Iphone 7 Plus Vs Iphone 11 Display Is The Upgrade Worth It For The Screen Alone

The iPhone 7 Plus was a flagship device in its time—offering a solid build, dual-camera system, and reliable performance. But nearly four years after its release, Apple introduced the iPhone 11, a significant leap forward in design, processing power, and display technology. For users still holding onto their iPhone 7 Plus, the question isn’t just about overall performance—it’s whether upgrading to the iPhone 11 is justified by improvements in one critical area: the screen.

The display is where we spend most of our time: scrolling, watching videos, reading, gaming, and browsing. If you're considering an upgrade solely for better visual experience, it's essential to understand exactly how much has changed between these two models.

Display Technology: LCD Evolution from Retina HD to True Tone Liquid Retina

The iPhone 7 Plus features a 5.5-inch Retina HD display with IPS LCD technology. At the time of launch, this screen delivered excellent clarity for its resolution (1920 x 1080), with a pixel density of 401 PPI. Colors were accurate, black levels were decent for an LCD, and outdoor visibility was strong thanks to good peak brightness.

In contrast, the iPhone 11 comes with a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD display—an evolution of Apple’s LCD lineup. While it maintains the same type of panel (IPS LCD), Apple refined every aspect: improved contrast ratios, better color management, and the introduction of True Tone technology. True Tone dynamically adjusts the white balance based on ambient lighting, making the screen appear more natural in different environments, similar to paper under changing light.

Despite both being LCDs, the iPhone 11’s screen benefits from tighter integration with iOS and newer hardware components, resulting in smoother rendering, reduced motion blur, and more consistent backlighting across the entire surface.

Tip: Enable True Tone in Settings > Display & Brightness to reduce eye strain during prolonged use, especially at night.

Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: A Noticeable Leap

One of the most practical differences between the two displays lies in brightness. The iPhone 7 Plus peaks at around 500 nits, which was competitive in 2016. However, the iPhone 11 reaches up to 625 nits under typical conditions and can hit higher levels briefly in HDR mode. This increase may not sound dramatic on paper, but in direct sunlight or bright indoor settings, the difference is immediately noticeable.

Users upgrading from the 7 Plus often report that the iPhone 11 screen feels “crisper” and “easier to read” outdoors—not because of resolution changes, but due to superior luminance and anti-reflective coating improvements. Apple also optimized the optical bonding process, reducing glare and improving touch responsiveness even when wearing gloves or using the phone in humid conditions.

“Even without moving to OLED, Apple managed to extract meaningful gains in readability and comfort through smarter calibration and materials.” — David Liu, Display Analyst at TechInsight Group

Screen Size and Usability: Bigger Isn't Always Better, But Here It Helps

The jump from 5.5 inches to 6.1 inches might seem modest, but in practice, it translates into significantly more usable space. The iPhone 11’s taller aspect ratio (though slightly wider) allows for better multitasking, larger keyboards, and a more immersive media experience. Videos fill more of the screen, web pages show more content, and apps take advantage of the extra real estate.

For users who frequently consume video content—whether YouTube, Netflix, or social media—the additional screen area reduces scrolling fatigue and enhances engagement. Gamers also benefit from larger targeting zones and expanded field-of-view in supported titles.

However, this does come with trade-offs. The iPhone 11 is less pocket-friendly than the 7 Plus, and single-handed use becomes harder for those with smaller hands. Still, if your priority is screen utility over portability, the 11 clearly wins.

Detailed Comparison Table: iPhone 7 Plus vs iPhone 11 Display Specs

Feature	iPhone 7 Plus	iPhone 11
Display Type	Retina HD (IPS LCD)	Liquid Retina HD (IPS LCD)
Size	5.5 inches	6.1 inches
Resolution	1920 x 1080	1792 x 828
PPI (Pixels Per Inch)	401	326
Brightness (Peak)	~500 nits	~625 nits
True Tone Support	No	Yes
Haptic Touch / 3D Touch	3D Touch	Haptic Touch (No 3D Touch)
Contrast Ratio	1300:1	1400:1
Color Accuracy (DCI-P3)	Wide Color (P3)	Wide Color (P3) + Improved Calibration

Note: Although the iPhone 11 has a lower PPI than the 7 Plus, the difference is imperceptible at normal viewing distances due to Apple’s subpixel rendering and software optimization. In fact, many users find text appears sharper on the iPhone 11 due to better font smoothing and dynamic type handling.

