Understanding the Six iPhone Models

As of this writing, Apple sells six iPhone models. Three models are in the iPhone 11 family, which Apple introduced in 2019. The base model in this family is called simply iPhone 11. The other two models are in the Pro line, and have different sizes. The iPhone 11 Pro is the smaller of the two, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max is the larger.

• iPhone 11 Pro Max. The Pro Max has the largest screen of the iPhone models — a 6.5-inch OLED screen with 2688×1242-pixel resolution. OLED is the acronym for organic light-emitting diode; these screens are considered top of the range and have a wide viewing angle.
• iPhone 11 Pro. The Pro has a 5.8-inch OLED screen with 2436×1125-pixel resolution.
• iPhone 11. The iPhone 11 has a 6.1-inch screen with 1792×828-pixel resolution.

These models have a design featuring thin bezels, rounded screen corners, and a “notch” cutout at the middle of the top edge of the screen. The notch contains the front camera and various sensors for features such as Face ID face recognition.

Apple currently continues to sell three iPhones from its previous two generations. The following list explains the models available:

• iPhone XR. Introduced in 2018, the iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch screen with 1792×828-pixel resolution. The iPhone XR is similar in size and design to the iPhone 11 — including the thin bezels, round corners, and notch — but contains slightly less powerful hardware and less memory.
• iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. Introduced in 2017, these two models are similar, but the iPhone 8 Plus is physically larger than the iPhone 8. These two iPhones have an older design. There are two primary visual differences between this design and the newer models listed previously. First, these models have thicker bezels and no notch at the top of the screen. Second, below the screen is the Home button, a round button used for navigation and for the Touch ID fingerprint-recognition authentication system.

Understanding the Common Features of the iPhone Models

Each iPhone comes with the Apple EarPods headset, which incorporates a remote control and a microphone, and connects via the Lightning connector at the bottom of the iPhone. None of these iPhone models has a headphone jack; you can connect headphones either wirelessly via Bluetooth or by using an adapter dongle such as Apple’s Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter. Using Apple’s headphone adapter prevents you from charging the iPhone via the Lightning port, although you can still charge it wirelessly; you may prefer a third-party adapter that includes a power pass-through.

Each iPhone includes a USB power adapter and a Lightning-to-USB cable. Each iPhone also features wireless charging, which you may find easier and more convenient than using a cable. You will need to get a wireless charger separately.

Each iPhone uses a nano-SIM card to connect to cellular networks but can also use one or more eSIMs, virtual SIM cards that you add electronically.

Each iPhone runs iOS 13, the latest operating system from Apple, which comes with a suite of built-in apps, such as the Safari web browser and the Mail e-mail app. If you buy an older iPhone model, you may need to upgrade it to iOS 13, but this is easy to do.

The iPhone 11 Pro models come in four colors: silver, space gray, gold, and midnight green.

The iPhone 11 models come in six colors: black, white, purple, green, yellow, and (PRODUCT)RED.

The iPhone XR comes in six colors: black, white, blue, coral, yellow, and (PRODUCT)RED.

The iPhone 8 models come in three colors: silver, space gray, and gold.

The iPhone 11 Pro models have triple 12-megapixel cameras on the back and a front-facing 12-megapixel camera with depth-sensing features that enable the Face ID authentication and unlocking system.

The iPhone 11 has dual 12-megapixel cameras on the back. On the front, the iPhone 11 also has a 12-megapixel camera with depth-sensing features for Face ID.

The iPhone XR has a single 12-megapixel camera on the back and a 7-megapixel camera with depth-sensing features on the front.

The iPhone 8 models have a 12-megapixel main camera on the back and a 7-megapixel camera on the front. The iPhone 8 Plus also includes a second camera unit to enable optical zoom and other features. Each iPhone 8 model has a Touch ID fingerprint reader integrated in the Home button.

Compare the iPhone 11 Models with the Earlier iPhone Models

The iPhone 11 models offer a substantial upgrade over the iPhone XR, the iPhone 8, and the iPhone 8 Plus. The three biggest differences are that the iPhone 11 models have faster processors, better screens, and improved cameras.

On the processor front, the iPhone 11 models have the A13 Bionic chip with third-generation Neural Engine, the iPhone XR has the A12 Bionic chip with second-generation Neural Engine, and the iPhone 8 models have the A11 Bionic chip with Neural Engine. The nomenclature is fair gibberish, but the newer chips and engines are faster and so deliver better performance.

As for screens, the iPhone 11 Pro models have the Super Retina XDR display with HDR and True Tone, the iPhone 11 and iPhone XR have the Liquid Retina HD display with True Tone, and the iPhone 8 models have the Retina HD display with True Tone. Briefly, Super Retina is better than Liquid Retina, which in turn is better than Retina. XDR stands for Extreme Dynamic Range, which gives greater brightness and more natural-looking colors than HDR, which stands for High Dynamic Range. The True Tone feature enables the iPhone to adjust its display colors to match the ambient lighting it detects, making colors appear more consistent in different lighting conditions.

