iPhone 16 Plus & iPhone 11 share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the iPhone 16 Plus rather than the iPhone 11.
Why Do I Recommend The iPhone 16 Plus?
- The iPhone 16 Plus features the A18 chip with 8GB of RAM for faster performance, smoother multitasking, and advanced AI processing, while the iPhone 11 uses the older A13 Bionic with 4GB of RAM.
- iPhone 16 Plus comes with a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display for sharper visuals, higher brightness, and improved HDR playback, whereas the iPhone 11 has a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina LCD with lower resolution and brightness.
- It has a 48MP main camera with sensor-shift optical image stabilization for capturing more detailed photos and clearer low-light shots, while the iPhone 11 uses a 12MP main camera with standard stabilization.
- The iPhone 16 Plus supports 5G connectivity for significantly faster downloads, lower latency, and smoother streaming, whereas the iPhone 11 is limited to 4G LTE networks.
- iPhone 16 Plus features a larger 4674mAh battery for up to 27 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 11 has a smaller 3110mAh battery.
- It includes a customizable Action button and Camera Control button for quick access to functions like shortcuts and instant photo capture, whereas the iPhone 11 does not have any dedicated customizable buttons.
- The iPhone 16 Plus comes with USB-C for faster data transfer and universal charging compatibility, while the iPhone 11 relies on the proprietary Lightning connector.
- iPhone 16 Plus is rated IP68 for water resistance up to 6 meters for 30 minutes, providing better durability in deeper water, whereas the iPhone 11 is rated IP68 for only 2 meters for 30 minutes.
Maybe the iPhone 11 price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the iPhone 16 Plus. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.
Side By Side Comparison
| Feature | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 11 |
| Display technology | 6.7″ Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.1″ Liquid Retina LCD |
| Display resolution | 2796 × 1290 px | 1792 × 828 px |
| Peak brightness (outdoor) | ~2000 nits | ~625 nits maximum |
| Contrast ratio | ~2,000,000:1 | ~1400:1 |
| Chipset | Apple A18 with AI-optimized Neural Engine | Apple A13 Bionic |
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR5X | 4 GB LPDDR4X |
| Rear camera main sensor | 48 MP Fusion sensor with sensor-shift OIS | Dual 12 MP |
| Rear ultrawide camera | 12 MP with autofocus | 12 MP fixed-focus |
| Front camera aperture | f/1.9 | f/2.2 |
| Connectivity—5G support | Yes | No |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Port type | USB-C | Lightning |
| Water resistance depth | Up to 6 m for 30 min | Up to 2 m for 30 min |
| Battery—video playback | Up to ~27 hours | Significantly less |
| Charging options | USB-C fast charge, MagSafe, Qi2 | Lightning with Qi wireless |
| Special buttons | Action button + Camera Control button | None |
| Body material—front protection | Latest-gen Ceramic Shield | Dual-ion strengthened glass |
| Colors available | Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine | Purple, Yellow, Green, Black, White, Red |
| Storage tiers | 128 / 256 / 512 GB | 64 / 128 / 256 GB |
| Weight | 199 g | 194 g |
| Dimensions (H×W×D) | 160.9 × 77.8 × 7.8 mm | 150.9 × 75.7 × 8.3 mm |
| Operating System at launch | iOS 18 | iOS 13 |
| Neural Engine speed | ~2× faster than predecessor | Older generation |
| Price | Check iPhone 16 Plus Price | Check iPhone 11 Price |
What Common Both Can Do?
- Face ID biometric authentication: Both models employ Apple’s advanced facial recognition system, providing secure unlocking and authentication without relying on fingerprint sensors.
- Dual-camera system on rear: Each device features two rear cameras, enabling functionality like wide-angle and ultrawide photography, portrait mode, and enhanced computational photography.
- TrueDepth front camera: Both feature the TrueDepth front-facing camera module, which enables Face ID and high-quality selfies and video calls.
- Portrait mode capability: Thanks to their dual-camera setups and depth-sensing capabilities, both iPhones allow users to take portrait shots with depth-of-field effects.
- IP68 water & dust resistance: Both models meet IP68 standards, offering splash-proof, dust-resistant performance suitable for brief underwater exposure.
- Glass back & aluminum frame: They share a similar design language with a glass rear panel and sturdy aluminum frame, blending style with durability.
- Wireless charging support: Both support inductive charging. The iPhone 16 Plus adds MagSafe and the updated Qi 2, while the iPhone 11 supports standard Qi charging.
- Dual SIM capability: Both phones offer flexible SIM configurations—one can use either a nano-SIM and/or eSIM, the other includes dual SIM options as well.
- Face unlock (3D facial recognition): Face ID on both models uses depth data from the TrueDepth system to securely recognize users.
- iOS operating system family: While launched with different versions, both run Apple’s iOS and receive software updates within that ecosystem, enabling access to Apple apps and services.
- Oleophobic coating on display: Displays on both phones are treated with an oil-repellent coating to reduce fingerprint smudges and improve screen clarity.
- Ambient light and proximity sensors: Both are equipped with sensors that adjust screen brightness to surroundings and detect proximity during calls to prevent unintended touches.
- Dolby Atmos spatial audio support: Each model supports immersive audio playback, offering richer, more spatial sound in supported content.
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity: Though they support different versions, both are equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities for wireless connectivity to accessories and networks.
- NFC for contactless features: Near Field Communication chips in both devices enable contactless functionalities such as Apple Pay and NFC tags.
Common Features
| Feature | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 11 |
| Face ID biometric authentication | Supported | Supported |
| Dual-camera system on rear | Yes | Yes |
| TrueDepth front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth | 12 MP TrueDepth |
| Portrait mode capability | Available | Available |
| IP68 water & dust resistance | Yes | Yes |
| Glass back & aluminum frame | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless charging support | MagSafe & Qi 2 compatible | Qi-compatible wireless charging |
| Dual SIM capability | Supports Dual SIM | Supports Dual SIM |
| Face unlock (3D facial recognition) | Supported | Supported |
| iOS operating system family | Runs on iOS | Runs on iOS |
| Oleophobic coating on display | Yes | Yes |
| Ambient light and proximity sensors | Integrated | Integrated |
| Dolby Atmos spatial audio support | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity | Both have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi | Both have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi |
| NFC for contactless features | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Check iPhone 16 Plus Price | Check iPhone 11 Price |
FAQ
Is the iPhone 16 Plus faster than the iPhone 11? Does the iPhone 16 Plus have a better display than the iPhone 11? How do the cameras differ between the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 11? Does the iPhone 16 Plus last longer on battery than the iPhone 11? Do both iPhones support Face ID? Do both phones support wireless charging? Does the iPhone 16 Plus support USB-C instead of Lightning? Is the iPhone 16 Plus bigger than the iPhone 11? Do both phones have water resistance? Does the iPhone 16 Plus support 5G while the iPhone 11 does not? Are the storage options the same on both models? Do both phones support Portrait mode and Night mode? Do both phones support NFC for Apple Pay? Does the iPhone 16 Plus include special buttons not found on the iPhone 11? Will the iPhone 11 still get updates like the iPhone 16 Plus? |
