The iPhone 5S which was released on September 20, 2013 in the UK and a few other international markets, marks a step up from the iPhone 5 launched just a year ago. Prices start at £549 and rise to £709 for the 64GB version.
Whilst the form factor remains much the same with a 4-inch screen, slim design and quality build & materials, there are some interesting new features that may interest the Apple faithful. The faster A7 processor is present to keep apps loading fast and the 64-bit architecture doesn’t hurt either.
Size and Build
The new iPhone 5S won’t feel much different to hold than the iPhone 5. The 7.6mm depth and 123.8mm length, combined with the weight of just 112g, makes this iPhone just as pocket-able as the previous one. No phablet here where you struggle to pull out of your pocket and keep balanced in your hand.
The twist with the looks for the 5S is the choice of three colours: Gold, Silver and Space Grey. It is nice to finally have a choice of colour schemes though honestly when adding a protective case, you do not really notice the 5S colour scheme all that much.
The build quality is up to Apple’s usual standards.
Fingerprint ID
The major step forward with the iPhone 5S is that the home button at the bottom centre of the phone now performs double duty as a fingerprint scanner. But not any scanner. It will take a series of scans of your thumbprint from multiple angles so that the device can be unlocked with your thumb from the side or pressed straight down. A passcode will no longer be necessary and for the most part the phone’s data will be more secure as a result.
iOS7
The latest version of the Apple iOS operating system has been much talked about of late. Jonathan Ive, Apple’s lead designer, has overhauled the entire look of the operating system. Out goes a darker, shadow-embracing appearance and in comes a bright, vibrant flat design. Flat design principles are all the range presently, so this is a step in the right direction and the look is lovely.
Included in iOS7 are a number of improvements to the interface. Perhaps most notable of which is the pull down menu tray which now works even from the lock screen. It provides fast access too many frequently used features such as brightness control, the torch, connectivity indicators and much more.
