I've had mine since friday (delivered to my house) and I really like it a lot. Very happy with the purchase.
Compared to the 4S, (which wasn't any slouch IMHO) the 5 feels faster. Transitions are smoother, webpages load faster, screen transitions are exceptionally slick.
Differences between the 4S and 5 are not super huge. It's an iPhone afterall, so everything works like you would expect. I noticed the weight and reduced thickness right away, even with a case (i always case my phones). The larger screen is a nice addition. I tend to vacillate between prefering the ergonomics of the iPhone's original 3.5" and the recent Android's near-phablet screens, so I do find the iPhone 5's four-inch panel to be a nice compromise.
Battery life is better than the 4S. Not like massive battery pack better- but it is improved.
I haven't been looking for a difference on charge time. Hasn't been noticeably longer by my recollection.
5) Vast majority of older apps work just as before, though as with any iPhone/iOS upgrade, the ones that have been optimized for the iPhone5/iOS6 are even better (for the most part)
Lightning connector is pretty sweet, easily hook up to phone without having to turn on all the bedroom lights (and therefore incur the wrath of my wife).
Car audio is the same as with my 4S. Controls all work, data displays on the stereo display (cheap no-name but think it's made by Panasonic head unit with USB/iPod port in a 2013 Freightliner) I haven't tried it in my my wife's Hyundai as it requires a Hyundai supplied cable.
Bluetooth (call, A2DP) works. Haven't had a lot of time to test A2DP though.
If I made the iPhone 5, I would have made a few things different (if these were technically possible)
Hidden micro-USB port for charge/sync. Totally hidden, as in someone might have to show you where it is. Admittedly I'd add this mostly to get people to stop whining. After examining too many busted micro-USB ports and a Nook color with a giant scratch from a "in the dark I couldn't see it was turned the wrong way" accident- I'm not a big fan of the micro-USB. But like it or not is is a standard, and we all have tons of those cables hanging around.
Magic Wand Powers would see me (being the benevolent world ruler) dictating that micro-USB would be replaced with the lightning connector.
If I built the iPhone I would not have made black version. Black anodized aluminum will scratch and scuff as it is, well, black anodized aluminum. This is why MacBooks/iPads come in natural colored aluminum- all the benefits of stiff, precise aluminum construction and wear/scuffs just blend in.
(Magic wand powers would see Samsung redoing the GSIII in natural finished aluminum too- just because I said so)
Compared to the 4S, (which wasn't any slouch IMHO) the 5 feels faster. Transitions are smoother, webpages load faster, screen transitions are exceptionally slick.
Differences between the 4S and 5 are not super huge. It's an iPhone afterall, so everything works like you would expect. I noticed the weight and reduced thickness right away, even with a case (i always case my phones). The larger screen is a nice addition. I tend to vacillate between prefering the ergonomics of the iPhone's original 3.5" and the recent Android's near-phablet screens, so I do find the iPhone 5's four-inch panel to be a nice compromise.
Battery life is better than the 4S. Not like massive battery pack better- but it is improved.
I haven't been looking for a difference on charge time. Hasn't been noticeably longer by my recollection.
5) Vast majority of older apps work just as before, though as with any iPhone/iOS upgrade, the ones that have been optimized for the iPhone5/iOS6 are even better (for the most part)
Lightning connector is pretty sweet, easily hook up to phone without having to turn on all the bedroom lights (and therefore incur the wrath of my wife).
Car audio is the same as with my 4S. Controls all work, data displays on the stereo display (cheap no-name but think it's made by Panasonic head unit with USB/iPod port in a 2013 Freightliner) I haven't tried it in my my wife's Hyundai as it requires a Hyundai supplied cable.
Bluetooth (call, A2DP) works. Haven't had a lot of time to test A2DP though.
If I made the iPhone 5, I would have made a few things different (if these were technically possible)
Hidden micro-USB port for charge/sync. Totally hidden, as in someone might have to show you where it is. Admittedly I'd add this mostly to get people to stop whining. After examining too many busted micro-USB ports and a Nook color with a giant scratch from a "in the dark I couldn't see it was turned the wrong way" accident- I'm not a big fan of the micro-USB. But like it or not is is a standard, and we all have tons of those cables hanging around.
Magic Wand Powers would see me (being the benevolent world ruler) dictating that micro-USB would be replaced with the lightning connector.
If I built the iPhone I would not have made black version. Black anodized aluminum will scratch and scuff as it is, well, black anodized aluminum. This is why MacBooks/iPads come in natural colored aluminum- all the benefits of stiff, precise aluminum construction and wear/scuffs just blend in.
(Magic wand powers would see Samsung redoing the GSIII in natural finished aluminum too- just because I said so)