iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5

As expected, Apple announced the iPhone 5S, it's new flagship smartphone. So what's the difference between it and the old iPhone 5? We find out in our iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5 comparison review. (See also: iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5S comparison review: what's the difference between iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S?)

It's been a pretty quiet year for Apple, until now that is. The iPhone 5S has arrived in time for Christmas and has brought with it a cheaper plastic iPhone 5C. We've compared it with the previous generation iPhone 5 to highlight the differences, upgrades and new features.

Apple iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5: Price (UK)

Apple has decided to change the pricing line-up of the iPhone 5S compared to the iPhone 5. It now starts at £549 and check out the table below for full pricing details. The price difference varies between the three models.

The iPhone 5S will be available to order from 20 September.

	iPhone 5	iPhone 5S
16 GB	£529	£549
32 GB	£599	£629
64 GB	£699	£709

Apple iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5: Design and build

As is traditional for an 'S' model, the iPhone 5S uses the same design and build as the iPhone 5. The dimensions and weight are exactly the same. Is the colour options which are different. Black is now called 'Space Grey', white is 'Silver' and there is a new 'Gold' colour.

	Dimensions	Thickness	Weight
Apple iPhone 5	59 x 124 mm	7.6mm	112g
Apple iPhone 5S	59 x 124 mm	7.6mm	112g

Apple iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5: Screen

There's absolutely no difference in the screen department. Apple is using the same 4 in Retina display for the iPhone 5S which was found in the iPhone 5.

	Size	Resolution	Pixel Density
Apple iPhone 5	4in	640 x 1136	326ppi
Apple iPhone 5S	4in	640 x 1136	326ppi

Apple iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5: Processor

One of the major upgrades to the iPhone 5S is the processor. The phone has an A7 chip which is the first 64-bit processor in a smartphone. Apple says its up to twice as fast in terms of CPU performance and graphics compared to the A6 processor found in the iPhone 5.

The iPhone 5S also has a new M7 motion co-processor which handles specific tasks to make iPhone 5S even more power efficient. It takes advantage of all the sensors and continuously measures the data coming from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass without having to wake up the A7.

Apple iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5: Storage

There are no shock surprises when it comes to storage. The iPhone 5S is available in three different storage models just like previous iPhones. There's still no microSD card slot for expansion so you'll want to pick wisely.

	Storage options	microSD slot
Apple iPhone 5	16/32/64 GB	No
Apple iPhone 5S	16/32/64 GB	No

Apple iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5: Camera

The camera is the second area which has had a major upgrade on the iPhone 5S. It's still an 8Mp iSight camera but various changes and features make it better than the iPhone 5's.

It has a larger sensor, larger pixels (1.5 microns) and a larger aperture (f/2.2). All this means more light and a better picture as the result. The camera is accompanied by a 'True Tone' flash which is essentially a dual-flash – one is white and one is amber. It automatically adjusts to over 1,000 settings to create the correct light for your shot, says Apple.

 

New features include a burst mode at 10fps, slo-motion video which can be shot at 720p resolution at 120fps and auto image stabilisation. Apple's front FaceTime HD camera has been improved compared to the iPhone 5's. Larger pixels and an improved backside illumination sensor give it better performance in low-light situations, according to Apple.

Apple iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5: Connectivity and 4G support

The iPhone 5S still has the same Lightning connector, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS as found on the iPhone 5. However, a key difference is support for more 4G LTE frequency bands. Apple states that the iPhone 5S is compatible with EE and Vodafone's networks in the UK but O2 and Three have confirmed that the smartphone will run on their respective 4G networks too.

Apple iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5: Software

Software is an area where there is little difference. The iPhone 5S will come pre-loaded with iOS 7 but the iPhone 5 will be updated to the latest operating system. The difference is that the iPhone 5 won't get Touch ID software.

Apple iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5: Touch ID

We've given Touch ID a section of its own here as it's a major and key feature of the iPhone 5S which the iPhone 5 doesn't have and can't be updated to. Integrated into the home button is a fingerprint scanner which can be used to unlock the iPhone instead of a passcode. It can also be used to authenticate your Apple ID.

     

Apple iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5: Battery life

Apple strangely said the iPhone 5S will deliver 'equal or better' battery life than the iPhone 5. It will be able to manage (individually, not total) 10 hours of 3G talk time, 10 hours of 4G LTE browsing, 10 hours of Wi-Fi browsing or up to 250 hours of standby.