Apple takes wraps off iPhone 5, 4-inch screen and all

eh.

Not regretting that I just got the 4 in April.

Stymie said:

eh.

Not regretting that I just got the 4 in April.

no the 4 is free

banks said:

Stymie said:

eh.

Not regretting that I just got the 4 in April.

no the 4 is free

yep.

CNET Editors' Take

September 12, 2012 9:35 AM PDT

(Credit: CNET/James Martin)

Apple’s next iPhone is official and despite being the sixth iPhone model (technically), we know it’s officially the iPhone 5.

Over the last year, we've heard a ton of rumors about what it might deliver with LTE, a taller display, and a designed connector being the most likely tidbits. Fortunately, we now can put all that speculation to rest as Apple spills the secrets.

Eyes on Apple's new iPhone 5 (pictures)

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Taller and thinner
As expected, the new iPhone is 18 percent thinner than the iPhone 4S. Apple says it's the thinnest handset around, but that's a race that changes often. That means it's also 20 percent lighter for a total of 112 grams. The Retina Display expands from 3.5 inches (its size since the original iPhone to 4 inches). The total resolution remains the same, though, at 326 pixels per inch. The total pixel count is 1136x640 and we now have a 16:9 aspect ratio.

To the user that means a fifth row of icons on the home screen. That's pretty nice since it will let you cut down on the number of home screens. You'll also get a full 5-day week view in the calendar, the calendar shows more events, and all iWork apps will take advantage of the bigger display. Third-party apps that haven't been updated will continue to work, but you'll see black borders on each side (so they won't be stretched or scaled). Apple also promises that widescreen movies will look better with 44 percent more color saturation than the iPhone 4S.

Touch sensors are now built into the display itself, which makes it 30 percent thinner as a result and less prone to glare.

LTE and carriers
Not a shocker either, but the iPhone 5 will support 4G LTE networks. That's in addition to the current support for GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, and HSPA data networks. LTE has a single chip for voice and data, a single radio chip, and a "dynamic antenna" that will switch connections between different networks automatically.

So which carriers will support an LTE iPhone 5? Well, in the United States that means AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless. So again, T-Mobile loses out. In Canada it's Bell, Telus, Fido, Virgin, and Kudo. In Asia the providers will be Softbank, Smartone, Singtel, and SK Telecom. For Australia there's Telstra, Optus, and Virgin Mobile and in Europe it will go to Deutsche Telekom and EE. On carriers without LTE the iPhone 5 will run on dual band 3.5G HDPA+.

A faster chip
The iPhone 5 will offer a an A5 chip, which is two times faster than the current A5 chip. Graphics will get faster speeds, as well. Yet, despite the speedier performance, the new chip will be 22 percent smaller than the A5. According to Apple's specs, users will see Web pages load 2.1 times faster and the Music app with songs will load 1.9 times faster.

More battery life
LTE tends to be a power hog, but the iPhone 5 is set to deliver respectable battery life. Of course, the real story may differ, but here's what Apple is promising for now. We're supposed to get 8 hours of 3G talk time, 8 hours of 3G browsing, 8 hours of LTE browsing, 10 hours of Wi-Fi browsing, 10 hours of video playback, 40 hours of music, playback, and 225 hours of standby time. You can be sure that CNET will put these promises to the test when we get a device in our hands.

Camera
The main shooter, or the "iSight" camera, stays at 8 megapixels (with the best resolution being 3264x2448 pixels) with a feature list that includes backside illumination, a hybrid IR filter, a five-element lens, a f2.4 aperture. New is a dynamic light mode and you should be able to launch photography apps up to 2.1 times faster. Another addition is an image signal processor in the A6 chip. That will bring spatial noise reduction and a "smart filter" that produces better low-light performance and captures photos faster. Finally, there's a built-in panorama mode that stitches shots together for one large 28-megapixel photo.

