April 14, 2011

The iPhone 5 is an evolution rather than revolution, but the question is: should you hold off and buy an iPhone 5, or maybe you shouldn’t bother waiting and just get some older model?

Of course “is” at this moment is not certain because the iPhone 5 has not been released – or even announced yet. However since apparently Apple will not (!) be announcing the iPhone 5 during WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) this year as it did with previous iPhones, I am speculating here, what specifications (or “specs”) we can expect with the iPhone 5.

iPhone 5 specifications

• main processor (CPU): dual core Apple A5
  rationale: because iPad 2 has it and because nowadays several Android smartphones have dual core processors, so iPhone 5 can’t miss dual core too 
• graphic processor (GPU): PowerVR SGX543MP2 (with 2-4 cores, Apple claims that it delivers 9 times more speed than older GPU: PowerVR SGX 535 GPU – the same that is also in iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4)
  rationale: because iPad 2 has it and Apple surely would like to tout high-end iPad games also to iPhone 5 users 
• RAM memory: 512 MB
  rationale: because iPad 2 has it and: although iPhone 4 also has 512 MB, we doubt that Apple will extend RAM in iPhone 5 
• cellular radio: still no LTE, only UMTS/HSDPA/HUSPA, possibly faster version of HSDPA
  rationale: LTE technology in cellular phones is not ripe yet and we can expect first LTE iPhone in 2012 maybe but surely not in 2011 – it’s simply too early yet 
• display size: 4 inch
  rationale: Android competition both from HTC and Samsung is now offering cellphones with 4.3 inch display and iPhone’s display hasn’t changed for years and 3.5 inch these days feels cramped. It would be disappointing to still see 3.5 inch in iPhone 5 and almost unbearable considering that Android phones with 4.3 inch are extremely popular nowadays. 
• new sensor: NFC (Near Field Communication; usable e.g. for wireless touch-less purchases)
  rationale: each generation of iPhone had some new sensor: iPhone 3G had GPS, iPhone 3GS had compass, iPhone 4 had gyroscope – so logically speaking also iPhone 5 should have some new sensor and I can’t imagine what other sensor it may be. NFC that is! 
• camera: 8 megapixel with better optics from Sony instead of no-name company
  rationale: Sony executive has divulged that new iPhone has Sony lenses. While some companies (Samsung, Nokia) use brand-name lenses from Germany (Carl-Zeiss, Schneider), Apple (and HTC) always insisted on using no-name lenses. With Sony lenses in iPhone 5 it may change. 
• maximal storage space: 64 GB
  rationale: since iPad models, both iPad 1 and iPad 2, have maximal storage of 64 GB and many people, particularly those traveling a lot, are actually buying those 64 GB iPads, so Apple may decide to finally offer also 64 GB iPhone. 
• case construction: rounded edges not angled like in case of iPhone 4
  rationale: because iPad 2 has these rounded edges and because iPod touch 4th generation has them 
• new feature in display output: display mirroring also for apps and without the need to build-in VGA out support in apps with additional effort
  rationale: because iPad 2 has it 
• home button: none
  rationale: Steve Jobs doesn’t like buttons, tries to minimize and simplify design
  comment: it is unlikely that home button will disappear but this possibility is worth mentioning 

Conclusion: depending on what you need, you can see above whether iPhone 5 is worth waiting for, however in my opinion it depends on which iPhone you own now: if you own iPhone 4, don’t bother with iPhone 5 and wait for iPhone 6 with LTE, but if you own older iPhone, get yourself iPhone 5!

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