Retina display, 9.7‑inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi‑Touch display with IPS technology, 2048-by-1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi), Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, FaceTime HD Camera, 1080p HD video recording
While the handsets may look identical between networks, your choice of provider for the iPhone 5 can result in picking up (or losing) some very helpful perks, many of which seem to fall in the favor of Verizon.
Notably, Verizon allows iPhone 5 users on any data plan to use FaceTime over 4G LTE without an additional charge, which runs contrary to AT&T's own approach in that regard. Likewise, those without unlimited data plans can use the included Personal Hotspot function to create a wireless network for other devices as needed. It might suck your data plan dry, depending on use, but at least it's there in a pinch.
It's been a long time coming, but we finally have an iPhone that supports 4G LTE, leaving the sluggish 3G days in the past – or for those times when you're outside of the LTE coverage zone. Lucky for Verizon users in the U.S. that's a pretty slim area, at least compared to AT&T and Sprint.
We tested our iPhone 5 around the city of Chicago and had no trouble maintaining our LTE signal throughout – and notched very impressive speeds along the way. Using the Speedtest.Net app, we managed to ring up a top download speed of 32.07 Mbps on Verizon, while the top upload speed we saw was 15.29 Mbps.
That's the extreme; more commonly, we saw a download speed in the range of 23-28 Mbps and an upload rate of between 5 -10 Mbps. Occasionally, we notched slower results in testing (only when pinging a specific server, it seemed), but in average day-to-day use, the service didn't disappoint.
Pulling up websites over LTE on Safari still showed a marked speed improvement at all times over what we'd experienced on the iPhone 4S, and even sending iMessages and emails had a previously unseen immediacy that caught us by surprise.
Much as Maps has taken flak for its myriad issues, at least the 3D models loaded pretty quickly for us over LTE (not so much on Wi-Fi, though). Call quality also proved quite good on the iPhone 5, with a clearer signal coming in from the other line than when using Verizon's 3G service on the iPhone 4S.
And as we surprisingly discovered this week, Verizon did not – and says it will not ever – lock the iPhone 5 hardware, meaning you can bounce to a competing network and use its service (not LTE, however) via a different SIM card, as well as use the phone overseas on other networks. What's unprecedented about this move is not that Verizon sold the phone unlocked, but that it seems intent on keeping it that way.
What's the downside to Verizon? Sadly, the iPhone 5 can't manage simultaneous voice and data use over LTE, which means no downloading emails or browsing the web while chatting up a pal over speakerphone. For heavy multitaskers, that could well be a deal-breaker. More casual users may not even notice it until the need pops up in a random future situation.
New Verizon customers must choose from a Share Everything plan, which combines data, voice, and text service, and also includes access to the Personal Hotspot feature. You'll pay $40 a month per device for access and then $40 more on top of that for 300MB of data, with scaling options reaching $50 for 1GB, $60 for 2GB, $70 for 4GB, and so on and so forth. All plans come with unlimited calls and texts.
Existing Verizon customers, meanwhile, can maintain their existing plans with one key exception. Unlimited plan holders who wish to retain their plan aren't eligible for a discount on the iPhone 5 hardware, so the trade-off is either keeping unlimited data at the full retail price of the phone ($650-850) or taking a limited plan and saving money on the phone, assuming you're eligible for an upgrade.
Verdict
In our initial days of using the iPhone 5 on Verizon's LTE network, we've come away pleased with the results, as it's been speedy and reliable in regular use. It's about on par with other Verizon LTE handsets we've tested in the same market, though for longtime Apple users, it's a late but appreciated revolution that dramatically enhances the iOS 6 experience.
The iPhone 5 is here but it's not the same experience on all major carriers. Picking up Apple's latest phone on Sprint, Verizon or AT&T will come with a unique set of baggage.
Picking up an iPhone 5 on Sprint is tempting, since it's the only carrier offering new unlimited plans. However, buyers should know that of the three carriers, Sprint has the smallest 4G service area by far. Buy an iPhone 5 on Sprint and you'll basically pay for unlimited 3G service until Sprint brings 4G LTE to your area.
As mentioned, Sprint is currently the only carrier offering unlimited data plans to new customers for the iPhone 5. Other carriers will let you remain "grandfathered in" on an old unlimited plan, but new iPhone customers will be out of luck.
That's a big advantage for Sprint as a carrier and a big deal for consumers, since the iPhone 5 is Apple's first 4G-capable phone. If they're not careful, users on limited AT&T and Verizon plans could suck their data buckets dry and incur unexpected overage fees.
