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iPhone 5: What really matters

iPhone 5: What really matters

Unlike any other smartphone manufacturer, Apple designs its own hardware and software for iPhones.

Aamir Altaf September 18, 2012

After days of speculation and hype, finally came the moment when Apple unveiled the iPhone 5 along with a new range of iPods and iOS 6 on September 12. Being an Apple enthusiast, I had expectations of a revolutionary product that would yet again re-define the phone industry. Obviously, however, no such revolutionary product was launched and what we saw was an improved iPhone. I was disappointed, and so were many others that expressed their emotions on Facebook and Twitter.

As the Foo-fighters concluded their performance and iPhone 5 event came to an end, I switched off my screen and headed for dinner at a friend's house. The dinner was sumptuous and the talk was light. It helped clear my mind and focus on more rational parts of what Apple had just unveiled to the world. I realised that it did make sense from the customers' point of view. So here is a list of four key differentiating features of iPhone 5 that should really matter.

It's beautiful

You may contest this until you actually hold it. I say this from my experience of using almost every product designed by Apple. The 18% slimmer and 20% lighter iPhone 5 (vs. iPhone 4S) is housed in an aluminium body with a high quality glass screen, two-tone back, and ceramic/pigmented glass at the top and bottom. This gives iPhone 5 that rich, refined, and hi-tech look that you desire from a phone designed in California. It can never be confused with a phone designed in Helsinki, Seoul, or Taiwan. That's differentiation!

Fast internet browsing

The iPhone 5 supports the fastest available wireless and cellular internet speeds offered by mobile operators around the world today. By December it will be available in 100 countries with 240 mobile operators, and it will be able to make use of the fastest internet speeds available such as LTE (upto 100Mbps), DC-HSPDA (upto 42 Mbps), and HSPA+ (upto 21 Mbps).

Beautiful sound

Inside the iPhone 5 box you will find newly designed EarPods. Don't take them lightly as they may transform your music experience. The new EarPods are designed to rest and stay comfortably in the ear, relay music directly into the ear, and maximize the airflow to give the best sound. In short, Apple has harnessed technology and science to create a much improved music experience. I don't see the need to buy beats headphones anymore.

Faster response

Unlike any other smartphone manufacturer, Apple designs its own hardware and software for iPhones. It means that iPhones are optimized to deliver best performance. Building on that concept, iPhone 5 employs a faster A6 processor that in combination with the new iOS 6 doubles the speed of phone performance and graphics. It also enables iPhone 5 to capture photos 40% faster as compared to iPhone 4S running an earlier version of iOS.

Other noteworthy enhancements

Apart from the key differentiating factors mentioned above, other enhancements that bring iPhone 5 at par with its competitors include; higher resolution Retina Display, better iSight camera for photos and video, improved maps and a longer screen.

What the iPhone 5 doesn't have

Some of the features that Apple has missed incorporating in iPhone 5 include; free music streaming, NFC technology for wireless payments, and wireless charging. It also doesn't have a battery life that is better than its competitors.

Conclusion

With iPhone 5, Apple has tried to address technical specification gaps that existed between iPhone 4S and other leading smartphones. However in my assessment, Apple has not made an attempt to position iPhone 5 on engineering higher ground but it has consciously positioned it on user experience supremacy. In fact that has been Apple's positioning since the launch of original iPhone and it has once again reinforced it with iPhone 5. We will know whether or not this positioning still works when iPhone 5 starts shipping on September 21, 2012.

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WRITTEN BY:
Aamir Altaf A fond traveller and right-hand batsman, Aamir is an experienced marketing professional currently living in Riyadh, KSA. An entrepreneur at heart and a father of two awesome boys, he tweets as @aamiraltaf https://twitter.com/aamiraltaf

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (50)

Hipolito M. Wiseman | 11 years ago | Reply Never knew that picking up a phone was such a hard decision. iphone 5 or Galaxy S3?

Chona | 11 years ago | Reply Haha. I woke up down today. You've chreeed me up!

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Turbo Lover | 11 years ago | Reply This phone costs more than a common Pakistani's yearly salary. If it gets, say stolen, what will I go around telling? I lost a phone worth Rs. 100,000+? As an Apple fan, myself. I strongly believe one will be better off with the new iPod Touch or the New iPad. More value for money, no?

