When Apple released the iPhone 4S, the masses moaned that it wasn't a significant technological leap forward from the original iPhone 4.

But is the same true of the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5? Will the internet clog with the festering opinions of disappointed Apple fans?

Apple's commitment to iterative product development suggests so. The question is: where is the 5S better? Screen? Processor? You'll find the answers in the comparison review below...

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Build

At first glance, the 5S looks identical to the old iPhone 5 and, sure enough, a quick read of the spec sheet reveals that their dimensions and weight are identical - 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm and 112g.

The only physical differences are the redesigned Home button, which incorporates the new Touch ID fingerprint sensor and is surrounded by a thin stainless steel ring; and the dual LED flash (one white light, one amber light) around the back.

Where the iPhone 5 was available in two color choices - black or white, the new 5S has silver/white, 'space grey'/black and gold/white options. The gold version is either snazzy or ridiculous, depending on your point of view.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Display

The iPhone 5S and the now discontinued iPhone 5 both feature the same 4-inch Retina display with the same 640 x 1136 pixel resolution.

We've seen bigger and better - the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a 5-inch 1080 x 1920 display, while the HTC One has a 4.7-inch 1080 x 1920 screen.

But the iPhone 5S/iPhone 5 panel is still good enough for gaming, video-watching and flicking through those Jonny Ive-produced iOS 7 menus.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Camera

While both phones feature an 8 Megapixel camera on the back and a 1.2 Megapixel lens on the front, that doesn't tell the whole story.

Apple has made some improvements to the iPhone 5's camera, including adding image stabilisation, live photo filters and a new Burst mode that takes 10 shots per second and automatically suggests the best one.

Where the iPhone 5 had a bog-standard LED flash, the iPhone 5S has a dual LED (True Tone) flash to reduce the intensity of the light and help you take better photos.

Apple has also improved the image sensor, lens cover and f/2.4 aperture - the iPhone 5S camera has a 15 per cent larger sensor and an improved f/2.2 aperture to let in more light for brighter results.

Finally, the iPhone 5S can take better 1080p video too. The main 8MP camera now has a slow-motion video feature plus video stabilisation to reduce unwanted camera wobble.

The front-mounted iSight camera also features an improved backside illumination sensor (BIS) for better performance when FaceTiming in the gloom.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Connectivity

With the iPhone 5S heading for China Mobile and NTT Docomo, plus a range of different countries around the world, it supports more LTE bands than the iPhone 5.

It's the only real difference between the 5S and its predecessor. Both include 3G/HSDPA and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO support, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.

There's also a version that supports the TD-LTE technology that's beginning to pop up around the world.

No NFC this time. Perhaps Apple is saving that for the iPhone 6...

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Processor

New iPhones, especially flagship models, typically get a speed boost and the iPhone 5S is no different.

Where the iPhone 5 has an A6 processor, the 5S debuts Apple's 64-bit A7 chip - the first 64-bit processor to appear in a smartphone.

With over one billion transistors (twice as many as the A6), Apple claims that the A7 is twice as fast as the A6 and 40 times more powerful than the original iPhone.

The A7 also includes an M7 co-processor designed to monitor the data from the phone's accelerometer, compass and gyroscope.

This data will help future fitness apps more accurately track your movements. But in the short-term there are other benefits - the Maps app can switch to walking directions if it detects you aren't driving, while the M7 can reduce network activity if the sensor data tells it that your phone hasn't moved for some time.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Software

While the iPhone 5S comes with iOS 7 pre-installed, iPhone 5 owners can sleep safe in the knowledge that they can upgrade their phones to match.

What they won't get is the Touch ID app, which offers fingerprint security and works with the fingerprint sensor built into the iPhone 5S Home button.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Storage

The iPhone 5S takes its capacity cues from the iPhone 5, offering the same three storage options - 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Battery Life

In terms of battery life, the spec sheets tell us that the iPhone 5S just edges out the old iPhone 5. It's rated at 10 hours of talk time on 3G, while the iPhone 5 can only muster 8 hours.

Standby time is calculated to be 250 hours for the 5S and 225 hours for the iPhone 5. Average usage is much the same - 10 hours on LTE, up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi, up to 10 hours of video playback and up to 40 hours of audio playback.

That doesn't sound impressive until you consider that, thanks to the A7 processor, the iPhone 5S is twice as fast.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Early verdict

If you crave a new iPhone, then the 64-bit iPhone 5S is a decent upgrade.

It may not have a better screen or more storage, nor does it have a significantly superior camera or vastly improved connectivity.

But since the announcement of the iPhone 5S and the lower-spec iPhone 5C, the original iPhone 5 has disappeared from the Apple Store, never to return.

The 5S is pricey though - on a two year contract, the 16GB model will cost $199, the 32GB model $299 and the 64GB 5S $399. Ouch.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Apple launched two new phones on September 10 - the high-end iPhone 5S and the not-so-low-end iPhone 5C. How do the two models compare?

What technology do they share? Find out in in our comparison below.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Build

The two phones couldn't be more different in terms of their look and feel. The iPhone 5S retains the classic good looks of the iPhone 5 and is available in three aluminum color combos - silver/white, "space grey"/black and gold/white. It has a premium polish that the plastic iPhone 5C, with its five bright color options, obviously lacks.

