iPhone 5 review

[ ](http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/18/apple-iphone-5-review/)

Thinner. Lighter. Faster. Simpler. The moment the iPhone 5 [was unveiled](http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/12/apple-iphone-5-liveblog/) we knew that it was checking off all the right boxes, folding in all the improvements and refinements people have been demanding over the past year -- yet plenty of folks still went to their respective social networks to type out their bitter disappointment. iPhone upgrade ennui seemed to be sweeping the nation, a sentiment that appeared to quickly dissipate when it came time for people to [vote with their wallets](http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/17/iphone-5-pre-orders-crack-2-million-in-first-24-hours/).

The iPhone 5 is here -- or [will be soon](http://Unfortunately, it's just hard to see Android or Windows Phone devotees making a sudden move to an iPhone or iPad based entirely on the software alone.), anyway -- and it's every bit the device that people were asking for when the [iPhone 4S](http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/iphone-4s-review/) came out. Its new design has less mass yet leaves room for a larger display and LTE wireless, all while increasing battery life. In nearly every respect, this is an upgrade over the 4S that came before, though it arrives almost a year later than many had hoped. Is it too late to keep pace with the rapidly iterating Android offerings, or is it so good it was worth waiting for? The answer lies below.

**Gallery: [iPhone 5 review](http://www.engadget.com/photos/iphone-5-review/)**

[](http://www.engadget.com/photos/iphone-5-review/#5294200)[](http://www.engadget.com/photos/iphone-5-review/#5294201)[](http://www.engadget.com/photos/iphone-5-review/#5294202)[](http://www.engadget.com/photos/iphone-5-review/#5294203)[](http://www.engadget.com/photos/iphone-5-review/#5294204)

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Filed under: [Cellphones](http://www.engadget.com/category/cellphones/), [Mobile](http://www.engadget.com/category/mobile/)

[iPhone 5 review](http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/18/apple-iphone-5-review/) originally appeared on [Engadget](http://www.engadget.com) on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds](http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).

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