On Tuesday, September 10th, Apple revealed its latest iPhone hardware. This year instead of one new iPhone, they announced two: the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s. In this post, I’ll overview the two new handsets in detail covering all the new features and updates. While the bulk its keynote address focused on the iPhone, Apple also described a few other exciting things that are coming this fall so I’ll cover those as well. Let’s get down to it!
iPhone 5c – Since the first iPhone was released in 2007, Apple has always debuted one new iPhone model each year. They would then continue to sell the previous year’s model at a discounted price. This year, Apple took an entirely different track. It actually discontinued the iPhone 5 and will sell two new versions of the iPhone, the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s. The iPhone 5c’s specs are very similar to those of the iPhone 5 with one very obvious difference: its external design.
Design – The iPhone 5 was crafted of anodized aluminum and came in two metallic colors: white/silver and black/slate. Not so with the iPhone 5c. As Jony Ive, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Design, says in the iPhone 5c’s reveal video the iPhone 5c is, “beautifully, unapologetically plastic.” It is made of polycarbonate plastic and then covered with a lacquer hardcoat. Not only does the 5c differ from the 5 materially, but also visually. Whereas the iPhone 5 was shades of black, white, and gray the iPhone 5c is bright, vivid, and colorful sporting 5 different colorways: white, pink, yellow, blue, and green. Apple is also producing cases for the iPhone 5c. Made of silicone rubber, these cases also come in vivid colors (white, pink, yellow, blue, green, and black) and have intentionally placed cutouts around the camera and across the lower 2/3 of the device’s back that allow the color of the phone itself to shine through. Other than its materials and colors, the iPhone 5c bears a strong external resemblance to the iPhone 5. It sports the same 4-inch retina display, the same rounded corners, the same home button, and very similar buttons, switches, cameras, and ports. Its design does differ slightly in that the phone has more rounded edges as opposed to the iPhone 5’s somewhat sharp chamfers.
Specs & Features – The iPhone 5c has very similar internal specifications to its predecessor, the iPhone 5. While the handset is slightly thicker and heavier it has the same A6 processor, a very similar 8 megapixel iSight camera with f2.4 aperture and LED flash that shoots 1080p HD video at 30fps, the same 4-inch retina display, and support for LTE cellular data. (A note here about the 5c’s LTE: Apple has actually expanded the number of different LTE bands that the 5c can support, mainly so that the 5c could be used more broadly around the world and work with carriers that use different bands of LTE.) As with the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4s before it, Siri will be included with the iPhone 5c. The iPhone 5c’s battery is slightly larger than that of the iPhone 5, offering 5% more capacity. That said, if Apple’s estimations of the 5c’s battery life are to be believed the phone will offer significantly increased battery life despite its modest increase in battery capacity. This is likely due to the phone being more efficient. The 5c will be sold in 16GB and 32GB models and will be available in the United States on at&t, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. The phone will ship with iOS 7, Apple’s EarPods with remote and mic, a Lightning to USB cable, and a USB Power Adapter. You can get more details on the iPhone 5c’s specifications on Apple’s website here.
Software – The iPhone 5c will be the first iPhone to ship with iOS 7 and it will be able to run nearly all of the new operating system’s apps and features including Control Center, the new and improved Notification Center, the new Multitasking interface, Airdrop, iTunes Radio, Siri, Facetime Video, and the new Facetime Audio feature. For an exhaustive list of features included in iOS 7 on the new iPhone 5c, check Apple’s iOS 7 page here.
Pricing & Availability – As of the writing of this article, the iPhone 5c is available for pre-order on all the major US carriers via Apple’s website with a delivery date of September 20th, 2013. With a standard 2-year contract, the iPhone 5c will cost $99 for the 16GB model and $199 for the 32GB model. Unlocked or on T-Mobile’s plans, the iPhone 5c will cost $549 for 16GB and $649 for 32GB. These prices came as a surprise to many, as Apple was widely expected to release the iPhone 5c as a much cheaper version of the iPhone in order to compete with low-cost Android based handsets in emerging markets around the world. Comparatively, $549 unsubsidized for the 16GB model is still much more expensive than these cheaper handsets. It will be interesting to see how Apple’s new two-handset model plays out with both phones still being sold at somewhat premium prices. You can find pricing information for the iPhone 5c and pre-order it on Apple’s website here. Apple is selling the 5c’s silicone cases for $29 and, in an interesting move, is also selling a dock for the iPhone 5c which also goes for $29.
