iPhone 5S to Get Upgraded Camera and Processor, Could Ship to Retailers in the 3rd Quarter

[Pinneh]

A new camera and a slightly faster processor... I'll keep my iPhone 4 and wait to see if the 6 is any better.

My iPhone 4 does it's job well but man have I noticed it chugging and starting to get a little lazy. I don't think I could do another year + and wait for a 6 in 2014.

Just my thoughts though

 

[rGiskard]

I'm gonna buck the trend here and predict that Apple will downgrade the processor and use an inferior camera in the 5S!

 

[studio¹³¹]

Thinner, faster processor, better camera, new software features.

Am I talking about the iPhone 5S or the Galaxy S4?

To everyone complaining about the lack of upgrades in the iPhone, that's all Samsung is doing too. Geez. Go enjoy your new "innovative" S4.

Except Samsung hasn't done this 5x in a row...

 

[saturn88]

Let's see. S4 has the following updates (partial list):

* new screen tech (new AMOLED with different subpixel arrangement and much higher pixel density)
* bigger screen
* much higher screen resolution
* new camera sensor (much higher resolution)
* new CPU/GPU
* temperature sensor
* humidity sensor
* IR sensor
* IR blaster

Not to mention that SGS3 already was packed with features (wireless charging, NFC, RGB LED indicator, barometer, memory cards etc.)

That's way more new features than iPhone 5 had. I understand it might cause your frustration but be reasonable, don't say ridiculous things.

And you forgot to mention

* Much bigger battery
* Thinner and lighter body

The S4 is a major update, unlike the 5s.

 

[aperry]

And you forgot to mention

* Much bigger battery
* Thinner and lighter body

The S4 is a major update, unlike the 5s.

I would say that the S3-to-S4 upgrade is fairly similar to the iPhone4s-to-iPhone5. Slightly different dimensions and a few upgraded components, but they each generally look the same as the previous generation. Apple's "s" upgrades are less than that. Identical form factor with a couple of spec bumps.

 

[doelcm82]

And you forgot to mention

* Much bigger battery
* Thinner and lighter body

The S4 is a major update, unlike the 5s.

The 5S is a rumor, at this point.

 

[x-evil-x]

Here in Australia we end up paying nearly full-tote odds for the iPhones on top of our 2 year contracts. You pay a monthly fee for your usage plan and a monthly repayment for the iPhone.

For me as a low use user, it sucks. I get ripped off twice! I don't make hundreds of texts each day and I make bugger all calls. I correspond via the net and old school written word.

Why should I update or go on another plan and pay for nothing, when I can just pay as I use it, which ends up costing me about $10 a month, seriously, now that my plan is expired.

I have no need to update and when I eventually do, my iPhone 4 will get given to someone else, not sold as a commodity.

I have a fairly good DSLR and some pretty good lenses to take photo's with, so there's no benefit in the newer phones having more megapixels for me.

you carry your dslr in your pocket? i have one too and i still upgrade my things. but like i said i havent paid for an iphone in over 5 years because of resale value. its different in the US i guess. but our plans cost more than 10 a month??

 

[iGrip]

Many things Apple could do to to increase profits. Could use plastic instead of steel, so why don't they?!? Because somethings Apple won't do in the name of profit alone.

Apple uses steel instead of plastic for the same reason that Tiffany uses gold instead of plastic: because they think that doing so will maximize total profits.

This ain't rocket surgery.

 

[iGrip]

The one I have is the MK808B. I think it's made by Rikomagic, but I can't remember for sure. There are dozens of different models of these things now and they're quite cheap. I think the one I have is about $50. Pretty neat little thing but the quality of these things is generally average at best (standard heat and wifi type issues). Some of them can be rooted to run Linux.

I never knew such things existed. It looks very cool.

 

[komodrone]

But you are very wrong. Apple certainly wants to people to upgrade as much as possible, because... uhhhh.... it is in the business of selling things.

because....uhhh....Apple needs to sell things...and uhhh...they should make stuff...and uhhh...yeah Apple needs money...and uhhhh...yeah.


----------

Are you saying Apple as a company would prefer to make less $ than more $?

nope.

