iPhone 5s - Underwhelmed or Overwhelmed?

[user-name-here]

13% of people are overwhelmed.

Who the hell is "overwhelmed" by phones anyways? The only adults who would say they were are spec geeks. We already knew 90% of the rumors ahead of time so what is there to be "overwhelmed" by?

The OP worded the poll terribly & you can see it in the options available. If anything the poll should have asked if people were happy/satisfied/not satisfied/not happy with the 5S, which would have changed the results considerably.

 

[unobtainium]

Compared to Galaxy S4, iPhone 5S lacks NFC, wireless charging, LTE-A (available in recently announced S4 models), Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, support for memory cards (so - half the memory), has half the RAM, 50% lower camera resolution (might be mitigated by larger sensor but I am not sure that it is actually larger), much smaller screen with lower resolution (almost 3x times fewer pixels). You decide...

Bloop. I've already mentioned that a "50% lower camera resolution" is completely meaningless. Cramming more megapixels onto a tiny smartphone sensor results in noisier photos with more grain. So you can scratch that one off the list.

As for your other points:
- NFC. You've got me there. I wish Apple implemented it.
- ditto on 802.11ac
- "memory cards": Personally couldn't care less. Between iCloud and iTunes Match, I can't even come close to filling my 32GB.
- "half the RAM": no one knows how much RAM the 5s will have - they haven't said. You can bet it will be as snappy or snappier than the competition. You might as well say Apple wins on specs, since they're the first to go 64-bit, and, for all we know, they included 2GB of RAM too.
- "much smaller screen": Yes, but to some people that's an advantage. As I said, the 5s will be thinner and lighter than the competition, and thanks to the 4" screen it will also be easier to operate one-handed.

 

[verpeiler]

Clearly underwhelmed. The fingerprint sensor is nice, but still not worth for me to buy the 5s.

 

[goobot]

In the middle, i was hoping for 32gig base and NFC.

 

[Xeperu]

I find it funny how every "new iPhone" is the best of the best regarding camera. Each year they'll pull out photos made with the previous model that look like absolute ****, and compare it to the glorious new photo. Next year they'll call the 5S camera ****. It's hilarious.

Also, innovation on this model? Not really. Faster processor? Standard evolution (Moore's law). THe finger print sensor is nice, I will admit, but hardly innovation. I've been using a fingerprint scanner on my Lenovo work laptop for the past decade. It's new o a phone, but hardly new tech.

THe biggest "revolution" is the software. I look forward to iOS 7 on my iPad because iOS 6 looks stale as ****.

It's no surprise to me that the stocks too a big dip last night.

 

[zedzded]

I find it funny how every "new iPhone" is the best of the best regarding camera. Each year they'll pull out photos made with the previous model that look like absolute ****, and compare it to the glorious new photo. Next year they'll call the 5S camera ****. It's hilarious.

Ha ha I know, I was going to point that out..

"One of the major improvements to the iPhone 5 camera is the new low light mode..."

Actually no we were lying back then, but this time it's for real. The 5s takes the best lowlight shots, the 5 was cr@p, what were we thinking....

It's like a Persil washing powder advert, they show their dirty grey shirt, which is supposed to be white,washed with Persil, then they show same brilliant white shirt washed with Persil Plus! But 2 years ago standard Persil was getting these shirts clean??

 

[ntrigue]

The fingerprint scanner is impressive and saves a few seconds per day. I may buy unlocked and sell my iPHone 5 unlocked and get on that bandwagon.

 

[Tsepz]

We don't. People that know better have been saying for a while that larger sensors are better (larger pixels as Apple put it). More pixels in the same area tends to be worse.


64-bit means a few things practically, and they all stem from the way addressing works. 64-bit as compared to 32-bit can speak to (or: address) more RAM, and can also interpret longer (or: more complex) instructions. This usually comes with a few trade-offs, it's going to be a more computationaly expensive CPU (or: more processing overhead).

