The estimated reading time for this post is 7 minutes
For those of you who haven’t been paying attention to the evening news, morning news, world news, financial news or tech news, you will be surprised to discover that Apple announced the iPhone 5 yesterday. For those who have been paying attention to the news, your expectations must have been high as predictions were made that this new iPhone could have a positive impact on the US economy of “1/4 to 1/2%-point to fourth quarter annualized GDP growth.” That’s a lot of impact for a small device.
Yes, the anticipation was at a fevered pitch before yesterday’s announcement. But does the iPhone 5 live up to the hype? Here are the details along with information about other Apple announcements:
iPhone 5
The iPhone 5 is thinner and lighter than any previous iPhone and adds improved features such as a better camera, larger screen, and faster Internet connections. In spite of these improvements, the battery life is longer than previous models.
New Design
Those who were disappointed that the iPhone 4S had the same design as the iPhone 4 will be pleased to learn that the iPhone 5 has a new design. The phone case is now made from aluminum and glass, giving the iPhone a new look that’s polished and distinctive. The materials and design make the iPhone 5 a quality build, designed to be pleasing to the eye and to the hand. The new phone has a larger screen, a new dock connector and a headphone connector on the bottom, to help make the iPhone 5 recognizable as the latest model.
Bigger Screen
The iPhone 5 has a larger screen, 4″ compared to the 3.5″ screen of all previous iPhones. The screen has been elongated, not widened, so that an extra row of icons fits on your screen while the phone still rests comfortably in your hand. The longer screen also has a 16:9 ratio display, which is a better shape for watching wide-screen videos.
The screen is also brighter, with richer colors. Apple improved the touch screen technology so the screen is thinner and more responsive to touch.
Thinner and Lighter
Scoffing at the confines of physics, Apple manages to stuff all of its improvements into a device that is 7.6 mm thin and 112 g light, 18% thinner and 20% lighter than the iPhone 4S. This magic trick continues to be impressive each time we see it, though one must wonder how often Apple can repeat the trick before the iPhone becomes imperceptible to the naked eye. We don’t have to worry about that inevitable conclusion yet though. For now, we can marvel at the size of this new device.
Improved Camera
The iPhone 4S brought a significant improvement to the iPhone’s camera, so much so that at least one photojournalist used the camera to capture the feats of Olympic athletes in London this summer. But Apple did not rest upon its laurels, instead it continued to strive for greatness. Apple brings an improved camera to the iPhone 5, giving us the ability to take even better pictures and video.
New features of the camera, which Apple calls iSight, include the ability to take panoramic images and capture a photo while shooting a video. Although the camera is still 8 MP, the lens has been improved, now made from sapphire crystal with precision alignment. The camera app allows for 40% faster image capture and better images in low-light conditions.
You can see sample images taken with the iPhone 5, including full resolution images, in the iPhone 5 Gallery.
The front-facing camera has also been improved for higher resolution photos and videos, as well as a backside illumination sensor for better images in low light.
Speedy Quick
Speed is the name of the game for the new iPhone 5. The device gets a new A6 processor which is 40% faster than the old A5 processor and dual channel Wi-Fi antennas for faster Wi-Fi connections. Notably, the iPhone 5 has 4g/LTE capabilities so Internet connections when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi can be even faster than if you were connected to Wi-Fi. If you have a need for speed, the iPhone 5 will delight you.
Note that to take advantage of the iPhone 5’s 4g/LTE capabilities you must have access to 4g/LTE coverage from your cell phone provider. In the US, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint offer LTE coverage for the iPhone. Verizon has the broadest 4G/LTE coverage, though AT&T has plans to expand its coverage, bringing it to 43 new markets by the end of 2012. Check with your cell phone carrier to find out if LTE is offered in your area.
Apple’s website lists iPhone 5 LTE coverage in other countries.
New Dock Connector
The iPhone 5 features a new, 9-pin dock connector called the Lightning, which offers the advantages of being smaller than the previous 30-pin dock connector and being reversible so that no matter which way you plug it in, the connector will connect. The new connector is digital, though does not allow data to transfer any faster than the previous analog connector.
