,398.00 on the UK Apple site)
Both with 24 months AppleCare. The Pro Max is $1,448.00/£1119 (£1,498.00 on the UK Apple site). Not a huge jump between the Pro and Max but yes, definitely one between then 11 and the Pro.

Weirdly, neither the UK or Us Apple site are showing the XS, only the XR - though you can still find the XS online. Why do you think that is?

And given the above price for an 11 is on par with the XS you are seeing at JL (presumably without AppleCare), do you think the 11 would be the better buy?

[Deleted User]

I think the XS is a better buy than the 11. Apple wont sell the XS along side their current models because it would hurt sales of their full price 11 range because the XS is as good a phone as anyone needs. 
As far as the syncing goes, the later versions of iTunes would only sync purchased music. There was no way of moving my music from my computer to itunes. 
With the samsung I can just pop it in and it's all there. I dont want to pay £10 a month for the rest of my life to stream music or have to buy it all over again. 
I feel ripped off using apple products. 

TazCaz

Deleted_User said:

I think the XS is a better buy than the 11. Apple wont sell the XS along side their current models because it would hurt sales of their full price 11 range because the XS is as good a phone as anyone needs. 
As far as the syncing goes, the later versions of iTunes would only sync purchased music. There was no way of moving my music from my computer to itunes. 
With the samsung I can just pop it in and it's all there. I dont want to pay £10 a month for the rest of my life to stream music or have to buy it all over again. 
I feel ripped off using apple products. 

Yes, I fully realise I have become a slave to Apple and that they truly are just trying to make users keep paying for extras, just so people can keep using the programs and accessories they already have. I was just reading up on the iTunes thing. Seems as long as I don't upgrade to Catalina, I can keep using iTunes and not get caught out with this latest Apple Music scam.