Apple iPhone 5 Pro Reviews

The iPhone 5 is unquestionably the best iPhone ever made, and for the mass market, it's the best smartphone, period. Between the new design, blazing fast LTE, and excellent battery life, there's little to not like here. It's a competent, confident, slick package, certainly made better by most (but not all) of the updates and changes in iOS 6. Despite the Maps issues and some questions about whether Passbook will be a viable product, there's no doubt that Apple has crafted a beast of a phone — a fine machine that is a worthy new entry in the most innovative line of products the company has ever made. But there's also another segment of the market, of which I consider myself a part. That segment thinks that there's still a lot of work to be done in mobile devices; still a lot of innovation to come. And that's not innovation for the sake of innovation. I mean real innovation in the way we use our phones, in the flexibility of those operating systems, in how those devices become an extension of ourselves. For that segment, I think the iPhone 5 and iOS 6 fall short. There's a lot more work to be done, but right now Apple seems to be in a holding pattern, too comfortable or too scared to take real chances. I'll be eagerly awaiting the moment that Apple joins the messy fray again. I have no doubt it will happen. But until then, thank goodness for competition.

Now comes the question: is the iPhone 5 worth upgrading to? That really depends on what you're upgrading from, and what your needs are. If you are using an iPhone 4 or are ready to leave Windows Mobile or Android... absolutely. If you have a 4S, you can probably still survive another year and you won't be missing out much except for LTE connectivity. But if you can afford paying full price for the iPhone 5, by all means, go for it! This is the best iPhone Apple has released so you won't regret your purchase. People will criticize that the phone is not as innovative as it should be, and iOS 6 is underwhelming when Google has made leaps with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), but then you have to go back and ask yourself, how can you improve something that already works very well? We can point out all the things that the Samsung Galaxy S III or any Android phone can do and the iPhone 5 lacks (iOS 6 specifically), but the fact remains that this is still the phone that sets the bar for the competition.

The iPhone 5 does everything well. It’s beautiful, super fast, has great battery life, is tied to the best app store out there, and it takes incredible photos and video. There’s no reason you wouldn’t want an iPhone 5, unless of course you desire the flexibility and choice that only an Android phone can provide. If you’re in the latter camp, we recommend the Galaxy S III which has a much larger screen, great hardware, and also-great camera, plus the terrific customizability of Android. We almost might be inclined to recommend a Windows Phone 8 device if you’re looking for a top-notch iPhone 5 alternative, but at the time of this writing, no Windows Phone 8 devices are available.

There are many sides to the Apple iPhone 5's story. You can, for example, look at the progress it makes and compare it to the last major Apple release, the iPhone 4. That one was truly revolutionary - or, as the saying went back then, resolutionary. It had the most impressive screen on the market, a camera that few could beat, an incredibly attractive design, and processing power that equaled the most impressive droids at the time. In comparison, the iPhone 5 brings a modest screen update, which is nowhere near as impressive as a four-fold increase in resolution brought by the iPhone 4. The performance of the camera is basically identical to the one on the 4S, and while the phone looks nothing short of stunning, the finish threatens to deteriorate quite quickly if not looked after. Not to mention that it just lacks the wow factor of the iPhone 4. All we're left with is a surprisingly solid chipset - and we mean a surprise that most quad-cores will hardly call pleasant. But at the end of the day, Apple has failed to live up to its own upgrade standard set with the iPhone 4. What we mean is the iPhone 4S could get away with many things but not the iPhone 5 - not a second year in a row.

It's up to you to go over the ones that matter to you and tally the score. And don't be swayed by popular opinion. The smartphone is probably the most personal thing you own (it knows your friends, has your photos, goes everywhere with you), so it's up to you to decide which one is best. Before you look at the price of either phone, there's one last thing to consider - how invested you are in either ecosystem already. For example, you may have iPhone accessories worth a few hundred dollars (though the iPhone 5 pretty much wiped the slate clean on this one), or maybe various apps you've bought and don't want to lose. That leads us to price and the difference is by no means negligible. SIM-free the iPhone 5 is probably the most expensive smartphone on the market right now, topping the Samsung Galaxy S III in Europe by almost 200 euros. But then, resale value is another thing you might want to look at, after all it won't be long before the next Galaxy S and iPhone generation is out, tempting you to upgrade. Of course, you can easily use the Galaxy S III and iPhone 5 for a couple of years and not feel too far behind the flagship du jour. Some would say that the most damning verdict for the iPhone 5 is that it's trading blows with a smartphone that came to the market 5 months before it, instead of wiping the floor with it. Others will point to the fact that the Galaxy S III took three months to achieve the sales numbers that the Apple flagship already has. In the end, the iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S III argument comes down to portability vs. screen size, LCD vs. AMOLED, closed vs. open, Apple vs. Samsung. The latter have been in and out of court for a while now but this particular dispute won't be settled in a courtroom. You'll be the judge, so the winner doesn't have to be the one with the better lawyers.

