Apple iPhone 5 review
Time was, smartphones did little that was actually smart. They had front-facing cameras and maybe a touchscreen, but operating systems geared more for a stylus than fingers. It wasn’t until the iPhone landed in 2007 that things changed. For the next few years Apple continued to deliver the brainiest of smartphones. No one else …
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Re: Excuse me...
Yes, well, hate to be a pedant (though I guess the quip depended on it anyway), but both terms are used. I've frankly always understood them to be interchangable, but I suppose there's a case for differentiating by rotational velocity, in which case the question might be as to whether we're talking turbine or dynamo. Though if the latter, the question of reversing the polarity arises, whereas I don't expect the former would have vanes allowing the late Mr Jobs the luxury of choice. So all-in-all this one-man jury's out on this.
Very Poor Review
This is the least technically accurate review I have read on this website. It's startlingly brief in terms of actually detail, overly sycophantic to the point of being nauseating and seems to spend most of the time covering up the bad points of this handset by saying "well everyone else does it too".
I honestly have never posted a comment on an article before but this was so bad it has driven me to distraction.
I would reccomend removing this article at the earliest opportunity until a less bias reviewer can be found to give us an ovjective view of the iPhone 5 without Jizzing in his pants about the "breathtaking" back cover.
This is affecting the reputation of this fine publication and I urge you to re-consider!
Looks quite nice
except for that logo. It's about as cool as one of those plonkers we used to draw in other kids' 'rough' books at school. One signifies the other.
Not really a phone review.
It seemed more like someone sizing up their latest fashion accessory.
Probably quite apt given the subject.
I notice the bloke who bought the first one in the uk likes it so much he's ditching it already.
NT
c'mon fandroids, everybody knows iPhone is waaaaay better
(let the downvoting commence)
Watch the fandroids explode in rage...
How dare ANYONE 'reccomend' an iPhone! Clearly you're paid by Apple to say such guff!
It's all a Con! Laugh at the saddo iSheep queuing up for 8 days to get a iThing!
Bigger Screens NFC , removable batteries and full customisation and lower prices win out all the time!
Now where did I put that Galaxy S3? Oh wait, it's my coffee table.
Re: Watch the fandroids explode in rage...
Erm, i feel it necessary to point out that you seem to be quite annoyed. Some would describe that as "rage".
Just sayin'..
Re: Watch the fandroids explode in rage...
How dare we point out how biased this review is! We're clearly all paid by Samsung!
It's all a con! All this freedom non-Apple customers have!
Smaller screens, lack of innovation, integrated batters, bland design and high prices win out all the time!
Now, where did I put that iPhone 5? Is that it? No, that's the 4S. Is that it? No, that's a 4. ETC.
What a fun game.
No rage, though. You're just a shite troll.
Re: Watch the fandroids explode in rage...
OH MY! Sarcasm too!
Clearly Fandroids dont like it when they have the pish taken out of them!
Now go back to answering your 90" smartphone with 1000 widgets all draining the battery and requiring a 3.4ghz 12 core CPU!
I'll be quite happy with my overpriced Fisher price phone tat explodes the second its dropped and requires a mortgage to buy acessories for.
Anyone have spare facepalm lotion?
"I'd rather have the Lightning adaptor than yet another USB AC transformer."
Yes, I can see how you would hate to have another standardised connector to use with your new shinyshiny, it's far better to have to pay £25 for an adaptor. I'm not sure what you mean by a transformer since my phones over the past three years have all used a USB connector for charging and a small plug to go into the mains.
There's a link at the top of each article that states "Get more from this author", is there, perchance, a link to get less of this author? It feels like Apple sneaked one of theirs in under the radar in exchange for replying to El Reg sometimes.
Re: Anyone have spare facepalm lotion?
To be fair, the same author gave a reasonably rounded review of the Note 10.1 last month, although where it dropped 20% might be difficult to say...
What makes a smartphone?
Strange start to the article...
