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I think Apple has really reach the epitome of what a smartphone should be with the iPhone 5. The problem is, I don't see what else they could do with it for future models.

Half as thin but twice as strong. ;)

Seriously, the day will come (and sooner than you think) that this will look absurdly large.
 
Initial impression is the black 4S looks better than the black 5. The glass back and metalic trim being key, but even the shape of the device. The 5 looks unusually long and narrow.

Can a device be too thin and light, giving a lower quality feel?

May be like new car models, they often take some getting used to, then look much better than the old, just not sure in this case.
 
Yes
The stainless steel and glass looks and feels far more premium.

Aluminum is cheaper, softer, requires the anodozing which scratches easy, and feels less solid in the hand.

Edit, ooops meant to edit not quote myself
 
Initial impression is the black 4S looks better than the black 5. The glass back and metalic trim being key, but even the shape of the device. The 5 looks unusually long and narrow.

Can a device be too thin and light, giving a lower quality feel?

May be like new car models, they often take some getting used to, then look much better than the old, just not sure in this case.

interesting points you bring up. if i close my eyes and pick up the 5, it may as well be a cheaply made samsung. the 4 and the 4s feel like quality products. i think the 5 is actually too thin and light. and it looks way too long and out of proportion from some angles

i think the thin and light works well for laptops, not necessarily for phones.

whats making me difficult to keep the 5 and sell my 4s is that after formatting the 4s, i dont see any difference in speed with the way i use the phone which is mainly email, browsing, messaging. i dont game or watch videos. so finding it tough to justify keeping the 5 when i consider the 4s as a more beautiful and more premium device. hmmm
 
I'm holding my iPhone 4 next to my new iPhone 5. They are both enshrouded in a case. iPhone 4 served me well, and I'm going to enjoy my iPhone 5 even more from what I've seen so far. Who gives cr@p about which phone looks better b/c they are both are so damn fragile you don't ever get to see them naked except when you first take them out of the box prior to sealing them in plastic or rubber or whatever.

I get to see mine every day - one of the reasons I choose the iPhone is the form factor - thinness, size, weight. I want a phone I can slip into my pocket and not notice.

For this reason I have never, ever put my iPhones into a case. The closest I've come was a Zagg skin on the back of my 4S since the glass back was too slick for my liking.

Sure, it gets dinged up over the course of a year of use, but I'm not carrying around the Mona Lisa in my pocket, it's a cell phone, a tool that is critical to my day to day business and lifestyle, but it's not a museum piece. A few scratches don't ruin it for me.

Think of a few dings as 'character' and enjoy the phone in it's "natural" state :)
 
I get to see mine every day - one of the reasons I choose the iPhone is the form factor - thinness, size, weight. I want a phone I can slip into my pocket and not notice.

For this reason I have never, ever put my iPhones into a case. The closest I've come was a Zagg skin on the back of my 4S since the glass back was too slick for my liking.

Sure, it gets dinged up over the course of a year of use, but I'm not carrying around the Mona Lisa in my pocket, it's a cell phone, a tool that is critical to my day to day business and lifestyle, but it's not a museum piece. A few scratches don't ruin it for me.

Think of a few dings as 'character' and enjoy the phone in it's "natural" state :)

And that's fine if you don't intend to sell, but I recycle mine on eBay to pay for the next one and it's a lot easier to sell, and at better price, if it's perfect rather than loaded with "patina."
 
I prefer the weight of the 4S over the new 5 personally. I also prefer the metal band of the 4S over the 5 as well, seems more solid- have both now in white.

The 5 thinness is nice; but not a reason for the upgrade- the screen is nicer in landscape mode to be certain.

I have both in black in front of me now. I find the 4S far superior in Finnish & Build Quality. And that's not compared to just one, because I bought two for the wife & I. In addition my first one had four scratches near the Apple Logo. So deep & unmistakable the Apple rep could not hide his shocked look.