 

[Tyrion]

The bottom line is that iphone users are stuck in the ecosystem. If apple licensed ios nobody would buy apple phones. You have to buy the next mediocre iphone or keep your old mediocre iphone. You don't have a choice. Android users have a choice and that is the beauty of it all.

This is it. I'm currently in the process of selling my Nexus 4 even though I prefer it over my iPhone in many ways - it's faster, the screen ist much better, the multitasking is better, the UI in general is superior, the lock screen and the home screen are superior... But I had completely underestimated how locked into Apple's services I am. It bothers me that my iCloud address doesn't do Push on the Nexus. It bothers me that I don't have iMessages and Photostream on the Nexus. I miss iTunes Match and Google Music isn't available in my country. Syncing the calendar is also a bit of a pain. These niggling issues sort of accumulate and sour my experience with the device, which is otherwise very positive.

So yeah, I'm half-heartedly using the 4S now and rather pessimistic about the 5S. Chances are it won't give me what I want either, but I'm just too locked into the ecosystem to really make the switch.

 

[macUser2007]

That would be dreadful. In my very limited experience with android phones, accidentally activating those buttons was the most annoying thing. I'll keep my physical click thanks.

Actually, after getting used to the virtual buttons on the Galaxy Nexus, going to the iPhone 5 physical button has been a bit of a step backwards.

BTW, these virtual buttons on Android disappear when doing stuff like watching a movie, so that the user can utilize the full screen of the phone.

As many have said before: Apple better start doing something to move iOS into the current reality of the market, before it's too late to come back.

I am not so sure that the watch idea will be the success everyone hopes for, but would love to be proven wrong.

 

[hugo7]

Still on an iPhone 4. I'm impressed with the internals of the iPhone 5 and I'm sure the 5s will be even better, but that form factor ... ugh.

Looks like I might have to hold out for iPhone 6 or look elsewhere

 

[komodrone]

Quite the contrary, it serves Apple very well for customers to upgrade every year, however, it servers CARRIERS very well for Apple to do a once-in-two-years redesign.

doubt it, if that were true, we would see dips in iPhone 4 when the iPhone 4s came out in the marketshare data (looking at flickr's camera graph)

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For me it was iphone 3g -> iphone 4 -> Samsung S3

Its not all about contracts thought - I bought the iPhone 4 so could change after a year if it was worth it. Turned out it wasn't worth it even after 2 years and eventually I gave up waiting.

yeah but 3g -> 4 is a whole new design.

----------

Keeping in mind that the original iPhone was sold without a contract. I remember paying something like $650 for my 16GB iPhone. They only started subsidizing the iPhone at the iPhone 3G which is when they set the standard price for all smartphones at $199.

Weren't they sold with a contract, except it was just really high?

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Only exciting if they replace the physical home button with a virtual haptic one.

I rather have fingerprint sensor right on the touch screen, if that's even possible (not a hardware engineer, so I have no clue).

 

[celavato]

Apple have made my S4 purchase even easier!

Galaxy S4. iPhone 4S. Am I the only one who noticed that Samsung seems to be copying model numbers too? For a minute there, I thought you were talking about an iPhone 4S and had mistakenly reversed the order.

 

[linuxcooldude]

Apple uses steel instead of plastic for the same reason that Tiffany uses gold instead of plastic: because they think that doing so will maximize total profits.

This ain't rocket surgery.

So how will the use of steel over plastic increase total profits? Its not really answering the question. As much as you don't like rocket surgery, it seems you already scheduled the operating room.

 

[rMBP13]

Come on.... Where's that NFC feature? Cant wait til the days I can just leave my VISA card at home.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57575604-94/visa-chief-fee-on-digital-wallets-seems-appropriate/

 

[saturn88]

The 5S is a rumor, at this point.

The whole thread is based on rumor.

 

[iGrip]

So how will the use of steel over plastic increase total profits? Its not really answering the question. As much as you don't like rocket surgery, it seems you already scheduled the operating room.

The use of steel over plastic (or platinum) allows Apple to position their product in the profitability "sweet spot", where they have a both a huge customer base, and can still command great margins. If they were to use plastic, they would play in a market segment in which there would be more customers, but less total profits to be made than in the segment that they have chosen. Conversely, were they to use platinum, there would be so few customers that t is likely that total profits would be reduced.

