APPLE IPHONE 5 REVIEW

to review the iPhone 5; what a blessing, and what a curse. It's
actually funny to think that there was a time not that long ago that
the iPhone wasn't even a thing , let alone an iconic part of pop
culture. A time when an Apple-made phone was just a fantasy; a
blogger's fever-dream; a secret glimmer in the eye of Steve Jobs and
his team of engineers and designers.
But the iPhone has become very real. In fact, it's grown up, moved
out, and taken over the world. Well, half the world anyhow. These
days the iPhone isn't just components on a breadboard in a lab in
Cupertino, it's the device by which all others are measured. And that
makes for some interesting measuring indeed.
The new iteration of Apple's phone is everything it should be: faster,
smarter, thinner, and lighter. It boasts LTE data speeds, improved
cameras, a larger screen with a higher resolution, and a design which
— while not groundbreaking — is unquestionably beautiful. But it's
also very much the iPhone you've seen before. Apple's iOS 6 software
is not a leap forward, but a small jump, and the phone design is an
evolution of the iPhone 4S, not a revolutionary new spin.
So does the new iPhone 5 retain its title as MVP in smartphones, or
is it just another contender in a big, big game? Read on for my full
review and find out.
Video Review
Design and hardware
UNTIL YOU'VE HELD IT, YOU HAVEN'T
SEEN IT
You may think you've seen this device before, but trust me: until
you've held the new iPhone, you really haven't seen it at all. While
the basic design of the phone mimics the look of the iPhone 4 and
iPhone 4S, the actual components, materials, sizing, and weight make
it seem like another device entirely.
The iPhone 5 retains nearly the exact shape of the iPhone 4, with its
rounded corners, glass-covered façade, and metal band running
around the edges of the device. Where the 5 differs is its brushed
aluminum backing capped by glass on the top and bottom and the
placement of the screen and back within the housing. Previously,
both sat above the metal band, pushed off the surface of the phone.
Now they're integrated and flush with the band, removing the harsh
step from one surface to the other. It's a minor detail, but one you
sense immediately when you're holding the phone.
You'll also immediately sense how little it weighs. The iPhone 5 feels
extremely light in your hand, weighing just 3.9 ounces (compared to
the iPhone 4S's 4.9 ounces). That makes for a device that almost
doesn't seem heavy enough when you first pick it up — in fact, when
I first handled it after the announcement, it nearly went flying out of
my hands.
TRULY SOMETHING TO BEHOLD
The phone is also thinner and of course taller. Combined with the
lighter weight, it feels somehow smaller in your hands despite that
new 4-inch display.
Apple moved the headphone jack to the bottom of the phone, which
is a welcome change in my opinion. It also slightly tweaked some of
the details on the device, like the grid on the speakers and the more
polished, streamlined beveled edges on the sides of the phone. The
mirrored, angular rims give the phone a glint akin to jewelry
(something I noted in my first hands-on with the device).
In all, while the iPhone 5 might look familiar, the sheer attention to
fit and finish in its build lends it a sense of quality and craftsmanship
that far too many devices lack. The new design — particularly the
black version, which has a kind of sinister simplicity to it — is truly
something to behold.
Specs, display, sound
In the past, Apple has often treated "feeds and speeds" as an
afterthought — something that seemed like an annoyance rather than
an opportunity. The company appeared to be leaving the specs race
behind in its march towards the Post PC future it's been designing.
But the folks in Cupertino have come out swinging with the latest
iPhone (even though Apple demurred on some facts, like clock
speed).
Inside the iPhone 5 you'll find a new dual-core A6 CPU running at a
reported 1GHz, 1GB of RAM, between 16GB and 64GB of storage (I
tested the 64GB version), and an assortment of radios supporting Wi-
Fi 802.11a/b/g/n on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, 3G and LTE
on both CDMA and GSM networks, and a GPS chip. Of course.
LTE speeds were excellent on the device, and general performance
seemed excellent — easily surpassing what I'm accustomed to on the
4S, which is no slouch (more on both of these points later).
The device also features new cameras; an 8 megapixel shooter on
back and a 1.2 megapixel version around front, and sports a
compass, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, and
accelerometer.
