iPhone 5S/5C thread

Page 28 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

MrX8503

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2005
4,529
0
0
Probably will be an iPhone 5S-C or something like that. Plastic models will be their new "last year" model.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,054
1,693
126
Why exactly is my opinion ridiculous?
You voiced your opinion, and I voiced mine. You think the colours are ridiculous, and I think your attitude about plastic colours is ridiculous.

I'm making an observation. I think many would agree that the colors Apple chose for the 5C are a bit odd.
I wouldn't choose some of those colours, but luckily there are multiple colours.

Why are you taking this so personally?
I'm not, but if you're offended by my post, then perhaps you are taking my response too personally.

Are you a woman? I ask because you are using pastel colored iDevices plus your avatar is very feminine IMO.
No I am not a woman.

I could probably live with on-screen buttons as long as I have a good power/wake button (tactile and placement). That's why I'm so down on the HTC One. No home button and an awkwardly placed power button.
I live with it on my Android devices, but it's one (albeit lesser) reason I'm switching back to iOS for my phone.

BTW, maybe I'm just an idiot, but for both my Nexus 7 and my RAZR HD, I sometimes grab onto it with it upside down, and then have to flip it to get the right orientation, partially because it's so easy to get it wrong without the visual and tactile cue of the physical home button.

It wouldn't be impossible to do this without a home button. The sensor just rests under a piece of glass right now. The could just put it under the from glass anywhere on the bezel, I'd imagine. However, this would greatly diminish the convenience of the feature.
Yeah, which is why they wouldn't do that. It'd be the worst of both worlds. No tactile feel and physically fixed position.

The home button is a defining feature of the iPhone. I'm surprised enough they dropped the square design off it for the 5S.
I'm not. I figured they would probably drop it if the fingerprint sensor rumours were true. Having that design there would be analogous to somebody drawing an 8" square in magic marker on a desktop scanner's scanning glass.
 

bearxor

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2001
6,605
3
81
I'm not. I figured they would probably drop it if the fingerprint sensor rumours were true. Having that design there would be analogous to somebody drawing an 8" square in magic marker on a desktop scanner's scanning glass.

I understand the reasoning, I guess I just presumed that if the square was a constant that it could be easily accounted for in the scans.
 

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,811
126
I like how in burst mode it keeps the photos grouped together in the camera roll and you can delete them all at once. I haven't actually used burst mode on any phone so I don't know if other phones do the same.

I'm also glad to see the 5S outnumbering the 5C. Never liked the idea of them phasing out the previous flagship and introducing a plastic replacement. Makes you wonder what's going to happen to the 5S when the 6 comes out?

I really like the burst mode. I haven't got one blurry shot with the 5s because of this. Camera was one of the big reason I decided to go with the 5s and so far it's more than delivered.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,058
880
126
My VZW users are able to renew (with new phones) today. My work phone is up for renewal next month. I was gonna get the Note 3 but may get a 5S just to play with it a bit. Then send it back to VZW and get the Note 3 (more practical for my work needs).
 

blairharrington

Senior member
Jan 1, 2009
767
0
71
You voiced your opinion, and I voiced mine. You think the colours are ridiculous, and I think your attitude about plastic colours is ridiculous.


I wouldn't choose some of those colours, but luckily there are multiple colours.


I'm not, but if you're offended by my post, then perhaps you are taking my response too personally.


No I am not a woman.


I live with it on my Android devices, but it's one (albeit lesser) reason I'm switching back to iOS for my phone.

BTW, maybe I'm just an idiot, but for both my Nexus 7 and my RAZR HD, I sometimes grab onto it with it upside down, and then have to flip it to get the right orientation, partially because it's so easy to get it wrong without the visual and tactile cue of the physical home button.


Yeah, which is why they wouldn't do that. It'd be the worst of both worlds. No tactile feel and physically fixed position.


I'm not. I figured they would probably drop it if the fingerprint sensor rumours were true. Having that design there would be analogous to somebody drawing an 8" square in magic marker on a desktop scanner's scanning glass.

You aren't making sense. I expressed why I think the 5C colors are a mistake. You say my opinion on the matter is ridiculous. Then when I ask you why you say that's your opinion. You can disagree of course with my opinion regarding the 5C colors but that really isn't an opinion on your side. It's just a general vague statement. Also I never mentioned plastic and you brought up 'plastic colors'.

I should clarify. The issue is that you said it was ridiculous that I cared about the color of another person's iPhone. That makes no sense. I make comments about smartphones I don't own all the time on this forum. Most of us do. That's what a discussion is. So to say it's ridiculous that I'm expressing displeasure about the color choices of the 5C is ridiculous in itself on your part.
 
