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Topic: iPhone

So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

Summary: The latest rumors are positioning the iPhone 5 as more of an upgrade and not the revolutionary device we were hoping for.

Joel Evans

By for The Mobile Gadgeteer |

Now that the iPad 2 is coming, or at least is being announced later this week, the rumor mill has switched to the iPhone 5. So far there are a whole lot of upgrades packed into this thing, but nothing is really blowing me away as "revolutionary". See a quick roundup below:

  • It will cost less, but will not be an iPhone nano
  • Four-inch display
  • Upgraded multi-core A4 processor (A5?)
  • Gobi WWAN chip that works on both CDMA and GSM (Verizon iPhone already has it)
  • Near Field Communication (NFC) -- following the Nexus S
  • Newly designed antenna (no more death grip)

My guess is most likely we'll see a "new look", bumped up specs (A5 processor) and a 4-inch screen. When you put all of that together, it lags far behind what the iPhone 4 introduced. For starters, with the iPhone 4 the world suddenly experienced an iPhone with a retina display, front and rear facing cameras, 720p HD video recording, Facetime, and more. The iPhone 4 was a worthy upgrade, whereas the iPhone 5 seems more like some specs being bumped up.

Of course, the above is all speculation, and it will be a while before we get a true glimpse at what the iPhone 5 will be all about.

In the interim, I continue to hear friends raving about their Verizon iPhone 4, despite my comments on why you shouldn't run out and get one. This makes me realize that even if the iPhone 5 is just a spec bump, the people that weren't eligible to upgrade to the 4 will definitely be waiting in line for the 5. This will, of course, translate to a sell-out success for Apple this summer (if the rumors of the launch date hold true).

I'm hopeful that Apple will surprise all of us with not only a revolutionary experience with the next generation iPhone, but a redefined tablet experience in the form of the iPad 2.

Topics: iPhone, Hardware, Mobility, Smartphones

About

With more than 15 years of mobile, Internet and wireless experience, Joel specializes in taking existing brands and technologies into the mobile and wireless space. Joel is currently the VP of Strategy Integration for Mobiquity, an enterprise-class mobile solutions provider.

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71 comments
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  • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

    I am also passing iPhone 5, it is not because of the reasons you mentioned. I upgraded mine only last year. I don't want to burn $s with early upgrade, so I will wait cheerfully for iPhone 6.
    Ram U
    Reply Vote

    • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

      @Rama.NET Same here, I have the iPhone 4, not really interested in 5 unless there's something totally earth-shattering about it, not "It's a half-inch bigger!!!"...
      Brick Tamland
      Reply Vote

      • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

        @Brick Tamland
        You are totally right on it.
        Ram U
        Reply Vote

      • OMG! Get these two some Apple brand Kool Aid! STAT!

        @Brick Tamland
        The Apple Reality Distortion Field must be getting weak!

        Why, that extra half inch of diagonal space - it's revolutionary! It's MAGICAL! Gosh darn it!
        Wolfie2K3
        Reply Vote

    • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

      @Rama.NET <br>Well, there aren't many new things Apple can do. iPhone has been around since 2007 and there aren't many radical things that can be added that hasn't already. This is why something newer has more potential. iPhone has already reach its peak popularity and is past its prime.
      illegaloperation
      Reply Vote

      • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

        @day2die
        Yup your right all they can do now is like what the iphone 5 is projected to be just playing catch up to everyone else since they are so far behind . Took ,long enough to get the screen enlarged maybe next they will add true hdmi out features and be able to make calls.
        Fletchguy
        Reply Vote

    • I prefer to leapfrog models.

      @Rama.NET : Slightly over two years ago, I purchased my first iPhone, the 3G model. I skipped the 3G(s) both because I couldn't see enough upgrade to make the cost worth it and because my original 3G was still working just fine--no drastically-reduced battery life; no dropped calls, none of the issues my previous cell phones always had at about 1 year of age. As such, I purchased my iPhone 4 a couple months ago and got one for my wife as well, jealous of my first one for as long as I had it.

      For me, the iPhone 6; about half way through its introductory year is probably when I'll get it.
      Vulpinemac
      Reply Vote

  • Message has been deleted.

    davebarnes
    Reply Vote

    • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

      @davebarnes It's stunning isn't it? Not a fact in sight.

      I probably won't be getting an iPhone 5, unless it's the current model when I'm "out of contract", then I probably will. Till then I'll stick with my iPhone 4 - which I really like.
      jeremychappell
      Reply Vote

    • To be expected

      Same article every time an apple product rumor is released.
      Richard Flude
      Reply Vote

    • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

      @davebarnes

      Lol great reply. Took the words out of my mouth!!!
      shooterntx
      Reply Vote

    • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

      @davebarnes

      Well said. I hate click-trolls.
      thofts
      Reply Vote

  • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

    Me too!
    Loverock Davidson
    Reply Vote

    • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

      @Loverock Davidson What? But you LOVE the iPhone and all Apple products... I simply cannot believe that you would pass in the iPhone 5.
      NonFanboy
      Reply Vote

      • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

        @NonFanboy <br>I think he said at one point that he had an iPhone.
        Ram U
        Reply Vote

  • Another totally useless zdnet article

    I've decided I'm not going to buy whatever car is released next year. It will probably be an awful car, from what I hear on "the internet", so I'm deciding today that no one should buy it.

    Great article!
    CathyCC
    Reply Vote

    • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

      @CathyCC
      :-)
      Ram U
      Reply Vote

    • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

      @CathyCC

      Lol awesome reply!!!
      shooterntx
      Reply Vote

  • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

    IPhone 5 is vaporware
    slickjim
    Reply Vote

    • RE: So far I'm passing on the iPhone 5

      @Peter Perry <br>An item becomes vapourware if it has not been released by its release date or if it is announced, without a specific release date, but never makes it to market. Given that there is no stated release date for the iPhone 5 (in fact, Apple has not even confirmed its existence) it cannot possibly be vapourware. If you want to make remarks about vapourware, then reflect on all of the iPad-killer tablets "released" at CES2011 that never made it to market. Now that is real vapourware!
      Restricted_access
      Reply Vote
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