Summary – The iPhone 5c is a great replacement for the iPhone 5. It matches many of the 5’s specifications while feeling fresh and new. The A6 chip will offer great performance while running iOS 7. The iPhone 5c’s polycarbonate plastic shell should offer great durability and scratch resistance, something that the iPhone 5’s anodized aluminum shell lacked. The 5c’s bright colors make for a really fun device geared toward a younger crowd, though the inclusion of a white version still gives people a more diminutive and sophisticated looking option. For budget-minded people looking to get a great new iPhone, the lower cost iPhone 5c is a good choice.
iPhone 5s – Apple’s new flagship iPhone, the iPhone 5s, is, in the company’s words, the most forward thinking phone ever made. In many ways, that is true. The 5s introduces a number of new features which are likely to be game-changers in the world of mobile devices. Let’s take a look.
Design – At first glance, the iPhone 5s appears very similar to the iPhone 5. It is still crafted of anodized aluminum with shiny chamfered edges and a glass plated front. This was not a surprise as Apple often alternates between a major visual redesign of its handsets and a minor visual refresh yearly. However, on further inspection a number of subtle visual differences appear.
The most visible, perhaps, is the device’s color scheme. Whereas the iPhone 5 was sold in two different color options, white/silver and black/slate, the iPhone 5s comes in three varieties: white/silver, white/gold, and black/space gray. The white/silver version is nearly identical to the iPhone 5’s colors. The white/gold model is perhaps the most strikingly different and sports a soft, muted gold color that manages not to be gaudy and actually looks quite good with the device’s white front plate. The black/space gray edition is similar in many ways to the iPhone 5’s black/slate color scheme, but the space gray coated aluminum is lighter in appearance than slate was.
The next major visual difference that becomes apparent when looking at the iPhone 5s is its home button. Gone is the small app-icon outline that has been present on the home button from the first iPhone all the way up until the iPhone 5c and added is a circular steel ring around the outside of the button. These changes signify the integration of Apple’s new Touch ID fingerprint security system into the home button, a feature which I’ll overview below.
Otherwise, the iPhone 5s looks very much like the iPhone 5. Like the iPhone 5c, Apple is producing its own cases for the iPhone 5s. Made of leather and lined inside with microfiber, they are designed to protect the phone while reflecting the device’s sophistication. The cases will be available in pastel colors including brown, beige, black, yellow, blue, and red. See more about the iPhone 5s’ design on Apple’s website here.
Specs & Features – Where the iPhone 5s differs most from the iPhone 5, and really every other smartphone available, is in its specifications and the features that it offers.
Touch ID – The first, and most prominent of these features, is Touch ID, Apple’s fingerprint security system that’s integrated into the iPhone 5s’ Home Button. Touch ID allows you to unlock your iPhone 5s simply by placing your finger on the home button. As mentioned above, the 5s’ Home Button is ringed with a steel band. Touching this band notifies a fingerprint sensor located beneath the sapphire crystal covered home button to begin reading your fingerprint. Apple has integrated Touch ID into iOS 7 so that it can be used for unlocking your device and also for making purchases on the App Store. Apple stores your fingerprint information in a secure enclave on the device’s processor and never uploads it to its servers or to iCloud, keeping your information secure. Touch ID should make unlocking the iPhone 5s quick, easy, and secure. Plus, the idea of unlocking your iPhone securely with the touch of a finger is just pretty cool.
iSight Camera – The next major upgrade to the iPhone 5s is the device’s iSight camera. Apple has boosted the camera on its flagship phone in nearly every respect. It has increased the image sensor size by 15%, but kept the camera’s megapixel count at 8. I feel that this was a very smart choice. There are phones right now that take photos up to a monstrous 41 megapixels in size. That may seem impressive, but megapixels don’t equal quality. In actuality, you can have a camera that takes photos with tons of megapixels but that are extremely low quality. More megapixels also means larger image file sizes which take up more storage space on your device. By increasing the iPhone 5s’ image sensor size and maintaining the camera’s 8 megapixels Apple has effectively increased image quality but not image file size. For what most people use their iPhones for, 8 megapixels is plenty. Apple has also increased the camera’s aperture size on the iPhone 5s, bumping it from f2.4 to f2.2. This means that the 5s’ camera has a larger hole that can let more light in onto the image sensor, resulting in sharper photos in low-light conditions. The 5s’ camera is paired with a dual-LED True Tone flash unit which automatically determines the correct flash level and color to more accurately capture white balance in low-light conditions. This yields more accurate color representation of things like skin tone in low-light shots. Panorama mode is also improved on the 5s by automatically adjusting exposure throughout the capture of a panoramic photo so that brighter areas in the scene don’t appear washed out. The 5s’ camera also sees major improvements to video recording including a new slow-mo video mode.
