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Opinion / Did you notice that Apple’s iPhone 11 is missing these 6 features?

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during the launch of the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and an Apple Watch Series 5 – but some were left disappointed by what he didn’t announce. Photo: Kyodo
Much of the anticipation I typically feel leading up to a new iPhone announcement revolves around one question: “Did Apple finally add ‘this’ feature?”

For the iPhone 11, Apple delivered on some features I expected, like an ultra-wide camera, and a new night mode for better photos in low-light situations. And finally, a fast-charger included in the box, at least for the iPhone 11 Pro.

As for other features I was hoping for – like a universal USB-C port and a super-fast and smooth display –the iPhone 11 didn't quite deliver.

I can understand why Apple didn’t include most of the features below. Many of them might not be ready for Apple’s adoption yet. When Apple feels comfortable enough to add these features, the iPhone will be a totally different beast – and one I’d enjoy using a lot more. That’s why to many, the iPhone 11 feels more like a placeholder while the company works on adding some key, modern smartphone features to its iPhone.

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Check out the features that many may have hoped for on Apple’s iPhone 11, but didn't make an appearance:

Apple’s iPhones are starting to look outdated, despite all their fancy designs and tech
 

USB-C

Ultra-fast data transfer has a name, and that name is USB-C. Photo: Business Insider

USB-C is the modern standard when it comes to connecting and charging devices. Almost every Android device now has a USB-C port, and even Apple’s iPad Pros and MacBook Pro laptops have USB-C ports. But Apple’s iPhone 11 series all come with Lightning ports, and it’s getting a little old. It would be nice for iPad and MacBook Pro owners with USB-C connections to use the same charger and cables to charge their iPhones, too. Alas, iPhone owners still need a separate Lightning cable to charge the iPhone.

There has been some improvement to the USB-C situation with the iPhone 11 Pros, however. The “Pro” iPhone 11 models come with Apple’s 18W fast-charger and a USB-C-to-Lightning cable. That means you can finally plug an iPhone directly into a USB-C MacBook Pro without using an adaptor.

Including a USB-C-to-Lightning cable with iPhones is something Apple should have done in 2016, when the company introduced its USB-C-only MacBook Pros. Better late than never, I guess.

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A faster, smoother screen

The iPhone 11 has a 60Hz screen. Is it enough? Photo: Business Insider

If there’s one thing that would make the iPhone 11 phones “feel” unstoppable, it would be a 90Hz screen.

The iPhone 11 has a 60Hz screen, which is fine. But 90Hz screens are faster and smoother, and they make a big impact on how premium the phone feels. It’s not a necessity, but since phones from OnePlus, Razer and Asus are coming out with 90-plus Hz screens, Apple’s iPhones (and other phones from big names like Samsung) are starting to look outdated, despite all their fancy designs and tech.

But I can see why Apple hasn’t adopted the 90Hz screen. Screens with higher refresh rates can use up more battery. Apple boasts better battery lives on the new iPhone 11 phones, which more people may value over a 90Hz screen, especially when the current 60Hz screen is good enough.

For reference, “Hz” refers to “refresh rate”. The higher the Hz number, the higher the refresh rate, which means the more frames per second a screen can display. With a higher refresh rate and more frames per second, animations like opening and closing apps, as well as swiping around an operating system and apps, look smoother. It has a big impact on how premium a device feels.

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A notch-less design

Is the notch a niggle to you? Photo: Apple

Depending on who you talk to, the divisive notch is either a cool design feature – or a placeholder until Apple can figure out how to hide the iPhone’s selfie camera and various Face ID sensors behind the screen.

It’s not clear whether Apple embraces the notch, or if the company plans to ditch it for a notch-less design without compromising the selfie camera quality and the Face ID sensor.

Notch-less designs are currently possible, like the OnePlus 7 Pro’s no-notch screen that looks stunning. OnePlus was able to hide the selfie camera by making it pop out of the top of the phone when you needed it.

With that said, Apple’s Face ID facial recognition uses more sensors and is more advanced than a simple selfie camera, and the Face ID sensors occupy quite a lot of space. It’s apparently so difficult to hide so many sensors that Google has decided to return to the old-fashioned wide top bezel for the Pixel 4, just so that it can include its “Project Soli” radar technology for the Pixel 4’s upcoming advanced facial recognition.

An ‘in-display’ fingerprint sensor

Feel the fingerprint. Photo: Business Insider

There is one way that Apple could ditch the notch to offer a no-notch iPhone, but it is likely to mean ditching the Face ID sensors, and therefore Face ID.

It’s a tall ask, but Apple could use in-display fingerprint sensors to unlock the phone and authenticate Apple Pay purchases instead of Face ID. With an in-display fingerprint sensor, there’s arguably no need for Face ID.

I can understand why Apple hasn’t gone down the in-display fingerprint sensor route. The technology simply isn’t there yet, at least for things like Apple Pay that demand the utmost security.

I’ve used the secure in-display fingerprint sensors that use ultrasonic technology on Samsung’s Galaxy S10 and Note 10 smartphones, and the experience isn’t as smooth and seamless as it was with old-fashioned fingerprint sensors on bottom phone bezels or backs. The experience is different for different people, but for me, it’s slow and inaccurate.

At the same time, my first experience with Face ID on the iPhone X put me off the technology entirely. I thought Face ID was slow and inaccurate compared to old-fashioned fingerprint sensors, too. I have yet to try Face ID on newer iPhones, though.

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Reverse wireless charging, or ‘bilateral wireless charging’

The iPhone 11 was expected to include reverse wireless charging. Photo: Apple

Reverse wireless charging is a feature that started popping up on Huawei phones in 2018, and most recently on Samsung’s Galaxy S10 and Note 10 phones in 2019.

The feature is designed to let you charge other wireless charging devices, like a smartwatch or wireless earbuds, from the back of your phone.

The iPhone 11 was expected to include reverse wireless charging, which many said would be a compromise for Apple’s now-cancelled AirPower wireless charging pad. It could have been useful for Apple Watch and AirPod owners.

Alas, reverse wireless charging didn’t make it to the iPhone 11. There are rumours that the iPhone 11 phones do have reverse wireless charging tech, but it’s disabled by software.

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No 5G support – but this is totally understandable

YouTuber Marques Brownlee tests 5G on a Samsung Galaxy S10 5G. Photo: YouTube

Some may be disappointed that the iPhone 11 phones don’t support 5G, the latest standard in wireless communications.

Indeed, 5G promises unrivalled speeds that will make waiting for things to happen on your phone a thing of the past.

At the same time, 5G is rolling out slowly. It is only available in a few cities across the US and the world at the moment. And where it is available, 5G only covers “parts” of those cities.

It can be argued that 5G isn’t a “must-have” feature in 2019, especially if it means higher price tags on smartphones when connection to a 5G network isn’t guaranteed.

Check out YouTuber Marques Brownlee’s video on 5G and how it’s great, but not quite here yet:

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This article was originally written by Antonio Villas-Boas for  Business Insider .
Apple
  • Apple’s iPhones are starting to look outdated, despite all their fancy designs and tech – and the iPhone 11 feels like a placeholder while the company works on key smartphone features