Noman | 11 years ago | Reply Well the real question here is Will Iphone 5 work in Pakistan ?. If Iphone 4s works fine in PK, that absolutely alright. Thats because the normal Sim card can be cut out into a Mirco Sim card. After 3 Years of innovation our teleco's were only able to provide Mirco Sims last year. Only Mobilink and Ufone is providing this facility. Rest of the Telco's like Zong, Telenor and Wateen doesn't event provide a Mirco sim which is a norm for Iphone 4s but they have just designed a cutter to cut the normal Sim into Mirco Sim. Iphone 5 works with a Nano Sim. And a normal Sim or even a Micro sim cannot be cut in to a Nano Sim ( Reference : 1. http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/09/17/standard-micro-sim-cant-be-cut-into-nano-sim/ 2. http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/09/micro-sim-cannot-be-cut-into-nano-sim/ ) So THOSE are buying and bringing iPhone 5 soon in Pakistan , should probably re-think. As there wont be any telco offering such Nano Sims soon.... I was about to order Iphone 5 for myself but now just upgraded iphone 4S with IOS 6. So I have all the same features of Iphone 5 except for the Camera and quadcore processor , which I can live without as I was really looking forward for a better Camera in iphone 5 but its the same as of iphone 4s. I hope this helps people deciding ,if they really want to invest in Iphone 5 at PK Thanks,

AQ | 11 years ago | Reply I really don't understand why people have beyond worldly expectations from Apple and its new products. If they put all the awesome features in the new iPhone then what are they going to add for iPhone 6?! There is no way they are going to make the new iPhone significant better because in the long run, they want to make money and they are going to run out of ideas to put in their new phones if they put all of that in the new phone. For sure they have the ability, but will they do it? Not likely. Money matters.

GadgetGuru | 11 years ago | Reply Farrukh bhai... If you had mentioned Samsung or Qualcomm, then that would have hold true. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/23/ltepatentpie/ There are thousands of individual LTE patents... Apple bought Nortel and acquired its own portfolio. Google changed ownership of few patents of its Motorola portfolio so that HTC can try its luck at halting the "New iPad" that did not work, Now "2" patents are being upheld for prosecution purpose. Samsung will have its own say, it holds many LTE manufacturing related patents and developed LTE for Qualcomm which is the true inventor of this technology. Apple buys the LTE technology at a premium directly from Qualcomm. Please look up FRAND, This was only a delay tactic and it willl result in nothing for HTC or Samsung. I foresee Apple protecting its technology more fiercely now, which is the handheld touch screen smartphone itself. Expecting more desperate measures from Samsung to portray itself as the underdog.

Farrukh Hanif Awan | 11 years ago | Reply @HolierThanThough: http://www.slashgear.com/apple-faces-uphill-challenge-invalidating-htc-lte-patents-10246646/ http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/10/is-the-next-iphone-in-already-in-patent-trouble/ My facts are actually holding ground it seems. Lets see where this patent war takes us to. Yes Apple makes everything on ITS own. Like the Foxconn workers will vouch for you. Several Patents are being held by each company which one's are valid will be made true when the trial goes through. If it is upheld we are up for some massive fights!

HolierThanThough | 11 years ago | Reply Neutralist.... Samsung owns ZERO of the technology it manufactures for others. It pays royalty to companies like Apple, Intel, Microsoft for using their technology. Apple does not buy the processor from Samsung... it lets them manufacture it. Apple owns its Processor technology, while Samsung BUYS technology from ARM. Galaxy S3 is a replica... and i dont hold it against people that like replica's, just don't bash the real thing.

HolierThanThough | 11 years ago | Reply Farrukh... you had me at LTE is patented by HTC. Get your facts straight, there is no reason to lie.

Neutralist | 11 years ago | Reply "This gives iPhone 5 that rich, refined, and hi-tech look that you desire from a phone designed in California. It can never be confused with a phone designed in Helsinki, Seoul, or Taiwan. That’s differentiation!" What does that mean? that even sounds ridiculous! That nearly smacks of racism. "Unlike any other smartphone manufacturer, Apple designs its own hardware and software for iPhones." Perhaps you don't know that Apple buys the processors from Samsung. Then come to price that concerns everyone in the end. In short a very misinformed and naive analysis--almost wishful.

