On September 14th, 2012, I decided to stay up until three in the morning for something my friends thought was insane. Exactly one week later, on September 21st, I woke up to an e-mail from my dorm saying a package had arrived in the mail, carrying the newest Apple product to hit the market: the iPhone 5. I have had it for two weeks now, and I have to say that this was the best purchase I have ever made. Are you wondering if you should spend some dough on this new phone? Read on to see if it is worth your hard earned money!
First, we should talk about the hardware, beginning with its weight. The iPhone 5 is less than 4 ounces in weight! Also, because it’s thinner and taller, the weight distribution is spread out more, making it feel SO much lighter than the previous iPhones. “It’s so much lighter than mine, I can’t even!” exclaimed Jaime Hodes (CAS ’15) when comparing my phone to her iPhone 4.
As mentioned, the phone is also a lot thinner, making it even easier to fit into your tightest jean’s back pocket (remember Motorola’s commercial for the Razr V3 circa 2006?). The one negative the new structure has is that it’s also a bit taller than previous models, making it a bit difficult to navigate on the screen with only one hand and to the lock button for those with small hands.
The biggest noticeable change Apple has made with the iPhone is the screen size. The screen is now half an inch longer (3.5 inches on the iPhone 4S versus 4 inches on the iPhone 5). This allows more space for apps on each page, as well as wide screen viewing of videos, movies and pictures.
The iPhone 5 is also made with mostly aluminum. Apple makes MacBooks with an aluminum covering, which is why they are so durable. Therefore, the iPhone 5 is much stronger and more durable than any other iPhone. Also, because it has an aluminum covering rather than the glass back the iPhone 4S showcases, cracking the back of the iPhone is a lot harder (if not impossible) to do.
The headphone jack is now at the bottom of the phone rather than at the top. This change is controversial. If you are one to work out at the gym and usually put your phone in the cup holder of your cardio machine, then you have to put it in upside down. But, if you are one who goes on runs outside, therefore holding the phone in your hand, it doesn’t really make a difference. I prefer the new headphone jack because it just makes it easier for me to store my phone in my pocket, but it is all about preference. They also made new headphones, which I personally adore! These actually fit into my little ears and have AMAZING sound quality with no distortion. They also come in their own little case, making them even cuter and more sophisticated.
“Lightning,” or the charger is now smaller, more durable, and reversible. That’s right. It doesn’t matter which way it’s facing: it will fit into the phone either way! Unfortunately, to get an adapter for other Apple devices, it costs about $30.00, which is pretty expensive.
Okay, onto the software. The iPhone 5 comes equipped with iOS 6 and 4G LTE. We are talking speed up to twice as fast as the iPhone 4S! Apps are opened, web pages are downloaded, and photos are saved pretty much instantly. Also, even with all of this speed, the battery life is beautiful! I use start using my phone around 8 AM until 10 or 11 PM and have never had it die. My favorite part of iOS6 is the app “Reminders” that comes with it. This was an app that one could find on an iPad, but Apple has brought it over to the iPhone (and I am VERY excited about that). Reminders is a great way to keep track of your to do list, and more importantly, your shopping list!
The last feature I wanted to talk about was photo and video taking. The newest camera feature is the HD front-facing camera. FaceTiming will now be almost crystal clear, and all those “selfies” you like to take from time to time (don’t lie to yourself…we all do it) will now have that beautiful HD look to them. Video taking now has better sound quality because there are three microphones on the iPhone 5. Yes, you read that right: three beautiful microphones capturing you and your friends’ every word with amazing clarity.
Overall, I would give the new iPhone five thumbs up if I could. The new features are all very subtle, but together they improve the quality of the iPhone drastically, making the 5 an essential for every collegiette™!
Sources:
http://www.bgr.com/2012/09/25/iphone-5-review/
http://www.apple.com/iphone/design/
Photos by Jomarie Polanco
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