DISPLAY
As you may have heard, Apple has increased the size of the display on
the iPhone 5 to 4 inches (at an 1136 x 640 resolution), as opposed
to the 3.5-inch screens that have dominated every other model in the
line. Prior to the release of the new phone, there were many people
who argued that the 3.5-inch display was scientifically perfect —
having been engineered to match the average reach of a thumb —
and a larger screen would create all sorts of usability problems.
Undoubtedly those poor individuals are undergoing surgery as we
speak in the hopes that they may someday be able to reach the upper
left corner of the iPhone 5's screen with their right-hand thumb. I
can tell you I've had no such troubles, but then again I have huge,
monster-like hands.
In other areas, a new treatment has been utilized on the display
which Apple claims produces brighter colors as well as deeper blacks
while reducing display thickness. In a side-by-side comparison with
the iPhone 4S, it did look better to my eyes, though next to the
excellent screen of the higher-resolution HTC One X, the improved
imaging was less apparent.
Other than the additional row of visible icons and some extra emails
in view, the new screen size is put to weirdly little use in the
software. Yes, apps show more information, but nowhere in the OS is
the additional screen real estate utilized for anything that would
make sense... you know, like an area for notifications that doesn't
interfere with other onscreen activities (more on this below as well).
SOUND AND RECEPTION
The sound on the new iPhone is crystal clear for both incoming
audio on the earpiece or speaker, and outgoing audio from the mic
on the device (or at least that's what callers told me). Apple has
included three microphones on the new device to pick up sound as
well as help with noise reduction, and it seems to be working.
The speaker was especially loud and clear for calls and playing back
audio, but never distorted or otherwise bad sounding in a way that
made me feel life wasn't worth living.
As far as reception was concerned, I had only one noticeable dropped
call, but it occurred while riding in a cab through Manhattan — not
exactly the best place in the world to make and receive cellular phone
calls. Overall I was happy with the results.
EARPODS
Apple has included a new type of earbud with the iPhone 5 called
EarPods. The partially in-ear headset seems considerably more robust
than the previous throwaway pair that Apple included with older
devices. Sound from the odd looking, white semi-spheres was clear,
though a bit bass heavy. The buds still don't fit in my ears and do feel
as if they're going to fall right out when I'm walking around — a
problem I had with the older versions as well. However, the warm
throb they produce is markedly better than before. I think I still
prefer the cheap RHA MA-350 earbuds you can buy on Amazon for
around $40, but as the bundled free pair, the EarPods do a fine
(though not revolutionary) job.
Cameras
THE CAMERA IS STUNNING
The new camera on the iPhone 5 is absolutely stunning. Let me be
clear, it's one of the best cameras I've ever used on a smartphone —
and a fine camera by point-and-shoot standards. The pictures from
the iSight shooter on the back of the device look crisp, clear, and
ultra-defined. The depth of field is shallow enough that you're able to
produce shots that look dramatic without verging into parody. Wider
shots looked fantastic as well, and macro performance was excellent.
As I expected, color reproduction was a little bit blown out compared
to other devices (though actually somewhat better than the 4S, as it's
less artificially saturated). I wouldn't say the exaggerated hues are a
dealbreaker by any measure.
As expected, the full HD video was no slouch either — capturing
mostly shake-free content that looks just as good as still images.
Video processing seemed especially speedy on the phone, and
uploads on LTE were, of course, totally awesome.
The new front-facing camera was surprisingly good at snapping the
hundreds of self portraits I took while testing the phone. The camera
didn't improve my looks, but I was able to study the increasing
amount of gray hair and wrinkles each iPhone review gives me in
painstaking detail.
On the software side, not much is new save for the much-touted
panorama mode. If you don't understand panorama photography, it
allows you to pan across a large scene at a constant pace, snapping
photos as the phone's software stitches them together in one big...
panoramic picture. iOS implements this mode better than most
devices, though the guided movement isn't novel — many current
dedicated cameras and even Android devices contain similar
functionality. That said, the results produced by the iPhone 5 were
markedly better than most (though low-lighting did cause some
noticeable noise), and depending on how slowly and smoothly you
move your hand you can take shots as high as 30 megapixels.
