Iphone 5 why so underwhelming?

[rippling]

Been trying to think why imo the iphone 5 looks so underwhelming .
Its not cause Apple hasn't improved the phone , they couldn't do a lot more I suppose , NFC wirless charging better camera etc , but they upgraded so much other stuff so why do I feel so underwhelmed>

I think its cause all you normally look at is that dam ios screen , lets face it it hasn't change since the original iphone , I think if Apple had given it a real update and a different look it would have made the phone so much more attractive I think .......?

 

[lukeharvest]

Why would they bother giving it a proper update, facelift etc. when people buy it just because the version number is higher?

 

[reflux]

They haven't changed much because it wouldn't matter if they did. It just doesn't make economic sense. People will still buy it regardless because the demand is price and feature inelastic.

 

[DIABLO]

Apple will change the bare minimum to maximise profit margins and give themselves room for the next upgrade because they know people will lap it up. Next year will be wireless charging and NFC.

 

[Glaucus]

I think next year we will see a massive overhaul of iOS. If we don't I'll be disappointed in apple. I don't think it's really needed ATM, te sill have dominance and WP is a competitor at te moment.

 

[grudas]

3 people at works canteen today - me with my s2.. and 2 guys paying 5x and 61 quid a month for a contract.. both can't wait to buy an iphone 5.. saying how amazing it is.. i kept my noise hole shut ;D couldn't be bothered going into arguments

 

[Evilpaul]

Saw this today, seems appropriate to post here:
http://cheezburger.com/6592205056

 

[Von Luck]

Fair enough saying that the 4S wasn't much of an upgrade from a 4, but with the 5 you get virtually every improvement that you could possibly make to the hardware - larger screen, better camera, faster processor, thinner body. Overall a fairly massive spec bump, yet all everyone focuses on is lack of NFC (which no-one uses) and the fact that the fascia looks the same as the 4S. Bizarre.

But then again Apple could have stuck a fission reactor, laser cannon and cancer curing machine in the handset and there are plenty of people who would have still found something to complain about.

Certainly the 5 isn't king of the spec sheets, but it IS a significant spec bump over the 4S, so anyone who has bought into the iphone way of doing things and likes iOS should be pretty happy with the improvement going from a 4 or 4S to a 5.

 

[Sinny]

Fair enough saying that the 4S wasn't much of an upgrade from a 4, but with the 5 you get virtually every improvement that you could possibly make to the hardware - larger screen, better camera, faster processor, thinner body. Overall a fairly massive spec bump, yet all everyone focuses on is lack of NFC (which no-one uses) and the fact that the fascia looks the same as the 4S. Bizarre.

But then again Apple could have stuck a fission reactor, laser cannon and cancer curing machine in the handset and there are plenty of people who would have still found something to complain about.

Certainly the 5 isn't king of the spec sheets, but it IS a significant spec bump over the 4S, so anyone who has bought into the iphone way of doing things and likes iOS should be pretty happy with the improvement going from a 4 or 4S to a 5.

I think people are now realizing that there are better phones out there for the price, ever since the Galaxy S2 came along people have seen alternative options, and since most people only see things in terms of Larger screen, more megapixels and new designs they're only seeing more of the same improvements with the iPhone.

 

[grudas]

Fair enough saying that the 4S wasn't much of an upgrade from a 4, but with the 5 you get virtually every improvement that you could possibly make to the hardware - larger screen, better camera, faster processor, thinner body. Overall a fairly massive spec bump, yet all everyone focuses on is lack of NFC (which no-one uses) and the fact that the fascia looks the same as the 4S. Bizarre.

But then again Apple could have stuck a fission reactor, laser cannon and cancer curing machine in the handset and there are plenty of people who would have still found something to complain about.

Certainly the 5 isn't king of the spec sheets, but it IS a significant spec bump over the 4S, so anyone who has bought into the iphone way of doing things and likes iOS should be pretty happy with the improvement going from a 4 or 4S to a 5.

duuuhuuh? this is how apple upgrades their devices

take a look at 3g - 3gs? much difference? noup.. same 2g obviously

then 3gs to iphone 4? different phone..

4 to 4s? looks the same..

4s to 5? different phone again.. what people are saying is that it has NOTHING over the current top end phones? not that it had no spec bump at all.. ofc it did.

 

[lamboman]

2 guys paying 5x and 61 quid a month for a contract..

How much?!

It's Like That Old Saying: You Always Want What You Already Have But Shinier and Newer

It's Like That Old Saying: You Always Want What You Already Have But Shinier and Newer - World's largest collection of cat memes and other animals

cheezburger.com

Fair enough saying that the 4S wasn't much of an upgrade from a 4, but with the 5 you get virtually every improvement that you could possibly make to the hardware - larger screen, better camera, faster processor, thinner body. Overall a fairly massive spec bump, yet all everyone focuses on is lack of NFC (which no-one uses) and the fact that the fascia looks the same as the 4S. Bizarre.