"Time was, smartphones did little that was actually smart. They had front-facing cameras and maybe a touchscreen, but operating systems geared more for a stylus than fingers. It wasn’t until the iPhone landed in 2007 that things changed."
Why does being able to use a finger, rather than a stylus, make a phone smart? You could argue that the first iPhone achieved many, many firsts, but being the first smartphone was not one of them. Indeed, I would argue it wasn't a smartphone at all (althought it was undoubtadly a very smart phone). And I'm still not sure the iPhone, or any of the other current crop of phones, can really do anything your average Windows Mobile device from 2003 couldn't do. It does it all better and faster but it is still a touchscreen phone with built-in data onto which you can install software.
Maybe my point (if I made one) is kind of irrelevant but it just seemed strange to claim that being able to use a finger, rather than a stylus, was the thing that made smartphones smart - rather than, say, making them easier, more convenient, making the screen brighter and more readable etc. etc. etc.
And yes, I still miss my old stylus. I have a capacitive one but it just isn't the same and it doesn't slot conveniently into the back of my phone like in days of yore.
Ok, so if you are a rabid fanboi this is probably the greatest thing since sliced bread. If you are new to smartphones, it is worth looking at. If you are an android lover, there is nothing to see here, move on. Got it.
That's some screen...
First they maxed the iphone screen to make the ipad and now from the stats it looks like they've gone full circle and topped the ipad's measly 9.7 inches with a 14 inch iphone display...I'm amazed it fits in the hand so snuggly...
Have to say it ...
"Though the 4S still has lots to offer, thanks to the arrival of iOS 6"
Yes, because the 4S is the most up-to-date Apple phone that you can keep iOS 5 on.
Fanboi review.....
Utter twaddle.
Full of "Beauty" and "Amazing" remarks - after all this time and revisions to the original = pap.
From the pictures in the article, it looks out of proportion with the 4.
Emperors new clothes.
There's a lot to be said for individual choice. We are all (most of us, anyway) capable of making our own choices. I don't see any reason why so many people are so quick to call someone an idiot if they don't fall in line with their own ideals.
"iPhone 5 is garbage, iOS is tripe... Android isn't locked in" etc doesn't really help anything. It makes us all look petty.
I use an Android phone. My wife has an iPhone 4S, and before that she also had an Android phone. She's happy with her phone. It does what she wants it to, and it doesn't go about things in a particularly complicated way. This is one of the best aspects of iOS in my opinion.
Android can be a complicated beast at times. I suggested it to my own mother when she needed to replace her ancient phone and wanted one that could do emails and IM for quick easy updates from my sister and myself on how the kids are doing etc. She can do the basics, but doesn't really see the point of all the bells and whistles like widgets. In fact, aside from a few basic setting toggles I dont bother with widgets myself. I have 2 home screens containing frequently used apps, and the rest stay in the app drawer out of my way. I could just as easily be using iOS instead.
The argument doesn't stand up either that once you're locked into the iOS ecosystem you have to stay there because of all your apps etc. If someone has the money to pay £200 to upgrade to the newest version of the iPhone, they probably have enough money to get a free high end Android and pay to replace a mountain of apps if they want to. Theres no difference. But its a simple fact that convenience is for many people something that is worth sticking with. If you are happy with the way your iPhone works, why would you swap over and get an Android phone instead? And vice versa. The iPhone isn't quite for me at the moment, but then neither are the highest spec Androids that have huge screens etc.
Am I missing something? Is there something in my Android phone that I can activate to make me despise iOS? If so, I suggest a lot of you turn that feature off, because you sound like morons.
@Andrew James: God forbid you give an inch to Ios and iPhone on here.
You'll be down voted the second you utter anything favorable to Beelzebub's dreaded can and string replacement.
You speak too much sense, and are not nearly polarized enough to fit in round here.
Round these parts, the iPhone is either a thing of beauty or uter fu**ing crap
"Is there something in my Android phone that I can activate to make me despise iOS? If so, I suggest a lot of you turn that feature off, because you sound like morons."
