Well, Apple’s big press conference is over and, as expected, they’ve rolled out the details on the sixth-generation iPhone, also known as the iPhone 5. Their decision to name it iPhone 5 is a little unexpected, not only because it’s the sixth one, but also because they’ve dropped the numbering from their iPad line. So, how does it shape up?
Well, the first thing worth mentioning is that all the rumors were true. The leaked case, the new dock connector, even the improved headphones (known as EarPods) all turned out to be right. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but does take away from the big reveal a little bit.
The first change is the screen. Gone is the 3.5″ screen of its predecessors, to be replaced by a 16:9 4″ display. The pixel density hasn’t changed - they’re simply made it longer, meaning that the new resolution is 1,136 x 640. Apps that haven’t been updated will simply have black bars at the edges, but developers are welcome to update their apps to take advantage of the new screen real-estate.
Secondly, the CPU is their brand new Apple A6 processor. As usual, no mention of clock speed, but they claim it doubles the performance of the previous A5 chip. They didn’t specify if it was duel or quad-core, which indicates it’s probably duel; I think they would have specifically mentioned it otherwise.
Those living in LTE areas will be pleased to hear that the iPhone 5 now supports this fast wireless standard, and those who don’t will still enjoy faster browsing using technology such as HSPA+.
The camera is still 8-megapixel, but now boasts an f/2.4 aperture, hybrid IR filter, and improved photo processing software, resulting in better low-light performance and faster capture times. They’ve also added panorama mode, giving you shots of up to 28-megapixel, and the ability to snap stills while shooting video.
Finally, the old iPod-style dock connector is gone, making way for the new, smaller “Lightning” connector. Not only does it leave more room for improved speakers, but is reversible, which they claim makes it easier to use. Adapters will be available for those who own older accessories.
All of this is crammed into their thinnest and lightest phone yet, measuring in at only 7.6mm thick, with a weight of 112 grams. As the leaked parts showed, the glass back is gone, and the new aluminium back is in. Hopefully this will cut down on the number of cracked phones in this generation.
All in all, it’s certainly a bigger announcement than the disappointing iPhone 4S. There isn’t much we haven’t seen in other smartphones, but this is the first time many of the features have appeared in an Apple product, so fans should be happy. If you’re looking to buy one, they’ll be available in the US on September 21st for the usual price of $199 on a 2-year contract (16GB model). The 32GB and 64GB will cost $299 and $399 respectively. Other countries to receive them on this day will be the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, although no prices have been stated yet. This will be followed a wider roll out on September 28th.
So what do you think? Are you getting one? Are you already standing in line? We’d love to know!
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