But then again Apple could have stuck a fission reactor, laser cannon and cancer curing machine in the handset and there are plenty of people who would have still found something to complain about.

Certainly the 5 isn't king of the spec sheets, but it IS a significant spec bump over the 4S, so anyone who has bought into the iphone way of doing things and likes iOS should be pretty happy with the improvement going from a 4 or 4S to a 5.

I agree with this. People expect so much, yet they don't actually know what they expect or want. I can understand how they can complain with the omission of NFC, but otherwise, what phone has really brought out something revolutionary? The S3 brought similar improvements to the Galaxy Sx line that the 5 brings to the iPhone line. Was the S3 revolutionary? Not remotely.

 

[reflux]

I think we're so used to seeing innovation and fantastic new ideas from Apple that when that doesn't happen, we get frustrated.

The main thing that bothers me is that they haven't tried to create anything compelling because they didn't have to. It turns out that instead of innovative technology, all Joe Bloggs wants is... the same

 

[DIABLO]

Fair enough saying that the 4S wasn't much of an upgrade from a 4, but with the 5 you get virtually every improvement that you could possibly make to the hardware - larger screen, better camera, faster processor, thinner body. Overall a fairly massive spec bump, yet all everyone focuses on is lack of NFC (which no-one uses) and the fact that the fascia looks the same as the 4S. Bizarre.

But then again Apple could have stuck a fission reactor, laser cannon and cancer curing machine in the handset and there are plenty of people who would have still found something to complain about.

Certainly the 5 isn't king of the spec sheets, but it IS a significant spec bump over the 4S, so anyone who has bought into the iphone way of doing things and likes iOS should be pretty happy with the improvement going from a 4 or 4S to a 5.

The camera hardware is the same i think, they have just improved the software last i heard.

 

[Von Luck]

not that it had no spec bump at all.. ofc it did.

No, some people are saying EXACTLY that - case in point the amusing image linked by Evilpaul. Oh look, it's exactly the same as the last model! Ah ha ha...

The thing which seems to confuse a lot of people is that to some extent, direct spec sheet comparisons between the 5 and the latest and greatest Android handsets are irrelevant - not because people are idiotic, drooling Apple fanboys, but because they like iOS, they've bought into the overall Apple ecosystem and want to continue to use an OS and supporting services that they have learned to rely upon. Those people won't be considering a change to a different OS, just deciding if they want to retain their 3GS/4/4S for a little longer, or move to a 5.

Oh and this is coming from someone who disliked Apple before it was trendy to do so (c.1993)

 

[Rimsy]

Is there any word on its battery life? Perhaps they are hiding some massive battery life increase (which seems to be one of the main things people asked for)

 

[Mobius 1]

They said 225 hours standby iirc

 

[sarge78]

The iP5 is currently the best phone of 2012.

Major issues: Lack of proper EU LTE and cost. (£555 is WAY too much for the base model)
Minor issues: Looks the same, battery could've been bigger (9mm/130g with 2500mHh would've been better than 7.6mm/112g and 1450mAh) and iOS is a bit boring. Oh and gorilla crap 2!

 

[-BA-]

The iP5 is currently the best phone of 2012.

Major issues: Lack of proper EU LTE and cost. (£555 is WAY too much for the base model)
Minor issues: Looks the same, battery could've been bigger (9mm/130g with 2500mHh would've been better than 7.6mm/112g and 1450mAh) and iOS is a bit boring. Oh and gorilla crap 2!

And this makes it the best phone of 2012 IYO? Okaaayyyyy.

 

[biron_w]

The iP5 is currently the best phone of 2012.

Only if you like iPhones...

 

[Crafty]

The iP5 is currently the best phone of 2012.

Major issues: Lack of proper EU LTE and cost. (£555 is WAY too much for the base model)
Minor issues: Looks the same, battery could've been bigger (9mm/130g with 2500mHh would've been better than 7.6mm/112g and 1450mAh) and iOS is a bit boring. Oh and gorilla crap 2!

^ dont agree with the first line at all, the S3 and Nokia 920 are the phones pushing the market forwards this year.

The best people can say about the 5 is its got a new processor, whooptie doo.. utterly frigging pointless of course because its strangled by iOS. The 5 can't do anything over the 4S or even the 4. Whats the point ?

The comments above that relate to Apple knowing they don't have to do anything to get huge sales are bang on. Why bother spending lots of cash on improving the product/innovating when you've created a fanbase who will basically buy anything you release to market ?