Again, this ain't rocket surgery. Apple uses steel for the same reason that Tiffany uses platinum. If Tiffany were to use steel, they would cut profits to the same extent as if Apple were to use plastic.

Apple uses steel instead of plastic for the same reason that Samsung uses plastic instead of cardboard: they think that it will maximize total profits, by increasing sales within their chosen market.

And it is the same reason that some car makers use carbon fiber. And why some car makers use steel. And why some car makers use aluminum. And on and on. It is because they think that the use of such materials will maximize total profits within their market segment.

You could as easily claim that Rolex doesn't use plastic watch housings, not because they care abouot their sales volume, but because they "have good taste" or they "care about the customer" or whatever Apple-esque phraseology you want to employ. But such reasoning would be equally wrong. Rolex uses the materials that they use because they feel that using such materials will maximize total profits. And Swatch uses plastic for exactly the same reason.

 

[olowott]

This is the year of the iOS

or just a dull yr for iPhone

 

[aperry]

So how will the use of steel over plastic increase total profits? Its not really answering the question. As much as you don't like rocket surgery, it seems you already scheduled the operating room.

Seriously? Apple calculated that their unique and sexy design will sell many more iPhones compared to a cheaper common plastic-based design. More phones means more profit. When the iPhone 4 arrived three years ago there was nothing else that looked and felt like it. It was a must-have. And the few dollars difference in materials is nothing in the context of a $600 phone.

 

[iGrip]

Seriously? Apple calculated that their unique and sexy design will sell many more iPhones compared to a cheaper common plastic-based design. More phones means more profit. When the iPhone 4 arrived three years ago there was nothing else that looked and felt like it. It was a must-have. And the few dollars difference in materials is nothing in the context of a $600 phone.

Bingo.

Apple is brilliant when it comes to choosing a profitable market segment, and capturing it. They didn't choose to make a economy-class phone for a good reason - there was more total profit to be made in the medium-high end of the market. The also didn't choose to make diamond-encrusted ultra-high end phones for a good reason - there was more total profit to be made in the medium-high end of the market.

Nobody knew how to turn a buck like Steve Jobs. Nobody.

 

[osaga]

It was obvious the day the iphone 5 was released that they needed to skip the 5s. They had a year to do it and apparently Tim didn't have the balls to speed up the release cycle.

iphone is 40% of all smartphones? That is effing incredible, and unsustainable without feeding the fire for consumers. So we have another year of loosing market share and profits to android. WONDERFUL.

My iphone 5 looks old tired and boring. And in this users case, my anodizing is coming off the edges, and the phone is starting to look plain cheap. Reminiscent of a $.99 tire pressure gauge.

I know it with absolute conviction that a bigger sexier iphone 6 would garner tremendous sales and market share.

Reasons people used to buy an iphone:
1. How they will be perceived by their friends, family, and the public. (true)
2. Because it is incredibly capable and useful device vs. other smartphones.
3. How it looks and feels to them personally.
4. Because it is easy/familiar to use.

Reasons people buy and iphone now:
1. Because it is easy/familiar to use.
2. ???

Look at the HTC one. That's what we should have gotten from Apple last September.

Step it the heck up Apple.

 

[SeenJeen]

I have an iPhone 4 and have been holding out for a worthwhile upgrade.

I think another "S" phone would mark the end of my voyage in the Apple ecosystem.

The Nexus 4 looks amazing, and I'm sure the next Nexus 4 iteration would be even more so.

 

[Rocco83]

Why is it I get the feeling that if Apple doesn't come out with a new form factor every year, a lot of folks on here are going to cry and moan?

Sorry, but not everyone can afford a new phone every year.

At least describe what you're looking for. Share some specific examples of what you want from the next form factor, and what you think iOS 7 needs to include to satisfy you. -and don't just list a bunch of crappy "well Android's is can do this so iOS should too" bologna.

You want Apple to innovate? Try innovating your forum posts...