If you're used to the iPhone 4S camera, the new shooter won't seem
like a massive change in quality, but side-by-side there's definitely a
bump in definition and clarity in the images the iPhone 5 produces.
Perhaps challengers like Nokia's Lumia 920 will be able to knock
Apple off of its throne here, but right now the iPhone 5 is the device
to have in your pocket if you're leaving the point-and-shoot at home.
Lightning port
The new Lightning port Apple introduced caused something of a stir
in the world of accessory makers, as well as users who've collected
countless iPhone add-ons over the years — all of which utilize the
now-old 30-pin dock connector. Though Apple will make adapters
available, some functionality will be lost in translation: the new
connectors won't support video out or iPod-out, which will render
some setups non- or partially-functioning. This is particularly true
for automakers, some of whom have already released statements
noting reduced operation when the adapter is in use.
The port itself, which is roughly the size of a Micro USB jack, but
position agnostic (you can insert the plug either way) doesn't bring
much new functionality either. It's USB 2.0 on the other end, so sync
speeds won't suddenly crank up. The use of the smaller plug seems to
be almost entirely about downsizing components, which is fine,
though in the short term it's sure to annoy a handful of customers.
THE LIGHTNING PORT DOESN'T BRING
NEW FUNCTIONALITY
Performance
Faster performance on the iPhone 5 was not exactly unexpected.
Every year, Apple bests itself in the speed of operation for its phones,
and I had no doubt the company would accomplish a bump in the
new device. After touting what the A6 processor and its GPU could
do on stage at its event two weeks ago, I knew that the iPhone 5
would feel faster than its predecessor. My only surprise was that the
increase in speed wasn't quite as noticeable between the 4S and the
5. That may have more to do with the still-excellent performance of
the iPhone 4S (particularly with iOS 6) than it does with the A6.
When running graphically-intensive games, there are clearly some
improvements in frame rates, as well as a noticeable lack of stutter
on the iPhone 5. General multitasking and app performance was
superb. In particular, the new Maps 3D Flyover view pushed the
phone hard, and the differences between the older and newer models
was clear. Basically — there's not much to complain about when it
comes to speed on the new phone. It's really, really fast.
A NOTICEABLE LACK OF STUTTER
BATTERY LIFE
One of the most amazing feats Apple pulled off in the thinner, lighter
iPhone 5 is that the battery life is not only as good as the previous
phone... it's actually better. Even when using LTE data!
During my time testing the phone, I did find that the battery life was
improved over the 4S, though lately my 4S levels have been dipping
at an alarming rate. The iPhone 5 managed to stay with me through a
typical day of heavy use (web browsing, loads of email and Twitter,
some gaming, music playback, and occasionally watching videos),
though the meter was often near zero when I placed the phone back
on the charger in the evening. Part of the battery drain can definitely
be attributed to iOS's confusing and poor handling of lock screen
notifications, which bizarrely wake the display up every single time a
new notification comes in. That's fine if you're a casual user, but I
get enough email and mentions on Twitter that the alerts seemed to
be affecting battery life. When I turned off email and Twitter
notifications on the lock screen, I did a little bit better.
Still, the long and short is that the iPhone 5's battery lives up to
Apple's claims. You should have no fear about getting through a
reasonable day, even with LTE data flowing in and out — but for
heavier users, you're going to want to keep a wall charger handy.
DATA SPEEDS
The LTE data on the iPhone 5 is absolutely fantastic. I tested the
AT&T version of the phone, and saw some of the strongest download
and upload speeds yet on the network. In midtown Manhattan, I
managed to score between 5 and 10Mbps downstream, and weirdly,
much higher numbers up (all the way up to 14Mbps). In Brooklyn,
where I saw fewer bars, the speeds generally hovered between 5 and
10Mbps — certainly better than anything I see on standard AT&T 3G.
Excuse me, I mean "4G."
In most situations, the speed was enough to go without Wi-Fi if I
wanted, though of course that kind of throughput can result in nasty
bills if you're not careful. I'm certain the meager 4GB of monthly
data I pay for will be whisked away if I don't keep watch on what I'm
doing — LTE is just too easy to spend bits on.