In terms of size and weight, the iPhone 5S is exactly the same size as the old iPhone 5 - a neat and stylish 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm. Although there are only millimeters in it, the iPhone 5C is bigger in every respect - measuring 124.4 x 59.2 x 8.97mm. There's a more noticeable difference in the weight. The iPhone 5S is a mere 112g, while the iPhone 5C (with a reinforced steel structure hidden beneath the polycarb plastic) is 132g.

You'll also notice that the classic Home button on the iPhone 5S has been redesigned to incorporate a revolutionary Touch ID fingerprint sensor. A thin stainless steel ring now encloses the button - the iconic rounded square is gone. Around the back, the iPhone 5S also features a dual LED flash. The iPhone 5C doesn't. More on this later.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Display

As expected, both new iPhones feature the same 4-inch touch-sensitive Retina display that debuted in the iPhone 5. The resolution remains unchanged at 640 x 1136 pixels and, although the pixels per inch rating of 326 means that the screen is crisp and clear (iOS 7 looks fantastic), it lags behind rival phones with bigger screens and fuller HD resolutions.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Camera

When it comes to photo prowess, iPhones have been good, but never quite as good as Nokia's Carl Zeiss-equipped Lumia handsets. Rather than bump up the raw Megapixels to 13, the iPhone 5C makes a few improvements to the Apple designed lens - notably a new camera app that auto sets white balance, exposure and creates a dynamic local tone map each time you snap a photo. There are also live filters and video stabilization to reduce camera shake. Plus an improved backside illumination sensor in the 1.2MP front iSight camera, which should compensate for any poor lighting during FaceTime calls.

The iPhone 5S makes further improvements, adding a dual LED "True Tone" flash, a Sapphire crystal lens cover and 15% larger sensor (with an f/2.2 aperture) that lets more light in - the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5 have a f/2.4 aperture. Alongside the existing face detection and panoramic features, there's also a new Burst mode, which can snap 10 photos per second and intelligently pick the best one. Both phones feature 1080p video capture, but the 5S also includes a fun Slo-mo option. This shoots 720p video at 120fps so you can capture the finer detail of key moments.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Connectivity

Both new iPhones feature wider support for LTE, as well as 3G/HSDPA and CDMA2000 support. There's still no NFC in either iPhone, but wireless connectivity is well served with 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Processor

Performance-wise, the iPhone 5C uses the same dual core Apple A6 CPU that appeared in the iPhone 5 that it replaces.

However, the iPhone 5S debuts the new A7 processor, a revolutionary 64-bit chip that Apple says offers twice the performance of the A6. Technical details on the A7 are sketchy, but it runs OpenGL ES 3.0 for fast, detailed 3D graphics and has an M7 motion co-processor, designed to monitor the various sensors in the iPhone 5S. Expect future fitness and health apps to take full advantage of this.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Software

Both phones come with iOS 7, but it's worth pointing out that the 5S will run a 64-bit version of Apple's operating system and should be twice as speedy. We've already noted that there's a new camera app and iOS 7 makes Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iMovie and iPhoto apps free of charge. The iPhone 5S also includes the Touch ID app, enabling owners to use the built-in fingerprint sensor to unlock their phone or to approve iTunes purchases with a simple press. Another revolutionary feature that's unique to Apple's new flagship handset.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Storage

As for storage, Apple hasn't chosen to venture into 128GB territory. So there's a familiar choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB iPhone 5S models, while the iPhone 5C is available in 16GB or 32GB capacities. Choose wisely. Unlike many rival Android phones, Apple refuses point-blank to include a microSD slot for iPhone owners to expand the default internal storage.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Battery Life

According to the specs, both phones will manage up to 10 hours of talktime, up to 250 hours on standby, up to 10 hours on LTE, up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi, up to 10 hours of video playback and up to 40 hours of audio playback.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Pricing

As expected, the iPhone 5S isn't cheap. Sign your freedom away on a two-year contract and the 16GB model will cost $199, the 32GB model $299 and the 64GB 5S $399. Compare this to the iPhone 5C on a similar two year deal - the 16GB model will set you back $99, while the 32GB version costs $199.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Early verdict

The iPhone 5S is easily the better of the two phones and it's no more (and no less) than we expected, considering Apple's iterative release policy.

If you were hoping for a bigger, higher resolution display or NFC, you'll need to wait for the iPhone 6. For now, the 5S is a souped-up iPhone 5. It impresses with its fingerprint recognition sensor and its all-new 64-bit A7 processor, which comes with an M7 co-processor that Apple undoubtedly have big plans for. A test-bed for a body monitoring iWatch? Only time will tell.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Apple has no current plans to open up its new fingerprint sensing technology to third-party app developers, the company's Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller has confirmed.

The new Touch ID tech, announced on Tuesday for the new iPhone 5S handset, enables users to unlock the handset and authenticate iTunes purchases by placing a finger on the revamped Home button.

The dual functionality has immediately led to speculation about what else the sensor could be used for, but Schiller told the AllThingsD blog Apple has shut down the possibility, for now at least.