/rant

For all the people who keep saying that not everyone updates there phone yearly, and Apple doesn't expect you to - Apple does not mind at all if you update your phone yearly I assure you. Some people CAN afford to update yearly and why should you care if they want/expect a new form factor yearly? Because you can't afford/don't want a form factor yearly, those with the means are wrong for expecting it?

You want specific examples of what I want in a phone? I want a 5-6" screen. I have freakishly large hands, it wouldn't be a problem at all for me to operate it with one hand. To that extent they could they could get rid of the real estate on the front of the phone that isn't screen to cut down on the size. One tiny slit at the top and bottom of the screen for speaker and mic would be fine.

The Beats audio integration into the new HTC One would be a nice improvement with the new iPhone. Apple and Monster already have worked together before, why not do some iPhone integration. When I'm sitting in a hotel room watching a sexy video message sent to me why can't I hear it at a sound above a whisper? The speakers on the iPhone currently are trash. For that matter the ones on the iPads do not exactly cut it for me either.

With a 5-6" screen on my iPhone, I would completely do away with my iPads. As it is for the most part now they are stuck to magazine rack use in my bathrooms. I've scrapped using iBooks for Kindle app that way I can read books on my mobiles as well as my computers if I wish.

Until they take iOS closer to OSX I find taking an iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Air with me on trips to be a bit overkill. Which brings me to my next point. I would LOVE to have a phone capable of running an actual OS. They are slowly trying to take OSX closer to iOS, so if the two meet in the middle with an OS that runs across their computers and portables I am fine with that. That way I can purchase one license for iLife and use it across all devices rather than buying it for my computer and then turning around to buy a watered down version for iPad/iPhone.

I enjoy the integration across the devices currently (and that is the ONLY thing holding me to an iPhone and not switching to HTC One, if it ever comes out). I do believe though they could clean this up a bit. The calendar app could really use some TLC.

More freedom to use our devices as we see fit as we have to pay for them would be nice. If I want to use my iPhone as a tether without downloading a flashlight app, or jailbreaking I would enjoy the option. If I don't want to use stock apps, I want the choice to remove them rather than hide them in a folder on a back page. Personally I like widgets and would like to have them. I can use them on my iMac, I want them on my iPhone.

As someone mentioned before the notification screen could use some work. The swipe to delete idea would be amazing.

Someone mentioned virtual buttons to use for games. I don't care if they would be usable for games, but a portion on the back of the phone to be touch screen could help those with small hands.

I want an SD slot. A lot of people don't care about them and can do without. I want one. It is a couple hundred bucks to go from an 8GB iPhone to a 64GB iPhone, but I can purchase a 128GB SD card for $90... So give me an SD slot.

While we are dreaming, how about Apple throws in a battery that lasts me longer than 8 hours. Whoever makes me a battery that I can squeeze a full days worth of use out of will get a Christmas ham from me for the rest of their days.

Themes wouldn't be a terrible idea. I don't care about Twitter or Facebook being built into it. I use neither and could care less about them. But I wouldn't mind a page like the One that I could set up with news I want in a flipboard manner. An App drawer would be nice as well. I love having a lot of apps, but realistically I use few of them on a frequent basis. I like having minimalistic layouts on phones/computers/ect. and the ability to hide most of my apps in an app drawer would be nice over having folders and pages of apps.

I'd have zero problems paying $1000 out of pocket for a phone like that. Something that gets me closer to a "mini computer" 6" is obviously not going to keep super users who NEED to be on a computer, but if I'm on a quick trip it would do fine for me. 6" is big enough for me to watch video on or read a book if I'm on a train or flight.

I understand for Apple it is counterproductive to make any one device be able to do the job of another. It cuts profits. So making an iPhone that could somewhat freeze out the iPad mini would be foolish. For those of us that would rather have one device to rule them all though it would be nice. There is only so much "innovation" they could do with smartphones I agree. But you give me a full OS with a larger screen and we are talking.

I don't need the octo-core crap Samsung is coming out with as Apples software and hardware are tied together. It wouldn't need all that. Performance now is fine for me, the iOS is stale and I would rather have something closer to OSX so I am sure a bump up in processor, gpu, ram would be needed. They could give me that screen size, keep the thickness of the iPhone 4 to pack it all in and I wouldn't mind.

More steak than bologna.