Apple just announced their latest iPhone 5 hardware. All the hardware design rumors were spot on but here’s the internal hardware by the numbers (new stuff only).
iPhone 5 Spec List:
- Display: 4-inch (1136×640 pixel resolution at 326 ppi)
- Cellular: LTE
- WiFi: 802.11a/b/g/n (dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz) (up to 150 Mbps)
- Processor: dual-core A6 (ARMv7-based Apple custom SoC) (updated 9.23.12)
- GPU: tri-core PowerVR (updated 9.25.12)
- RAM: 1GB @1066MHz (updated 9.22.12)
- Battery: 1440mAh, 3.8V, 5.45Wh/up to 8 hours on 3G and LTE/10 hours on WiFi (updated 9.23.12)
- Camera: 8-megapixel (3264×2448)/hybrid IR filter/dynamic low light mode/sapphire crystal/Panorama mode/1080p video capture/improved video stabilization/face detection for video recording/take photos while recording
- FaceTime HD Camera: 1.2 megapixel photo capture/720p video capture/face detect/Backside illumination sensor
- Microphone: 3 microphones (front/back/bottom)
- SIM Card: Nano SIM (not compatible with current MicroSIM)
- Dock Connector (Lightening): 8-pin all digital/adaptive interface/reversible
Looking at the iPhone 5 from the outside doesn’t immediately strike excitement if you own a 4/4S but when you add up all the new hardware features you end up with a totally new device. Everyone will have their own take on what is the best new feature but I’m particularly impressed with the dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi chip crammed inside. This will allow for much faster WiFi connectivity not that the 2.4GHz frequency is incredible slow but, it is extremely over crowded at this point. Moving all your mobile devices (phones/tables/laptops) and of course, your wireless router over to the 5GHz frequency will give you a more consistent connection with far less interference from say Bluetooth which runs on the 2.4 GHz frequency. What you end up with is a better wireless experience than you did at 2.4GHz. This also means you have to turn on the 5GHz band on your wireless router first. You do have a dual-band wireless router now don’t you and if you don’t, you really should get one immediately. Trust me on that.
After reading more in depth articles about the iPhone 5’s internal components I’m finding myself more impressed with the device itself. Apple’s custom-designed CPU is a feat that most manufactures wouldn’t dare to do, instead relying solely on the OS to be optimized for off-the-shelf parts. Apple on the other hand is taking everything into their own hands for better or worse, in this case better. The optimization of the OS combined with a custom designed CPU will lead to nothing less than pure operating efficiency. Which once again means that in order to really appreciate the iPhone 5 you have to do more than just read the specs. (Updated 09.25.12)
What we have here in the iPhone 5 is an iterative update which really is much better than any of its predecessors. Personally, I don’t care if the iPhone looked the same or was totally different; the internal hardware is what’s most important. Taking a particular design and improving it as time goes on is a smarter move than continually changing the look and feel of the device. Unfortunately, it’s many of us in the tech community who seem to forget that the most. All other products do the same thing. Just look at your refrigerator and compare it to the same model or any other model from 5 years ago to understand what I mean. Anyway, the iPhone 5 is very nice if you ask me but I don’t think I’ll be jumping aboard this ship right now. I’m pretty set with what I’ve got in the 4S and will get the added benefits of iOS 6 when it’s released. This latest hardware release is fantastic for anyone still holding on to their 3GS or even the 4 but, 4S users could hold out till next year if they have the will power. And my advice is that you probably should because that one will be the iPhone you want even more than this. But, if you just have to have the latest iPhone in your hands all the time go right ahead, it’s still a nice upgrade even over the 4S.
Wyatt's Tech Corner 