iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4s

Deciding which iPhone to buy is a complex comparison of iPhone features and iPhone prices.

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Next IPhone’s Spec Details Emerge Along With Rumored Prices

  It has been rumored that the next iPhone release will happen this fall (2013) but insiders say the iPhone 6 will most likely be available by early 2014 since this timeline is more realistic. While iPhone rumors are difficult to trust, one must keep in mind the adage, "If there's smoke, there's fire."

Whether the next iPhone release date is fall of 2013 or not, Apple's cult followers are now excited about the new iPhone.

Here are three of the most exciting changes according to the grapevine: 

The New Apple iPhone Will Cost $199

With an aim to target the lower end market considering that it is the biggest population the world over, it may be possible that the US-based company will be releasing an affordable iPhone this fall. The question is how will Apple manage to lower the price of the next iPhone? According to rumor, the cheaper new Apple iPhone will be made from plastic to save costs. It is also rumored that the operating system will be the new and improved iOS 7. 

Insiders claim that it will not matter what types of material Apple will choose to use for the new iPhone because, thanks to Apple fans, the materials used will not determine the price for the smartphones. 

Next iPhone Release Date: Is It Fall 2013 or 2014?

As mentioned earlier, while 2014 is a more realistic release date, it's been suggested around the blogosphere that the new iPhone release will more likely be in the fall of 2013. According to Jefferies & Co., the production of the next iPhone will likely start in June this year, however, they are mum about the specs of the new iPhone. 

Next iPhone: Specs

So what will the new iPhone be like? Insiders have been talking about this for weeks now. Many rumors say that the new iPhone will be made from plastic, and sport a new high definition screen and camera, as well as being equipped with a better battery. While the iPhone 5's battery was sketchy at best, its successor will have a longer lasting battery life. The most exciting rumor is that the device will be available in six to eight colors, surely delighting consumers. Think iPod Touch but thinner and lighter. According to Fashion 'N Style, the new iPhone 6 will also have fingerprint technology. Other rumors predict that the iPhone 6 will be waterproof and could have up to 5 inches of Retina / HD display. 

The storage is expected to be expanded to 128 GB. The device will also be equipped with an indoor mapping/tracking feature as well as NFC technology which is used for processing tickets, coupons, payments and store cards. Still other rumors predict the involvement of either an ARM Cortex A15 core or an updated version of the A6. Whenever this new Apple iPhone release date finally arrives, one thing is certain: Apple fans will hit the stores in droves to buy their newest smartphones, and Apple will once again rise to new levels of greatness in true historic fashion.

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Top IPhone Apps: Must Have Apps For Your IPhone

If you have an iPhone 5, or for that matter any iPhone, then you are always looking to add the best iPhone apps. Lucky for you these are always in plentiful supply. But with so many to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down the selection. There are a few in particular that are worth consideration.  

One of the top iPhone apps is Mailbox, a free addition that significantly helps enhance productivity. If you have tons of emails coming in every day and filling up your inbox, the Mailbox app can help. You can zoom through your inbox at top speed, sorting your messages and clearing your inbox in no time. It's a definite timesaver and is a great app if you're feeling crushed by the weight of a never-ending inbox. 

Jailbreak apps are very popular. A "must have" jailbreak iPhone app is Mobile Dashboard. This is a handy app that puts dashboard widgets over your home screen, allowing easier access and saving you time. It's very affordable at just $1.49 and although it does only take care of one task, for many iPhone users it's a very important task and well worth it as a result. 

In addition, you may want to try the Infiniboard app, which allows you to vertically scroll your home screens. This is helpful if you want to add more apps to the limited real estate that defines your home screen. If you're someone who uses their phone on a regular basis, you're sure to appreciate this handy app. You can even group the apps by page, without per-page limitations, allowing much more freedom in organizing your home screens. 

Another top jailbreak apps is AnyRing. This app allows you to choose any song on your phone as your ringer, which you would think you could do anyway, but the iPhone factory settings actually don't allow for this option. Once you download the AnyRing app, you can even choose to record your own voice as a ringtone. If you're not happy with the selection of ringtones you have now, this is a great app. Furthermore, you even have the option to select the start and stop time of the ringtone set, so you can choose exactly how you want the sound to proceed. You're really love having these additional options in getting your ringtone just the way you want to, which is easy to do with this useful app.

The biteSMS app is handy if you do a lot of texting. It is one of the best alternatives for the messages apps, offering more options and features you're sure to love. You can compose a message from the Notification Center, schedule a message, and even add contact photos or create a signature for your outgoing messages. At $8.99 it's a bit pricier than some of the other apps, but well worth it. 

These and other must have iPhone apps offer their own particular set of features, but each can make a huge difference in terms of the functionality of your iPhone. While everyone has their own needs and preferences, and can get better use out of certain apps, the above selections are just a few of the top picks that are well worth learning more about and trying out for yourself.