Farrukh Hanif Awan | 11 years ago | Reply Its remarkable when you call a phone cheap because of its design because all the iphone users i know off cover their iphone with a plastic covering. I wonder what is the point of having a metallic body when you are covering it with a cheap plastic cover. In short, LTE is not even in Pakistan so that feature for you guys are useless. LTE is patented by HTC so they are going to sue the living daylights out of it. When that happens lets see what jury verdict will be. Iphone 5 has specifications which match the phones which have been out for six months. Six months already and they barely matched them. The screen is still LCD with a glass covering. No sd card, no direct interface with any laptop or desktop. No support for additional video playing capability. Everything to be done through Itunes. Luckily I have enough of a brain to utilize all those features that make lg, htc and samsung a better phone.

Roger | 11 years ago | Reply Currently the iPhone 5 is ranked #171 in cell phone reviews on Alatest.com Yes, there are currently 170 phones (mostly Android phones) which experts and users rate higher than the iPhone 5. The 4S is in 5th place.

Gibran | 11 years ago | Reply earbuds you say? beats earphones you say? Let me introduce you to something called the Logitech Ultimate ears earphones! It'll take Apple 50 years to come up with sound delivering technology like that right "in to the ear"!!

Jude Jaramillo | 11 years ago | Reply I have the galaxy S 3 from verizon you can talk and surf the Internet at the same time. i was told by Verizon that the iPhone 5 you will not be able to talk and surf the Internet at the same time.

chkorie | 11 years ago | Reply why do they sell ipod for

haris | 11 years ago | Reply it may not have a good battery life but an HTC ONE X has better looks than the iphone 5. the curved edges, the curved screen is just amazing. n also the aluminium case is old stuff and a much stronger n much more scientific polycarbonate casing is better. Nokia Lumia 920 has more innovation then the iphone 5. if only windows had more apps i would rather go for the Lumia 920 then the iphone 5. why should a young person buy a "premium looking" n expensive iphone when there are many other good looking phones ,with better specs n much more innovation n cheaper then the iphone , in the market.

Brandon N. | 11 years ago | Reply @Lewisdog: The SGS3 does have a plastic cheap feel to it, but I have dropped it many times and no damage to speak of. I have many friends with cracked screens on the IPhone4. It just seems like its a less durable phone. Besides you can't really compare the feel of phones these days because most people slap a bulky Otter Box on it anyways.

Brandon N. | 11 years ago | Reply @A Pakistani Boy: Features?? The SGS3 can do the simplest of things unlike the IPhone 5. Your IPhone 5 can't even make a Phone call and use the internet at the same time. How about the Lighting to 30 Pin Adapter Apple is making you pay ($30-$40). How about your IHome which is now obsolete until an Adapter can be made for that as well. The SGS3 screen is better looking, Faster processor, longer battery life, and just as sleek if not sleeker. The cameras are the same, but you can't even shoot video and take a picture at the same time. I wonder what debacle Apple will have this time when releasing your poop IPhones. A case so you can actually make a phone call. Pathetic.

Brandon N. | 11 years ago | Reply SGS3 is a way better phone in every aspect. Have fun paying over $500 for your IPhone 5 that has the same technology as a year ago. What a bunch of Schmucks. IPhone 5 is the same as the 4S except with a slightly larger screen and a hefty price tag.

Unbiased | 11 years ago | Reply In this age when virtually everything from car tires to home appliances is reviewed by gurus and organisations from all over the world so that consumers can have the best products and manufactures are always on their toes to create something new and revolutionary to survive in the ever growing competetion of the market. The smartphone market is no different. There was a time when apple led this market, specially with the iphone 3gs and 4. It introduced the revolutionary retina display which was by far the best out there for a while . Siri , the first ever personal assistant in a phone and a phone camera with exceptional results and zero shutter lag. But with the iphone 5 one sees no such revolutionary breakthrough (trimming and stretching the body does not count). Just a device that is far behind in both technology and innovation than its competitors (read galaxy S3) and is priced higher than its actual worth. Its not apple that is coming up with amazing innovation . NFC, gesture recognition, face unlock, wireless charging, 1280x720 HD screen none of these were introduced by apple. With the iphone 5 apple has shifted from its expected role in the smartphone market of leader of the pack to just an ordinary sheep in the herd which is an unfortunate news for smartphone users all around the world.