Well said. I'm reaching the point where the constant, vast outpourings of bile from "fandroids" in these forums is actually starting to put me off reading the Register altogether. It's entertaining in small doses, but now these people really need to start getting a grip.
Actual journey
It would have been nice to know if the turn by turn mapping actually works. And more interestingly (for me anyway) how much it will cost in terms of data roaming etc of if maps can be preloaded a la Tom Tom
Re: Actual journey
All this would require a lot of time and effort. The phones are in the shops, people are buying them, other sites are releasing reviews and hands-on experiences all over the place. If El Reg dont jump in quick with something called a review for an iPhone 5, just imagine the lost traffic from people searching for a review ... and then the lost advertising revenue.
You dont think they provide these reviews for our benefit do you? Or that they drop the word iPhone into any phone review, and iPad into any tablet review, just for giggles?
Quote:
"Limitations? There's the much publicised lack of NFC, but even the iPhone 5 naysayers have to admit there's very little need for it now, certainly as a payment mechanism. Next year, when the iPhone 5S comes out, maybe; but not now."
How about if you don't want to buy a new iPhone? Especially not half way through a 24 month contract?
I use NFC all the time, not just for payments. Just because it hasn't fully taken off doesn't mean it isn't used!
The lack of NFC will not be a problem until next year....
But that is no problem because then the IPhone5S comes out? Surely not for a reviewer which gets a free IPhone if he writes a positive review. But most people have to pay real money for a phone. (Lots in case of an IPhone). I would hope that if I would ever be foolish enough to pay 500+ euros for a phone it would last longer than a year. Otherwise I would be pretty upset.
Re: The lack of NFC will not be a problem until next year....
Dude, cut it out. Did you walk by an Apple Store today? People obviously have money growing out of their ears. It's not an issue. You just buy the new one. And then again. And again. So shut up if you are too poor. Being poor gives being rich a stale aftertaste.
Yadda yadda same in a new box – clearly deserves 90%
If I ever need to explain the facepalm and its application to a young padawan, I shall dig up this review.
OTOH, I welcome the iPhone 5 and all its coverage as the best piece of escapism for the month of September. The world is goind down the drain, muslim street riots, civil war imminent (read German news latetly?) – but iTards to the rescue! Your spendiness will save our every ass. Thank you.
ESP?
I love the droves of fandriods giving opinions on a phone they have not seen or used.
Re: ESP?
It's called a spec sheet. Let me explain the concept: You can use these to compare devices before making a purchase based on features. If you looked at one, you'd see that there are good reasons why those mean mean people say bad naughty things about the holy iPhone. This of course requires you to be open to considering other devices, and not just what Apple feeds you.
Re: ESP?
Ok - let me explain something to you. A lot of what people evidently love about apple products is to do with the beautiful designs, aesthetics, ease of use, and attention to detail, not whats on a spec sheet, which Apple would not publish anyway. These things are important to some people.
If you don't think those things are important, fine - get your plastic Samsungs. For a lot of people, its the entire package that counts - including how it feels in the hand, the quality of finish, the simplicity of operation.
For an illustration of this concept, have a look at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/07/jd_power_smartphone_survey/ . Samsungs have better specs in general agreed. Yet they trail the iphone in customer satisfaction by some way.
Re: ESP?
"If you don't think those things are important, fine - get your plastic Samsungs."
Have you ever held for example a Nokia C7-00 or 701 in your hand? This 2011 device feels fantastic with a brushed aluminum back, metal rim around the gorilla GLASS screen (hmm... a bit like an iphone 5... I guess Nokia could sue them). It feels solid and looks more expensive than what you pay for in the shops. The funny part is that unlike the iPhone these models have removable batteries and microSD card slots.
Oh and they HAVE NFC as well :-) Works great sending pics and contacts from one phone to another.
Anyway. Being a popular consumerproduct doesn't mean that it is a good consumer product. VHS is always used as the prime example.
"not whats on a spec sheet, which Apple would not publish anyway. These things are important to some people."
