Apple iPhone 5s

Apple iPhone 5S Review

While the iPhone 5S may be very predictable in the user-friendly interface and its stunning design, its predictability should not be taken as Apple’s lack of innovation.  In fact, quite the opposite is the case with the iPhone 5S.  With improvement from its very popular and successful older brother, the iPhone 5 includes a fingerprint scanner, an improved camera, and a 64-bit processor that packs more power than most smartphones on the market today.

Coming from a previous model of iPhone, changing the way that I wake up the iPhone 5S was difficult.  I was used to picking up my iPhone 5 and hitting the home button to wake it up and then entering my password.  Now, thanks to the integrated fingerprint scanner and some amazing software, Apple’s TouchID allows you to wake your phone up and unlock it all at the same time.  The fingerprint scanner is integrated in to the home button.  This hidden gem allows you to secure your phone without adding the hassle of a passcode.   With TouchID, you no longer have to get frustrated when you mistakenly hit the wrong digit or press one number too many times.  The only negative thing I can say about the TouchID system that Apple has included in the iPhone5S is that it takes a fair amount of time to calibrate it for each finger on either hand that you wish to use to unlock your device.   

While the iPhone 5S and its 8 megapixel camera did not see a megapixel increase from the iPhone 5, it's now capable of capturing 120 frames-per-second slow-motion video and 10 frames-per-second burst images.  Yet another feature that is made possible thanks to the A7 processor, the primary camera snaps images and videos faster, with more detailed, and brighter more vibrant colors.  The burst mode's rapid capture speeds eliminate the need to try to time your shot perfectly.  By simply holding the shutter button down the iPhone 5S will capture a string of images, automatically presenting you with the best of the bunch.  The slow-motion capture feature on the iPhone 5S offers gives you the ability to capture incredible and epic video footage with smooth, detailed progressions, giving you stunning video to share with the world.

Quietly tucked under its shinny glass front, the iPhone 5S packs an advancement that is far more significant to the smartphone word. The engineers at Apple have laid claim to producing the world's first 64-bit smartphone processor with the introduction of their new A7 processor. While the benefit of the A7 processor might not truly be realized until there are more applications that take advantage of this powerhouse of a processor.  If you happen not to be very technically inclined, ask one of your techy friends what it is and they will tell you just how exciting the upgrade from a 32-bit to a 64-bit processor in your smartphone is.   The A7 processor has a noticeable impact on the speed of Apple’s iOS 7 operating system and apps that we have done testing with.  iOS 7 is very animation-heavy when launching and closing applications, which is one way that the A7 64-bit chip is utilized. 

Apple has maintained the same hardened glass front and aluminum chassis from the iPhone 5, but is now offering the iPhone 5S in two new colors — space gray and gold. The space gray is more or less similar to last year's black model but a slightly lighter shade on the aluminum case, but gold is a true first for Apple.  While you might feel that the gold option is a little flashy or feminine, I appreciate the fact the Apple is willing to try new color option besides a simple white or black rectangle.   While no major design changes came with the iPhone 5S’s release, the 5S still remains one of the most striking smartphones available.  The all-aluminum body with beveled edges give the iPhone 5S an elegant look and feel.  The iPhone 5S is one of my favorite smartphones based on design alone.