At the moment, there probably isn't much of a benefit. We don't know how much RAM the iPhone 5S has, but I doubt it's beyond the limits of a 32-bit processor. Also, the only applications that will really benefit from 64-bit cpu instructions are likely to be the really complicated graphics applications. I'm not sure, but maybe Open GL ES 3.0 requires or supports 64-bit instructions. I don't really see anyone doing serious engineering on the iPhone/iPad, so it's likely only going to benefit games in the near-term. If it was equaly as fast as it's 32-bit counterpart, it would actually seem slower for regular tasks; however it's speed increase will likely more than compensate for that.

Just as I thought, there won't be any real, stand-out benefit.
Thanks for the explanation.

 

[zedzded]

The fingerprint scanner is impressive and saves a few seconds per day.

Indeed it will. 3 seconds a day saved out of 86'400 that's a mighty 0.003% more time you have.

 

[Wiesenlooser]

I still hesitate a bit with the fingerprint scanner. They SAY that the fingerprint is scripted. And I do believe them but Id rather wait and see how well the fingerprint is actually secured and whether it is easily hackable and if there really is no chance that there is an Apple fingerprint databank

 

[watchthisspace]

Indeed it will. 3 seconds a day saved out of 86'400 that's a mighty 0.003% more time you have.

Convenience sells

 

[apolloa]

Well, underwhelmed a bit with it's specs, who needs 64bit in a phone seriously? And utterly overwhelmed at the price increase they've slapped on it in the UK!

Not enough of a change to make me sell my 5 for it, but if you want a decent phone camera in a smallish phone, the only choice is the iPhone 5. Will wait to see what the 6 is like, but if Apple increased the screen size, can you imagine how much they'll charge for it!

 

[MacFanJeff]

I am not impressed due to one factor which they did not improve, battery life. For me, I use my actual phone a LOT and barely make through an 8 hour day. All the other stuff is just something to play with and not a requirement.

Just get me a good 10+ hour battery and I would be happy and upgrade.

 

[Spacial]

Very Underwhelmed.

Yet not surprised.

Yesterday's event has proven that at the present moment Apple has lost it's edge, lost its hunger for anything but grabbing the money, and seems to be a bit tepid when it comes to any truly new action.

 

[metsjetsfan]

If people here never saw any leaks would you be over or under whelmed?

 

[Spacial]

For me, I use my actual phone a LOT and barely make through an 8 hour day. All the other stuff is just something to play with and not a requirement.

I concur regarding battery life and using it as a phone. I find myself conserving during the first half of the day, in order to insure I'll have enough for later, especially in case of emergency. Being very mobile I don't have the luxury of a land line to rely on.

As far as "all the other stuff" I suspect that a great majority of iPhone users don't use it as a smartphone which is why they're so vehemently backing the small size with its out of date display size.

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If people here never saw any leaks would you be over or under whelmed?

I be even more underwhelmed.

My past impression of Apple was far better than it is at the present. Yesterday's event only reinforced that. What a sad day. Apple is slipping.

 

[Antgb84]

Who the hell is "overwhelmed" by phones anyways? The only adults who would say they were are spec geeks. We already knew 90% of the rumors ahead of time so what is there to be "overwhelmed" by?

The OP worded the poll terribly & you can see it in the options available. If anything the poll should have asked if people were happy/satisfied/not satisfied/not happy with the 5S, which would have changed the results considerably.

Thank you! Well said.

 

[Antgb84]

Image

Apple still needs to catch up...

Matter of time before someone put this chart up, funny how it continues to be a pure spec war.

These are phones people not laptops or sports cars! We are all quick to pass on judgements on a product we haven't even got our hands on!

You just look at numbers, pitiful really.

How about taking customer satisfaction an overall user experience and build quality and implementing it into the chart?

 

[bniu]

This is the first time I'm not upgrading and I've had every single model to date. Original was well, gave me an iPhone, 3G gave me faster network speeds and GPS, 3GS was a substantial update in speed and 32GB and video camera and a competent camera, iPhone 4 added FaceTime, 4S gave me dual core and 64GB plus HSPA+ And a better camera, 5 gave me LTE and a bigger screen.