The current 30-pin dock connector theoretically has a 50/50 chance of being connected properly, though I have discovered in practice that only once have I actually connected it properly the first time, since I started plugging in my first iPod in 2004. My successful connection happened in August of 2005 and, had I known that the event was to have been such a rare occurrence, I would have tweeted about it, had Twitter been invented in 2005.
But I digress.
The new reversible connector is suitable for families who only have new iDevices and no older iDevices.
For those who:
- have older iDevices in the family,
- use more than one charge cord and/or
- have accessories such as speakers, clock radios, docks or other accessories,
the change in dock connectors has the potential to be a nightmare. I use the word “potential” here because Apple has tried to ameliorate the situation by providing its customers with dock adapters that allow you to connect your 9-pin iPhone 5 or other new iDevice to a 30-pin connector. I say “providing” because Apple will charge you $29 or $39 for one of these adapters, which must represent a tidy potential profit source for Apple.
The dock adapter will be the ideal solution for those who:
- don’t mind shelling out $29 or $39
- are likely to have it handy wherever they may find a need for an adapter (say, at a friend’s house when said new iDevice needs charging and the friend only has older iDevices) and
- are unlikely to lose a small piece of plastic that must be kept handy at all times.
In other words, the change to a new dock connector in most cases will be a supreme nuisance.
Battery Life
In spite of adding these advanced features to the iPhone 5, Apple has managed to improve the battery life of the device. Battery life is 8 hours for talking and browsing the Internet using 3G or 4g/LTE, 10 hours for browsing using Wi-Fi or watching video, 40 hours for listening to music and 225 hours of standby time.
Comparisons with Previous Models
For the full specs of the iPhone 5 versus the iPhone 4 and 4S, check the Apple website.
Availability
The iPhone 5 will be available for pre-order beginning tomorrow, September 14 in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore and will be sold in over 100 countries eventually.
The iPhone 5 will be priced:
with a 2 year contract –
- $199 16 GB
- $299 32 GB
- $399 64 GB
without a contract –
- $649 16 GB
- $749 32 GB
- $849 64 GB
Other Apple Announcements
iOS 6
Apple also announced September 19 as the date for iOS 6, the new operating system for the new devices as well as the iPhone 4 and 4S, the iPad 2 and New, and the iPod Touch 4th generation. iOS 6 brings over 200 new capabilities to iDevices, including Maps, FaceTime over cellular, and others. Read more about iOS 6 in Apple’s WWDC 2012: What’s New for You?
iPod Touch
Apple announced new iPods, including the iPod Touch and the iPod Nano. The iPod Touch will come in five different colors and will include a matching wrist strap, reducing the chance of loss or breakage for those who might be clumsy or forgetful with their iDevices.
The new iPod Touch has the larger screen of the iPhone 5. The iPod Touch also comes with the iSight camera, though the camera remains at 5 MP instead of the 8 MP camera of the new iPhone.
The iPod Touch will be available for pre-orders beginning September 14 and is priced at $299 for the 32 GB and $399 for the 64 GB models.
iPod Nano
The new iPod Nano also has been redesigned with a new look. The square shape has been abandoned, instead the new Nano reclaims its rectangular persona, gaining a 2.5 inch screen. The Nano is 5.4 mm thin, gaining it the title of “Thinnest iPod Ever.”
The iPod Nano costs $149 for 16 GB of storage. Pre-orders begin September 14.
New Ear Pods
Apple also redesigned its earphones, now called Ear Pods, to optimize the sound you hear from iDevices. Apple engineered the Ear Pods to fit a variety of ear shapes and sizes while improving the sound and air flow.
Ear Pods with a microphone are $29 and are available for purchase now.
Your Thoughts
What do you think about Apple’s announcements? Will you be getting an iPhone 5? Do you like the other iDevices Apple announced? Let us know in the Comments section below!