Last edited:

blairharrington

Senior member
Jan 1, 2009
767
0
71
It wouldn't be impossible to do this without a home button. The sensor just rests under a piece of glass right now. The could just put it under the from glass anywhere on the bezel, I'd imagine. However, this would greatly diminish the convenience of the feature.

The home button is a defining feature of the iPhone. I'm surprised enough they dropped the square design off it for the 5S. I don't expect it to go away anytime soon and I'm happy about that.



I think I'd argue that if you're at this point in your buying process, choosing between the colors of the 5S if you just want a black one isn't going to drive you to an Android device. It's probably going to drive you to 5S.

In other words, Apple doesn't care.

An iPhone with no physical home button but rather an on-screen one that doubles as a fingerprint sensor would be pretty great. There is no denying the fact though that waking your phone using the home button is always an appreciated element of a smartphone.

I never said it would drive anyone to an Android device. Where did that come from? Also you are assuming that people will want to buy a 5C, not see a color they like, and spend an extra $100 on a 5S. (If they wanted to spend $100 from the start.) I'm not sure that's true. I think my only point really is that a black 5C makes a lot of sense with respect to 5C colors.
 

Subyman

Moderator <br> VC&G Forum
Mar 18, 2005
7,876
32
86
I like how in burst mode it keeps the photos grouped together in the camera roll and you can delete them all at once. I haven't actually used burst mode on any phone so I don't know if other phones do the same.

I'm also glad to see the 5S outnumbering the 5C. Never liked the idea of them phasing out the previous flagship and introducing a plastic replacement. Makes you wonder what's going to happen to the 5S when the 6 comes out?

I kind of like the idea of phasing out the flagship for a plastic replacement. It gives the early adopters of the 5S a sense of longevity. The metal 5S won't be a dime-a-dozen next year when the 6 comes out. My 5S will be metal vs the discounted plastic version that will be sold in droves. It elevates the experience of buying the flagship model knowing that it is an "exclusive" offering. I'm betting we never, ever see a gold low end model, which we would if they simply discounted the metal version.
 

Red Storm

Lifer
Oct 2, 2005
14,233
234
106
I kind of like the idea of phasing out the flagship for a plastic replacement. It gives the early adopters of the 5S a sense of longevity. The metal 5S won't be a dime-a-dozen next year when the 6 comes out. My 5S will be metal vs the discounted plastic version that will be sold in droves. It elevates the experience of buying the flagship model knowing that it is an "exclusive" offering. I'm betting we never, ever see a gold low end model, which we would if they simply discounted the metal version.

That's artificial "elevation" which is exactly what I dislike. But if they phase out the 5S for a plastic replacement, will it come with the fingerprint scanner? It has to, or that's an obvious step backwards. So it's just the physical body that's going to be different? It will be interesting to see how they tier their products if they do actually offer a larger screened iPhone next year.
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
That's artificial "elevation" which is exactly what I dislike. But if they phase out the 5S for a plastic replacement, will it come with the fingerprint scanner? It has to, or that's an obvious step backwards. So it's just the physical body that's going to be different? It will be interesting to see how they tier their products if they do actually offer a larger screened iPhone next year.

Well I feel that the GS4 Mini is an artificial elevation as well. I might as well get a GS3.

The 5C offered everything the 5 did with a different build. It did get upgraded in terms of the number of LTE bands.
 

bearxor

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2001
6,605
3
81
I never said it would drive anyone to an Android device. Where did that come from? Also you are assuming that people will want to buy a 5C, not see a color they like, and spend an extra $100 on a 5S. (If they wanted to spend $100 from the start.) I'm not sure that's true. I think my only point really is that a black 5C makes a lot of sense with respect to 5C colors.

I got the impression that you believed that people would look at the iPhone 5C, decide they don't like the colors and go to another device.

All I was suggesting was that, if you were looking at the 5C, you've probably already decided you want an iPhone and, if you really wanted a black one, you would just move to a 5S.
 

blairharrington

Senior member
Jan 1, 2009
767
0
71
I got the impression that you believed that people would look at the iPhone 5C, decide they don't like the colors and go to another device.

All I was suggesting was that, if you were looking at the 5C, you've probably already decided you want an iPhone and, if you really wanted a black one, you would just move to a 5S.

Nope. Honestly don't think I ever implied such a thing.

I guess. I still think the logical move was to include a black model.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
I wish Apple had spent their time addressing the major functionality woes of iOS

I think they did. Quick toggles, a better camera app, better multi-tasking. Lots of functionality improvements.

