All the details about Apple's latest iPhone are out of the bag, but there are still plenty of questions readers have been asking. CNET has the answers.
Apple's new iPhone is very nearly here, and even with a nearly two-hour keynote out of the way, and a Web site full of specifications, there are plenty of questions that need answering.
CNET has put together this FAQ to help get to the bottom of some of them. These range from what's new to where you can get the phone to the differences between what you get with each carrier.
This is a living document and is likely to be updated through next week and beyond. If we missed any big questions, please drop them in the comments and we'll do our best to get them answered.
What's different about the iPhone 5?
On the outside, the iPhone 5's main difference is its taller, thinner design. The display now measures 4 inches diagonally (up from 3.5 inches), which gives you an extra row of icons and more space for browsing, apps, and movies. Inside there's a faster A6 chip, camera improvements, and an extra microphone.
On the outside, the iPhone 5's main difference is its taller, thinner design. The display now measures 4 inches diagonally (up from 3.5 inches), which gives you an extra row of icons and more space for browsing, apps, and movies. Inside there's a faster A6 chip, camera improvements, and an extra microphone.
Apple's Lightning cable, up close. Unlike with USB, there's no up or down to the plug.
(Credit: Apple)
What about that new dock connector?
What Apple calls Lightning is a new proprietary connector that's 80 percent smaller than the old 30-pin connectors. Its main feature: there's no top or bottom, so you can plug it in either way. The older plugs needed to be oriented correctly.
What Apple calls Lightning is a new proprietary connector that's 80 percent smaller than the old 30-pin connectors. Its main feature: there's no top or bottom, so you can plug it in either way. The older plugs needed to be oriented correctly.
Of course, this change means your old cables and things like docks and third-party audio systems won't work with your new phone (yeah, that's annoying). To get around that, Apple's got an adapter that you'll have to buy (naturally), and it ain't cheap. It's $29 per adapter. Alternatively, Apple will sell a Lightning-to-USB cable for $19 and a Lightning-to-30-pin cable for $39. Expect cheaper third-party adapters to surface in the future, but for now your options are very limited.
The glass on the back is gone?
Yes and no. The back of the new device is mainly metal, though there are glass windows on the top and bottom of the phone to let the various antennas communicate. Apple's done something similar on past versions of the iPod Touch, and even the iPad with 3G.
Yes and no. The back of the new device is mainly metal, though there are glass windows on the top and bottom of the phone to let the various antennas communicate. Apple's done something similar on past versions of the iPod Touch, and even the iPad with 3G.
Does this mean it will be more durable, or less prone to breaking when dropped?
That remains to be seen.
That remains to be seen.
And the SIM is even smaller?
Indeed. The iPhone 4 brought us the smaller micro SIM card (first seen in the original iPad), and now we're getting an even smaller nano SIM. Unfortunately, larger SIMs won't work in the iPhone 5 even if you try to shave them down. The newer spec isn't just smaller in shape, it's thinner too.
Indeed. The iPhone 4 brought us the smaller micro SIM card (first seen in the original iPad), and now we're getting an even smaller nano SIM. Unfortunately, larger SIMs won't work in the iPhone 5 even if you try to shave them down. The newer spec isn't just smaller in shape, it's thinner too.
Will the battery life change?
There's no change in battery life between last year's model and this year's mode when it comes to talk time. Like the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5 is rated for 8 hours of talking over 3G.
There's no change in battery life between last year's model and this year's mode when it comes to talk time. Like the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5 is rated for 8 hours of talking over 3G.
The iPhone 5 has an edge on battery life when it comes to other features though. The iPhone 5 gets 8 hours of Web browsing over LTE, up from the 6 hours the 4S gets over 3G. When on Wi-Fi, the iPhone 5 also gets 10 hours of browsing on Wi-Fi, up an hour from the iPhone 4S' 9 hours.
Standby time has improved to 225 hours, according to Apple, up from the iPhone 4S' 200 hours. Both are significantly shorter than the 300 hours the iPhone 4 is rated for under Apple's testing standards.
When will it be available and which carriers will get it first?
The iPhone 5 goes on sale September 21 at 8 a.m. Pacific Time at Apple's retail stores. Major U.S. carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint are also selling the device in their retail stores on September 21. So T-Mobile is left out of the loop again.
The iPhone 5 goes on sale September 21 at 8 a.m. Pacific Time at Apple's retail stores. Major U.S. carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint are also selling the device in their retail stores on September 21. So T-Mobile is left out of the loop again.
Will smaller carriers like U.S. Cellular or MetroPCS get it?
U.S. Cellular and MetroPCS have not announced any plans to carry the device yet.
U.S. Cellular and MetroPCS have not announced any plans to carry the device yet.
However C-Spire, GCI, Appalachian Wireless, and Cricket will all get the device on September 28. Cricket notes that it will be available only in "select" markets.
How much will it cost and what sizes and colors will be available?
Just like the iPhone 4S, the iPhone starts at $199 for the 16GB model, then goes up to $299 for the 32GB model, and tops out at $399 for the 64GB flavor. All of those are with a two-year contract from the carrier.
Just like the iPhone 4S, the iPhone starts at $199 for the 16GB model, then goes up to $299 for the 32GB model, and tops out at $399 for the 64GB flavor. All of those are with a two-year contract from the carrier.
Colorwise, there's still just black and white. Gone from the new model is a single-colored glass back. Instead, you get colored aluminum, which sits between two small panes of colored glass.
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