Shezad Roy | 11 years ago | Reply Woah so many apple fan boys here! How does pre order of 2 million iphones make it better than the ones by Samsung and htc? It just goes on to show that the fan boys are going get the apple products no matter how worthless they are.

She | 11 years ago | Reply LOL..I 've never seen so many people excited about a four inch change!

Android boy | 11 years ago | Reply Not sure if it is apple I hate, or its crazy fans

saqib-_-@hotmail.com | 11 years ago | Reply I've used java, symbian, blackberry, maemo, ios and android mobile operating systems. In my opinion, the best ones are android/ios, and blackberry respectively. Yes , it's a tie between android and ios. Iphone is a wonderful phone, but android is equally good. And the people who are calling s3 a rip off or a replica, they need to get their facts right. Only galaxy s was proved to infringe apple's patents, but s2 and onwards, the galaxy series has been clean., if I decide to spend 50-60k anytime soon, I'd rather get a galaxy note 2. Its got the bang for the the buck.

HolierThanThough | 11 years ago | Reply Comparing anything to iPhone is like comparing a Ferrari to Suzuki Mehran. Even mentioning the Galaxy S3 shows the technology backwardness... Lol! Bigger screen must be better technology. Sorry to say... if you are using or intend to use any of the replica's including Galaxy S3, then just call yourself a show off, not a user of technology. Phones using Android are 2-3 years behind in technology.

saqib | 11 years ago | Reply It don't even look good and notHing note worthy features face it S3 is better than is UN realistic expensIve phone

Sharjeel | 11 years ago | Reply My 2 cents: A year back someone (Who we all know said): "Bigger is not necessarily better. Apple decided on the optimal size for an iPhone display back in 2006. If they thought 4-inches was better, overall, as the one true size for the iPhone display, then the original iPhone would have had a 4-inch display." What happened?

Faraz | 11 years ago | Reply May be a comparison article between i phone 5 and galaxy s3 would have been more informative...

GadgetGuru | 11 years ago | Reply I don't have to prove anything... 2 million iPhones sold in 24 hrs is proof enough. The benchmarks of Hardware and the integration of Hardware and software is proof enough. In Pakistan, we consider the Hardware purchase as our only investment. Here People want to flaunt the unusable big screens... thats technology for them. Can't Apple which invented this 5 years ago make 5 inch or 50 inch screens... but it takes into account usability and its own ecosystem, where other brands are still years behind. You don't see a new Ferrari or Porsche design every year, all one gets are incremental upgrades according to the upgrades in automotive and aerodynamics technology. The iPhone 5 has an upgraded design, the best technology and unmatchable engineering (The 5 Mp camera in the 2 year old iPhone 4 is still better tha the 8 Mp cam on the second best phone camera HTC, while Samsung GS3 is a toy in comparison), better integration of its iServices and 600,000 apps. Unlike android devices which become obsolete in 6 months, Apple upgraded the three year old iPhone 3G to the new software. So any one that buys iPhone 5 knows that they dont need any hardware upgrades for atleast 3 more years.

Lee | 11 years ago | Reply iPhone 5 kicks any phones a** anyday of the week and I find it amusing when android geeks get on all the apple threads and speak cr** when really we all love apple even the androids, Now why don't u get on the Sgs3 sites and talk it up? Why u ask? Because its a plastic piece of cr** and there's no excitement with any of it.. Good luck androids.

Rafay | 11 years ago | Reply @GadgetGuru: and what argument you have to prove your point??

Rafay | 11 years ago | Reply @Lewisdog: I would disagree... All i phones have roughly looked the same. They make only marginal changes in the body but haven't redesigned it ever.. and i-phones aren't prettier than other competing phones..

GadgetGuru | 11 years ago | Reply Since the launch of iPhone... many socalled technology buffs and nerds have been disappointed. Concluding that they know nothing about technology or engineering. Its an insult to iPhone to even compare it to large size, bloated replica's from Samsung and HTC, however companies based on innovation like Nokia and Blackberry suffered a lot by not following the replica bandwagon.