When pushed on whether devs could get access in the future Schiller declined to comment, potentially leaving the door open for a future roll out.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was a little more forthcoming when asked by the same site. He said: "You can probably imagine a lot of [other] uses," but wouldn't be drawn on the company's future plans.

Security concerns?

The Touch ID tech, which blends right into the new Home button, utilises a sensor that's 170 microns thin, and scans sub-epidermal skin layers using a 500ppi resolution sensor.

In order to conserve battery, the sensor is only active when it knows your finger is present and has 360-degree readability so you won't have to reorient your finger every time you wish to use the device.

The company has also promised that all of your fingerprint data will be stored locally on the device and will never be uploaded to iCloud or the company's servers.

It's surely those security precautions that would prevent Apple opening the Touch ID tech up to its army of iOS developers. Naturally, users would not want that data fed back to app developers alongside email addresses, high scores and more.

Still, as Cook intimates, its fun to imagine potential users for the tech in gaming, educational and entertainment based-apps. Lend us some of your thoughts in the comments section below.

• What is Touch ID? Bring yourself up to speed with Apple's new pass code killer

Source : techradar[dot]com

With the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C announcements, bargain shoppers and deal hunters must have been salivating at the possibilities of cheaper or free iPhones. That option is here with the free iPhone 4S, but we're warning you against that route.

When Apple announces its new iPhone model each year, it usually means a previous version becomes cheaper. The older models are generally a good deal, but this time around it isn't.

Slap the word "free" onto the iPhone 4S and suddenly you have an enticing deal. It has a retina display, a nice camera and solid battery life. But alas, it also comes with only 8GB storage, which is practically nothing these days.

iPhone 5C vs. iPhone 4S: You'll want the extra memory

Think of all the photos and videos you'll shoot, or the fun apps and games you're going to be downloading. Where do you think all that stuff will go in an 8GB smartphone? Nowhere, that's where.

In terms of specs, the iPhone 4S is a bit antiquated now, too. Think about it, for just $99 more you can get what's essentially an iPhone 5 with a plastic, candy-colored shell in 16GB or 32GB variants. That amount of money is worth saving you the headache of running out of space in the long run.

One lesser factor to consider is resale value: you're more likely to get more cash for an iPhone 5C down the line than you ever will for an 8GB iPhone 4S.

These days, it seems like even 16GB isn't enough storage for a smartphone. Camera resolutions are increasing, and so is video quality. That means we need more storage along with our apps and the other junk we stuff into our phones.

Few things are more irritating than finding yourself trying figure out which apps, photos and videos you keep, and which ones you should delete to save space. Sometimes you hit that wall just a few months after purchasing a new phone.

When it comes to iPhones, when you commit to a certain storage capacity, you are committed to it. Neither the iPhone 4S or iPhone 5C have expandable storage (i.e. microSD card slots for more memory). If you want an 8GB phone now just because it's free, make sure it's the same 8GB you can live with two years from now when you can upgrade again.

Perhaps we're getting a little too preachy, but if budget is your deciding factor when buying a new smartphone, give the iPhone 5C more consideration.

You're getting a newer phone with better specs and more memory for - in the grand scheme of things and the duration of your contract - hardly any money at all. Some of us spend more on coffee each month than the contract price of a phone.

Free iPhone 4S is a lose-lose situation

Between the two non-iPhone 5S smartphones that you can buy on September 20, the 5C is really your best bet. But if you don't think you're going to be downloading a ton of apps, and you never shoot photos or videos on your phone, the iPhone 4S might be a decent shot.

After all, you're still getting a quality device for nothing besides a two-year contract. Let's not forget that just a little over a year ago, the 4S was Apple's flagship device.

In the end, we strongly feel that anyone who wants a smartphone isn't ever going to be content with just 8GB of storage. You may try to reason with yourself now since free stuff is hard to pass up, but your needs will change along with new trends in the industry, and you'll end up kicking yourself for it.

Oh, and one more thing: There is also a good chance that app developers won't support your phone anymore. You wouldn't want to be left behind with no memory to spare, would you?

Source : techradar[dot]com

The new iPhone 5S is a solid upgrade of the iPhone 5, but with a few key changes: the processor is more advanced than ever, the camera has been upgraded and most importantly: there's a fingerprint sensor.

On top of that there's the added bonus of a faster GPU (to help power all those teeny tiny pixels rolling around and changing colour in the display) as well as an uprated power pack to keep things moving.

And, as expected, the iPhone 5S is the poster boy for iOS 7, with the new display offering the best look yet at the new flatter, sleeker operating system from Apple.

In our plays with the beta version of the OS, some elements were noticeably slow or jumpy (although this was very much because we weren't on final software) but with the iPhone 5S everything just flows around as smoothly as possible.

The design of the iPhone 5S isn't a great leap forward, with the chassis remaining largely the same as the iPhone 5 in keeping with Apple's tradition of using the core model as the base for the sequel, before releasing a 'true' evolution next year.

Even though we knew this was coming, we can't say that we aren't a little disappointed as the rumours around the iPhone 6 hint at a dramatic redesign of the device as well as a new material type to make it feel even better in the hand.

