- Lack of design upgrade
- Expensive
- Battery life still questionable
I know you are probably thinking, another 'S' phone from Apple. Although the Apple iPhone 5s is very similar in design to its predecessor the Apple iPhone 5, it does come with some new bits and pieces. Some of these new features include touch ID technology, 8 megapixel camera, slow motion video, and much more.
Design
The iPhone 5s, although extremely similar in design to its predecessor the iPhone 5, is definitely a classy phone. With it now in three colors, space gray, silver, and the latest addition gold, people are buying more iPhones than ever.
With a 10.2 cm screen and weighing in at only 112g, practically a feather comparing to it's android competitor the Galaxy S5 which weighs145g, this small phone packs a big punch. With the new colors and it's all aluminum and glass frame this phone may not look much different, but honestly is there any reason to change?
Some things that do differ in the 5s is the dual LED flash and the new and improved home button. While these may seem like minor details to some, they are both a game changer for Apple.
The new home button now includes their new touch ID software which recognizes whatever fingerprints you program into the phone. Not only does it include that new feature it's also ditching the infamous square previously placed center of the home screen and has since been replaced with a metal ring surrounding the home button.
Touch ID
The moment we have all been waiting for...no more passwords! With the new touch ID technology on the iPhone 5s all you have to do is scan your fingerprint into the phone, click the home button and hold your finger to the home button and watch as your phone magically opens literally with the touch of your finger.
Not only does this fancy new feature gain you access into your phone, but also can replace your iTunes password. For those of you who download too many apps (you know who you are) this is going to save you a boat load of time.
For those of you who are worried about the government hacking into your phone, stealing your fingerprint and figuring out your deepest darkest secrets, you're in luck, Apple has got your back. The touch ID communicates directly with the A7 chip in your phone, meaning that the rest of the phone, including the Cloud, has no access to your fingerprint. So no need to fret, if in some freak accident your Cloud got leaked to the world, your fingerprint is still safe along with your deepest, darkest secrets.
Not only does this fancy new feature gain you access into your phone, but also can replace your iTunes password. For those of you who download too many apps (you know who you are) this is going to save you a boat load of time.
Camera
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| Mmm look at that tasty waffle. Thanks iPhone 5s for capturing its true beauty. |
In all seriousness, this is the best camera Apple has produced for the iPhone yet. You put it into burst mode, taking 10 pictures per second, to guarantee the best picture you can then select your favorites and discard the rest. Also with 8 photo filters you can save yourself the extra edit time and take the picture just how you like it. Another cool feature is what I would like to call the selfie timer, basically it's just a self timer for the front facing camera. So if you are trying to take a picture of your whole outfit, but no one is there to help you out, just click on the self timer and snap away.
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| Taken with the iPhone 5s with the Noir filter. |
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| Bright and fresh veggies! |
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| Awesome fireworks from the 4th of July! |
This is one area that Apple hasn't made much improvements on. Still with no optical image stabilization anything with an unstable hand will show in the footage. This is especially apparent when zooming in during the video, which could be a perk if you want to focus on something half way through the video. Another fun feature that now comes with video is being able to take pictures while taking a video. This way you can have a full length video of the events along with pictures, no need to compromise!
Apple also introduced their new Slo-Mo camera. Have you ever dreamed of being able to do a slow motion video of you running down the beach with the wind blowing through your hair? Well you are now in luck! And if you just so happen to do this and end up tripping and falling on your face at the end, no worries. Once you review your video it has these super nifty tabs that allow you to crop out any unwanted footage.
Although the Slo-Mo camera may be fun to play with at first, it doesn't truly have any practical uses for everyday life.
Software
Now with iOS 7, you can drag from the bottom of the phone up and gain access to the control center. The control center then gives you access to your music, camera, calculator, flashlight, timer, bluetooth, airplane mode, Wifi, Do Not Disturb, brightness and screen lock. That's basically everything you need all in one area! Talk about convenience.
Another quick tip for those multi-taskers out there, if you double tap the home button, the current app you are in will be minimized to a thumbnail and will display all other apps that are running in the background. Not only can this help save you on your battery life, but you can just switch over quick to another app without going back to the home page.
Final Verdict
Overall this is the best iPhone that I have come into contact with, granted the new iPhone 6 just came out but I have no experience with that device. What I like most about the iPhone 5s is the cutting edge camera, touch ID technology, and the organization with the iOS 7 software. This phone is all about clarity, organization and straight up beauty. With the rate Apple is going with releasing new phones every year, users can't get too upset with the lack of design upgrades made to the phone. Some things I wish Apple would improve on was the screen technology, the cost, and battery life. In the end though, I would buy this phone again in a heartbeat. Apple has always been very reliable and provides great amenities, despite the high cost. 
Started off well, included a lot of information about the new design of the iPhone 5 compared to the old 4 model and compared to a completely different type of phone, the Galaxy. Good flow to the review, not much content yet but the headings are organized and help create flow. The headings also cover everything one would want to know about the iPhone 5. The voice of this review seems relatively casual and conversational. I believe that it is appropriate for the genre that you are writing for and personally I would rather read a review that has that type of voice. The headings are clear and cause no confusion on what to expect before reading the passage. They are parallel and are easily distinguishable from the rest of the review. With more information and pictures this will look like a very good review, it is nicely broken up and has a nice flow to it. So far the only visual you have is a link to the Galaxy S5, which works correctly and is a really nice touch in the review. Even with limited information I would say that it seems like you have had some experience with the product, can't wait to see what else you add!
ReplyDeleteGenre: The tone seems a bit casual for a phone review. Whenever I have read an electronic review they are always very technical. That being said, I prefer this. It is easier to read and understand.
ReplyDeleteOrganization: The design section may need some subheadings. There seems to be a lot of different things to talk about, so splitting it up with headers or even pictures would probably help the reader out a bit. A usability section may be useful, but perhaps this can just be added into your other sections, once you write them...
Voice: This is a more casual voice than normal for this kind of review, but I think it works. For the average user this kind of tone is helpful to get us through the muddle that is phone usability. Maybe try going for shorter, more compact sentences, as they occasionally get long and confusing.
Headings: Looks good. Like I said, maybe use some sub-headings in design like you have planned in Product Features.
Visuals and Hypertext: Uh, add some? That's all!
First Hand Use: Yes, I believe you have used this product. I just know it. You're casual tone about the phone gives the impression that you're not just regurgitating facts, we know you've actually experienced this feather lightness.
Genre: I think I agree with the previous peers in that it does seem a bit casual. If you maintain the criteria that other smartphone reviews cover, though, I think the casual tone can work. I think it seems okay for the genre that you're writing for. But it does seem biased...
ReplyDeleteOrganization: If you stay with this skeleton I think you'll be okay. You might need more criteria, though?
Voice: You go, girl.
Headings: So far it's okay. I like the pros and cons headers. You definitely need parallel formatting with the headings and clean it up a bit, though. And maybe you're missing some criteria? I don't know.
Visuals and hypertext: Add them if your genre calls for it! I like the android reference.
First hand use: Yes, it's clear you use this fone.