So yes, I'm disgusted at Samsung for STILL using razorthing crappy cheap plastic for supposedly premium devices. But again it is the most 'popular' Android phone. So for a lot of people the things on a specsheet are important too. Proven by your comment in itself. Because lets be honnest. The smartphone 'market' is actually a battlecamp between Apple and Samsung. All the other players play an (unfortunate) insignificant role.
In essence (some) fandroids are as narrowminded and brand-hypnotized as (some) iPhone-lovers.
Re: ESP?
Bullshit. A specification sheet means absolutely sod all unless you have used the product. If a product works well with 1GB RAM then adding 2GB doesn't automatically make it twice as good.
If a product has a higher resolution screen compared to another product then this doesn't automatically make it better. It is the PPI that matters sometimes.
It is people like you who believe the megapixel myth.
If you compare a 2.0 litre petrol engine with a Mazda RX8 you would think the 2.0 litre engine smokes a 1.3 litre engine. Except the two engines are using different technology.
Personally I couldn't give a toss about what the hardware in the iPhone 5 is, it is the software that matters and iOS is falling behind, Android is from Google and therefore out, so it's Windows Phone 7 and 8 for me.
El Reg's Apple reporting vs reviews
I will say this: I've always found it interesting that for as much flak as The Register gives Apple, its reviews on Apple products are consistently positive. This leaves me with two possible explanations:
1) They specifically have pro-Apple reviewers to offset the ridiculous amount of anti-Apple editorial in their reporting;
2) No matter the prevailing El Reg opinion on Apple or its business practices, their reviewers actually recognize and acknowledge the quality of the Apple products they review.
Personally, I suspect it's the latter. Perhaps I just want to believe that there are actually some (reality) checks and balances to all of the editorializing present in The Register's news. For as much as I enjoy El Reg, as a long-time Mac/iPhone user and a free-thinking individual, I am truly tired of being categorized as technically incompetent, marketing-manipulated and borderline retarded.
So how about toning down the vilification and gnashing of teeth a bit, lads? Let's save our blood and come for the forthcoming zombie apocalypse, which should provide us all with some much-needed perspective!
"Apple’s ease of use, highly populated App Store and irresistibly sleek hardware design"
So Android is too complicated for you, but not my 60 year old mum? The design is great if you love bezel. Given the resources that Apple have available, they could easily invest 10x more in R&D than they do and actually produce something spectacular. However, why should they bother hitting their profit margins when they have a fanboi army ready to convince themselves that Apple hasn't fallen behind?
Re: "Apple’s ease of use, highly populated App Store and irresistibly sleek hardware design"
I've said this before. The day my wife stops coming to me with her Samsung phone saying "how do I do.....?" will be the day I might admit that Android is a better OS
I'm not going to go as far as....
...suggesting this review is a shill, but Jesus Christ, the lack of any kind of real, relative criticism of the hardware and software (Maps, the fact that the iPhone is barely catching up with the top end alternatives, etc) just makes this review an absolute fucking joke.
Seriously El Reg, sort your editorial policy out. Clickbait is one thing, but this is just fucking embarrassing. It reads like someone reviewing a porn film as if they were the star.
When in fact, they were the breathless, fat saddo who is just watching someone else get laid.
Fix it, fix it, fix it, or dump RegHardware.com into the pool of domains never to be renewed, because this is nothing short of embarrassing.
Steven R
Did I use iOS6 Maps to get me here?
And end up at Wired.com instead? The "everything Apple does is so much better than everybody else" tone of this alleged review was pure Cupertino spin of the sort I've come to expect from Wired, not El Reg. Has the author forgotten that the company whose boots he licks with this article is the same company that bars El Reg from its worship services?
"Not everyone wants such a palm-spraining phone" - a perfect example of how hard the author works to hew to the Cupertino Scriptures which state that every point of superiority of non-Apple devices is actually proof of the iPhones divinity, if viewed correctly. I have cerebral palsy but even my hemiparetically weakened right hand has no trouble at all holding my S3 - nothing "palm-spraining" about it.