For the iPhone 5, all Sprint plans come with unlimited data and text messaging. All that's left to choose is talk time, with options for 450 or 900 anytime minutes at $79.99 and $99.99 a month, respectively. Unlimited talk goes for $109.99.
Slim 4G coverage
Perhaps Sprint can be so liberal with the offers of unlimited data because its 4G coverage is rather limited, compared to its competitors. Sprint launched its LTE network a little over two years ago, but major U.S. cities such as New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles are still without 4G service.
However, customers in the regions of Baltimore, Atlanta, Kansas City and parts of Texas are in luck.
They live in the in areas of the U.S. that actually have 4G Sprint service right now. For them, the iPhone 5 on Sprint is a great deal.
Sprint's website says that 4G will come to other regions of the U.S. "in the coming months," but has not released any hard dates. TechRadar has reached out to Sprint for a timeline on its 4G rollout and we will update this article when we receive a response.
4G isn't everything
Of course, just because you don't have 4G doesn't mean you're not using the latest iOS 6 Apple toy. Still, it's rather irksome to think that you'll pay the same monthly bill as a customer in Atlanta or Dallas who's enjoying 4G speeds.
However, FaceTime over cellular service, which has become a major point of contention for AT&T and Verizon, is far more straightforward with Sprint. Sprint customers will be able to FaceTime over 3G and 4G at no additional cost, without being forced into shared data plans.
Verdict
There's a lot to like about the iPhone 5 on Sprint, and a lot to dislike, especially if you live in the parts of the U.S. without its 4G service.
We like that Sprint's plans are easy to understand, and that they come with unlimited data, text messaging and FaceTime over cellular. We don't like how limited Sprint's 4G coverage area is, and the fact that 3G customers will pay the same rate as those with 4G.
You're basically choosing between unlimited data with Sprint, or 4G speeds with AT&T or Verizon, unless you live in those lucky parts of the U.S. with Sprint 4G, in which case you can have it all.
The arrival of Apple's latest and greatest, the iPhone 5, brings about two dilemmas: First, how to cope with that infamously underperforming Maps app, and second, which carrier to choose.
AT&T has a reputation for having a hole or two in its coverage net. Additionally, the carrier is not allowing FaceTime calls over cellular unless customers sign up for a shared data plan (which has all of your AT&T devices pulling from the same allotment of data), making a switch to Verizon or Sprint tempting.
However, sticking with AT&T does have its advantages. Perhaps you're grandfathered in for an unlimited data plan from the early iPhone days, or maybe you just want to use data and voice at the same time - an exclusive feature of AT&T's GSM network.
Well, AT&T customers, should you stay or should you go now?
How does AT&T do?
The good news is that AT&T's LTE is as fast as advertised, and achieves true 4G speeds. Downloads on an iPhone 5 were blazingly fast, when compared head to head with an iPhone 4S in midtown Manhattan.
It was advertised that LTE would be faster than WiFi in some cases. In our tests, this was only partially true. Granted, the average download speed of 10Mbps of the iPhone 5 on LTE was much faster than the 6Mbps produced on the iPhone 4S on HSPA+, but the former was still crushed by a personal WiFi network with 20Mbps download bandwidth.
Uploads were a different story. Again, the iPhone 5's 6 Mbps easily bested the iPhone 4S's paltry 1Mbps. As for a home network, it too could only do a little over 1Mbps uploads.
Talk and surf, simultaneously
Many have stated that AT&T's LTE speeds lag behind Verizon's, despite the smaller coverage footprint (though not by some super significant degree). While such claims are largely anecdotal at this point, and results will vary block by block in almost any circumstance, one can't ignore the advantage that AT&T has long enjoyed over both Verizon and Sprint: the ability to talk and surf the web at the same time.
It's a feature that AT&T is justifiably proud off, and remains a serious source of frustration for the other side. After all, there are more than a few Android handsets on Verizon and Sprint that can allow both functions simultaneously. For many, it's the sole reason stay with AT&T.
Plans & Features
When it comes to paying for such coverage, AT&T users have reason to be upset and confused.
Individual plans start at $39.99 a month for 450 daytime minutes, plus 5000 nights and weekend minutes. On the opposite end of the spectrum is an unlimited plan that has all the daytime, nighttime and weekend talk time that you could want for $69.99. Add $20.00 for unlimited texts.
When it comes to individual data plans, $20.00 will get you a paltry 300MB, with each additional 300MBs worth of data at the same rate. Most new customers will likely gravitate towards the $30.00 a month rate for 3GB, with an additional $10 per GB. Next you have 5GB plus a Mobile Hotspot option for $50.00, which also charges $10 per each additional GB consumed.