********
Correction: A previous version incorrectly stated that the new Lightning dock connectors transferred more data faster than the previous dock connectors.
Great write up Carolyn 🙂 glad you covered both positive and negatives. You’re correct they make hell of money with the dock connector , But don’t think too much about it we may lose precious money which is called TIME 🙂 So work work keep focus and start shipping always you can earn those money for those gadgets.
If you own iphone 4 or iphone 4s don’t switch to iphone 5 unless if you have any necessary . It’s a personal choice , but save money for future too because recession may hit the world sooner !
My Two cents 🙂
Thanks
Suresh
Hi Suresh, How lovely to see you here at The Wonder of Tech! Thanks for your kind words. Yes, time is valuable, but it’s unclear how much time will be saved by those pesky dock connectors. Will it be more time than is spent hunting for the dock adapters?
Yes, saving money is important and paying full price for the iPhone 5 because you just got the 4S last year would be very expensive.
You Wow me again Carolyn!
Just today morning my husband and myself saw the news about iPhone 5 and I told me, wait and watch, today Carolyn will be writing about it – and I was right. 🙂
It does seem to be so much lighter and better than iPhone 4 as per what I have been reading, though I wonder what people normally do when they already purchased one last year and want a new one now. I guess with Apple coming up with new iPhones each year, it must be tough. The cost seems a little too steep and the booking has yet to start our end too, and would be around the end of the month. But yes, I guess this would be a better choice any-day as compared to iPhone 4, which many people had brought last year.
The iPods are something my younger ones been wanting for a long time, so would give it look and decide. 🙂
Thanks for sharing about all the other Apple announcements too. 🙂
Hi Harleena, Yes, I couldn’t wait to write about the iPhone 5. I usually publish on Fridays, but tech news travels fast so it’s Thursday this week!
Yes, getting a new phone is expensive, but with a two year contract the price of the phone is reduced significantly. You just have to be careful of the plan that it doesn’t cost you a lot more than the phone ever would.
The one good thing is that iPhones tend to retain a lot of their value so people can resell them later to help pay for the new ones.
Yes, my girls want the iPhone but it’s very expensive so they have iPods instead.
Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts with us, Harleena! 🙂
So how often are they updating these now Carolyn, every year? It seems like they just came out with an update but they just can’t stop trying to improve them.
It does sound like quite a bit of improvements have been made so let’s see what the general consensus will end up being. I knew you’d be reporting about it that’s for sure.
You know me, I’m sticking with my iPod Touch for now. It suits my purpose.
Great update.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, Yes, your iPod Touch is perfect for you. You get the wonderful apps without the expense of a smartphone plan!
Apple usually updates its iPhone once a year, though last year it was about 15 months and this year it’s under 12 months. They keep us guessing!
It’s expensive to get one every year so most people skip a generation and wait until they renew their contracts to pay less for a phone.
Hi Carolyn – I was expecting a similar article from you after the launch, and am glad you did 🙂
Yea, all the features sound good, the pre-order opens tonight, am gonna order a “white” one for my wife, she has been wanting to have it for a long time now. So, I will end up having an android and an apple device at home now. Let us see how they fare together under one roof 🙂
Hi Praveen, That will be interesting to see how your wife’s iPhone and your Android devices get along. Your family probably doesn’t care about the new dock connector if there are no old iDevices lurking about.
Yes, this news was so exciting that I couldn’t wait until my regular publishing date tomorrow. I knew Wonder of Tech readers would be eager to learn about the new iPhone 5! :-bd
This may be my favourite Wonder of Tech post to date! I’m a sucker for that iPhone 5, I already have one on hold. It’s a completely irrational desire, since I can’t reap most of the benefits here in Canada. The improved speed is irrelevant, I’ll be buying it without a plan, and I don’t care much about a camera. I like that it’s bigger; I like that it’s lighter. I just love me a new Apple device. Can’t help myself :-). I loved the part about never getting the connector inserted properly. I probably get it the first try about 20% of the time.