The iPhone 5 is an impressive smartphone, but it's not without its faults. Nothing in this world is perfect, not even stuff designed and made by Apple. The hardware is absolutely killer. You can't buy a more well-made smartphone than the iPhone 5. Everything about the iPhone 5 is leagues ahead of the competition in terms of materials, fit, and finish. The new, taller display provides extra room for content on the screen without pushing the iPhone 5 into the too-big-to-use category of devices. As for basic performance, battery life was excellent and call quality the best. I was disappointed with signal performance and the uneven HSPA+ speeds on AT&T's 3G network. Those crummy speeds were mitigated by AT&T's LTE network, but remember that AT&T's LTE footprint still only covers about 65 markets. The camera produces excellent still and video results, and the iPhone 5 is one of the best devices out there for listening to music, watching videos, playing games, and (gasp!) being productive when the time calls for it.

The big question is of course whether or not you should upgrade to the iPhone 5. The move to LTE alone is a big enough reason to upgrade for any heavy user of mobile data. The larger/improved display, much faster SoC and 5GHz WiFi support are all icing on the cake - and this is one well iced cake. If you have a subsidized upgrade available via your carrier, I'd say the upgrade is a no brainer. If however you've got to pay full price you have to take into consideration what's coming on the horizon. A faster version will likely hit in late 2013, and we'll potentially see a move to 20nm silicon in late 2014 (paving the way for an improvement in power profile). If you're on a 2 year upgrade cycle, buying the 5 now and upgrading again in 2014 wouldn't be a bad idea.

Simply put it folks, the outcome basically boils down to personal preference – even more when they perform similarly in nearly all departments. It’s Android or iOS, so you just have to pick your poison. Also, it’s a matter of big versus smaller in this comparison, which is another thing that might factor into your decision. With the two priced at $200 on-contract, some might see the value in the DROID DNA’s impressive specs sheet, but then again, the iPhone 5 matches its rival’s performance with hardware specs that don’t appear to be drool worthy amongst the masses. In the end, whichever you decide to go with, we’re certain they’re two hot devices that are going to be on the gift list of many people this holiday season.

On one hand, you’d have to sacrifice quite a bit of comfort picking the Lumia 920 before the iPhone 5. It is chunky and hefty, with shorter battery life, and you might find quite a bit of apps still missing from the WP Store, especially compared to the iOS ecosystem. On the other, the Lumia 920 offers some pretty unique features you can’t find not only in the iPhone 5, but in any other handset, for that matter. Things like shake-free video recording with outstanding sound, the ability to use the screen with gloves, and the free offline voice-guided navigation are not found on the iPhone, so if any of those is important to you, they might tip the scales in Nokia’s favor.

All things considered, we’ll hand it to the Nexus 4 for setting the bar for outright pricing. At $300 without a contract for the base 8GB version of the Nexus 4, it very well seems more attractive than the $650 tally of the base 16GB iPhone 5. Yet, when it comes to contract pricing, they’re nearly the same at the usual golden price of $200 with a 2-year agreement. Simply folks, there are many things that we like about both smartphones, as they’re filled with plenty of attractive features – so whichever you decide to go with, you can sleep knowing you’re getting some value in them. For the Nexus 4, its biggest selling point is the supreme Android 4.2 Jelly Bean experience it’s offering. Not only does it manhandle the iPhone 5 when it comes to personalization and visual allure with its interface, but it has some deep features that adhere to the stiff needs of today’s power users. From its useful widgets in the lock screen to the inviting presence of Google Now, the all-encompassing experience is what makes the Nexus 4 so darn lovable.

