What's good
- Speedy performance
- Beautiful display
- Great camera
- Flexible LTE support
- Decent battery life
- Solid design
What's bad
- Lack of NFC support
- Mid-sized screen
- Lack of memory expansion
- High off-contract price
The iPhone 5s is the latest flagship device to lead the iPhone dynasty. With a redesigned processor, fingerprint scanner, improved camera, a bounty of new camera features and iOS 7, the phone is receiving rave reviews from virtually every reviewer around. Whether you are looking for your first smartphone or simply upgrading your existing phone, there are few devices with which the 5s cannot compete. TechCrunch’s Darrel Etherington claims “With the iPhone 5s, Apple once again wins the right to claim the title of best smartphone available.”
One of most talked-about features of the 5s it the new 64-bit A7 chipset powering the device. This is the first example of a mobile device using 64-bit computing. This fact, combined with numerous other optimizations, place the 5s at the top of benchmark tests in virtually every category in Anandtech’s latest testings. Although many users will not notice a major performance gap between the 5s and other bleeding edge technologies, the ability for the phone to age gracefully is all but ensured by this upgrade.
Another major upgrade is the camera. The True Tone dual-LED flash shows markable difference from previous iPhone releases. The new camera software included with iOS 7 also adds a number of new features, including 10FPS burst mode and 720p slow-motion capture. Round this all off with the fingerprint scanner, support for 13 different bands of LTE coverage and the sleek aluminum case design and you have a premium phone that is deserving of the praise that is has received.
When searching for flaws in the iPhone 5s, most are minor issues instead of glaring. Lack of memory card support could pose a problem for media users, lack of NFC support limits sharing options and, while gorgeous, the 4-inch display on the device is a fair bit smaller than many of its competitors. However, most of this is compensated for by the build quality and performance of the device. Engadget’s Myriam Joire sums up the device well when she says “In what would otherwise be considered a mundane update to the iPhone 5, Apple somehow managed to appeal to both the geek (64-bit support, M7 coprocessor, Touch ID) and the average Joe (a fresh, colorful iOS 7), all while laying the groundwork for the company's future.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Evan Kypreos , TrustedReviewsThe iPhone 5S may look like an iPhone 5, but it's better in all the right ways. If you are very comfortable with a bigger screen you might want to look elsewhere, but the iPhone 5S is a consummate performer that puts very few steps wrong.
- James Pikover, Gadget ReviewFor those set on getting a 5s, it’s not a bad decision by any means. But it is flawed, and you may want to skip some of the cooler features like the fingerprint reader just to keep the usability the same. After returning to the iPhone 5, I rarely feel like I’m missing anything.
- David Ludlow, Expert ReviewsAt first, Apple's decision to stick with the same case and screen size may have seemed like it wasn't moving forwards, but after using the phone extensively we couldn't disagree more. It's incredibly fast, beating its quad-core rivals hands down, has plenty of resolution for web browsing and apps, f...
- Dhruv Bhutani, Fone ArenaAs you’d expect, the iPhone 5s is the best iPhone yet. Apple has delivered a measured but meaningful update to what remains one of the most popular smartphones out there. The forward looking 64 bit processor, M7 motion coprocessor and Touch ID all combine to give a significant boost to the har...
- Evan Selleck, PhonedogIn the end, there's no doubt that the iPhone 5s continues Apple's legacy for creating high-end devices, of which there should be plenty of attention geared towards. However, Apple continues its trend to making the bi-yearly upgrade questionably necessary for the regular market. Even for those who do...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
Apple iPhone 5s prices will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. Apple's suggested retail price is $549.00. You can compare iPhone 5s prices from around the web here on The Informr.
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Apple iPhone 5s user manual here.
Apple backs up the iPhone 5s with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your iPhone 5s has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Apple support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Apple's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Ask the Community
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Apple iPhone 5s Manual (PDF)
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