The secondary front camera now can shoot 720p HD video and it gets a backside illuminated sensor. And as we heard at the announcement of iOS 6 back in June, FaceTime will work over 3G cellular networks. Some carriers like AT&T have already announced restrictions for that feature so be sure to check with your provider first.

Video resolution remains at 1080p HD, though image stabilization has been improved and face detection is now available in clips for up to 10 people. And in a nice move, you can take photos while you're shooting video.

Audio
The iPhone 5 gets an additional microphone for a total of three. You'll find one on the bottom, on on the handset's front face, and one on its rear side. What's more, the speaker now has 5 magnets (so up from two) which is apparently better and it's supposed to use 20% less space. The noise canceling feature should be improved, as well, and there's a new wideband audio feature that promises more natural-sounding voices. Twenty percent of carriers will support wideband audio, but so far we only know that Orange in the United Kingdom will be among them.

Smaller dock connector, smaller SIM card

On the bottom of the iPhone 5, there's that new and long-anticipated smaller dock connector. Called "Lightning" it has an all-digital, 8-signal design and an "adaptive interface" (we're not quite sure what that means yet). It's 80 percent smaller and since it's reversible, both ends will be the same (that's kind of nice).

By all means, it's bound to annoy owners of current speaker docks, accessories, and charger/syncing cables since it will render them obsolete. Apple will offer a connector (of course they will), but there's no word yet on how much it will cost. We imagine, though, that the adapter may be awkward to use with some current accessories like a bedside alarm clock/music player. For new accessories, Apple says that manufacturers like Bose, JBL, and Bowers are working on new products.

Though we welcome the idea of a smaller connector, we're miffed that Apple couldn't just adopt the semi-industry standard of Micro-USB. That would make things easier for smartphones users across the globe. Yet, even so the smaller connector may be smart move for the future. The 30-pin connector has been around since 2003, long before the iPhone even existed: frankly, it’s a dust magnet. A smaller connector help shave extra space to achieve a smaller phone with perhaps a bigger battery. The new connector cable will mainly be used for syncing and charging by most people who own an Apple TV or Bluetooth/Airplay accessories.

Of all those changes, the larger screen & possible longer battery life are the only that would matter to me

I'm more curious about the new OS

NDRU said:

Of all those changes, the larger screen & possible longer battery life are the only that would matter to me

I'm more curious about the new OS

I'm curious to know if the new OS will be available to other iPhones.

Don't care about bigger screens, turn by turn navigation or battery life. Since I've had mine, never had the battery die on me.

Stymie said:

NDRU said:

Of all those changes, the larger screen & possible longer battery life are the only that would matter to me

I'm more curious about the new OS

I'm curious to know if the new OS will be available to other iPhones.

Don't care about bigger screens, turn by turn navigation or battery life. Since I've had mine, never had the battery die on me.

yes, exactly! I'm not getting a new phone at this point, but I might try the new OS on mine (if I can)

Well, on a lot of the European forums, the iphone 5 is being slagged off for being a total bore and money grabbing launch.

The launch was full of spin.

The phone is playing catchup on screen size, and it making everyone fork out for a new adapter at 25 quid a time!

For the first time, Apple is truely playing catch up to other phones. I guess too much money was spent on lawsuits rather than R&D.

I think I'm going Nokia. Wireless charging, NFC paying, Pureview floating lens camera, full sat nav live tiles on a new, fairly open operating system.

Apple will have the headlines for the next few weeks as the isheep rush to upgrade, but I think the sales will drop off. Then Samsung have a whole year to improve on an already leading position.

I'm sorry but I need something with buttons. Fuck all that touchscreen stuff. Although my old Palm Centro had both a touch screen and buttons. If apple made something like that, I would consider it.

V10LETBLUES said:

Many teens and young adults do not own a desk top computer or a laptop anymore. They make due with their smartphones.

How do they do schoolwork?

SquirrelMeat said:

I think I'm going Nokia. Wireless charging, NFC paying, Pureview floating lens camera, full sat nav live tiles on a new, fairly open operating system.

