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| http://www.apple.com/au/iphone/?cid=wwa-au-kwg-iphone-0001 |
Even people living under a rock know
that Apple recently unveiled “the tallest iPhone yet”. Yet despite pre-orders
reaching two million in just 24 hours and massive queues outside Apple stores
as the iPhone 5 is officially unveiled today, what many people still aren’t
sure of is whether or not Apple’s latest iThing is worth upgrading/converting
to. Here’s some information about the iPhone 5 you should know before you make
a decision.
Size
and Dimensions
At 7.6 mm deep, this isn’t the thinnest
smartphone in existence, but it is slimmer than the Samsung Galaxy S3 and
previous versions of the iPhone.
The screen has been stretched out to 4
inches, whilst the width remains the same, allowing for full-screen viewing of
HD movies.
Screen
The iPhone 5 retains the Retina display
fans have come to love, and at 326 ppi and a resolution of 1136x640, it’s easy
to see why. What makes the viewing experience on the iPhone 5 so special though
is of course the screen size, which has been increased to 4-inches. Whilst the
screen isn’t as big as those on some of the iPhone 5’s competitors, this may
work to Apple’s advantage, with many criticising the Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC
One X for being too large.
Performance,
iOS 6, and Siri
Apple claimed at the product launch that
the iPhone 5 would run twice as fast as the 4S thanks to a new A6 processor,
and whilst we’re not 100% convinced that the difference is that radical, the
iPhone 5 certainly runs much smoother than its predecessors. Apps load quicker,
videos seem slightly smoother, and image processing is definitely faster than
the 4S.
Just like the 4S, the iPhone 5 is equipped
with iOS 6. Even though there don’t seem to be any real differences in the way
the operating system runs on both phones, it was always a great operating
system to begin with, and still remains one of the most user-friendly yet
powerful operating systems on the market. Additionally, the automated assistant
Siri returns to the iPhone 5 with all the features you love, plus improved
voice recognition.
Camera
Like the 4S before it, the iPhone 5
comes with an iSight 8-megapixel camera. Whilst it certainly takes better
photos than the 4S in low-light environments, the 5’s camera doesn’t exactly
put digital cameras to shame.
The major improvements are the front
camera which has been increased to 720p video to allow for clearer FaceTime and
Skype chats, and the new Panorama mode. Interestingly though, the Panorama mode
doesn’t capture images in landscape mode, something that phones such as the
Samsung Galaxy S3 are more than capable of.
Apple
Maps
One of the most controversial changes
seen in the iPhone 5 is Apple’s divorce with Google Maps, and the kids are not
OK, with Apple instead opting for their own mapping service, Apple Maps.
Whilst it sounded good at the initial
launch (Apple promised more road names displayed, 3D mapping, and map rotation),
actual testing following the iPhone 5’s release has seen problems which rival
(if not overshadow) the “AntennaGate” scandal surrounding the release of the
iPhone 4. Issues include (but unfortunately for Apple are not limited to)
entire towns displayed up to 2 kilometres out of position with no buildings
within them, navigational routes grossly miscalculated, and rivers displayed
where buildings are actually located.
Apple are (likely) working on updates
for Apple Maps, and in the meantime, it’s still possible to access the Google
Maps website using the iPhone 5. However, the inability to use a Maps app
powered by Google Maps coupled with Apple Maps’ inability to help get drivers
from Point A to Point B may actually drive customers to purchase an Android
smartphone.
Battery
Apple claimed the iPhone 5’s battery
would last for up to either 8 hours of talk time, 8 hours of internet browsing
via 3G, 10 hours of video playback, or up to 225 hours of standby time. Upon
testing, the battery easily lasted an entire day, even with heavy usage,
although we’d still recommend charging it every night if you use your phone a
lot during the day.
The
Final Word
With a bigger screen, faster processor,
slimmer build, and some extra features, the “tallest iPhone yet” is definitely
the best iPhone yet, although Apple’s decision to part ways with Google Maps is
unfortunate (both for Apple and iPhone users). Whether it’s the best smartphone
on the market, though, is a matter of personal opinion.
If you’re an Android fan looking for
reasons not to buy an iPhone, Apple Maps alone will provide you with plenty,
and with good reason (especially if you try and use it to navigate your way
from Wollongong to Sydney).
Aside from the issues with Apple Maps
though, the iPhone 5 is still a powerful phone with arguably the best screen
and one of the most intuitive yet impressive operating systems on the market.
But whether you side with Apple or
Android, Apple do deserve some credit for somehow managing to further develop
an already great product.
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