I'm not the sort of psycho fandroid who thinks the iPhone is an evil piece of merde, but given the staggering reach of Apple propaganda in media, I came to El Reg confident that there would be some attempt at objectivity, some consideration of both the iPhone 5's strengths AND weaknesses. Instead, I got the standard iGospel - there are no weaknesses, only strengths not perceived correctly by the infidels.
I agree with some of the other comments on here. Whatever my feelings on the iPhone 5 (or any other iPhone, for that matter) this review is abysmal. There's nothing tangible in there at all. It mentions a few sparse technical details and spends more time telling us about the feel of the plastic as though it were a naked woman. Just the kind of mindless drivel I would expect from an Apple Fanboi. It certainly didn't help me make an informed opinion on the new phone and glossed over a number of downsides.
Maybe failing to make the screen much bigger is a good idea? On what planet? The 16:9 aspect ratio seems weird as web sites want to be wide, not tall, but films look great? What is it? A phone or a media player?
Terrible review. Not sure about the phone.
In the name of Sky Fairy
I don't mind a favourable review, but wtf. Is Reg trying to get back on Apples invite list or what. It sounds more like the reviewer was having a jizzfest with the phone rather than reviewing it properly.
Oh and by the way, in reply to... "If you’re an iPhone user, you’ll want to move on up to what is surely the classiest handset from Apple yet".
Ermmm.... No not really, I see nothing about the iPhone 5 that makes me feel the need to rush to replace my 4S. Anyhoo, the reviewer may get himself out of here, I have a feeling there is a queue he needs to be getting into.
The clock icon
still say 10:15
even on my (jailbroken) iPhone3G it shows the correct time. It's painful to my eye when I see those rows of stuck in time icons.
"The thinnest, slickest, fastest iPhone yet."
Whereas manufacturers usually make their next gen phones thicker, clunkier and slower? Next you'll be telling us a new washing powder washes faster than the last one....
16:9
We all know that 16:9 is best for watching videos. However, despite the ads this is not what phones excel at because of the ergonomics: comfortable viewing puts the screen at around 60 cm away at which distance a phone is simply too small or does the phone have an HDMI output to a TV? Tablets, however, … oh the I-Pad is still 4:3.
Re: 16:9
@ Charlie Clark
Nokia N8 (16:9 aspect ratio) and miniHDMI out (cable supplied IN the retail box).
Connect a BT keyboard/mouse combo and you have a TV-computer. Kinda like the ZX Spectrum but more advanced (as it plays Angry birds, fruit ninja or NFS too) ;-)
End of Humanity ?
Is this what we've been reduced to, arguing the toss about the virtues or otherwise of a piece of shiny plastic/glass ?
How about we redirect some of this passion towards somewhat more important issues, be those in your own lives or the wider world ?
Too funny.
Lets see, can I impersonate an Android fanboi?
"Whaaa, stop buying millions and millions of them! I told you they suck! Stop being the best selling iPhone ever! You don't love them! I TOLD you you don't . They are not fun, easy to use and well made! I said so! If yo don't like the same thing I do and you don't buy exactly what I tell you to you are an idiot who can't think for themselves! Think for yourself and get what I TOLD you to buy!"
Pretty much sum it up? Saddest pile of sour grapes I ever saw. The sheer fear and anger in these posts is hilarious. Seriously, buy what you enjoy and stop having a fit that not everyone is an Android Android. I swear you people are bigger control freaks than any Apple user I ever met. You spend more time worrying that someone may have the "wrong" phone, its lie reading baptist complaining about sex.
ROFL
USB - None
Micro SD - None
And should I dare mention the map mess?
90% - WTF!? Maybe someone who is less biased and not a smartphone use do a proper review?
I can't take anyone seriously, who thinks gadgets and phones can be compared, for which is the "classiest"
This is one stupid ass thread...
Its a phone ffs, all of you need to either take a chill pill or go get laid!
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