But remember, FaceTime over cellular is only available if you sign up for a Mobile Share plan. The baseline package is $85.00, which includes unlimited voice and messaging, but only 1GB worth of data. The plan also only covers just a single line; each additional (up to 10) is $45 a month per iPhone or $10 per iPad.
There's also a $110 per month plan that serves 4GB worth of shared data, with additional lines costing $40, and a $125 per month plan, with additional lines costing $35.00. Not exactly a bargain on any account.
Verdict
The iPhone 5 experience on AT&T is by no means perfect. At the very least, it beats the 4S or any previous iPhone. 4G LTE speeds deliver as advertised.
Still, many longtime AT&T users eager for a change might be tempted by Verizon, particularly the offer of FaceTime sans WiFi and shared data plan, and a much larger LTE footprint. Sprint is a contender as well, and provides much easier to swallow plans, though its coverage is not nearly as wide as the other guys.
As is, it's hard to recommend that AT&T users to stay put, but its one ace in the hole - the ability to maintain a voice call and surf the Internet at the same time - can't be dismissed. Even those with the greatest incentive to leave, i.e. the desire to conduct FaceTime over cellular without being forced into a shared plan, may still want to stay.
The Apple iPhone 5 release date is upon us, with the latest arrival boasting a 16:9, 4-inch screen, new smaller port, thinner, lighter design and 4G LTE.
Last year's iPhone 4S always felt like an incremental upgrade rather than a true step change, and although it sold wonderfully for Apple and brought some interesting additions, few would argue against the suggestion that it opened the door for competitors.
As a result, this year's iPhone 5 launch was perhaps most important for Apple since the very first iPhone arrived back in 2007.
If you're looking for iPhone 5 price details or what the best iPhone 5 deal is for you, then check out our article iPhone 5 price: deals and tariffs compared.
For anyone following the rumours over the past year, the iPhone 5 features won't bring any major surprises, with many of the new features expected – including the new dimensions and the improved A6 chip.
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The iPhone 5's camera is smaller, hardier and enhanced by the more powerful chip, and the front-facing camera is bumped up to a 720p version. Wi-Fi is improved and the inclusion of 4G is a must have in the current phone world.
But it is the size, design and shape that will win the most admiring glances. The all glass and aluminium chassis can claim to be the thinnest smartphone, at 7.6mm 'thin'.
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The 4-inch screen keeps the retina resolution despite the added length, which Apple has brought in to make the iPhone 5 more movie-friendly.
The added real-estate is welcome, especially given the growth of its rivals, and apps will apparently be easy to move onto the new screen size for developers.
In the hand the Apple iPhone 5 certainly feels comfortable. You can see why Apple decided to keep the width the same, since it fits the hand nicely – just as its predecessors have.
The most relevant comparison for many is with its predecessor the iPhone 4S and, for those on the now common two-year contracts, the iPhone 4.
The new phone certainly feels different – and although there will be the odd naysayer, the overwhelming majority will feel that the iPhone 5's design is a good step on from the now ageing chassis of both the 4S and 4.
The move away from glass is a welcome one, and the aluminium manages to bring a premium feel in a notably lighter device.
A new chip definitely brings a snappier feel. Many people with an iPhone 4 will be all too used to the lagginess when trying to do anything even slightly complex with the devices, and the Apple iPhone 5 manages to take things on as far as you would expect in more than two years.
What is perhaps more suprising is just how much snappier this feels than the iPhone 4S. The A6 chip clearly has significantly more grunt under its smaller hood – but what is surprising is that you can immediately tell when you use the device alongside its predecessor.
Practically speaking, this probably isn't enough to make you want to leave a 4S unless you are a hardcore fan, but it will convince many iPhone 4 users to stick with the Apple ecosystem for another generation – and you get the impression that this is goal number one for the company.
The added length could have made the phone unwieldy, but the loss of thickness ensures that it maintains its balance and premium feel.
Those people who have got used to the iPhone 4 and 4S will certainly notice the difference that the new iPhone 5 design brings. It served to make the device feel more modern, and the materials used keep that premium feel that Apple has put so much stock in to.
Thinner, lighter and more screen were always on the cards, and the fans' desires are understandable.
The aluminium backplate feels lovely – just textured enough to feel very different from its predecessors and, to our taste, preferable to the glass.
The iPhone 5 screen is bright and colourful, although it's difficult to truly appreciate the small upgrade that Apple has made in the bright lights of the show room.
The camera is also more difficult to test properly, but it certainly seemed faster to take a photo, something that can be a frustration on older iPhones.
From a software perspective, iOS 6 brings with it a wealth of new features that will certainly make a major difference to not only the way the iPhone 5 feels, but also its predecessors the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, when they get the updated software.