On rear cameras, the iPhone Pro models have triple 12-megapixel cameras: one camera has an ultra–wide-angle lens, the second has a wide-angle lens, and the third has a telephoto lens. The iPhone 11 has dual 12-megapixel cameras, one ultra–wide-angle and the other wide-angle. The iPhone 8 Plus has dual 12-megapixel cameras, one wide-angle and the other telephoto. The iPhone XR and iPhone 8 each have a single 12-megapixel camera.

On front cameras, there is less variation: the iPhone 11 models have a 12-megapixel camera that can shoot video at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, whereas the iPhone XR and the iPhone 8 models have a 7-megapixel camera that can shoot video at the lower 1080p resolution, also at 60 frames per second.

The iPhone 11 models also have somewhat increased water resistance, but while any improvement is welcome, it may not be relevant to you. In practical terms, the improvements mean the iPhone 8 models should survive 30 minutes in the shallow end of a swimming pool, the iPhone 11 should manage 30-minute immersion in the deep end, and the iPhone 11 Pro models should have no trouble with half an hour in the diving section.

Evaluate iPhone Storage Capacity

The iPhone models are available with different amounts of storage capacity. The following table shows the capacities with sample amounts of contents to give you some idea of what the amounts mean in real terms.

The iPhone 11 Pro models come in 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities.

The iPhone 11 comes in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB capacities.

The iPhone XR and the iPhone 8 models come in 64GB and 128GB capacities.

Higher capacities command substantially higher prices, so you must decide how much you are prepared to spend. Generally speaking, higher-capacity devices get more use in the long run and are worth the extra cost.

Understanding the Reachability Feature

iOS includes a feature called Reachability to help you use your iPhone with one hand when necessary. With the Reachability feature enabled, swipe down on the bottom edge of the screen to slide the screen down so that you can easily reach the top of it. On the iPhone 8 models, you double-tap Home — double-tap rather than double-press — to slide the screen down. After you give a command, the screen slides back up again; if you decide not to give a command, tap Restore () to slide the screen back up; on an iPhone 8 model, double-tap Home again.

To enable Reachability, first tap Settings (), tap Accessibility (), and then tap Touch (). Near the top of the Touch screen, set the Reachability switch to On ().

Understanding the Live Photos Feature

All of the current iPhone models include a feature called Live Photos that enables you to capture short sections of video before and after a still photo. After capturing the Live Photo, you can make the video segments play by tapping and holding the photo.

You can view your Live Photos on other Apple devices, such as your iPad or your Mac. You can also use a Live Photo as the wallpaper for your iPhone’s lock screen.

Identify the Hardware Controls

The right side of the iPhone has only one control, a button called the Side button. The Side button has multiple functions on its own and in combination with the Volume Up button and the Volume Down button. The remainder of this section explains how to use the Side button.

The left side of the iPhone has three controls:

• The Ringer On/Off switch turns the ringer on and off. Move the switch toward the rear of the iPhone, exposing an orange background, to turn the ringer off. Move the switch to the front again to turn the ringer back on.
• The Volume Up button and Volume Down button enable you to control the volume quickly without having to use the touchscreen. These buttons also work in combination with the Side button for other actions.

Turn Your iPhone On and Off

To turn on your iPhone when it is powered off, press and hold Side until the Apple logo appears on-screen, then release the Side button. Your iPhone continues to start, and then the lock screen appears.

To turn off your iPhone, press and hold Side and either Volume Up or Volume Down until the Power Off screen appears, then swipe slide to power off () to the right.

Unlock and Lock Your iPhone

To unlock your iPhone, hold it so the front cameras can scan your face. The iPhone unlocks ( changes to ) and the Swipe up to open prompt appears at the bottom of the screen. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen. The iPhone unlocks, and you can start using it.

To lock your iPhone and put it to sleep, press Side once. Depending on how the iPhone is configured, the iPhone may also go to sleep automatically after a period of inactivity.

Use Sleep and Wake, Siri, App Store, and Apple Pay

When the iPhone is awake, press Side once to put it to sleep. When the iPhone is asleep, press Side once to wake it.

At any time, press and hold Side to activate Siri, which plays a tone and displays a text prompt asking what you want.

When installing an app from the App Store, double-click Side to authenticate yourself via Face ID and continue installing the app.

When making a purchase via Apple Pay, double-click Side to authenticate yourself via Face ID and confirm the purchase.

Force the iPhone to Restart

If the iPhone becomes unresponsive, a software problem may have occurred. Wait for a minute or two to see if iOS can resolve the problem.

If the iPhone remains unresponsive, you will need to restart it. Press and hold Side and Volume Down for several seconds. When the screen turns off, release the buttons. The iPhone then restarts, and the Apple logo appears on-screen.

Power On Your iPhone

First, power on your iPhone by pressing and holding Side — the button on the right side of the iPhone — until the Apple logo appears on-screen. The Hello screen then appears.

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to start setup. The Language screen appears. Tap the language you want to use, such as English.

On the Select Your Country or Region screen that appears, tap your country or region.

