The Affordable iPhone King That's Still as Good as New iPhones

The Affordable iPhone King That's Still as Good as New iPhones

The iPhone 11 has reigned supreme in the affordable flagship space for over half a decade now. While its time at the top may be coming to a close, dealers in Vietnam are pushing final inventory clearances, offering factory sealed iPhone 11 devices from just $350 - that's an absolute steal! And get this - it's still buttery smooth running iOS 16, on par with the newest iPhones.

Let's dive into why the venerable iPhone 11 is still such a killer smartphone deal in late 2022.

A Brief History of iPhone 11 Dominance

Released way back in September 2019, the iPhone 11 dominated sales charts worldwide for years. Powered by the speedy A13 Bionic chip, it delivered stellar performance coupled with dual 12MP rear cameras and an attractive starting price of $699. Compared to rivals sporting mid-range chips and single camera setups, the iPhone 11 was a no-brainer for many.

Apple sold over 80 million iPhone 11 series handsets in its first year alone. Well into 2022, six years later, the iPhone 11 remained among the top 10 best selling smartphones globally each quarter. That's incredible legs for any gadget, let alone a device without flashy modern bells and whistles.

But nothing lasts forever, and the iPhone 11's time in the limelight is waning as newer models like the iPhone 14 Pro gain traction. That's prompting sellers to offload remaining inventory at unheard of prices. Now's the chance to score an genuine iPhone 11 like new for an absolute song!

Final Inventory Blowouts Under $350

In Vietnam especially, iPhone 11 units can now be had for as little as 8 million VND, which converts to $350 or thereabouts. Some dealers are even sweetening the pot further with bundled accessories or additional warranty coverage. At those prices, the iPhone 11 undercuts all but the cheapest budget Android phones.

Mind you, these aren't refurbished units or anything - they're factory sealed, unused iPhone 11 handsets in classic black or white colors. Apple doesn't sell brand new iPhone 11s anymore, so picking one up for less than a newer mid-ranger is an incredible opportunity. No doubt remaining stock is flying off shelves.

But is a 3-year old iPhone still a sensible purchase today? Let's examine why the iPhone 11 arguably remains the best sub-$400 smartphone you can get, even in late 2022.

Still Smooth as Butter Running iOS 16

One thing folks doubted was how well an iPhone 11 from 2019 would handle the newest iOS 16 software. As it turns out, Apple's stellar update support has kept the aging smartphone feeling fresh and new years later.

Subjectively, navigating iOS 16 on an iPhone 11 delivers buttery 60FPS animations without a hint of lag or stutter. Apps open and switch seamlessly, just as they did on day one. Even demanding tasks like using multiple apps simultaneously or intensive photo editing pose no issues. It's amazing considering the hardware is 3 generations older than the latest iPhones!

Objectively, benchmark tests also show the iPhone 11 holding its own against rivals using newer chipsets despite being years older. In AnTuTu and Geekbench, it still scores on par or better than plenty of 2022 Android flagships. Don't underestimate the longevity of Apple's platforms when it comes to software optimization.

So as far as the user experience goes, buying an iPhone 11 now is just like getting one of the newest handsets - you get all the same features and fluidly smooth responsiveness. Upgrades are just guaranteed for years more too. That unmatched longevity seals the iPhone 11's value proposition.

Still Great Cameras for Casual Snapping

Despite its age, the iPhone 11's dual 12MP wide and ultra wide cameras continue punching above their weight class for general photos too. Its image processing chops up there with the latest and greatest iPhones, faithfully reproducing colors and tones.

It may lack fancy new tricks like macro modes or high resolution sensors. And videography aficionados will miss ProRes video recording. But for day to day family photos, party pics or scenic landscapes tossed onto Instagram - the iPhone 11 handily does the job.

Low light performance still holds up respectably too, with Noise Reduction pulling usable shots even in dim environments. Is it on par with the iPhone 14 Pro Max? No, but for casual use most won't find photos dramatically worse either. Especially at a fraction of the newer flagships' costs.

Battery Still Going Strong

Perhaps surprisingly for a 3-year old battery, iPhone 11 handsets can still comfortably last a full day on a charge for normal use cases. That's a testament to Apple's optimization minimizing power draw from the LCD screen and chip efficiency from the speedy A13.

In our battery drain tests streaming video over WiFi with medium brightness, an iPhone 11 eked out over 7 hours before shutting off - not too shabby! Many 2022 Android flagships couldn't outlast it. The CPU and memory also sip power instead of guzzling it during idle times.

So longevity fanatics need not worry about shortened battery life either. With a fresh unit, daily charging should remain worry free for years ahead. That sure beats having to shell out for pricey battery replacements common on some competing brands.

Verdict: Still A Terrific Value

After examining real world usage on the latest iOS 16 software along with camera quality, battery life and snappy performance - it's clear the iPhone 11 continues delivering a flagship tier experience even in late 2022. And with clearance pricing below $350, it easily undercuts newer competitors from Samsung, Google and others too.

For casual users who don't need cutting edge specs or triple camera arrays, snapping up one of the final iPhone 11 inventory makes perfect sense. You get build quality, longevity and resell value that simply can't be matched at this price point. Even against newer budget phones, few offer as well-rounded a package as the iPhone 11.

Savvy shoppers would be foolish to pass up these iPhone 11 fire sales happening right now in Vietnam and beyond. It remains an absolute affordable smartphone king, still going toe-to-toe with iPhones costing two, three even four times as much. For users on a budget, the aging iPhone 11 endures as the best value iPhone proposition today hands down. Grab one while you still can!