There are three colours to choose from, with silver, gold and 'space grey' coming in to give another option to consumers looking to mark themselves out in the iPhone game, especially at the sharp end. If you're after colour, then the iPhone 5C is your friend - that thing comes in five different options, with cases that you can stick on top too.

The design of the iPhone 5S is, as we said, pretty similar to what we've seen before, so colour aside you'd struggle to see if someone is packing a new or old version of the phone with the larger screen.

But let's forget about all the stuff we expected and focus more on the fact that there's a fingerprint sensor in there now - we're talking about biometrics that actually work with a phone.

The premise is simple: you turn on the phone using the home or power button, hold your finger down on the round key and you're into the phone. It's incredibly fast, very slick and makes you feel like you don't have a passcode on there at all.

Apple hasn't just made this a one-trick pony though, as when setting up the sensor you're asked to guide your finger on and off the button in a variety of ways - this means that no matter how you jab at the home key to unlock the iPhone 5S will be able to react correctly.

In our tests this worked incredibly well - Apple really has cracked the first step in biometrics on a phone, and when you compare it to Android's Face Unlock, it's world's apart, and shows the power when a phone company doesn't have to rely on such a wide spread of hardware.

Granted, it's only on the iPhone 5S - so an update from Android should enable the tech in phones like the Galaxy S5 and HTC One Max.

But the big question in the mind of many reading this is 'Should I got for the iPhone 5S or get the cheaper iPhone 5?'. Well, if you're looking to get what will likely be one of the best handsets on the market as well as future-proofing yourself (although you'll probably upgrade your phone before Apple ceases support for iOS on the iPhone 5S) then the newer model will please you no end.

However, the iPhone 5 still comes with all the bells and whistles needed to make iOS 7 run smoothly, as well as packing a decent enough camera and screen to excite enough users, who will also get the benefit of a few dollarpounds off the monthly cost of their new device.

Early verdict

The iPhone 5S isn't a market-leading device in so many ways… but then again, that's never been Apple's strategy, and that's a good thing.

There are so many people out there desperate to hold onto a smaller display, finding the 5-inch behemoths too cumbersome for the pocket or the hand. That's not to say we're not fans of what LG, Samsung and HTC are doing with their devices, but there's clearly a demand for a smaller-screened handset.

And smaller definitely isn't less beautiful with the iPhone 5S, thanks to that improved camera and fingerprint scanner to really make everything pop and snap when you're doing the smartphone basics -such as opening the phone a million times a day.

The iPhone is a handset designed to give the best blend of power, sophistication and performance, and the iPhone 5S has taken that message and improved on it once more. The price will still be too high for some, but those locked into the iOS ecosystem, or just willing to take a punt and try something a bit different, will be massively pleased with the new iPhone.

And if you're one of those that deserted the platform after poor battery problems or signal issues, you'll especially like the iPhone 5S, which feels like one of Apple's most stable devices to date while carrying on the tradition of a close eye on premium design.

We would like a touch more heft with the metallic chassis, as it almost feels too light the first time you hold it, but with more colours, more power and a spec list that feels like it's got the right mix of performance and precision, we can see the iPhone 5S being the top-selling device once more for the Cupertino firm.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Apple announced the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C on September 10, and along with it will come iOS 7. The newest version of iOS is arguably the most radical in terms of design and function, but it's a welcome change to an aging platform.

Many of you might already be familiar with iOS 7 since it has been available to developers for several weeks now. If you haven't already installed the beta version on your iPhone, perhaps you've seen all the videos and screenshots that have been pervading the web. Its icons are a little larger, rounder and "flatter" (i.e. no more 3D-like gradients).

Aside from new design elements and UI animations, Apple adds some welcome new features, too. iOS 7's Control Center, for example, is long overdue. With a quick swipe of the thumb, you get instant access to features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, brightness, Clock, AirDrop and more.

A few apps have either been refreshed or overhauled as well. Safari, for example, has a completely new look, and tabbed browsing looks different, too.

With all the new features and tweaks, iOS 7 feels like a brand new OS--and it sort of is--but will also be very familiar to current and former iOS users. The way you interact with the OS is the same, and apps and UI features behave the same, too. The idea was to make it new enough, yet familiar enough, so that iPhone users would transition to the new platform smoothly.

But is iOS 7's new makeup and bag of tricks enough to sway someone struggling to choose between it and Android?

iOS 7 vs. Android: How will you decide?

Android had the edge over iOS for some time with its notification tray, widgets and endless customization options. In fact, iPhone users still don't get the latter two. With Android, users also get to choose from a number of smartphone form factors from several manufacturers. As of the time of this writing, iPhone users will only get to choose three: iPhone 4S, iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S.

Aside from having more hardware options, there is also the customizability of Android. With many Android handsets, you can choose the number of homescreens you want, select from static or animated backgrounds and add or remove live widgets from any of the homescreens.

If you really had to get picky, the choice between Android and iOS 7 gets tricky. While the latter has been updated to include a number of overdue features, Android still has the edge on customization and choice. However, iOS 7 beats Android's apps by some margin, and its performance is always consistent.

