It’s 2026. You’re standing in a shop or scrolling through a refurbished site, looking at these two glass slabs. They look remarkably similar if you squint, but the price tag on the iPhone 13 is still a decent chunk higher than the 11.
Is it just the "newness" tax?
Honestly, it’s easy to look at the spec sheets and think they’re basically the same phone with a different camera bump. They both have a 6.1-inch screen. Both have two cameras. Both feel like... well, iPhones. But if you actually use them side-by-side today, especially on the latest iOS 26, the cracks in that logic start to show. The difference between iphone 11 and 13 isn't about one single "killer feature"—it's about a dozen small things that have finally reached a breaking point.
💡 You might also like: Understanding Twin Cities Weather Radar: Why Your App Always Seems a Minute Late
The Screen: Not All 6 Inches Are Created Equal
This is the big one. If you’re coming from an iPhone 11, you’re looking at an LCD panel. Apple called it "Liquid Retina," which is just fancy marketing for "the same tech we used ten years ago." It’s fine for checking emails, but it has that slightly gray, washed-out look in the blacks.
Then you look at the iPhone 13.
It uses an OLED (Super Retina XDR) display. The difference is night and day. On the 13, the pixels actually turn off to create true black. If you’re watching a movie in bed, the letterboxing bars on the 11 will glow dark gray. On the 13, they disappear into the bezel. Plus, the 13 is significantly brighter. We're talking 800 nits typical brightness versus the 11's 625 nits. Try using an iPhone 11 at a park on a sunny Tuesday in July—you'll be squinting like you're trying to read a secret code. The 13 just cuts through the glare.
5G vs 4G: The 2026 Reality Check
Back when the iPhone 13 launched, people said 5G was a gimmick. "My 4G is fast enough," they said.
In 2026, that tune has changed.
The iPhone 11 is a 4G-only device. As carriers have shifted more spectrum and infrastructure over to 5G (and even early 6G testing in some regions), 4G lanes are getting more crowded and, frankly, slower. The iPhone 13 supports 5G. It’s not just about downloading a movie in 10 seconds; it’s about having a usable connection at a crowded stadium or a busy airport where the 4G towers are gasping for air.
Let’s Talk About Those Cameras
Both phones have a 12MP main sensor and an ultrawide. On paper? Tie. In reality? Not even close.
The iPhone 13 sensor is physically much larger. It’s basically the sensor from the 12 Pro Max. It pulls in way more light, which means your indoor dinner photos don't look like a grainy mess.
- Cinematic Mode: This is the big software trick on the 13. It’s like Portrait Mode but for video. It shifts focus automatically between people. The 11 can’t do this.
- Photographic Styles: You can set a "look" for your photos (like Rich Contrast or Vibrant) that isn't just a filter—it changes how the phone processes the image in real-time.
- Low Light: Night Mode on the 13 is significantly faster. On the 11, you might have to hold still for 3 seconds; the 13 usually does it in 1.
The front camera on the 13 also got a bump in quality, and the "notch" at the top of the screen is about 20% smaller. It doesn't sound like much until you see how much more status bar info you can fit up there.
Battery Life and the A15 Bionic
The iPhone 11 was a battery king when it came out. But that was seven years ago. Even a refurbished 11 is likely struggling with modern, heavy apps. The iPhone 13 uses the A15 Bionic chip, which is vastly more efficient than the A13 in the 11.
Apple quotes 19 hours of video playback for the 13 compared to 17 for the 11. In my experience, the gap feels wider because of the OLED screen. Since OLED doesn't need a backlight for black pixels, using Dark Mode on a 13 actually saves a measurable amount of juice.
One more thing: MagSafe.
The iPhone 11 has wireless charging, but it’s the old-school "find the sweet spot or it won't charge" kind. The 13 has magnets. It snaps onto chargers, wallets, and car mounts. It sounds like a luxury until you use it for a week and realize you never want to go back to fiddling with cables or alignment.
Quick Specs Comparison
| Feature | iPhone 11 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1" LCD (Low Res) | 6.1" OLED (HDR) |
| Processor | A13 Bionic | A15 Bionic |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE | 5G |
| Base Storage | 64GB | 128GB |
| Video | Standard 4K | Cinematic Mode (Focus Tracking) |
| Charging | Lightning | Lightning + MagSafe |
| Weight | 194g | 174g |
The Software "Cliff"
This is where it gets serious. We are deep into the lifecycle of these phones.
The iPhone 11 is approaching the end of its official iOS update support. While Apple is generous, the 11 is likely on its last one or two major versions. The iPhone 13, being two years younger, has a much longer runway. If you buy an 11 today, you're buying a device that might be "vintage" in 18 months. The 13 still has years of security patches and new features ahead of it.
Is the iPhone 11 still worth it?
Kinda. If you are buying a phone for a kid, or you literally only use it for WhatsApp and phone calls, the iPhone 11 is a tank. It’s built well and the rounded edges actually feel more comfortable in the hand for some people.
But for almost everyone else? The difference between iphone 11 and 13 is the difference between a phone that feels "old" and a phone that feels "modern."
The 11 has a 64GB base storage option. That is almost unusable in 2026. System files and "Other" storage will eat half of that before you even download Instagram. The 13 starts at 128GB. That alone is worth the extra $100 or so you’ll pay on the used market.
How to Decide
If you’re still undecided, ask yourself these three things:
- Do I take photos at night? If yes, get the 13. The 11’s Night Mode is "okay," but the 13 is actually good.
- Do I care about the screen? If you watch YouTube or Netflix on your phone, the OLED on the 13 makes the 11 look like a budget toy.
- How long do I want to keep this? If you want a phone to last 3+ years from today, the 11 is a bad investment.
The iPhone 13 is basically the "sweet spot" of the used market right now. It has the modern flat-edge design, 5G, a great screen, and enough power to not feel sluggish when you're multitasking. The 11 was a legend, but its time has mostly passed.
Next Steps:
Check your current storage usage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If you're using more than 50GB, don't even look at the base model iPhone 11. If you decide on the 13, look for "Grade A" refurbished units with at least 88% battery health to ensure you get through a full day without a power bank.