UPDATE: Be sure to check out our full review of the iPhone 5 here and don't miss the Duel: Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S3...
That's right, it's here. Now that Apple has held its keynote event, let's take a closer look at what we're dealing with: the long-awaited, endlessly-rumoured, iPhone 5.
Bigger, longer, thinner, lighter... the iPhone 5 really is a nice feeling object that fit comfortably in our hands.
iPhone 4S (left) and iPhone 5 (right). The body is noticeably thinner.
Will the iPhone 5 help Apple win some of its market share, which dropped from 22.1% to 18.8% from the first to second quarter of 2012 alone, back from Samsung and Android? Maybe...
The new Panorama mode.
It's true, the smartphone Apple unveiled yesterday is yet another great-looking device. And the company has pursued its philosophy of offering an ever-wider range of services while developing its own in-house features (Apple's new geolocation and navigation app has effectively removed Google, in the form of Maps, entirely from the iPhone's interface). And it's true that it contains technological advances not found on the 4S. But Apple has not—alas—revolutionised its smartphone.
iPhone 4S (left) and iPhone 5 (right)
The iPhone 5 is certainly a step up from the 4S, and Apple has caught up with Android and Nokia on certain functions, but it's hard to find that one, magical "Wow!" feature so common to Apple's releases.
The finishing, up close: just as perfect as always. Clean as a whistle!
Pre-orders start tomorrow, 14 September, and begin shipping on 21 September, from £529.
> Reviews: Mobiles & Smartphones
That's right, it's here. Now that Apple has held its keynote event, let's take a closer look at what we're dealing with: the long-awaited, endlessly-rumoured, iPhone 5.
Bigger, longer, thinner, lighter... the iPhone 5 really is a nice feeling object that fit comfortably in our hands.
iPhone 4S (left) and iPhone 5 (right). The body is noticeably thinner.
Will the iPhone 5 help Apple win some of its market share, which dropped from 22.1% to 18.8% from the first to second quarter of 2012 alone, back from Samsung and Android? Maybe...
The new Panorama mode.
It's true, the smartphone Apple unveiled yesterday is yet another great-looking device. And the company has pursued its philosophy of offering an ever-wider range of services while developing its own in-house features (Apple's new geolocation and navigation app has effectively removed Google, in the form of Maps, entirely from the iPhone's interface). And it's true that it contains technological advances not found on the 4S. But Apple has not—alas—revolutionised its smartphone.
iPhone 4S (left) and iPhone 5 (right)
The iPhone 5 is certainly a step up from the 4S, and Apple has caught up with Android and Nokia on certain functions, but it's hard to find that one, magical "Wow!" feature so common to Apple's releases.
The finishing, up close: just as perfect as always. Clean as a whistle!
As for the capabilities of the new A6 processor, it's hard to tell from a cursory look without more in-depth poking and prodding, but everything seems to run with an exemplary smoothness. Then again, none of the models Apple laid out for display had any video games on them, so that's hard to judge.
When it comes to the camera, again, it's difficult to say just how much progress has been made. We'll know more once we get it in our labs. Does the iPhone 5 have what it takes to spar with the Nokia Lumia 920 in terms of things like sensitivity and video stabilisation?
When it comes to the camera, again, it's difficult to say just how much progress has been made. We'll know more once we get it in our labs. Does the iPhone 5 have what it takes to spar with the Nokia Lumia 920 in terms of things like sensitivity and video stabilisation?
The new EarPod headphones are minimalist and futuristic-looking. They fit easily in our ears and seemed to stay snuggly in place. Unfortunately, there are no removable, rubber earbuds; it's the same size and shape for everyone, and some of our colleagues at the event found them either too big or too small for their ears.
Now we can only wait and see if the three years it took to develop the EarPods will deliver good, balanced sound—i.e. better than the white ones that have always been included with Apple products until now.
Now we can only wait and see if the three years it took to develop the EarPods will deliver good, balanced sound—i.e. better than the white ones that have always been included with Apple products until now.
The real question is this: will all those people who passed on the 4S a year ago to wait and see what was in store with the next generation go out and buy the iPhone 5? Or will they turn instead to a different brand with similar capabilities and a cheaper price tag?
The iPhone 5 is finally here, but whether or not it will be everywhere is another question.
The iPhone 5 is finally here, but whether or not it will be everywhere is another question.
Apple iPhone 5
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Pre-orders start tomorrow, 14 September, and begin shipping on 21 September, from £529.
> Reviews: Mobiles & Smartphones
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