📱 Should You Buy an Older iPhone in 2025? Here’s Why I Still Use the iPhone 11 for Video

 

Looking to start creating videos or vlogs without breaking the bank? You might be wondering if an older iPhone—like the iPhone 11—is still worth buying in 2025.



Short answer? Yes—if you know how to use it right.

In this post, I’ll share the real pros and cons of the iPhone 11, how I use it for video production, and what kind of results you can get when paired with the right tools. Let’s dive in.

✅ The Pros of Using an Older iPhone

1. Affordable Yet Capable

The iPhone 11 is now available for under $300 (refurbished or used), making it a great option for content creators on a budget.

2. Surprisingly Great Video Quality

I personally still use my iPhone 11 for video shoots. When combined with proper lighting and a lavalier mic, the footage looks clean, vibrant, and totally share-worthy—even on YouTube.

3. High-Speed / Slow Motion Video

This phone supports 1080p at 120fps and 240fps. That means buttery slow motion b-rolls are absolutely possible. It’s one of my favorite features for creative storytelling.

4. 4K Recording at 60fps

It handles 4K60 video like a champ with stable color, decent dynamic range, and no overheating issues (which some newer phones still suffer from!).

❌ The Cons of the iPhone 11 in 2025

1. Weak Low-Light Performance

This phone needs light to shine. In darker settings, the video gets noisy and loses sharpness quickly. A small LED light can fix that, though.

2. No Cinematic Mode or ProRes

If you’re looking for depth-of-field effects or ProRes editing flexibility, the iPhone 11 simply doesn’t have it.

3. Older Front Camera

The selfie video quality isn’t bad—but it’s not as sharp or dynamic as the newer iPhones.

4. Battery Degradation

If you’re buying secondhand, check the battery health. You may need to replace it for longer shoots.

🎬 Real-World Use: How I Make the iPhone 11 Work for Me

Here’s what I use to get the most out of my iPhone 11 for video:

  • Lavalier mic (for clean audio)

  • LED panel light (or soft window light)

  • Tripod or smartphone gimbal (for stabilization)

  • Editing app like VN, CapCut, or LumaFusion (for a quick polish)

Paired with those tools, the iPhone 11 still delivers professional-looking content.

💸 Final Verdict: Is It Still Worth Buying?

If you’re just getting into content creation, mobile videography, or even freelance client work—the iPhone 11 is still a valuable tool in 2025. For its price, it punches way above its weight.

You’ll miss out on some of the flashy new features, but if video is your priority and you know how to light and mic your scenes—it’s more than enough.

✍️ Got questions or want to see my video samples?

Leave a comment below or follow me on YouTube for more behind-the-scenes content.

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