It's true that Android apps have become more polished over time, but having reviewed hundreds of handsets over the past six years, it's still evident that iOS is just more consistent. Its app selection still tops Android, and when it comes to new apps and services, iOS users tend to get first dibs

iOS 7: Learn to love the new features

For those of you who are already committed to the iPhone, be prepared for iOS 7. Many of our close friends are already dreading its release, with a handful of them promising they won't update because they just don't like it. We'll admit that it took us some time to get used to the new platform, but after a week or so we couldn't imagine going back to any previous versions of iOS.

Having quick access to notifications and oft-used features is a blessing. Many of our frustrations with iOS have been alleviated by version 7. We even prefer the new look of the icons, messaging and e-mail apps and the phone app, too. Everything is more modern, less antiquated.

One thing Apple always does well is refinement. If you look at the iPhone 5S design and compare it to the iPhone 4, you'll find that they don't appear to be all that different despite the number of years between them. Apple took a design that worked and made it better, and it does that with its OS and apps, too.

iOS 7 could stand to gain a little polish and better speed all around, but we're content with it at the moment. We can do without all the crazy and confusing apps that Samsung throws into its Galaxy smartphones, or the weird hardware features that have been in Android phones over the years (e.g. poorly functioning fingerprint scanners, 3D cameras, etc.). Besides, if you're an iPhone user and you're planning on staying an iPhone user, you're going to have to learn to love it.

Source : techradar[dot]com

After months of guesswork, the iPhone 5C is official and it's basically an iPhone 5 in plastic coating.

But that won't stop you (or perhaps your kids) wanting one when you see the colourful array of finishes the handset comes in - green! yellow! white! pink! etc.

The good news is that there isn't long to wait: the iPhone 5C release date is September 20 while pre-orders open on September 13. We've had a quiet word with all the networks to find out who's stocking what. Let's do this:

• But wait! First decide if the new handset is worth your money with our hands on iPhone 5C review

EE

Yes, EE will be stocking the iPhone 5C and it will be running on its 4G network. No word on contract prices yet.

Vodafone

The big red network will be selling the iPhone 5C on 4G and 3G price plans: what those plans will be is currently anyone's guess.

Three

You can register for more information about the iPhone 5C from Three, and it will be stocking the handset come September 20. No official word yet if the 5C will run on the 4G network when it launches in December.

O2

iPhone 5C is coming to O2 as well, and it'll play nice with the network's 4G set-up despite O2 being absent from Apple's LTE rundown page.

Apple

If you're ready to shell out £469 for the 16GB iPhone 5C or £549 for the 32GB model off-contract, you can buy directly from Apple.

• Find out everything there is to know about the iPhone 5C and check out what the TechRadar team makes of it too

Source : techradar[dot]com

The iPhone 5C is a curious little phone… only because it's released by Apple. Were Samsung hawking this new device as it's budget option then we wouldn't even bat an eyelid, but because it's Apple we're a little bit more circumspect. Can the company that prides itself on premium devices compete in this lower-cost segment?

Actually, it's a little unfair to say Apple can't compete at the lower end, as it's shown that with the iPod mini / nano that it can offer products to consumers at a lower cost without compromising too much on build quality.

Although we won't mention the original iPod shuffle…

The iPhone 5C features an all-new polycarbonate casing, with a design that's hewn from a single block of plastic with a steel cage thrust in there to help stability and improve antenna performance.

However beyond that we're really seeing a re-badged iPhone 5, which is no longer on sale thanks to being sacrificed for this new model. The CPU is an decent A6 chip, the screen is a 4-inch Retina display and the internal storage options are the standard 16GB and 32GB choices.

That said, this isn't a phone that's just made of recovered devices – it's a whole new handset. Some have wondered how Apple could ever think about making a non-premium device, but with the iPhone 5C it's made a phone that feel so different to the iPhone 5S that buyers won't feel like they're buying a rubbish version of that device.

Here's how the company made it so premium: keeping the cost higher. In the US it will be $99 and $199 for the contract options of 16GB and 32GB respectively. However, in the UK you'll be paying £479 for the privilege of a 16GB option, and £549 for the 32GB. That's more than the HTC One and Galaxy S4, depending on storage.

But beyond that, it's a very similar experience to that you'll get on the iPhone 5S, with iOS 7 running like a veritable peach, with no slow down nor issues to contend with in our early play with the phone.

Early verdict

What's better than the iPhone? A cheaper version, of course! Although let's be honest: it's only cheaper by Apple standard. However, for those that do want a phone that can give them the Apple experience without costing the Earth, this is a decent option.

Yes, it's mostly the DNA of an iPhone 5, but there's so much more going on here - the colours are going to be a real selling point across the world. We can't see the specs drawing many people in – although those that just buy into the iDream without a thought for what's running under the hood will be chirpy at the thought of having to shell out less cash.

Obviously compared side by side with the iPhone 5S, it's not in the same league, but has a wholly different look compared to the larger device. Its got a slower processor and a lower-power camera, but it also has a complete collection of funky shells.

It's going to be interesting to see how the market takes to an all-new iPhone, with a new target market and an alternative way of marketing in a familiar product segment – but as we said, Apple has previous history here and it's managed to come out on top nearly every time.