Aside from wireless charging, I don't know what any of that stuff is!

NDRU said:

SquirrelMeat said:

I think I'm going Nokia. Wireless charging, NFC paying, Pureview floating lens camera, full sat nav live tiles on a new, fairly open operating system.

Aside from wireless charging, I don't know what any of that stuff is!

Best stay that way! Its all tech crap we don't need in our lives!

SquirrelMeat said:

NDRU said:

Aside from wireless charging, I don't know what any of that stuff is!

Best stay that way! Its all tech crap we don't need in our lives!

Good to know!

NDRU said:

why didnt they make the iphones in nice colors like they did with the iPod touch?

I want one!!

And lol @ them integrating facebook into the iPhone when Android has had it forever.

V10LETBLUES said:

I'm a big Apple fan, but Samsung should be happy right about now. The Galaxy S III looks better and better. I'm sure the new iPhone will sell reletively well, but I don't see anyone but the hardcore fanatics rushing for one this time out. PC sales are way down because as the world economies are still suffering, people are stretching their money by making only one big purchace for their computing and communication needs. Many teens and young adults do not own a desk top computer or a laptop anymore. They make due with their smartphones. That's why big screen smartphones are selling so well. That's why while PC sales are way down, smartphone and tablet sales are at all time highs. [Edited 9/12/12 14:06pm]

Is that all? Damn that, I'm keeping my iPhone 4 (and $300-$400 in my wallet).

I don't give a damn about the iPhone 5.

iPod and Nano.

WHOA NELLY!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm getting' both of those... don't know what colors yet. Good bye to that damn aluminum backing on the Touch a bitch not to scratch. Is this stuff on sale now?

I'm glad they've kept it almost exactly the same size, while making the screen bigger and making it the thinnest smart phone on the market.

I'm not digging those Samsung mainframes for size. I always want the smallest phone!

I just watched the video, it actually looks pretty cool!

But I'm certainly not getting one

missfee said:

Is that all? Damn that, I'm keeping my iPhone 4 (and $300-$400 in my wallet).

Stymie said:

missfee said:

Is that all? Damn that, I'm keeping my iPhone 4 (and $300-$400 in my wallet).

I just got a Samsung this year. That means it will probably be 4 years before I even get another phone, lol. I couldn't give two shits about technology and fancy gizmos. I'm going downstairs in a minute a play some cassette tapes.

Adisa said:

Stymie said:

I just got a Samsung this year. That means it will probably be 4 years before I even get another phone, lol. I couldn't give two shits about technology and fancy gizmos. I'm going downstairs in a minute a play some cassette tapes.

Adisa said:

Stymie said:

I just got a Samsung this year. That means it will probably be 4 years before I even get another phone, lol. I couldn't give two shits about technology and fancy gizmos. I'm going downstairs in a minute a play some cassette tapes.

I'd play the few cassette tapes I'm managed to save over the years if my cassette player still worked.

Somewhere up there, I can hear Steve screaming.

Back in 2006 I launched a blog where I pretended to be Apple CEO Steve Jobs. My alter ego, "Fake Steve," had a good run, but I shut it down in January 2011 when it became apparent that Jobs was in poor health. Nevertheless, even now, I'm constantly wondering what Steve would think about whatever Apple is doing.

This week it's the iPhone 5. Everyone pretty much accepts that Apple will introduce it, and there have been so many leaks that everybody pretty much seems to know what it's going to be. Word is it will look a lot like the last two versions of the iPhone, except a bit thinner and a bit taller, with upgraded guts and a refreshed operating system.

If that's correct, I imagine Steve is not happy. First of all, he'd be furious about the leaks. Steve liked surprising people.

More important, is this really the best we can expect from an outfit that claims to be the most innovative company in the world? This is the sixth version of the iPhone, and the user interface still looks almost exactly like the original iPhone in 2007.

The hardware on the iPhone has been the same for two years, since the iPhone 4 and 4S were virtually identical.