In typically terrific Apple fashion it was immediately replaced. Although the replacement was also scratched it's only half as bad as the first.

Hopes to use it without a case being dashed, I'll just have to cover it with some kind of case to hide the marks.

The general consensus by those of us outside the store, comparing these cosmetic defects, the conclusion we came to was simply to live with it. Otherwise one could burn up an awful lot of time and energy trying to get a phone that looks like new.

Overall here's a brief outline of my iP5 experience since release day.

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/15820828/

Cheers :)
 
And that's fine if you don't intend to sell, but I recycle mine on eBay to pay for the next one and it's a lot easier to sell, and at better price, if it's perfect rather than loaded with "patina."

Sure, and I totally understand that. I still sell mine, but for less of a premium than you do I'm sure. I go into this approach with my eyes wide open.

Simply pointing out that, in fact, not *everyone* puts a case on their iPhone - I suspect there are many (perhaps not a majority, but many) who prefer the 'commando' approach.
 
Played with my room mates 5 last night. Was impressed at how incredibly light it felt in the hand. Although I must say I prefer the heavier and more durable feel of my 4S. I feel that the 4S is a little more bulletproof when it comes to scratches/dents. The stainless steel band I feel was a much better design overall in the previous 2 generations. I like that the edges of the band on the 4/4S aren't exposed therefore the edges won't take a beating like the edges on the 5.

But again, I couldn't believe how light the 5 is. Time will tell how durable it is.
 
Sure, and I totally understand that. I still sell mine, but for less of a premium than you do I'm sure. I go into this approach with my eyes wide open.

Simply pointing out that, in fact, not *everyone* puts a case on their iPhone - I suspect there are many (perhaps not a majority, but many) who prefer the 'commando' approach.

Maybe but in my travels I see many people using iPhones -- rarely see naked ones.
 
Initial impression is the black 4S looks better than the black 5. The glass back and metalic trim being key, but even the shape of the device. The 5 looks unusually long and narrow.

Can a device be too thin and light, giving a lower quality feel?

May be like new car models, they often take some getting used to, then look much better than the old, just not sure in this case.

Totally disagree, sorry, though of course looks are such a subjective thing the following can only be a personal opinion. I have both the 4S and 5 sitting here and the 5 is a far more coherent design. Don't get me wrong, the 4S is still a lovely looking thing but when put up against the 5 the problems stand out. That polished metal band may look good from the side but head on all the buttons and switches really stand out and spoil the lines slightly. When you've got the screens on the 4S, much to my surprise, looks squat where the 5 feels more natural. The reduction in 'empty' space (i.e. the black glass) helps a lot there I think.

When you turn them side on it's again that slightly better integration of the design that pushes the advantage to the 5. The 4S makes the more immediate impression thanks to the contrasting colour of band and glass but the slightly bevelled edges and thinner lines of the 5 make the various elements sit together more comfortably. If you turn to the top edge moving the headphone jack makes a HUGE difference as you don't have a gaping black hole in the silver band anymore. Same when you turn to the bottom, it just looks so much more solid with the smaller lightning port and holes rather than grills for speaker & mic. The dark grey colouring also really helps hide the holes themselves and makes them less jarring.

The back is probably slightly better on the 4S mind. I really like the 5, the slight two tone effect is subtle and interesting, but the glass back and silver logo on the 4S works a bit better.

In use though the 5 walks all over the 4S. Lighter, thinner, more comfortable to hold thanks to the bevelled edges and the,, uh, warmer feeling of the metal back rather than glass just feels better in the hand. Best of all though there's no flex, no obvious weakness anywhere in the chassis just a solid chunk of impossibly light gadgetry.

So overall, and of course just in my opinion, the 5 is the better design overall with the 4S only really winning on the back panel.
 
i like the newer style better,although it did take some getting use too..

however loved and owned a white iPhone 4 but this time went black,white to me just wasn't as good looking as previous models
 
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