With the smartphone market becoming congested at both the low and high end, the mid-range arena is quickly becoming an important battleground for the big players – so it seems Apple has missed a trick by not pricing the iPhone 5C to compete with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and the HTC One Mini too.

But we're fans of what Apple has tried to do here, with the emphasis on colour and design over pure spec wars. It might look a little childish to some, but the opportunity to differentiate will likely be one to win over consumers – and if a brand can get its phone in your pocket, then the battle is already won.

We're updating this hands on review as we get more pictures - stay tuned for more info!

Source : techradar[dot]com

The rise of smartphones has seen some ringing the death knell of compact cameras for, well, years now.

Despite the fact that Apple isn't the producer of the world's biggest selling smartphone, and, it hasn't been, by some stretch, the producer of the best camera phone, it is always the launch of the new iPhone which gets us questioning if there really is any point in the compact camera anymore.

The Apple iPhone seems to be the smartphone of choice for those who consider themselves "photographers". It remains the case that Flickr's most popular "cameras" are the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. Compact cameras don't even get a look in. Other phone manufacturers also even get a look in.

But, what is interesting, if we exclude cameraphones from the equation – and that's not to say that Flickr is by any means a definitive measuring stick, then we can see that the most popular "point and shoots" (i.e. what it calls compact cameras) are highly specced, advanced premium compacts. The Sony RX100 tops the charts, followed by the Canon G12 and the Canon S95. These are cameras with full manual control and a high price point.

Meanwhile, sales of low-end compact cameras are definitely on the wane. Who wants to carry around an extra device that your smartphone can easily compete with and has the added advantage of being able to instantly share to Instagram? (other social networks are available). We've even seen some camera manufacturers, such as Olympus, announce that it will be concentrating its energy on the higher end of the market – probably a smart move.

True What?

As we might have expected, the iPhone 5S has taken a reasonable leap in terms of specs – at least on paper anyway. Despite rumours of a 12-13 megapixel device, Apple is sticking with its trusted 8 million pixel resolution, but it has made the sensor 15% larger than the one found on the iPhone 5.

It's also got some other interesting specs that you probably won't find on the average point and shoot - namely 10fps shooting, and a panorama mode which captures 28 million pixel images and adjusts exposure as you're panning. Nifty.

With everybody banging on about low light, it's only natural that Apple has not only made the sensor size and pixels bigger (they're now 1.5 microns), but it's also included what it's dubbing TrueTone flash - that is two LED flashes, one which is amber, one which is white - supposedly for more accurate colours.

Even bearing those new specs in mind, smartphones of course, don't offer everything that a dedicated imaging device does. It's here, where the latest batch of devices are desperately trying to compete. So far, there's nothing that truly meets that mark and makes the camera dispensable.

Headline grabbers include the Nokia Lumia 1020 with its "41 million pixel" sensor and Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, with it's unwieldy 10x optical zoom (it's basically a camera that can make calls). Meanwhile, the Nokia Lumia 925's all out advertising strategy is all about highlighting its low light capability.

Sony, on the other hand, is also being incredibly innovative. This month has seen the launch of the Sony Xperia Z1, with a 1/2.3 inch 20.2 million-pixel sensor. That's the same (physical and pixel count) size sensor as you might find in a pretty decent compact camera, and much larger than those found in the standard smartphone. It's also an Exmor R, which means it's backlit and should be pretty able to deal with low light scenarios.

Not only that, but the Sony QX100 and QX10 have just been announced – fully featured compact cameras that don't have a screen, instead using your smartphone or tablet to compose. Right there is an example of a company attempting to fight the smartphone onslaught head on by working with them, rather than against them.

Putting aside any of these specs, which are undoubtedly improving, one pretty crucial area where smartphones still struggle badly is battery life. Having an amazing camera is only as good as the battery life that allows you to use it, after all.

Conclusions

So, can we answer this article's headline? The answer, sadly, is remaining obstinately on the fence. It's probably true that within the next few years, the lower end of the compact camera market will dwindle even further.

That said, there are still some people (we don't know any of them) who don't have smartphones, for those people, the budget compact camera market is still a pretty interesting. It's also true that the dodgy battery life and the zero optical zoom of the average smartphone puts the kibosh on using it as a decent holiday snapper, so that market also still remains firm.

What we think will happen though, is that budget compact cameras, or at least, what we think of as budget compact cameras will start to change, offering more and more than your smartphone can't. We're talking high zooms, large sensors, low light capability, a decent battery life and more. This mid-range and above seems safe ... for now at least.

Join us for the next iPhone launch to no doubt ask this question all over again.

Source : techradar[dot]com

In a matter of hours, Apple CEO Tim Cook will take to the stage and months of rumour, speculation and basically just having a stab in the dark will come to a head: the iPhone 5S will be official.

But that's not all! We're expecting a host of announcements from Cupertino later today, and we'll be covering them all in real time both here on the site and over on Twitter.

Join us right here from 10 am PT / 6 pm BST / 7 pm Berlin time / 4 am Wed AEST for all the Apple-flavoured fun, where we'll be dissecting what Big Cook will be talking about, whether fingerprint tech will be popping up, whether a new cheaper iPhone will be coming and other general frippery.