A7 Processor – The third major spec boost to the iPhone 5s is the inclusion of Apple’s new A7 processor chip. The A7 represents a major boost over the A6 chip found in the iPhone 5 and 5c. It is 2x faster than the A6 in both CPU and graphics performance, due in part to its 64-bit architecture (more on that in the Software section below). One amazing spec from Apple’s website is that the A7 is 40x faster than the original iPhone’s processor when it comes to CPU and 56x faster when it comes to graphics. Mobile chips have come a long way in the last six years. The iPhone 5s also introduces a coprocessor to the iPhone for the very first time: the M7. This secondary chip speeds the iPhone 5s even more and saves battery by handling all the data from the phone’s accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass. Of course, the iPhone 5s retains its 4-inch Retina display and matches the iPhone 5c’s support for LTE and battery life. The 5s will be sold in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models and will be available in the United States on at&t, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. The phone will ship with iOS 7, Apple’s EarPods with remote and mic, a Lightning to USB cable, and a USB Power Adapter.
For more detailed info on the iPhone 5s’ specifications, see Apple’s website here.
Software – Though it may not be the most visible or the most talked about feature on the iPhone 5s, the phone’s most revolutionary feature is likely that it runs a specialized version of iOS 7 that utilizes the 64-bit architecture of the A7 chip. The iPhone 5s is the first phone ever to offer a 64-bit operating environment; all other phones on the market are based 32-bit software. This is truly a game-changer in the mobile-device industry. Running in 64-bit allows drastic improvements to program performance and allows the device to utilize more memory to increase speed. During its keynote, Apple promised that the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit on iOS 7 will happen seamlessly and that the user won’t have to worry one bit about 32-bit applications running in the new environment. Fitting in with Apple’s design philosophy, it will “just work.” The iPhone 5s will be sold with iOS 7 and will run all of the new operating system’s apps and features including Control Center, the new and improved Notification Center, the new Multitasking interface, Airdrop, iTunes Radio, Siri, Facetime Video, and the new Facetime Audio feature. For an exhaustive list of features included in iOS 7 on the new iPhone 5s, check Apple’s iOS 7 page here.
Pricing & Availability – Unlike the iPhone 5c, the 5s will not be available for preorder in the US. Rather, it will go on sale on September 20th. With a standard 2-year contract, the iPhone 5s will cost $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB model, and $399 for the 64GB model. Unlocked or on T-Mobile’s plans, the iPhone 5s will cost $649 for 16GB, $749 for 32GB, and $849 for 64GB. You can find pricing information for the iPhone 5s on Apple’s website here. The iPhone 5s’ official Apple branded iPhone 5s case will sell for $39 and Apple will sell a dock for the 5s for $29.
Summary – The iPhone 5s represents a significant jump forward for the iPhone, and for the entire mobile device market. With its 64-bit architecture, dramatically improved camera, and Touch ID fingerprint sensor, the 5s is certainly the most advanced iPhone to date and likely the most advanced smartphone on the market. With its classy styling and color options, the iPhone 5s screams sophistication. For those who are looking for the best device available and who aren’t hesitant to pay a little bit more, the iPhone 5s is a great choice. With how fast and advanced this phone is, I suspect it will be up to the task or running whatever software and apps you can throw at it for years to come.
Other Things Apple Announced – Apple also announced a few other things at the keynote. Here’s a brief overview.
iPhone 4S Lives On – Despite Apple discontinuing sales of the iPhone 5 and replacing it with the iPhone 5c, the iPhone 4S will continue to be sold, for free with a standard 2-year contract, no less. If you want to know what the “new” cheap version of the iPhone is, look no further than the 4S.
Updates on iOS 7 & New Ringtones – Most of what Apple announced on September 10th about iOS 7 was already known, but they gave a good overview of the new features including the new Lock Screen, Control Center, parallax effect, Notification Center, multitasking, improvements to Safari and Siri, iTunes Radio, improvements to the Camera and Photos app, and so forth. Apple also overviewed some new ringtones and system alert sounds that will be available with iOS 7. Apple also announced that iOS 7 will be released to the public on Friday, September 18th.
iTunes Radio Release Date – iTunes Radio will be released on September 20th, two days after the release of iOS 7.
iWork, iPhoto, & iMovie for iOS go Free – During the keynote, Apple highlighted how these productivity and creativity apps are very well loved and announced that it would be making them free with the purchase of any new iOS device this fall.
Availability of iPhones Worldwide – Apple also took time to highlight that this will be the first time that an iPhone will be available in China at launch and that it will be offering the iPhone on a new Japanese carrier, NTT DoCoMo.
iPod Touch Available in Space Gray – To match the iPhone 5s’ Space Gray colorway, the iPod Touch will also be available in this new color.
There you have it! This has been a summary of Apple’s September 10th Keynote where they announced the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s. Check out Apple’s website for more information about these great new phones. Also, check out TeachMeiOS’ great overview of Apple’s June 2013 keynote where they announced iOS 7 here.