Thank you very much, Ruth, I’m glad you liked this article. Wow, you really are dedicated to getting your new iPhone!
Yes, the larger screen and the lighter weight are certainly benefits. Though I can’t say I ever regarded the iPhone 4S as heavy, I have had a hankering for a larger screen.
I don’t know what it is about the dock connector that I never can seem to get it right the first time. The new dock connector would eliminate that struggle but I would have to be switching constantly between a connector for my iPad and one for my iPhone. That would be frustrating.
I hope you enjoy your new iPhone, Ruth!
Hi Carolyn,
The moment i have seen the information about the launch of new iPhone 5 i can’t wait more to grab it as soon as possible.It has got smarter with new design and i have never though that a combination of Aluminium and glass could be implemented on the design of a phone.
But i am confuse that why there is a price gap between the contract and non contract persons.Really don’t get any point in this difference.
Hi Aditya, Great question. When you sign a two-year contract with a cell phone carrier they will sell you a phone at a steep discount. They are getting a guaranteed stream of income for two years so they are making that money back over the term of the contract.
If you aren’t entering into a contract then the carrier doesn’t have a two year guaranteed stream of income so you have to pay full price for a phone. If you’re buying a smartphone, the full price will quickly remind you that you’re buying a small computer instead of just a phone.
I am still confused Carolyn 🙁 I agree that they will provide a steep discount but whats the big deal in it>if they are providing a great phone then people will buy it for sure whatever the price is.I guess its their marketing strategy.
Also having a contract with them means we will get some other services included in it??
Hi Aditya, I’m sorry you’re still confused. In the US, carriers offer a steeply discounted price for cell phones if you sign a two year contract for service. These are more expensive than plans that don’t require a contract, such as Ting and Virgin Mobile, but with those carriers you have to pay full price for the phones. Although carriers with less expensive plans can save customers hundreds of dollars over time, we are often persuaded to enter into these long-term agreements so we can get the latest and greatest phone at the lower price.
I hope this clears things up! 🙂
In my opinion, the differences are not that big and they don’t deserve the money. For me they look the same with slightly changes.
Hi Radu, The changes do seem incremental instead of revolutionary. But the iPhone is already extremely successful so there may not have been a need for revolutionary changes. I am very impressed with the advances in technology made by Apple with the iPhone 5 while making it thinner and lighter with longer battery life.
If you’re satisfied with the phone you already have, then there’s no need to upgrade to the iPhone 5. But if you’re buying a new smartphone, you should consider the iPhone 5.
I won’t purchase an i-phone for one reason and I might get some flak for stating it. The industry is moving towards a standard micro-usb port for charging and their announcement in my opinion shows a flagrant disregard to the public and any types of standardization in this area. I have enough cords already in drawers to last me 2 life times and I don’t need anymore that does nothing but line their pocket books.
Since I am the public I could care less of their reasoning. Times are harder for people and at least with the standardization I didn’t have to buy extra cords or car chargers. They are being wasteful and unmindful to the environment and my child’s future on this planet. My two cents as a dad…..
Aaron
Hi Aaron, You give a very valid reason for not wanting an iPhone. Many people are upset by Apple’s decision to replace the dock connectors but they will buy it anyway. If people refuse to buy the iPhone 5 because of the new dock connector then Apple and other companies will be reluctant to use a connector other than a micro USB.
I agree, a micro USB would have been great because then everyone in the family would be using the same cords and accessories! 🙂
I am due for a new phone in November and am seriously considering moving to the iPhone from my Droid. I am intrigued, but not sure that I am convinced that this phone is better than the Droids.
But I appreciate reading a review that provides specs and facts as opposed to a lot of fan boy, Kool-Aid drinking rah rah,
Hi Josh, I’m so glad you found this article helpful. That’s interesting that you are considering switching from an Android to an iPhone. I’m curious, what interests you about the iPhone ahead of an Android phone?
I recently inherited a Mac that I have grown to love and am considering dumping my PC laptop for a new Mac.
So I have been playing around with going all Apple, the iPhone would round that out.