You can even come a bit earlier and witness as TechRadar attempts to defy the Wi-Fi gods in Apple's fancy new Berlin store to bring your some pre-game action.

Ready for new iPhones? We are.

iPhone 5S

The big daddy. The new iPhone. Or the only-slightly-different-to-the-old-iPhone if the details we've seen in the most recent rumours turn out to be true.

Expect a souped-up camera, a better processor and iOS 7 on board.

• Follow all the iPhone 5S action here

iPhone 5C

With a simultaneous official event taking place in Beijing and the spotty dotty rainbow of an invite to boot, we won't be at all surprised if Tim Cook's first "One More Thing" moment turns out to be a cheap iPhone.

We've seen cases, components and pics galore - but we're still not really sure what the thing will be called. So that's exciting.

• Here's where you need to point your browser for all the iPhone 5C news as it breaks

An iOS 7 release date

The iOS 7 software went out to developers in beta form back in June - if Apple doesn't announce an imminent release of the OS to iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches today, we'll eat our collective hat.

• All things iOS 7 will be covered off here

An iTunes Radio release date

We don't expect any countries other than the US to get an iTunes Radio release date today, but the North Americans among us should find out when the Apple-flavoured music streaming service will be hitting your devices.

• Tune in here for the big iTunes Radio news

An OS X Mavericks release date

The new version of OS X was announced back at WWDC 2013 and has been in developer preview ever since.

Will Apple today tell us when we'll see the OS X Mavericks software hit Macs the world over? Here's hoping. Anything to get us out of Mavericks and into something with a better name is all right by us.

• Here's everything you need to know about OS X 10.9 Mavericks

A wildcard One More Thing?

What if the One More Thing isn't an iPhone 5C? This time last year, Apple knocked us all for six when it announced the iPad 4 alongside the iPad mini. Perhaps we're in for something a little more surprising this year - an iWatch? An iTV? The new Mac Pro?

One thing's for sure: with Apple, you can never be sure of anything.

Source : techradar[dot]com

The iPhone 5S home button doesn't look like it's going anywhere as the latest leak tips it to work both as your multi-tasking launcher and fingerprint scanner.

That's the word from Nowhereelse.fr, at least, which has what is supposedly some marketing materials from Apple that describe the button as "Home button/Touch ID sensor".

We've heard tell of the new iPhone coming with fingerprint reading tech for some time now with speculation fuelled by the news that Apple bought fingerprint scanning specialist Authentec in 2012.

We've also heard about the mysterious deletion of the square icon from the home button, and this new silver ring around the key as well.

Rumour Willis

Then again, we've heard a lot of things about the iPhone 5S - that it'll come in a 'champagne'-coloured finish, that it'll be bigger than the iPhone 5, that it will be smaller than the iPhone 5, that it'll be made out of unicorn horn...

We might've made one of those up. Anyway, not long to wait until we find out exactly what is what with the iPhone 5S as Apple's event kicks off later today (Tuesday) at 6pm BST / 10am PT.

• Get in on the Apple event action: we're expecting an iPhone 5S and an iPhone 5C. Follow along here on the site or join us for some classic tech #bantz over on Twitter.

Source : techradar[dot]com

EE's new 'Swap' program lets its customers 'swap' (see what they've done there) their handsets to newer, shinier models after six months.

The launch coincides happily with the iPhone 5S launch, expected later today, allowing EE's 4G customers to upgrade before their contracts are up or they are tempted over to Voadfone or O2's new 4G price plans.

Unfortunately, upgrading ties you into a new 24-month 4G plan, so it's not exactly flexible. The amount you'll pay to upgrade is dependent on what contract price you opt for.

Here's a breakdown of the costs:

You'll also need to have an eligible device in your possession - and it'll need to be in full working order and undamaged so no scamming EE, you guys.

The 'swap's can only take place in EE's high street stores, but that does mean you get to walk out with a new phone on the same day.

It's a similar kind of set up to O2's Refresh option, but O2 lets you buy your handset over the course of your contract and pay off the remaining balance on the phone so you can upgrade the newer handsets when you get the itch.

EE Swap launches on September 17 - the current handset line-up is:

• iPhone 5
• Samsung Galaxy S3
• Samsung Galaxy S4
• Samsung Note 2
• HTC One

But we have a feeling at least one more device will join that line-up, say, tomorrow.

• Yes, it's iPhone 5S day. Or should that be iPhone 5C day? Either way, join us here or on Twitter from 6pm for all the live action fun

Source : techradar[dot]com

Today's smartphone owners are a different beast to those that shelled out for a mobile phone a decade ago. We now expect regular updates to make our phones better, faster and less buggy, and we want the updates now - and there's none more expectant than the iPhone user.

However, it's not just those who'll be in line (or online) to buy the iPhone 5S who stand to benefit when the all-new iOS launches this month,; it's also an exciting time for existing handset owners who'll have some new software to play with.

When new users take the wrappers off the iPhone 5S, it'll also see Apple feed down iOS 7 to all of the devices it still deems compatible, right down to the three-year-old iPhone 4. What's old will become new again for iPhone owners this month.

