We had to give the iPhone 5 its very own special place on Geeks Gift Guide. Even though it’s been well over a month since its debut and the hype was expected, this particular smartphone deserves its own special feature.
Although any smartphone or tablet is a fantastic gift idea for both men and women; some of you unfortunately are dealing with a ‘fussy geek’. Our iPhone 5 review is for those individuals who take specifications, the tiny details and raw power very seriously. In this post you will find all the details you need on specs, features and whether or not it’s worth buying for that special geek in your life.
iPhone 5 Key Specs
Operating System: iOS
Size: 2.31 x 0.03 x 4.87-inch
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G
Camera: 8MP
Storage: 16 – 32 – 64GB
Battery Life: On Standby – 225 hours; Talk time – 8 hours (3G)
Weight: 3.95oz
iPhone 5 Features: The Pros
Speed: Of course as expected the iPhone 5 has improved speed over its predecessor the iPhone 4S. With more speed, users will enjoy fast navigation and much quicker loading times. When the iPhone 5 made its debut, so did a new piece of technology – the A6 processor. When it comes to Apple products and advancements, they usually reserve new technology for their tablets, so this was a bit of a bonus for Apple smartphone fans. In the most basic terms possible, the iPhone 5 is incredibly fast.
Screen: One big difference with this phone and its previous version is the screen size. iPhone 4S owners will quickly notice the differences without having to compare side-by-side. This phone features a 4” screen, while the 4S had a 3.5”.
Apple fans have been waiting a long time for a bigger screen, and although ignored for quite some time, it seems the ever escalating tech wars seemed to give Apple the push they needed to comply with fans. The new screen is much nicer to navigate with, and users will appreciate a much larger visible area to work with. One notable improvement is a extra row for App icons.
Size and Weight: Don’t be fooled by the larger screen and certainly don’t let it scare you off. Even though the iPhone 5 is a little on the larger size, the talented folks at Apple managed to keep the phone nice and light-weight. It may in fact be a longer phone, but the iPhone 5 is much trimmer, fitting comfortably in your pocket, even more so than the 4S. This phone weighs less than 4 ounces, which is impressive, considering how much longer it is.
Overall Design: The iPhone 5 is as classy as ever. Users get the same Apple style they are used to, but with subtle differences. The iPhone 5 is very appealing to both devoted Apple fans and a welcoming change to new users.
iOS 6: Apple wins again with this incredible advancement in the operating system. The iOS 6 improves on just about everything – including a better version of siri software, a cool Passbook app that helps you keep track of tickets or passes based on your location.
4G LTE: The 4G LTE is nothing new, and it has been a huge part of the Android phones for quite some time. However, the 4G LTE is a welcomed feature on the iPhone 5. This incredible technology gives you super fast service, with better connection speeds than Wi-Fi set up in your own home. The speed clocks in at between 10 and 20 Mbps – this means you get to stream freely wherever you are.
EarPods: This one took forever! When the new EarPods were announced and released, the excitement felt for every Apple fan was overwhelming. Finally, the classic iPod earphones have been updated – the 
EarPods come with a futuristic look, and fit into your ear much more comfortably.
iPhone 5 Features: The Cons
No Sim Swap: If you wanted to put your old Sim card into your new iPhone 5, sorry you’re out of luck. Apple chose to go with nano-Sim cards in the new iPhone. This means you have no choice but to make a full switch over – kind a sucks.
Incompatible Accessories: iPhone 4S owners are peeved about this one; most Apple fans really enjoy collecting cool accessories, but will be disappointed when they realize you can’t transfer the cool collection to the new iPhone 5. Kind a sucks number 2.
4G LTE: Yes, this technology certainly kicks ass, but so does the price – super expensive.
The Verdict
Is it worth buying?
It’s Apple – of course it’s worth buying. In all seriousness, the Apple iPhone 5 currently stands king of the Smartphone Mountain. The advanced features, sexy sleek design, and significant improvements from the 4S speak for itself. If that favourite Geek in your life is hinting or leaning towards Apple, then the answer is YES, buy him or her this phone.
Sonia Ingriselli
Sonia is the Executive Editor here at Geek Insider. Sonia has a passion for gadgets, technology and game consoles; she is proud to call herself a Zombie loving Tech-monster and spends most of her day's just writing. Follow me on Twitter @SoniaIngriselli
