Thuy Mallalieu and Robin Spinks have both recently upgraded their handsets to the iPhone 5 which comes pre installed with iOS6. In this blog post, they share some of their initial observations on the new iPhone and the latest operating system from an accessibility perspective.
The Hardware
The iPhone 5 is taller, slimmer and lighter than its predecessor, in fact it's the lightest ant thinnest iPhone to date, measuring just 7.6 mm in thickness. That makes it one of the thinnest smartphones currently available.
The reduced weight is immediately apparent when compared with previous iPhones. That said, the iPhone 5 still feels very solid and well constructed.
The iPhone 5 feels good in the hand with a very different tactile quality to previous models. This is due to the fact that the device is essentially one piece of aluminium which Apple calls a unibody. On the lightly textured back, there are glass inlays at the top and bottom and these are immediately discernible, giving the phone a very unique feel.
The Screen
The iPhone 5 has a 4 inch display which feels slightly different from previous models. Unlike previous models, the touch sensors are embedded into the display rather than being a separate element. This appears less slippery to the touch and helps to improve responsiveness.
The display is taller but not wider. This allows the user to see more information on screen but it does not increase the size of what's on screen. So for example, with the Calendar app open on the iPhone 5, it's now possible to see more entries in the form of a longer list. With the Notes app open and font size set to 32 point, it's now possible to see six lines of text instead of just four. This feature makes the phone easier to use for partially sighted users.
Staying with the display, it's quickly evident that the iPhone 5 display is superior to that of the 4S. Although both have Retina displays, the colour saturation on the iPhone 5 display is significantly improved. This is noticeable when comparing the two handsets side by side and can be seen especially when looking at photos.
The Camera
The camera on the iPhone 5 is slightly upgraded but it's possibly not that noticeable when compared with the 4S. It's still an eight mega pixel unit but it offers enhancements like forty per cent faster photo capture, better low light performance and noise reduction. This may well offer advantages when it comes to using optical character recognition apps.
Performance
Performance wise, the iPhone 5 is very smooth, snappy and stable. It's noticeably faster than the iPhone 4S and significantly faster than the 4.
In terms of the thermal performance, the iPhone 5 runs cooler than the 4S which often became quite hot in certain applications. This change may be the result of the new Apple A6 chip and better power management but also may be due to the aluminium construction and its ability to dissipate heat quickly.
So far, battery life would appear to be at least comparable with the 4S if not slightly better.
Connections
The iPhone 5 does away with the familiar 30 pin connector replacing it with an all digital Lightning connector which is easier to insert. This is because it does not matter which way round the connector is plugged in.
When inserted, there is also a more positive click with the new connector, making this a welcome improvement. However, the new Lightning connector means you will need an (optional) adaptor if you wish to use 30 pin accessories.
The headphone jack has moved to the bottom of the unit and this also feels like a positive change. When listening to music or an audio book on a train for example, the new connector position feels more accessible.
Headphones and Audio Performance
The new iPhone ships with the all new Apple Ear Pods. These strangely shaped ear buds give a marked improvement in audio performance but may not necessarily fit everyone's ears. Overall they sound much fuller than the previously included ear buds. Importantly, the cable on the EarPods has a smoother texture which means it's less likely to become tangled.
In terms of audio performance, the iPhone 5 has a clearer sound and is just as full as the 4S despite the slimmer form factor. The speakers sound clear but not tinny. The 4S sounded boxy in comparison.
In terms of call quality, the iPhone employs an extra noise cancelling microphone and this appears to improve the overall call quality when compared with previous models.
SIM Card
The iPhone 5 uses a smaller nano SIM instead of the micro SIM used in the iPhone 4 and 4S. So anyone contemplating an upgrade should ensure that their network can provide them with a nano SIM card. It is possible to trim a standard SIM or micro SIM card, although this practice is not recommended.
Overall Verdict
Overall the iPhone 5 feels like a significant upgrade if you're coming from an iPhone 4 or older, or if you're new to iPhone. Users of the 4S might notice less of a difference beyond the lower weight, the dimensional changes and the larger screen. However, the texture variation on the back of the iPhone 5 may be a helpful feature for blind users in that it's easier to quickly differentiate the front from the back of the phone.