I will say this: the LTE performance coupled with that improved
battery life is possibly reason enough to buy this phone. It's just
very, very good.
Software
There's much to be said about the latest version of iOS present in the
new iPhone (and present in the old iPhone, and the iPad) — and
we've actually got a full review of the software itself . Still, I have
some personal thoughts on the older pieces of the stack, as well as
new additions Apple has added to the mix.
The new iOS is everything you would expect. Clean, simple, fast, and
easy to understand. It is the very best that iOS has ever been.
But it's crucial to point out that the gulf between iOS 5 and iOS 6 is
extremely narrow for most users. True to form, Apple is making nips
and tucks, tweaks, stylistic edits — not reinventing what the OS does
or how it does it. There are some wonderful new flourishes in the
operation system — the kinds of things Apple is known for, such as
reflections on your music controls that change when you tilt the
phone, or the mutating pull-to-refresh animation now present in the
Mail app. The company has added some really great little touches,
like reply with text when you refuse a call (present in other phone
OSes, but nice to see here), and Do Not Disturb, which lets you set a
time window when only the most important people can get through
to you. Ah, silence.
Overall, though, this is still the same iOS you know, and all the steps
you took to get things done in the last OS, or in iOS 4, or iOS 3 even
— well those are pretty much the same too.
And some of those steps are maddening, or poorly thought out. In
particular, Apple's implementation of "unobtrusive" notifications
while you're using the phone stands out as one the weaker
components of the system. Originally I saw Notification Center as a
welcome relief from Apple's pop-up messages and alerts, but the way
the company handles these beacons can now be nearly as annoying as
the previous version. As I mentioned, instead of utilizing that new,
taller screen to give you notifications removed from areas of the
phone you regularly need to access (you know, like menus in apps),
the notifications continue to pop down over the upper portion of the
screen. The result is that you feel trapped, waiting for the message to
disappear before you can access buttons you need to get to, or
forced to swipe to the left on the message — a hidden function
which scurries the dropdown away.
Elsewhere, Apple is still making users jump through hoops to perform
simple tasks, like switching to a private browsing window or clearing
the cache in Safari. It takes no less than six button presses and home
key taps to make that happen while browsing. Settings in general are
a mess — wonderful when you first set up the phone ("hey!
everything is in one place!") but frustrating later when you have
dozens of apps ("hey... everything is in one place"). Multitasking
remains a black box, not representing app states and forcing what
should be "always on" applications like IM clients into a constant
state of shutdown warnings. Twitter won't update in the background
(nor will clients like Tweetbot), meaning that you're always playing
catchup with "realtime" services. (Mind you, on Android the Twitter
app will load updates in the background, meaning that even if you're
disconnected you'll likely have new content to view.) It sounds minor,
but when taken as a whole and spread across multiple applications, it
makes the OS feel claustrophobic, mysterious, and downright
unhelpful at times.
There are also missed opportunities. Apple has opened social sharing
options up to Twitter and Facebook, which is wonderful, but
everyone else is out in the cold. Want to save a file to a Dropbox
folder? Read an article later using Pocket? Post a picture to Tumblr
right from the browser? Sorry, that's not possible. There may be
some hacky bookmarklet to accomplish the task, but I can't imagine
anyone believes that a kludgy line of JavaScript is the most elegant
way to accomplish those tasks. And by the way, these are things I do
every day on my phone, and things that I know lots of other people
do. They may be fringe to Apple's target user, but they are a real part
of the market at large. They are the part of the market pushing what
smartphones are capable of and what they mean to users.
Apple also leaves developers empty-handed on widgets. It provides
the minimally useful weather and stock widgets for the notification
drawer, but isn't opening up that space to anyone else. And I must
mention this — the fact that the weather icon continues to read 73
degrees and sunny when it is clearly possible to have icons update
with at least some information (see the calendar icon) is now
laughable at best, and sad at worst.
And what about actionable notifications? Notifications in Jelly Bean
can be acted on without having to jump into an app, which is a
fantastic addition to Android. I use them all the time. I would have
loved to see Apple innovate in this area — especially considering the
fact that iOS multitasking still doesn't represent an "always on"
experience.