
This week Apple announced the latest device in its iPhone family: the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. These devices are basically cameras with a phone attached. Get ready to take some great vacation pics!
Most of us these days are taking all our vacation photos on our smartphones. The iPhone 11 is an exciting development for casual photogs. The cameras (plural) and editing tools can help even the most hopeless Luddite take impressive digital photos.
The old iPhone has one camera lens. The new iPhone has two or three.

What does that mean? First, it means that you can get “more scene.” Translation: you can fit more of that beautiful mountain range or city skyline you’re looking at into your photo. It also means that you’ll actually be able to take decent pictures in very low light.

Each camera lens does something a little different. There’s an “Ultra-Wide Camera,” a “Wide Camera,” and a “Telephoto Camera.” The combination of lenses gives you more versatility in what you can include in each photo and video and how far you’re able to zoom.
Ultra-Wide Camera (iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro)
- 13 mm focal length
- ƒ/2.4 aperture
- 5-element lens
- 120° field of view
- 4x more scene
- 12MP sensor
Wide Camera (iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro)
- 26 mm focal length
- ƒ/1.8 aperture
- 6-element lens
- Optical image stabilization
- 100% Focus Pixels
- New 12MP sensor
Telephoto Camera (iPhone 11 Pro Only)
- 52 mm focal length
- Larger ƒ/2.0 aperture
- 6-element lens
- Optical image stabilization
- 2x optical zoom
- 12MP sensor
The new iPhone 11 also stepped up portrait mode features for better lighting, angles, and resolution for your best vacay selfies yet.

Edit While You Shoot
The editing suite for both photo and video on the iPhone 11 are great. You can adjust settings while you shoot to get the best image the first time. The screen is nice and big, too, and lets you preview what’s in and out of frame.

Shoot Super High-Res Video
Certain features like filters that had been only for photos in the past can now be used on video as well. Both models shoot in 4k resolution with video stabilization. That means you’ll get steady, high-resolution video.
You can switch between the camera lenses and zoom range to get the exact shot you want. Another cool feature is the “audio zoom.” The audio smart syncs with the video. When you zoom in to a tight shot on a live musician, for example, the device will sync the audio with what’s in your frame so you’ll get better sound.
Battery to Last Through a Travel Day
The new iPhone is outfitted with the A13 Bionic chip. It’s “the fastest chip ever in a smartphone” and promises to power all-day battery life. This is critical for travelers out and about without a charging station.
How to Get One
The iPhone 11 starts at $699 and the iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999. Both models can be pre-ordered on Apple’s website starting on Sept. 13. The phones will come available on Sept. 20.