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If you're an iPhone X owner, you can trade in your device for up to $320 off the new iPhone 11 Pro right now, which essentially brings down the iPhone 11 Pro's price down to $680.
2020-02-26
Sounds great, doesn't it? But work through the impulse. It's not really just $600. It's $600 on top of what you spent on your iPhone X.
There are plenty of improvements and new features in the iPhone 11 Pro, but none of them are worth prematurely ditching a perfectly good iPhone X. Not the new cameras, not the matte glass back, not the new chips. These things won't make you happier unless you were specifically looking for them.
All the new features from the iPhone 11 Pro and then some will make it to next year's 2020 iPhones. So why rush if you're happy with the iPhone X right now?
If your heart says upgrade but you're waiting for your mind to balance things out, maybe the points below will kick-start that logic:
1. The iPhone X looks nearly identical to the iPhone 11 Pro, so you're not getting anything that looks new.
Hollis Johnson
If you think your iPhone X looks and feels outdated, the iPhone 11 Pro won't help with that. They have nearly identical designs, with the major difference being the matte glass on the iPhone 11 Pro's back.
Oh, and the new camera system ... thing ... on the back, too.
2. If you're not complaining about your iPhone X's speed while running iOS and apps, then it's hard to make the case to upgrade to an iPhone 11 Pro.
Hollis Johnson
The iPhone 11 Pro's new chips might offer better performance, but unless you're actively unhappy with the iPhone X's performance, the iPhone 11 Pro's performance boost won't make a huge impact.
3. The iPhone X still has a great camera.
Hollis Johnson
You don't get the iPhone 11 Pro's Night Mode or the ultra-wide camera, but those are just perks, not must-haves.
4. The iPhone 11 Pro has a fancy new "Super Retina XDR" screen, but the iPhone X's "Super Retina HD" screen still looks great.
Hollis Johnson
The iPhone X's screen still has all the important stuff to make iOS, apps, and content look great, like HDR, TrueTone, and a wide color gamut. Both the iPhone X and iPhone 11 Pro even have the same sharpness at 458 pixels-per-inch.
The iPhone 11 Pro's screen has better contrast ratio and brightness. If you ever complained about your iPhone X's contrast ratio or brightness, then you could add it to your list of "pros" to upgrade, but it shouldn't be the only reason why.
5. The iPhone 11 Pro technically has a better selfie camera, but not by much.
Hollis Johnson
The iPhone 11 Pro comes with a 12-megapixel camera, which is a nice bump from the 7-megapixel selfie shooter on the iPhone X. But if you're happy with the iPhone X's selfies, then why upgrade?
6. Your iPhone X is lighter than the iPhone 11 Pro.
Hollis Johnson
It's even slightly thinner and smaller overall.
7. If your iPhone X's battery life is starting to dwindle but everything else about it is fine, maybe try replacing the battery for $70 at an Apple Store instead of buying a whole new iPhone.
Hollis Johnson
Long story short: save your money and keep the iPhone X.
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Antonio Villas-Boas was a consumer tech expert with over a decade of experience testing and reviewing smartphones, tablets, computers, smartwatches, and phone carriers.ExperienceAntonio joined the Business Insider team in 2015 as a tech reporter on the news desk and moved to the service journalism team in 2020. During his time as Business Insider’s senior tech reporter, Antonio developed industry-leading battery-life tests for smartphones and tablets, and covered and reviewed hundreds (if not thousands) of products from major brands like Apple, Google, Samsung, and OnePlus since as far back as Samsung’s Galaxy S6, the original Apple Watch, and the very first Google Pixel. This decade-plus of experience has given him tremendous insights into what consumer tech truly stands the test of time and what will be irrelevant in just a few years' time (RIP The Pebble).Antonio is also an experienced deal hunter, surfacing the best discounts on phones, laptops, and smartwatches for readers during sale events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Previously, Antonio was a consumer-electronics analyst at PCMag and ran his own blog. Why you can trust AntonioAntonio approaches all his reviews not only as a tech expert but as a consumer himself. He reads every word of fine print in the phone carrier plans he reviews, and is deeply skeptical of deals that promise you the latest iPhone model for free. (Spoiler: it might be “free,” but you could be stuck with it for three years.)He largely recommends less expensive and small-scale fixes to upgrade your existing tech before considering buying the latest and flashiest in new tech. Antonio believes his role as the go-to “tech guy” for his family and friends extends to his readers as well; he only recommends products that have stood up to the testing process.Scripps News, NewsNation, Fox 5 DC, NBC LX, and Rich DeMuro’s “Rich On Tech” radio show have requested his commentary and expertise. ExpertiseHis expertise includes:
Phones, including the iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy models
Phone accessories, including charging cables, phone cases, and protection plans
Smartwatches, including the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch
Mobile carrier plans, including major carriers and MVNOs
Tablets, including iPads and Galaxy Tabs
Laptops and computers, including MacBooks and Windows models
Computer accessories, including mice, keyboards, and monitors
