Qtek 8080 vs. Apple iPhone 11: A 15-Year Leap in Smartphone Technology

Comparing the Qtek 8080, a representative device from the early Windows Mobile era (2004), to the Apple iPhone 11 (2019) isn't about finding a direct competitor. It's about illustrating the monumental advancements in smartphone technology over a 15-year period. This comparison highlights the evolution of processing power, display quality, and overall user experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Apple iPhone 11 unequivocally wins this comparison. While the Qtek 8080 was innovative for its time, the iPhone 11’s A13 Bionic chip, superior display, and modern features offer a user experience that is simply incomparable. The iPhone 11 is the clear choice for any modern smartphone user.

PHONES
Phone Names Qtek 8080 Apple iPhone 11
Network
2G bandsGSM 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands-HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2221
EDGENo-
GPRSClass 8-
Speed-HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSMGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 -1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2111, A2223
Launch
Announced2004, Q12019, September 10
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2019, September 20
Body
Build-Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame (7000 series)
Dimensions120 x 50 x 23.5 mm, 105 cc (4.72 x 1.97 x 0.93 in)150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)
SIMMini-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight130 g (4.59 oz)194 g (6.84 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution176 x 220 pixels (~128 ppi density)828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size2.2 inches, 35 x 44 mm, 15.2 cm2 (~25.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTFT, 65K colorsLiquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
 White LED back light 5-way navigation button Downloadable logos-
Platform
CPU133 MHz ARM925Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder)
ChipsetTI OMAP 710Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)
GPU-Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSMicrosoft Windows Mobile 2003 SmartphoneiOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotSDIO/MMCNo
Internal32MB RAM, 64MB ROM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
 -NVMe
Main Camera
Dual-12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6"
Features-Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
SingleVGA-
VideoNo4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single-12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video-4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
 No-
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Alert typesVibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones-
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
BluetoothYes5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFC-Yes
PositioningNoGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBProprietaryLightning, USB 2.0
WLANNoWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
BrowserHTML (Pocket IE)-
Languages7-
Sensors-Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Microsoft ActiveSync Calculator Predictive text input MP3 playerUltra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)
Stand-byUp to 90 h-
Talk timeUp to 6 h-
TypeRemovable Li-Ion 1000 mAh batteryLi-Ion 3110 mAh, non-removable (11.91 Wh)
Misc
Colors-Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, White
Models-A2221, A2111, A2223, iPhone12,1
Price-$ 167.50 / C$ 228.68 / £ 175.00 / € 193.32
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.95 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 4GB RAM-$ 359.95
256GB 4GB RAM-$ 469.99
64GB 4GB RAM-$ 292.79
RENEWED-£ 214.00
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -94.2dB / Crosstalk -80.8dB
Battery life- Endurance rating 94h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: 1505:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker- Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 76dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 419453 (v7) GeekBench: 13882 (v4.4) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Qtek 8080

  • Historical significance – a glimpse into early smartphone design.
  • Compact size (likely smaller than modern phones).
  • Unique user experience for retro tech enthusiasts.

  • Extremely limited processing power.
  • Poor display quality.
  • Outdated operating system and software.
  • Limited battery life.

Apple iPhone 11

  • Powerful A13 Bionic chip for smooth performance.
  • High-quality display with excellent brightness and contrast.
  • Advanced camera system with computational photography.
  • Long battery life and fast charging options.
  • Access to a vast app ecosystem.

  • Older model – may not receive future software updates.
  • Battery life has degraded with age (as noted in the context).
  • Relatively large size compared to the Qtek 8080.

Display Comparison

The Qtek 8080’s display specifications are unavailable, but typical of the era, it would have been a small, low-resolution LCD. In contrast, the iPhone 11 boasts a significantly larger display with a measured peak brightness of 644 nits and a 1505:1 contrast ratio. This translates to a much more visible and vibrant screen, especially outdoors. The iPhone 11’s display technology allows for accurate color reproduction and a far superior viewing experience, something the Qtek 8080 simply couldn’t achieve.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the comparison ends there. The Qtek 8080’s camera resolution is unknown, but likely very low. The iPhone 11, while not a camera champion in 2024, features a sophisticated camera system with advanced image processing. While specific sensor sizes and apertures aren’t provided, the iPhone 11’s computational photography capabilities, including Smart HDR and Portrait mode, are light years ahead of anything available on the Qtek 8080. The iPhone 11’s video recording capabilities are also far superior.

Performance

The performance gap is astronomical. The Qtek 8080’s 133 MHz TI OMAP 710 processor with an ARM925 core is dwarfed by the Apple A13 Bionic’s hexa-core architecture (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder) built on a 7nm+ process. The A13 Bionic delivers orders of magnitude more processing power, enabling complex tasks like video editing, gaming, and augmented reality. The Qtek 8080 would struggle with even basic web browsing by today’s standards. The A13’s efficiency also contributes to the iPhone 11’s impressive battery life.

Battery Life

The Qtek 8080’s battery capacity is unknown, but typical of early smartphones, it would have offered limited talk time and standby time. The iPhone 11, with its endurance rating of 94 hours, provides significantly longer battery life. While the Qtek 8080 likely charged via a proprietary connector, the iPhone 11 supports both wired charging with PD2.0 (50% in 30 minutes) and wireless charging via Qi, offering greater convenience and flexibility.

Buying Guide

Buy the Qtek 8080 if you're a collector of vintage technology, interested in the history of mobile computing, or need a device for very basic communication tasks and are willing to accept significant limitations. Buy the Apple iPhone 11 if you require a modern smartphone experience with fast performance, a high-quality camera, a vibrant display, and access to a vast ecosystem of apps and services.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Given the age difference, is it fair to compare these devices at all?
While a direct comparison isn't practical for everyday use, it's valuable to illustrate the rapid evolution of smartphone technology. The Qtek 8080 represents a pivotal moment in mobile computing, and comparing it to the iPhone 11 highlights just how far we've come in terms of processing power, display quality, and software capabilities.
❓ Could the Qtek 8080 still be useful for basic tasks like calls and texts?
Technically, yes, the Qtek 8080 could still make calls and send texts, assuming it can connect to a modern cellular network. However, the experience would be significantly hampered by its slow processor, limited battery life, and outdated software. Modern feature phones offer a far better experience for basic communication.
❓ What was the biggest limitation of devices like the Qtek 8080?
The biggest limitation was the lack of a robust app ecosystem. Windows Mobile had limited software availability compared to iOS or Android. This meant users were restricted to the pre-installed applications and a small selection of third-party software, severely limiting the device’s functionality.
❓ Is the iPhone 11 still a good buy in 2024?
While it's an older model, the iPhone 11 remains a capable smartphone for many users, especially at its current discounted price. It still offers a good camera, decent performance, and access to iOS. However, users should be aware that it may not receive future software updates for much longer.