Long-screened, beautiful upgrade to an
already brilliant smartphone
Likes
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Thin, light, beautiful design
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Faster graphics and all-round processing than 4S
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Better low-light photography
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Taller screen
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4G compatibhty
Dislikes
·
Lightning connector
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4G limitations
Long-screened,
beautiful upgrade to an already brilliant smartphone
Notable new technology in the iPhone 5
includes a larger 4m display, 4G LTE connectivity, a new A6 processor, a better
camera and an HD front-facing iSight camera.
The amazing thing about the iPhone 5 is
that the device itself manages to feel smaller, while the screen is bigger: up
to 4in. Partly this is down to the lighter weight, slimmer design and smaller
bezel. Depth is down to a ridiculous 7.6mm.
The taller (but not wider) 4in display’s
16:9 ratio is better for watching films and TV shows. In portrait mode you get
an extra row of apps on the Home screen, and many list-based apps can pack in
an extra story or two. Once they’ve been optimised for the additional space,
games will look pretty special.
Notable
new technology in the iPhone 5 includes a larger 4m display, 4G LTE
connectivity, a new A6 processor, a better camera and an HD front-facing iSight
camera.
The A6 processor makes the iPhone 5 around
two and a half times as quick as the 4S, and also speeds up its camera, this
component is again rated at 8Mp but has improved low-light capabilities and a
tougher lens.
While slimmer and reversible, the new
Lightning connector has its down sides — those dozens of old cables and wired
accessories won’t work without an adaptor. But overall the iPhone 5 is
marginally better in just about every area than the iPhone 4S.
A solid, if not radical, step forward,
then.
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Details
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Price depend on mobile contract.
SIM-free:
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$793.5
(16GB), $898.5(32GB), $1048.5 (64GB)
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Website
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www.appIe.com
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iPhone 4S
Fast, great at photos and gaming, and US$75
cheaper than last month
Likes
·
Faster than 4S
·
Terrific camera
·
Full iOS 6 compatibility
·
Same smart design as iPhone 4
Dislikes
·
Easily outpaced on most demanding apps by iPhone
5
·
Lack of noticeable changes may put buyers off
Fast,
great at photos and gaming, and US$75 cheaper than last month
Can a US$75 price cut tempt buyers to
consider last year’s model? Perhaps. The 4S hasn’t turned into a bad phone
overnight, and at US$673.5 it represents sound value for money, if lacking in
the excitement of the very latest release.
The 4S earned record-breaking sales by
taking the successful look of the iPhone 4 and tossing in a dual- core
processor for dramatically improved speed, a heavily upgraded camera and some
brand-new voice- command technologies with tremendous potential. Siri, indeed,
is now a stronger proposition than ever thanks to the free software update iOS
6, whose features the 4S can enjoy in full.
Siri,
indeed, is now a stronger proposition than ever thanks to the free software
update iOS 6, whose features the 4S can enjoy in full.
The dual-core A5 processor is one
generation more advanced than the A4 processor that powered the iPhone 4 and
the original iPad, and you can expect better performance when handling
demanding apps and games. The iPhone 5, however, sees a yet more significant
speed bump thanks to its A6 chip. The 4S’s camera saw a jump in spec from 5Mp
to 8Mp and offers fast response shooting.
The iPhone 4S is worth considering for its
decent speed, great camera, extensive iOS 6 compatibility and smart design.
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Details
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Price depends on mobile contract: SIM-free
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$673.5 (16GB only)
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Website
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www.apple.com
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iPhone 4
The faithful old 4 still has qualities to
consider. And it’s incredibly cheap
Likes
·
High-resolution Retina display
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5Mp camera with LED flash
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Vastly improved battery life over 3G and 3GS
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Bargain price tag
Dislikes
·
Antenna attenuation issues
·
8GB will fill up quickly
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Not as quick as the iPhone 4S, and about a
quarter of the speed of the iPhone 5
Now relegated to third place on the list of
available iPhones, the faithful old 4 will struggle to catch buyers’ eyes, but
it still has something to offer — not least of which is a stunning price tag
that has dropped by another US$165.
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Details
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Price depends on mobile contract;
SIM-free
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$478.5 (8GB only)
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Website
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www.apple.com
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