The iPhone 5 and Nexus 4 are similar in some respects like screen quality and cameras. However, they differ in design and storage options but mostly in software and price.

The choice is clear cut here – if you can't live without a larger display and the associated supersize media consumption, the HTC One X+ offers a good HD screen, fast processor and copious amounts of internal storage with decent battery life. If a more compact designer handset with excellent display and battery life rocks your boat, or if you are heavily invested in the iOS ecosystem, the iPhone 5 is the best iPhone created so far, so it is an easy pick, hough a 64 GB version runs pretty steep if we are to compare apples to apples. It has one very notable advantage before the HTC One X+, too, and that is in photos and especially video capture.

All things considered, we have to admit that the Apple iPhone 5 has managed to out-perform the HTC Windows Phone 8X in most areas, although the latter doesn't lag behind too much. But this is if we're talking about their speed, screens and software capabilities. If we have to factor in their physical designs, there can be no argument at all, as there can be only one winner, and it's not an HTC. Despite the significant advancements made by Redmond, the Windows Phone 8 platform is yet to prove its worth. It found a very tough opponent in iOS 6, and if it weren't for some clever tricks like the Live Tiles, it may not have come out of this fight alive. Though, it will take much more than that to seriously challenge the two horses currently leading the race.

As we factor in price point, both of which start at $199.99 on-contract, some might gather that there’s going to be more bang for the buck with the LG Optimus G according to its beefier specs sheet. Needless to say, it definitely helps its cause in making it more prized, but in all fairness, they’re both wonderful devices that execute highly in a variety of fronts. Ultimately, it’s yet again going to come down to which platform experience you’ll want to side with – the straightforward and simple nature of iOS, or the extensive personalization and multimedia feature of LG’s custom Android experience. Whichever device you decide to go with, you can expect them to still be relevant devices in the coming months.

Apple's elegant smartphone continues to be a winner, but Sprint needs to step up its 4G rollout.

There are very few undecided voters who are on the fence when it comes to the iPhone 5 and the Note II. The phones are with such unmistakable individuality that considering one before the other would be either because of sheer curiosity, or because one serves your intended purposes better. If your aim is to have a “set it and forget it” phone, the iPhone 5 is your piece - it is light, with unique design, excellent display and battery life, good snappy camera, and very easy to handle and operate with one hand. This is perfect for the majority of people, who aim for style and convenience out of their handset the most, and getting some work done takes the backseat. Those who need a productive multitasker to be with them at all times and/or are consuming more video than is healthy by the FDA standards, should seriously consider the best large screen out there accompanied by a stylus - conveniently together in the Samsung Galaxy Note II.

If you’re an iPhone user, you’ll want to move on up to what is surely the classiest handset from Apple yet. Though the 4S still has lots to offer, thanks to the arrival of iOS 6, the iPhone 5 hardware is nevertheless spectacular and deeply seductive. And when 4G arrives for EE customers, it will be an even more attractive package. Sure, there are other handsets which do as much as or more than the iPhone 5. But Apple’s ease of use, highly populated App Store and irresistibly sleek hardware design are enough to give it the edge.

If we were to go down the list and find out which handset wins in each specific category, it would seem as though the iPhone 5 would be the one to hoist a golden trophy in the end – especially when it has the better design, camera quality, calling quality, and faster performance. Regardless of that, the HTC One X is still an admirable offering with its well-rounded performance and expansive platform experience. Taking age to consideration as well, there’s no denying that the iPhone 5 has the fresh factor attached to it – thus, making it the more appealing handset at the moment. We’re not saying to stay away from the HTC One X simply because it’s been available for many months now, as it’s still a powerhouse smartphone in the landscape, but when it’s being edged out by the iPhone 5 in all of the aforementioned key categories, it’s not going to be standing as high as it once did on the pedestal.

Pricing is always a major deciding factor for many things, as it can sprinkle the needed value for the dollar for each smartphone. Even though it’s been around for quite some time now, the $49.99 on-contract price of the Nokia Lumia 900 is without question an easier sell than the $200 on-contract starting cost of the iPhone 5. Therefore, if you’re limited by a budget, the Lumia 900 will be able to get you by – for now, that is. However, if you truly desire the more premium and overall better performer, the iPhone 5 is the way to go, despite its higher price point. Considering that it just became available very recently, there’s naturally going to be a premium attached to owning the iPhone 5, but surely, it’s worth every single penny earned.