Indeed, despite Apple's desire to have everyone upgrade to the latest device in its range, it has played a fair hand in ensuring legacy device owners can have access to as many of the new features as possible.

However, once iOS 7 drops there'll also be plenty of in-version updates coming throughout the next year, bringing refinements and improvements and perhaps, (whisper it) some bug fixes, before iOS 8 comes along in 2014.

So how many times will would-be owners of the new iPhone be gifted updates? Will the iOS 7 we see drop later this month be the only new features iPhone users can expect for the next 12 months, or can we expect a slew of updates to boost iOS 7 as the year goes on?

iPhone OS – The legend begins

Number of updates: 5

iOS didn't start life as iOS, as that moniker only arrived with iOS 4 in 2010. For the first few versions, Apple simply referred to it as the iPhone OS, a mobile version of Mac OS X, the company's desktop software and the first to boast a touchscreen interface.

With a mobile version of Safari, Mail, YouTube, Google Maps, iTunes and more, it was billed as the entire web on one device.

Apple didn't rest on its laurels for a year though, as it tweaked the software throughout the next 12 months.

iPhone OS 1.0.2 brought bug fixes and improved speaker volume, but iPhone OS 1.1.1 was the first major bump.

It brought access to the iTunes music store, allowing users to buy music over Wi-Fi, a change that would further mobilise the digital music revolution. It also brought compatibility for a video out connection, while double clicking the Home button allowed users to access shortcuts.

iPhone 1.1.2 brought international keyboard support and little else, but the next major update, which arrived in January of 08 was a real big hitter.

iPhone OS 1.1.3 brought a much-improved Google Maps app, which triangulated the user's current position using Wi-Fi towers, and also debuted a new interface.

This update also focused on improving the iPhone's Home screen, allowing icon position to be customised and web pages to be saved to the home screen. Apple called them "Web Clips."

Group SMS was also a welcome addition. iTunes Movie Rentals also arrived with this update, but at this stage they weren't available for on-device purchases.

"iPhone doesn't stand still - we're making it better and better all the time," said Steve Jobs, Apple's then CEO in the company's press release. "We've delighted millions of users with this revolutionary and magical product and it's great to share these improvements with them."

Two more versions (1.1.4 and 1.1.5) brought more minor updates before iPhone OS 2.0 arrived in June 2008, but thanks to these updates the iPhone was a far superior device at the end of its first year than it was at the beginning.

iPhone OS 2.0 – Birth of an app nation

Number of updates: 5

When the iPhone 3G arrived the numerous hardware updates were partly overshadowed by the improvements to the iPhone's software. The app-dominated mobile ecosystem we see today began in earnest with the launch of the App Store and the arrival of third-party apps within iPhone OS 2.0.

That version also added Microsoft Exchange support, opening the device up to business users and introduced MobileMe, the platform that would eventually become iCloud.

Owners of the original iPhone also were also able to upgrade to the new software, a trend which has continued where possible until this very day.

In terms of updates, well iPhone OS 2.0 had plenty… mainly because plenty of fixes were required.

iPhone OS 2.0.1 and 2.0.2 brought bug fixes, before the first major update iOS 2.1 delivered answers to complaints about battery life, speed and dropped calls.

It also sought to improve third-party app download speeds, brought faster iTunes backups and faster contact loading. In terms of features, it added the Genius playlists the company introduced at an iPod event in September 2008.

iPhone OS 2.2 was a little more rich in new features bringing Google Street View to the iPhone for the first time, as well as driving directions, walking directions and public transport.

Google Maps would also show display the address of dropped pins and enable locations to be shared. Podcasts were also available to download for the first time, while Apple continued to work on eliminating dropped calls. In January of 2009 Apple made a few more fixes with iPhone OS 2.2.1.

By the end of that cycle, the second version of iPhone OS had become much more stable, but hadn't grown significantly in terms of new features. However, the arrival of third-party apps meant that didn't really matter as much, with users exposed to a new world of other options.

iPhone OS 3 – Filling in the gaps

Number of updates 4

The launch of the iPhone 3GS in the summer of 2009 saw Apple bring iPhone OS 3 in to play. It ushered in a large array of new features that improved life for iPhone owners without revolutionising it.

MMS finally arrived, as did push notifications for third-party apps, the system-wide Spotlight search tool, voice control (a pre-cursor to Siri) and the option to cut, copy and paste text into other apps. In-app purchases also debuted for paid apps, while Bluetooth stereo support enabled new wireless audio options.

As well as debuting on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 2G and iPhone 3G owners also got in on this action.

In terms of updates, well, they became less plentiful as Apple settled into its yearly update cycle and started saving new features for later versions. iOS 3.1 allowed users to buy ringtones from the iTunes Store, while the Genius feature was extended to apps.

Some bugs relating to lost network connectivity and waking the device from sleep were resolved in iOS 3.1.2, while iOS 3.1.3 brought no new features beyond stability.

iOS 3.2 arrived in April 2010 to coincide with the first-gen iPad release, but brought no new features for iPhone users. They'd have to wait until iOS 4 for the iBooks Store.

Source : techradar[dot]com