Now, having had two years to plot and scheme, Apple's renowned designer Jonathan Ive has replaced the tiny 3.5in (8.9cm) screen with a slightly-less-tiny 4in (10.2cm) screen? Wow. Knock me over with a feather. What do you do with the rest of your time, Jony?

This is what happens when a company is too cheap to invest in research and development. Did you know that Apple spends far less on R&D than any of its rivals - a paltry 2% of revenues, versus 14% for Google and Microsoft?

No wonder the Android platform, where new models appear every week, now represents 68% of the smartphone market, up from 47% a year ago, while Apple slid to 17% over the same period.

In case you're bad at maths, let me work that out for you: Android's market share is now four times that of Apple. Four times!

Worse, despite all its bluster about innovation, Apple has become a copycat, and not even a good one. Why is Apple making the iPhone bigger? To keep up with the top Android phones.

(Phones that, mind you, Apple fanboys ridiculed at first.)

The problem is that the new iPhone won't really give you much more screen real estate than the old one. Worse, it looks ridiculous.

Apple also has become a copycat in tablets. Jobs once said the iPad's 9.7in screen was the perfect size, and smaller tablets made no sense. Then the Android camp had success with 7in tablets like Amazon's Kindle Fire and Google's Nexus 7, and now Apple supposedly will announce its own smaller iPad in October. Talk about thinking different!

What else is there to complain about?

Um, Siri still doesn't work. The oft-rumoured Apple TV doesn't exist yet, presumably because media companies won't let Apple take over their business.

The latest batch of Apple ads were such embarrassing garbage that Apple had to take them down from YouTube. Apple's new guy in charge of retail launched a plan to lay off workers and boost profits, then had to walk it back when people pointed out that this was stupid.

The big $1bn (£650m) patent "victory" over Samsung made Apple look like a bully, and also raised awareness of how good Samsung's latest products are.

Last month, Samsung's Galaxy S3, with its huge 4.8in screen, outsold the iPhone 4S in the United States, the first time any smartphone has outsold the iPhone in the States.

Apple got where it was by taking bold risks. Now it has become a company that copies others and plays it safe.

A company that once was run by a product visionary now is run by a number-cruncher - chief executive Tim Cook, whose claim to fame involves running an efficient supply chain and beating ever lower prices out of Asian subcontractors and component suppliers.

To use a car analogy, six years ago the iPhone was like a sexy new flagship model from BMW or Porsche. Today it's a Toyota Camry. Safe, reliable, boring. The car your mom drives. The car that's so popular that its maker doesn't dare mess with the formula.

Apple seems less interested in blowing people away than it is in milking profit out of the existing lineup. At this Cook is doing marvellously well.

Sales are booming and will top $150bn this year, with net profit margins of nearly 30%. That's incredible in any business, but qualifies as a miracle when you're selling consumer electronics hardware.

Apple has more than $100bn in cash. Its market value of $632bn makes it the biggest company in the world, bigger than any company in US history.

That's great for Apple's shareholders. But for customers, who cares? In terms of products, Apple has become the one thing it should never be. Apple has become boring.

Somewhere up there, I can hear Steve screaming.

Dan Lyons for BBC NEWS

nd33 said:

I'm glad they've kept it almost exactly the same size, while making the screen bigger and making it the thinnest smart phone on the market.

I'm not digging those Samsung mainframes for size. I always want the smallest phone!

Then you won't want the iphone 5. More Apple spin. There are thinner smart phones out there already.

They also implied the ipad was outselling PC's, but if you listen to the words carefully, they were only comparing it to a single PC manufacturer, of course, which there are hundreds.

My favourite was the quote about the milllions of people in their stores. But the key point was it was visitors, not customers. So they are trying to sound impressive by counting all the Gap wearers popping in to check their hotmail on a daily basis.

Add all the spin to the planted staff (the first three rows) to woop and cheer, and everything sounds wonderful!