What were you expecting? I mean, the walled garden approach limits the range of action.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
That's artificial "elevation" which is exactly what I dislike. But if they phase out the 5S for a plastic replacement, will it come with the fingerprint scanner? It has to, or that's an obvious step backwards. So it's just the physical body that's going to be different? It will be interesting to see how they tier their products if they do actually offer a larger screened iPhone next year.
I think we will find that next year the plastic model gets the A7 but not the fingerprint scanner. I think part of the strategy is that doing things this way keeps certain features out of the budget model to really differentiate for all those normals that never care what SoC they have.

And honestly I like the strategy. What I hated about the iPhones before were their year-long cycles- if someone bought an iPhone after Christmas they basically were getting terrible value. I was always fighting with my family who wanted new iPhones in the early summer (lots of birthdays in May), twisting their arms to wait until a refresh.

But I got thinking about it- those people who got $99 iPhone 5’s at Best Buy this summer as they cleared inventory probably got the best deal any casual iPhone shoppers has ever gotten (as I would much rather a 5 over a 5c). Just as I weep for anyone buying an iPad Mini or iPad 2 today, I applaud that random normal who got that $99 iPhone.

So now there are two acceptable times you can buy an iPhone:

1. Five or less months after a new iPhone is launched.
2. Two months before a new iPhone is launched when they cut the price in half to clear inventory.

So now there is more than half a year someone can buy an iPhone and not get terrible value. I am so happy I will have to fight with my family less.

Well that is a lie, I am already fighting with them to not buy the "pretty" plastic models. Never ends...
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,054
1,693
126
Nothing wrong with the pretty plastic models per se, except I don't actually consider them a great "value". The 5S is such a huge jump in technology over the 5/5C IMO, that I think the 5S is the better bang for the buck.

Oh and I am not a huge fan having all of the 5C models with a black front. I wish more of them had a white front.

BTW, I agree with the prior prediction that next year's 5S replacement could be plastic, and therefore no gold option It gets the speed upgrade and the better camera, but maybe no fingerprint sensor. Then again, there are still the rumours out there of a gold iPad mini with fingerprint sensor.
 
Last edited:

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,310
687
126
Saw all of them at the mall today. Gold ones are way gaudy for my taste. Especially the home button ring.

K6hI2Sr.png


My favorite body color is the grey one. It's more like titanium/tungsten grey and I liked it very much. Too bad the black bands on top and bottom as well as the front kind of kill it. I am sure designers know better than I do but to me there is too large of a disconnect between shiny black and matte grey.

2UjIiKb.png


Plastic ones looked like toys. Didn't spend much time with them but if my life depended on it I probably would go with the sky blue one.
 

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,310
687
126
You aren't making sense. I expressed why I think the 5C colors are a mistake. You say my opinion on the matter is ridiculous. Then when I ask you why you say that's your opinion. You can disagree of course with my opinion regarding the 5C colors but that really isn't an opinion on your side. It's just a general vague statement. Also I never mentioned plastic and you brought up 'plastic colors'.

I should clarify. The issue is that you said it was ridiculous that I cared about the color of another person's iPhone. That makes no sense. I make comments about smartphones I don't own all the time on this forum. Most of us do. That's what a discussion is. So to say it's ridiculous that I'm expressing displeasure about the color choices of the 5C is ridiculous in itself on your part.

You must be kind of sort of new here. ^^ You sometimes have to give up when you hit a brick wall.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,054
1,693
126
The gold ring is the best part of it, but the silver ring is also nice. The black one with no ring colour just looks utilitarian IMO.

In fact, that is what I dislike the most about the grey. The grey back is nice otherwise.
 

Red Storm

Lifer
Oct 2, 2005
14,233
234
106
I guess I'm in the minority that likes having solid black on the front of my phones as much as possible? Looks slick and much better IMHO.
 

bearxor

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2001
6,605
3
81
No, I suspect you're in the majority, which is why they didn't put a different colored ring around it.

It just bugs me that they're mixing design language on the same device. The Silver and Gold models have a home button trim that matches the body color. The Space Grey model does not.

It's just the more I'm thinking about it, the more it would have been just a nice accent and gives a more visual cue of the button, like the square that used to be on the home button.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,054
1,693
126
While I do think black may be the most popular amongst a certain crowd (eg. Older American males), I don't think people would have complained about a nice ring accent, and probably many would have preferred it.

I mean people didn't complain about the white square after all.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,058
880
126
I think a backlit ring on the 5s would have been a nice touch. But i guess it wouldnt yield great battery results.
 

MrX8503

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2005
4,529
0
0
I liked the backlit ring on the Touch Diamond. It would have been cool on the 5S, but the steel ring is pretty rad.