Chose Quick Start or Manual Setup, and Connect to Wi-Fi

The Quick Start feature lets you set up your iPhone more quickly by sharing settings from an existing iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 11 or a later version. If you have such a device, bring it close to the new iPhone and follow the prompts. If not, tap Set Up Manually.

On the Choose a Wi-Fi Network screen, tap the wireless network you want to use; if the Wi-Fi network’s name does not appear because the network does not broadcast its name, tap Choose Another Network, and then type the network’s details. Enter the network password when prompted, and then tap Join.

Set Up Face ID

On the Face ID screen, tap Continue if you want to set up Face ID now, which is usually the most convenient unlock method; if not, tap Set Up Later in Settings. Assuming you proceed, Face ID then walks you through the process of scanning your face twice, either by rotating your head or by moving the iPhone around. If you have difficulty completing Face ID, you can tap Accessibility Options at the bottom of the screen, and then tap Use Partial Circle.

When Face ID is set up, tap Continue.

Create a Passcode

After setting up Face ID, you create a passcode for unlocking your iPhone when Face ID does not work or when iOS requires extra security, such as when the iPhone has restarted. On the Create a Passcode screen, tap the keypad to enter a six-digit numeric passcode, and then re-enter the same passcode when prompted.

If you want to create a different type of passcode, tap Passcode Options. In the Passcode Options dialog box, tap Custom Alphanumeric Code, Custom Numeric Code, or 4-Digit Numeric Code, as needed. A long custom alphanumeric code is most secure; a long custom numeric code can be highly secure; and a four-digit numeric code is inadvisable.

If you enter an easily guessed passcode, such as 111111 or abcdef, iOS warns you and suggests you enter a stronger passcode. Tap Use Anyway or Change Passcode, as needed.

Choose How to Set Up Your iPhone

On the Apps & Data screen, you choose between five ways of setting up your iPhone:

• Tap Restore from iCloud Backup if you have a backup of your previous iPhone or another iOS device stored in iCloud. Sign in on the iCloud screen that appears, and then continue with the instructions in the next subsection on this page.
• Tap Restore from Mac or PC if you have a backup of your previous iPhone or other iOS device on your computer. See the section “Set Up Your iPhone Using Finder or iTunes,” later in this chapter, for further details.
• Tap Transfer Directly from iPhone if you are upgrading iPhones and have your old iPhone at hand. The Quick Start screen appears, and you can connect the iPhones wirelessly by bringing them close together.
• Tap Move Data from Android if you are switching from an Android phone or tablet to the iPhone and you want to transfer data from your old device. You will need to install the Move to iOS app on your Android device. You then run the app, connect the iPhone and Android device by using a pairing code, and choose which data to transfer.
• Tap Don’t Transfer Apps & Data if you want to set up your iPhone from scratch. Follow the prompts to set up the iPhone manually; see the later subsection, “Set Up Your iPhone Manually,” for highlights.

Set Up Your iPhone from an iCloud Backup

Follow the prompts to sign in to iCloud; if you have two-factor authentication enabled, iCloud sends a verification code to your registered device to enable you to authenticate yourself to your new iPhone. On the Terms and Conditions screen, tap Agree if you want to proceed.

On the Choose Backup screen, tap the backup you want to use. Then, on the Settings from Your Backup screen, review the settings that you can restore or customize, and tap Continue or Customize Settings, as appropriate.

Set Up Your iPhone Manually

When you choose to set up your iPhone manually, iOS walks you through a long sequence of configuration screens that enable you to customize how the operating system looks and behaves. The following list explains the key items you configure:

• Apple Pay. You can set up Apple’s payment system on your iPhone, enabling yourself to make electronic transactions easily, including sending payments to your contacts via the Messages app. If you prefer to set up Apple Pay later, tap Set Up Later in Wallet.
• Siri. You can set up Apple’s voice-driven virtual assistant on your iPhone. Siri enables you to give various commands, such as sending an e-mail message or a text message, and asking for a wide variety of information — for example, getting directions in the Maps app or looking up information on WolframAlpha or on the web. If you prefer not to set up Siri now, tap Set Up Later in Settings.

  

• Appearance. iOS gives you the choice between a Light appearance and a Dark appearance. During setup, you choose an appearance on the Appearance screen. The appearance you choose controls how much of the iOS interface appears. Tap Light ( changes to ) or Dark ( changes to ) to see which you prefer, and then tap Continue. You can subsequently change appearance by tapping Settings () on the Home screen, tapping Display & Brightness (), and then working on the Display & Brightness screen. Here, you can also set the Automatic switch to On () and specify the schedule — either Sunset to Sunrise or Custom Schedule — on which you want iOS to switch appearances automatically.
• Display Zoom. iOS offers two views, Standard View and Zoomed View. During setup, you choose a view on the Display Zoom screen. Tap Standard ( changes to ) or Zoomed ( changes to ) to compare the two views, and tap Continue once you have made your choice. You can subsequently change views by tapping Settings () on the Home screen, tapping Display & Brightness (), tapping View on the Display & Brightness screen, and using the controls on the Display Zoom screen.