Real-World Example: Sarah’s Upgrade Experience

Sarah had been using her iPhone 7 Plus since 2017. By late 2021, she noticed the battery life was declining, and apps felt sluggish. She considered upgrading but wasn’t sure if newer models offered enough improvement. After testing both phones side-by-side at an Apple Store, she focused entirely on the screen.

She opened the same webpage on each device, then played a trailer from Apple TV+. On the 7 Plus, the image looked slightly washed out indoors, and scrolling caused minor judder. On the iPhone 11, colors popped subtly, whites adjusted naturally as she moved near a window, and everything felt smoother—even animations between screens.

“I didn’t think I needed a bigger screen,” Sarah said later, “but once I used the iPhone 11, going back felt cramped and dim. It wasn’t just size—it was how alive the screen felt.”

Is the Upgrade Worth It for the Screen Alone?

If your primary motivation is display quality, the answer depends on your current usage patterns and expectations.

For casual users who mainly check messages, browse occasionally, and don’t watch much video, the iPhone 7 Plus screen remains functional. It still delivers sharp text and acceptable color reproduction. However, if you spend hours daily on your phone—reading articles, editing photos, streaming HD content, or playing games—the iPhone 11 offers tangible improvements in brightness, comfort, and immersion.

Additionally, long-term benefits like True Tone support and better blue light management contribute to reduced eye fatigue, especially in low-light environments. These factors may not seem crucial day one, but over weeks and months, they enhance overall user satisfaction.

Checklist: When the iPhone 11 Screen Upgrade Makes Sense

• You regularly use your phone outdoors or in brightly lit rooms
• You stream videos or play mobile games frequently
• You value natural-looking colors and adaptive brightness
• You’ve noticed the 7 Plus screen feels dim or slow to respond
• You want longer-term usability without another upgrade soon

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the iPhone 11 have OLED like other premium iPhones?

No, the iPhone 11 uses an advanced LCD panel called Liquid Retina HD. Only the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max feature OLED displays. However, Apple optimized the LCD so well that for most users, the visual difference is minimal outside deep blacks and infinite contrast.

Is the lower resolution on the iPhone 11 a downgrade?

Not in practice. Despite having fewer pixels than the 7 Plus, the iPhone 11’s screen appears just as sharp due to Apple’s rendering techniques and increased screen real estate. The operating system scales content intelligently, so text and images remain crisp.

Did Apple remove 3D Touch, and does it affect screen experience?

Yes, 3D Touch was replaced with Haptic Touch, which relies on long-press gestures instead of pressure sensitivity. Some users miss the immediacy of 3D Touch, but Haptic Touch is more consistent and easier to trigger accidentally. The change doesn’t impact visual quality but alters interaction design.

Final Verdict: A Meaningful Step Forward

Upgrading from the iPhone 7 Plus to the iPhone 11 for the screen alone is a reasonable decision—if your eyes are doing the heavy lifting each day. You’re not getting a revolutionary shift like OLED or 120Hz refresh rates, but you are gaining a modern, brighter, more responsive, and visually balanced display engineered for today’s usage habits.

The iPhone 11’s screen may not scream “cutting-edge,” but it quietly excels in consistency, adaptability, and everyday usability. Combined with faster performance, better battery life, and continued iOS support, the display serves as a cornerstone of a noticeably upgraded experience.

💬 Have you made the switch from iPhone 7 Plus to iPhone 11? Share your thoughts on the display difference in the comments below—we’d love to hear your real-world insights!