Great idea, Josh. Synergy can bring unexpected dividends. I hope for the same type of synergy between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, but time will tell whether I am overly optimistic.
Hey Carolyn
I’m still in contract with my iPhone 4S until next September. I would love the newest version but will more than likely miss this one and wait for the next one!
It’s killing me as I so love the iPhone!
Hi Tim, I’m in the same boat as you are. I wish carriers had a one-year contract available where you pay a bit more but could upgrade at a discount each year. Those of us who like to upgrade to the latest model would probably flock to such a carrier! 🙂
Your article still says that the new connector is faster than the old connector (when weighing the pros and cons, right above the Battery Life tite).
Hi Nik, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Thank you very much for catching that. I have made the correction.
I’m really loving all the new features and hardware of iPhone 5. From the moment it was officially unveiled, I was quickly sold. I’m looking forward in getting my hands on these! Excited!
Hi Ken, I hope you enjoy your new iPhone! 🙂
I am actually not sure if I’m very impressed with the iPhone 5 or not. I wasn’t expecting a revolution, but I’ve been reading a lot about the rumors before the launch, and I ended up with not being sure what to expect. Now that I’ve seen the iPhone 5 online, I know that I want it, but not sure if I should wait until my iPhone 4S is at least 12 monts or 24 months old, or if I should just buy the the new iPhone and give my old one to my daughter 🙂
I know what I want to do, but it’s not a smart move when you’ve just started a business 🙂
Hi Jens, Yes, the new iPhone might be considered evolutionary instead of revolutionary. In the US most people upgrade when their contract is due for renewal so they can get the phone at a significant discount. In the US these contracts generally last two years so lots of people skip a generation of phones.
You may want to wait until after the launch to see if you can resist the craving or not.
Really thorough breakdown! The photo quality from the iPhone 5 is impressive. A lot of people have been disappointed with the cameras in the previous versions, so this improvement may win over some fence-sitters who would otherwise not purchase one. With so many people using mobile devices for almost everything that used to be done exclusively on personal computers battery life, speed, camera resolution – all of it – really do matter more than ever.
Hi Elena, good point. The camera on the iPhone is truly superb. The camera alone may be a compelling enough reason for many people to get the new iPhone.
I am reading about the new Iphone 5 for the fourth time in the entire day now. It is so much in vogue, the pre launch and launch period have been going through a hype in the market about the various features the phone possesses and the additional facilities it is providing. People are expecting much more than Iphone 5.
Hi Sam, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, there are those who are disappointed that the iPhone 5 wasn’t more of a radical improvement to the iPhone 4S. All indications are, however, that the iPhone 5 will set new sales records for Apple. Time will tell how happy people are with the new iPhone! 🙂
Thanks for the great review details. I feel like I’m a day late and a dollar short because I am generally not an early adopter. I am still cooing over the iphone I got in April of last year. Anyway, it’s always nice to see what the new iphone has. The better quality camera is a plus as I’ve found that I use my camera A LOT, probably because it’s convenient. Suzanne
Hi Suzanne, Yes, they say that the best camera is the one you have with you. If you’re still excited about the iPhone you got in April then there is certainly no need to replace it. You’re right, though, it’s fun to see what the new iPhone has.
I have only owned two iPhones in my life, the 3GS and the 4S. These gadgets are quite expensive toys to replace every year! No, you’re not a day late and a dollar short at all. Finding contentment in what you already have is a good recipe for a happy life! 🙂
it seems like they improved a lot on the new iPhone. Especially a better battery would be very usefull!
Unfortunately I can’t afford to buy a new iPhone every year. So I will wait untill the iPhone 6 will come, if you don’t mind 🙂
Hi Fonnie, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, it can get very expensive to get a new iPhone every year. Some people just have to have a new phone while others feel it’s better to skip a year or two.
I’m skipping this year too. I am still very pleased with my iPhone 4S, it’s less than a year old and serving me very well! I look forward to the iPhone 6 or 5S, whatever they call it!