TO the Gadget enthusiastic, here is yet another gadget for your pocket. It is quite addictive to possess latest devices or gadgets. Some people keep on shedding one gadget for the other. The iPhone 5 with the latest arrival boasting of a 16:9, 4-inch screen, new smaller port, thinner, lighter design and 4G LTE. Last year’s iPhone 4S always felt like an incremental upgrade rather than a true step change, and although it sold wonderfully for Apple and brought some interesting additions, few would argue against the suggestion that it opened the door for competitors. As a result, this year’s iPhone 5 launch was perhaps most important for Apple since the very first iPhone arrived back in 2007. For anyone following the rumours over the past year, the iPhone 5 features won’t bring any major surprises, with many of the new features expected – including the new dimensions and the improved A6 chip. The iPhone 5’s camera is smaller, hardier and enhanced by the more powerful chip, and the front-facing camera is bumped up to a 720p version. Wi-Fi is improved and the inclusion of 4G is a must have in the current phone world. But it is the size, design and shape that will win the most admiring glances. The all glass and aluminium chassis can claim to be the thinnest smartphone, at 7.6mm ‘thin’. iPhone 5 is said to have the best prices. The 4-inch screen keeps the retina resolution despite the added length, which Apple has brought in to make the iPhone 5 more movie-friendly. The added features are welcome, especially given the growth of its rivals, and apps will apparently be easy to move onto the new screen size for developers. In the hand the Apple iPhone 5 certainly feels comfortable. You can see why Apple decided to keep the width the same, since it fits the hand nicely – just as its predecessors have. iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S; iPhone 5 vs 4S Side by side comparison Watch more videos like this01:14. The most relevant comparison for many is with its predecessor the iPhone 4S and, for those on the now common two-year contracts, the iPhone 4. The new phone certainly feels different – and although there will be the odd naysayer, the overwhelming majority will feel that the iPhone 5’s design is a good step on from the now ageing chassis of both the 4S and 4. The move away from glass is a welcome one, and the aluminium manages to bring a premium feel in a notably lighter device. A new chip definitely brings a snappier feel. Many people with an iPhone 4 will be all too used to the bagginess when trying to do anything even slightly complex with the devices, and the Apple iPhone 5 manages to take things on as far as you would expect in more than two years. What is perhaps more surprising is just how much snappier this feels than the iPhone 4S. The A6 chip clearly has significantly more grunt under its smaller hood – but what is surprising is that you can immediately tell when you use the device alongside its predecessor. Practically speaking, this probably isn’t enough to make you want to leave a 4S unless you are a hard core fan, but it will convince many iPhone 4 users to stick with the Apple ecosystem for another generation – and you get the impression that this is goal number one for the company. (To be Cont’d).