5S just feels a bit underwhelming to me, I'm not interested in fingerprint, iPhone 5 camera is good enough, and I'm happy with A6. If I was on an iPhone 4, I'd definitely upgrade, but not from a 5.

 

[cynics]

Matter of time before someone put this chart up, funny how it continues to be a pure spec war.

These are phones people not laptops or sports cars! We are all quick to pass on judgements on a product we haven't even got our hands on!

You just look at numbers, pitiful really.

How about taking customer satisfaction an overall user experience and build quality and implementing it into the chart?

Yet nearly everyone that is overwhelmed is going on about the A7 and 64 bit?

That's actually a list of features to me.

 

[Brittany246]

Matter of time before someone put this chart up, funny how it continues to be a pure spec war.

These are phones people not laptops or sports cars! We are all quick to pass on judgements on a product we haven't even got our hands on!

You just look at numbers, pitiful really.

How about taking customer satisfaction an overall user experience and build quality and implementing it into the chart?

Exactly.

 

[gmhag]

Well, currently I have a 4S which was a very boring S upgrade from the 4. The 4S set my expectations very low. The 4S was essentially the exact same phone as a 4 externally with only spec upgrades.

So, to see the 5S is an actual hardware upgrade as well as spec upgrades is pretty nice in my opinion.

I may be bias though because I use a password on my phone so i am really excited about the Touch ID.

 

[Technodynamic]

I'm glad someone posted this to give me an opportunity to express my underwhelming feeling. Not only with the phones, but with the entire lineup of news for the fall. No ipad updates, no new products at all, no iWatch.

We already know about iOS7, which is the best thing they've done this year IMO. I've been running it since beta 3 and just installed the gold master an hour ago.

I can't help but be majorly disapointed, and I'm a huge apple guy. Also, as a Director for a web design/solutions team, I always look forward to these events to see what's coming. iOS7 isn't that new, but is great, the iphone 5 and 5S look stunning. Even the mild update with the metal band around the home button... classy and elegant.

The iPhone 5C is plastic and it looks fine for what I believe they are targeting for a new audience of buyers. The cases however are ATROCIOUS. They are an absolute embarrassment.

I love Jony Ives and what he's done, but I feel he's been ultra focused on iOS7 (which is good because it shows), but the cases and 5C are sub standard in my opinion.

All in all I feel let down. 2013 will be the year of iOS7 and that's about it.

 

[AppleMrHan]

nothing special. I'll pass

Looking forward to IP6 with wish list below:
- 802.11 ac wifi
- NFC
- larger screen
- Better resolution screen (1080p+)
- 12+ megapixels +iSight
- 128 GB
- LTE Advanced & VoLTE (can talk and browse internet on Verizon network simultaneously)
- 1080p recording (maybe even 4k!)
- Larger and longer lasting battery

Quick thing, I hope they never go with 1080p screen.

Please read this one, you'll understand that you fell to a simple marketing gimmick:

http://gizmodo.com/5960191/techs-new-most-meaningless-spec-ppi

Phone resolution is already beyond what your eye can perceive, you do not need beyond 300ppi, which is what even the iPhone 4 already surpasses.

Also, you do not need more Megapixels, its another marketing gimmick, learn about cameras, more MP does not equal better quality. Apple is doing the right thing by improving aspects of the camera other than having more MP. You'll see the picture quality of Samsung 13MP camera will be either equal or below 8MP camera of iPhone because its NOT about MP.

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For me, the only disappointment was that they didn't increase the size of the phone screen, its really the only complaint/disappointment I have.

Everything else, I'm more than satisfied about. Upgrading from my iPhone 4 to iPhone 5S in the near future.

 

[futuredub]

voted underwhelmed

I'm aware of the pros and cons of 64 bit architecture and can't understand why they would push it.
I'm sure the 5s will surpass the 5 in performance (though not because of the switch to x64), but how many 5 owners are unhappy with overall performance?
The camera changes are a small step in the right direction though.