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Apple iPhone 5 review

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Verdict:

It's smaller, thinner and faster with a higher-resolution screen, but the new Maps app is a disappointment

Review Date: 31 May 2013

Price when reviewed: £529

Buy it now for: £505
(see more store prices)

Supplier: http://www.apple.com/uk/

Reviewed By: David Ludlow

Our Rating 5 stars out of 5

User Rating

BATTERY

Battery life is quoted by Apple as the same as on the 4S, which is impressive considering the iPhone 5 has the larger screen. In our video playback test, the iPhone 5 lasted 12h 4m, which is pretty much the same as the iPhone 4S in the same test.

CONCLUSION

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.

Thin and powerful the iPhone 5 is a great handset

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.

For a second opinion on the iPhone 5, check out our sister site, PC Pro's iPhone 5 review

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User comments

bulbulg4u

i personally used samsung s3 and iphone 5 i prafer to every one Samsung s3 is best about price display size touch screen is like jelly

By bulbulg4u on 4 Mar 2013

haters

haters gonna hate, if you have hateres ur doing something right. KEEP GOING APPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By momo60 on 16 Apr 2013

@momo60

Hitler had Haters

By Cy37Seth on 1 May 2013

@momo60

Hitler had Haters

By Cy37Seth on 1 May 2013

iPhone 5 review is incomplete unless

It is compared with the one of the most advanced smartphone on the planet today... Samsung Galaxy S4. See this interesting comparison at http://www.brandcollage.com/faceoff/apple-iphone5-
vs-samsung-galaxy-s4/

By uzinuzin on 17 May 2013

iOS

iOS is obsolete. The iPhone 5 is a sad pig, a formerly great superstar that is old and dodgy and should retire - iPhone 5 has a bum leg and Alzheimers. Pathetic with all the money APPL has they cant even compete or innovate.

By mickrussom on 27 May 2013

Iphone5 is really great than any other one. specially in sports pictures

By allis on 11 Jun 2013

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