AT&T's iPhone 5 takes a speedy, elegant, yet familiar phone and puts it on a LTE network that's super fast—if you can get it.

There's a lot to like about the iPhone 5 on Sprint, and a lot to dislike, especially if you live in the parts of the U.S. without its 4G service. We like that Sprint's plans are easy to understand, and that they come with unlimited data, text messaging and FaceTime over cellular. We don't like how limited Sprint's 4G coverage area is, and the fact that 3G customers will pay the same rate as those with 4G. You're basically choosing between unlimited data with Sprint, or 4G speeds with AT&T or Verizon, unless you live in those lucky parts of the U.S. with Sprint 4G, in which case you can have it all.

If anything's missing from the iPhone 5, it's NFC. This technology has been in several Android handsets, but Apple so far hasn't bothered with it. We don't see this as a massive problem at the moment, as there isn't the infrastructure to use it, but it's still a slightly surprising omission. Overall, the iPhone 5 is a great bit of work. It's brilliantly made, and very fast with the an incredibly responsive mobile operating system. While previous iterations have been way ahead of the competition, the iPhone 5 just doesn't maintain the gap. In particular, Maps is a big step backwards, while iOS 6 feels more like a tweak than a genuine step forwards. The biggest threat to the iPhone 5 is that the competition has gotten a lot better and it's cheaper: the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the HTX One X have similar features and both are free on a contract. Don't get us wrong, the iPhone 5 is still a brilliant handset and iOS is still incredibly easy and smooth to use, it's just that the poor Maps app and comparatively high price mean that this model just misses out on an award.

As history tells us, Apple’s flagship will no doubt sell very healthily during its reign, even despite the horde of competition that’s always on the prowl. However, it’s coming after Samsung’s very own flagship in the Galaxy S III, which as we’ve witnessed, has proven itself to be a viable competitor in the landscape. From head to toe, there are plenty of remarkable elements that make us love both phones wholeheartedly. But when we combine all of the necessary aspects to make a device appealing to a geek's heart, like their specs, performance, wow factor, and software experience, it seems as though the Samsung Galaxy S III has the goods to stand out just a tad bit more. Even though its looks might pale in comparison to the chic styling of the iPhone 5, the Samsung Galaxy S III is able to closely match Apple’s pride and joy in many categories. Ultimately, it’s the TouchWiz Nature UX experience and its extensive set of functionality that makes the SGSIII the more productive and complete handset between the two. Meanwhile, though, the iPhone 5 remains the best device for users who just want a good-looking handset with great performance and a very easy-to-use mobile operating system.

Sharing many commonalities between one another, it’s mostly physical attributes that separate the two – especially when the core platform experiences are identical. Being the new kid on the block, we’re absolutely taking a liking to the iPhone 5’s larger display, rock solid industrial design, 4G LTE connectivity, and better calling quality. However, it’s going to be a tough call to move up to the iPhone 5 if you’re currently an iPhone 4S owner, since those aforementioned items seem to be the main draws worth switching over for. In addition, if you happen to love taking a majority of photos in low lighting conditions, it might be beneficial as well to switch to the iPhone 5. However, if you don’t fancy its new redesign, larger display, or not located in an area with LTE connectivity, there’s not much of a compelling reason to switch.

The iPhone 5 is the handset that many people have been waiting for. It's lighter, thinner, faster and more durable that previous versions. It may not be as open as Android and it doesn’t have the largest screen, but Apple has once again proved why it's among the most innovative consumer tech companies in the world. If you're coming from the 4S, it's worth evaluating how important things like a larger screen, more processing power and 4G LTE are to you. With iOS 6, the 4S gains features like FaceTime over cellular, panorama pictures, turn-by-turn GPS and Passbook. Conversely, iPhone 4 users have a lot more to gain as many iOS 6 features don't carry over and the speed increase will be more noticeable. Meanwhile, Android and Windows Phone user might be surprised at how well rounded the iPhone 5 is if they give it an honest try.