Rafay | 11 years ago | Reply @Addu: Lovely piece of sarcasm...

Intelektual | 11 years ago | Reply This time around without Jobs Apple failed to dream big and Just played it safe with improving the essentials not WoWing the world like he used to..

Intelektual | 11 years ago | Reply The reason iphone 5 is a hit is ! it always manages to inspire emotion among 90% of the people ! Love it or hate there aint no way you are not gonna have a strong opinion about it ! What i must add is that Apple is still here and Apple is still Apple what's missing is the magik of Steve Jobs after the release I missed him truely...

Aamir Altaf | 11 years ago | Reply @Addu: I respect all different and opposing point of views by readers. That makes the era of social writing and reading so interesting. However it seems that you are alleging that I have plagiarized from some marketing material! To my knowledge I have not, but please do share if you have read the exact line somewhere else. If not, please refrain from raising false allegations in future.

Addu | 11 years ago | Reply "Ear pods are designed...to relay music directly in to the ear" Are you serious? How did they manage that? This is truly ground breaking revolutionary design and engineering by Apple. Buddy, next time you write a review, try not to copy paste from marketing material.

Lewisdog | 11 years ago | Reply I have pre-ordered the I-phone 5 after having the 4 for 2 years. I waited for apple to launch the 5 as I thought it would be miles ahead of the opposition,I was wrong. However after getting over my disappointment I'm so used to iso that it's just to easy to stay with apple. I brought my girlfriend a Samsung galaxy s3 and must say the screen is gorgeous, but I struggle to use the thing. When I ordered the new iPhone I did so as when you compare it to the other phones on the market it's better looking and better engineered. When I hold the Samsung it really does have a cheap feel and when off looks shocking. I would say the Samsung is like an old Volvo, fully loaded but butt ugly, the iPhone is like a lotus exige, not fully loaded but pure x- factor.

Muhammad | 11 years ago | Reply I have an iPhone 4S, the new iPad, a MacBook Pro as well, but I am not buying iPhone 5s because I am disappointed with it. Let's face it, this new iPhone is not good enough and you are just hoping against hope and clutching at straws to keep your hopes up that it's good when it's not!

Dante | 11 years ago | Reply You like the iPhone? Good for you. You don't have to scream at us why. All Apple fanboys love iPhone. It's nothing new.

Android | 11 years ago | Reply I hope the HTC's and Samsung's LTE patent violations case go against the patent troll crapple© and give it a taste of it's own medicine. Would love to see the craphone being unable to sell.

oldman | 11 years ago | Reply Let him enjoy the glory of the iphone5, even if Apple release the same iphone4s and call it iphone 5, they still will buy it. This has been proven. there is no reasoning to them, no matter what you say of do, they are addicted to it. And if the first batch of 2 million has a fault, they will still love it.

LOL | 11 years ago | Reply The awkward moment when you will be using this phone in Pakistan without even a 3G network.

Roger | 11 years ago | Reply The reality is that iPhone 5 is a huge dissapointment. It offers amost nothing new compared to previous iPhones, and there is no innovation at all. This is highly surprising when phones like the Samsung Galaxy S3 offer so much more. The only new features are crippled 4G LTE support. Bigger screen size - something competing phones have had for ages now. Better battery life. That's it, nothing else new. Sure, iOS has been updated to version 6, but the update to v6 is also availalbe for older model iPhones too.

Noman Ansari | 11 years ago | Reply Q: Why the iPhone 5 has won my heart! A: "Being an Apple enthusiast" You say it yourself, you are an Apple fanboy. None of the things you list merit any excitement. It all seems like desperation.

ftw225 | 11 years ago | Reply @Shadytr33: no he said why he is impressed by the iphone 5. All those specs were given by apple.

OPYI | 11 years ago | Reply after all 2 millions people (pre-order in 1 day) can't be wrong.

Shadytr33 | 11 years ago | Reply So basically you have reviewed the phone before the phone is in the market ? Wow

A Pakistani Boy | 11 years ago | Reply The features definitely are better than Galaxy S3 or any other smartphone out there, so its gotta be a hit! Ooh! I'm excited about the new earphones! And you got it right; Apple has the sexiest devices! And i'm sure iPhone 5 will be a killer beauty!

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