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Expected Changes In The New IPhone 6

Apple is known to announce the new version of an iPhone about every one year after the last release. The iPhone 5 was released in September 2012. The highly anticipated iPhone 6 may be launched earlier than expected because of tough competition from other smartphone makers and not so good performance of Apple on the share market. The company is known for coming up with features that are highly innovative. It has been at the forefront of innovation and brought the cutting edge of latest technologies into the hands of consumers. There are high expectations from consumers and Apple has to come up with really innovative features to keep its competitors away from nibbling into its market share.

There are many iPhone 6 rumors circulating on the Internet. It is possible to guess possible-features that will be present in the new iPhone 6.

Screen Size

The last version iPhone 5 was launched with a larger screen compared to the earlier versions. Apple may want to increase the screen size a little bit more in iPhone 6. There are many reasons behind it. A larger screen is always welcome provided it does not increase the weight and thickness of the unit. With iPhone 6 release, Apple may want to introduce a larger screen because the dividing line between a smartphone and tablet has been narrowing.

Screen Type

The Retina display already provides very sharp and clear pictures. However, technology in display industry has been advancing and Apple may want to introduce a better display. The contenders for display include IGZO (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide) and Low Temperature Polysilicon display technologies. Both technologies are from Sharp Corp. Use of any of these technologies will result in a smartphone that is lighter and has a very fast processing display system.

NFC

Presence of Near Field Communication technology in the new model is a good possibility. Nowadays a smartphone is expected to do more than just allow the user to make a phone call and connect to the web. Even though Apple has always avoided stuffing the iPhone with too many features, the NFC technology may be needed now because many types of data exchange like contactless transactions can be easier with a smartphone that has NFC technology.

Wireless Charging

While the main demand of smartphone users is to increase the power and storage capacity of the battery, there has not been any technological breakthrough in this regard. Because of this there will not be any change on this front. However, many promising technologies in the field of wireless charging have emerged and Apple may want to introduce this feature in the new model.

The iPhone 6 design may not undergo any drastic changes. Apple will not completely dump its classic design. Some changes may be noticeable if use of new technologies makes the device lighter and thinner. The storage configuration may also be updated. The iPhone 6 technology may cross the current 64 GB limit and go to 128 GB. This will allow users to carry more data, movies, games, e-books and videos. Apple will continue with locked-SIM because it makes a large part of its money from its app store.

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Unlocked iPhone 5: Is it Worth the Money?

When features of iPhone 5 and iPhone 4s are compared, you will find that Apple is now selling an iPhone 5 unlocked starting at $649, which can be purchased directly for $649, $749, or $849 for the 16-GB, 32-GB and 64-GB versions, respectively. It comes in the same black and white color options as the on-contract subsidized models.

Alternatively, the subsidized version of the iPhone 5 can be acquired for as little as $199 from carriers AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Wireless, and even less if you're willing to sign a contract with a small regional carrier. So the question today is: If you can buy the iPhone 5 for $199 from a carrier, why choose to pay more than three times that cost for the unlocked version? 

In a word, choices!  However, before we look at those choices, there are a few limitations to consider. First, it is important to understand that the iPhone 5 comes in several different models that are optimized for the different wireless network operators. So, while the unlocked model works on GSM networks, they do not work on CDMA networks. That means you won't be able to use the unlocked iPhone on either Sprint or Verizon's networks. Instead, it will be limited to GSM networks. In the U.S., that means AT&T or T-Mobile USA. (You'll be able to get LTE service from AT&T, but only 3G service from T-Mobile in a handful of markets.)

Here are the choices (benefits) that a $649 iPhone 5 buys you.

The biggest benefit of having an unlocked device is that you'll be able to use the iPhone 5 on the networks of foreign carriers when you travel abroad. While the on-contract version of the iPhone will roam on those networks, too, you'll have to pay huge roaming charges to your U.S.-based carrier. Unlocked devices can be used with local SIM cards at a much lower cost. The trade-off is that you lose your phone number, which is replaced with a local phone number. This means your co-workers or family will get dinged for long-distance charges if they call the foreign cell number temporarily assigned to your unlocked iPhone 5.

The second biggest benefit is, of course, that you're not a prisoner of a pricey contract. The $199 iPhone may seem like a great deal, but it chains you to a two-year contract with the wireless network operator of your choice. Most contract carriers charge a minimum of $70 per month for voice, messaging and data packages. Multiply that by 24 months and you're looking at about $1,700 in carrier fees. Living contract free means you can use a month-to-month service that costs less. For example, T-Mobile USA offers a prepaid plan that includes unlimited 3G/4G data, unlimited messaging and 100 voice minutes for $30 per month. Do the math: T-Mobile's two-year prepaid plan costs $720, less than 50% of its contract-carrying competition.

No contracts also afford you a greater degree of flexibility, especially if big things change in your life (income, employment, location, etc.).

Interestngly, Verizon Wireless's version of the iPhone 5 comes with an unlocked SIM card tray (per FCC regulations). That means you can take a Verizon-branded iPhone 5 from the U.S. overseas, buy a local SIM card from a local carrier and use the device at a lower cost on that foreign network (it includes the necessary radios to talk to the GSM networks in foreign countries). Wow!

So, if you want to live contract free, and don't mind coughing up at least $649 to do so, the iPhone 5 isn't a bad choice.