Should I Upgrade to the iPhone 5C or 5S?
Eyeing the new iPhone 5S or 5C? We break down the new features to help you decide if it's time to upgrade.
The big Apple event has come and gone, leaving us with two new iPhones—the iPhone 5S (pictured at left) and the iPhone 5C (below). There's a lot to like about both models, but current iPhone owners might be wondering if it's time to upgrade. We'll break down some of the new features and pricing options to help you determine whether or not it's time to ditch your old phone and move on to greener (or golder) pastures.
If you have an iPhone 4 or 4S...
Let's start with those hanging onto their olderiPhone 4 or 4S. The benefits are clear here: bigger screen, faster processor, slimmer and lighter design, and LTE connectivity. Four inches is the new standard screen size, and that means more and more apps will be designed for bigger screens. They'll still work on older iPhones, but if you want the most out of your app experience, you'll want to get on board with the new standard. Slim and light is great, but the LTE connectivity is likely the most significant upgrade. It's like going from standard definition to high definition, and it'll make an immediate difference.
Let's start with those hanging onto their olderiPhone 4 or 4S. The benefits are clear here: bigger screen, faster processor, slimmer and lighter design, and LTE connectivity. Four inches is the new standard screen size, and that means more and more apps will be designed for bigger screens. They'll still work on older iPhones, but if you want the most out of your app experience, you'll want to get on board with the new standard. Slim and light is great, but the LTE connectivity is likely the most significant upgrade. It's like going from standard definition to high definition, and it'll make an immediate difference.
So should you go for the 5C or 5S if you're coming from an older model? Well that depends on your tastes. If you don't mind the plastic build and actually like a little color in your life, the 5C is a great option that costs half of what the 5S does. But if you want the latest and greatest, including 64-bit processing and a built-in fingerprint scanner, then you'll want to go with the 5S.
If you have an iPhone 5...
Now for current iPhone 5 owners: Do any of the new 5S features warrant an upgrade? To answer that, let me first address the pricing and contract predicament. It's only been a year since the iPhone 5 release and you most likely signed up for a two-year contract to snag the last iPhone. That means you're on the hook for another year unless you want to pay an unsubsidized price for the iPhone 5S. Apple hasn't officially announced the price of the unlocked iPhone 5S, but T-Mobile will be offering it off-contract for $649. It's safe to assume that'll be the price you'll pay if you don't have the option for carrier subsidies. There are some notable upgrades between the 5 and 5S, including a faster processor, improved camera, and fingerprint scanner, but are any of these revolutionary enough to warrant that kind of cash layout? Maybe for the well-heeled tech enthusiasts, but I think most people would be perfectly fine sticking with their iPhone 5.
Now for current iPhone 5 owners: Do any of the new 5S features warrant an upgrade? To answer that, let me first address the pricing and contract predicament. It's only been a year since the iPhone 5 release and you most likely signed up for a two-year contract to snag the last iPhone. That means you're on the hook for another year unless you want to pay an unsubsidized price for the iPhone 5S. Apple hasn't officially announced the price of the unlocked iPhone 5S, but T-Mobile will be offering it off-contract for $649. It's safe to assume that'll be the price you'll pay if you don't have the option for carrier subsidies. There are some notable upgrades between the 5 and 5S, including a faster processor, improved camera, and fingerprint scanner, but are any of these revolutionary enough to warrant that kind of cash layout? Maybe for the well-heeled tech enthusiasts, but I think most people would be perfectly fine sticking with their iPhone 5.
If you're deciding between the iPhone 5S or 5C, be sure to check out our in-depth breakdown of the two new phones, as well as PCMag's hands on with the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C. And stay tuned for a full review once we get these two phones into our labs.
No comments:
Post a Comment