From the 64 bit processor, the first in any phone, to the fingerprint scanner, offering the best security of any device; there's much for Apple to be proud of here. But if you're currently using a previous Apple phone such as the iPhone 4S or the iPhone 5 is it really worth upgrading?
The speed of the new phone will almost certainly take the top position in smartphone bench marks when it's released on September 20th. Powered by the first 64 bit processor in a phone means that, for certain tasks, this phone will blow all 32 bit processors out of the water, particularly for processor intensive uses such as photo editing.
Even better is the fact that some parts of the hardware that previously used the processor such as the gyroscope and accelerometer now have a separate chip, the M7, to handle their tasks separately. Put simply, you won't find a faster phone.
But do you need all that speed? For the vast majority of users with the iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S the speed boost offered by the iPhone 5s is simply unnecessary as there isn't a task on their current phones that cause them to go slow. Only die hard phone gamers who play titles with 3D graphics will really experience the performance gains.
There are people for whom upgrading could be a good idea. Those who regularly use their phone for fitness tracking will really benefit from the hardware that tracks motion having a separate chip. This will mean that the battery drains significantly slower than before, meaning the phone is better able to keep its charge during marathons and triathlons (although we wouldn't recommend taking it on the swimming section!).
For those who hold sensitive commercial, governmental or other data on their phones the fingerprint scanner is a really strong reason to upgrade. Previous phones with fingerprint scanners have been cumbersome to use, but the iPhone 5s has made it so you won't even notice you are logging in. This makes this security feature far more practical than any other scanner.
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| Image Credits: www.engadget.com |
It will also mean that government departments start seriously considering switching from devices such as Blackberry phones to iPhone. If you absolutely need to keep data secure then upgrading for the fingerprint scanner is a wise idea.
For the rest of us though, the fingerprint scanner will still offer us benefits on our old phones. Muggings for iPhones will almost certainly fall as the iPhone 5s isn't usable when stolen. As thieves won't be able to tell what phone we're using from a distance, it will also benefit those with older models.
Another potential benefit of the fingerprint scanner - that of using it to make payments - sadly won't be happening with the iPhone 5s due to the lack of an NFC chip. The dream of leaving your wallet at home will remain merely a dream, at least until the iPhone 6.
Demonstrations of the new camera show a vast improvement over even the great camera in the iPhone 5. The difference is particularly good in low light settings, due to the inclusion of a dual LED. But is this enough reason to upgrade? The truth is that photos taken with a phone, even the 41 megapixel Nokia Lumia 1020, are never as good as a dedicated DSLR.
Amateur photographers would be better off spending their money on a low cost DSLR such as the Canon 1100D or Nikon D3100 which retail at about half the price point than the new iPhone.
While the iPhone 5s is impressive, for most users of the previous two phones there's no need to upgrade. If you can get a cheaper contract by sticking with your existing phone the savings made could be enough to spend on a new laptop or short vacation. Only those with specific needs such as data security, gaming performance or long distance fitness tracking have a real need to upgrade.
Faizan Ahmad About the Author:
This article is posted by Faizan who is the Author and Founder of TechSenser. He is a Professional Blogger from India and a passionate writer about Technology, Gadgets, How-to-Guides, etc. You can connect him on Google+.