Maps, for instance, is significantly altered after Apple ended its longstanding agreement to use Google Maps and pushed forward with its own offering, in conjunction with sat nav giant TomTom.
The new maps certainly look the part, with some beautiful 3D renders and snazzy looking new vector graphics. We really want to take some time to tell you just how well the new offering performs in the wild, when we get a handset in for our full iPhone 5 review, coming soon.
The showcased flyover mode was great for the riverside of London, but as you would expect fell flat pretty quickly once you left the tourist districts and got to residential areas.
Early indications elsewhere are good, however, as the 'Apple designed' tag is pushed to the fore. The tilt and rotate view functionality looks gorgeous, and the turn-by-turn navigation is likely to attract plaudits with a simple and intuitive interface.
However Maps is by no means perfect, and those of you who are used to the wealth of information offered up by Google Maps may be disappointed with Apple's solution, especially as there isn't a Google Maps app in the App Store yet.
Apple Maps seems to be missing key details, as for example, we found certain London train stations didn't exist in the Cupertino firm's world.
Still, the whole Maps experience flows very well, with the smooth zoom and slick image rendering making it a joy to use – with hardly any waiting around for new areas of the world to load, something which can take its time on Google's version.
Safari has also received an overhaul and a noticeable boost in speed is apparent from the word go, as the iPhone 5 zips through pages like a hot knife through butter – the famous TechRadar.com took just three-four seconds to load in a usable form, and an additional two to fully display all the banners.
We still prefer the Android way of doing bookmarks, with small thumbnails of your favourite sites offering a more visually pleasing experience, but Safari's list does the job.
The offline reading function keeps the URL links live on the save paged, allowing you to click through to other areas of the website when you regain signal – something most Android offerings don't do, instead saving the page as a PDF like document.
Siri has been given a major, and frankly much-needed, overhaul with the voice 'companion' functionality extended into new languages and new territories in an attempt to turn the iPhone 4S's overhyped and under-featured personal assistant up to a useful level.
It coped better with the noise of the press room than its predecessor – presumably due to the new microphone set up in the new iPhone 5, and could answer the two or three stock questions we asked it.
However drilling down for information on lower-league sports teams Siri came unstuck, having to resort to a Google (haven't quite ditched your rival completely then?) search for the answer.
Given the obsession with Facebook, the need for better integration was a key addition for Apple in its latest operating system, and the iPhone 5 and its older brothers will benefit from a major overhaul of the way in which the social network links up with your handset.
The Facebook (and Twitter) functionality feels much more central to the experience this time around, and having the ability to post from the notifications screen feels like an obvious inclusion that works well.
Hands on gallery
Official gallery
Early verdict
Given the level of hype around the Apple iPhone 5, it's almost inevitable that phone itself ends up feeling a little underwhelming when it is launched, but Apple is a past master at ticking the boxes, and giving its growing legion of fans enough to justify an upgrade.
We liked
The lightness of the phone is, for us if not everybody, a good thing and allows the extra height to be balanced in the hand. The form factor and design of the phone remain of the highest standard, and it's certainly nice to note that the new materials should make the aerial significantly better.
But it is the screen that remains the star of this phone. Retina was indisputably the finest arrival in the iPhone 4, and the additional height of the screen has not brought a decline in quality.
Although it is not longer so far out on its own that it makes other premium phones feel like low-res toys, the iPhone 5's display is simply gorgeous and the extra real estate feels like a real boon for the device.
iOS 6 brings a wealth of goodies, some of which are certainly going to be a big part of its story in the coming year although some certainly feel like sideways strategic steps rather than sea changes.
We disliked
It almost feels like sacriledge to point it out, given the impact it has had on the whole phone industry, but the whole iOS user interface is beginning to feel a little dated, with live tiles and widgets increasingly bringing functionality to the fore and not hidden in apps or folders.
Not having NFC is a real misstep, as it would have made the Passbook application in iOS 6 much better (and in keeping with its Android and Windows Phone rivals) and it certainly would have been nice to see.
But the real downer on the iPhone 5 is perhaps an unrealistic expectation that it was going to provide something groundbreaking, and this simply does not feel like the case.
This is refining already well-ploughed earth, much of it by Apple in its crazily innovative 3G and 4 iterations but increasingly by the likes of Samsung, Google and Microsoft.
Early verdict
Is it going to sell like hot-cakes? Of course. Will it send shockwaves shuddering through the tech world and turn competitors back to their drawing boards? No.
But, in truth, Apple will be well aware that it doesn't need to reinvent the wheel to succeed and, in this case, it has yet again provided a fine phone that will keep it battling at the top of the charts for another year.
