But there's more to iPhone 5 — good or bad — you might not be aware of: Faster Wi-Fi, too: For the first time, iPhone now supports dual-band 802.11n wireless connectivity by adding a 5GHz antenna to the device (also found in the new iPod touch).
Perhaps it's time to upgrade your older 2.4GHz wireless router to a faster model to take advantage of the additional wireless speeds — but be aware it doesn't cover as great a distance as 2.4GHz. 5GHz also means less interference with other Wi-Fi device, resulting in better performance in that regard, too. Lightning isn't faster:
Despite the clever name Apple gave its much-maligned new 8-pin connector at the base of the phone — replacing the wide-mouth 30-pin connector used for years, and making your accessories obsolete without an adaptor — "Lightning" doesn't transfer your data any faster than the older cable. Therefore, if you shot a bunch of HD video on iPhone 5 and want to transfer to your PC or Mac, it'll still be at USB 2.0 speeds (480 Mbps), which is 10 times slower than USB 3.0 (5Gbps). iPhone 5 is hot (literally): Similar to issues with the new (third-generation) iPad, iPhone 5 gets very warm to the touch on the back of the unit after playing around with it for a while — especially with memory-intensive tasks such as gaming or video playback.
It's not going to burn your hand or anything, but the new aluminum back, replacing a thick layer of glass, means you're going to experience major warmth, so don't be alarmed. If it bothers you, consider a case — ideal to protect your investment anyway as many reports are surfacing about how easy the back can be scratched. Google Maps coming?:
The verdict is out on Apple's new Maps app and it's mixed, to say the least. While users like the voice-based turn-by-turn navigation and 3D cityscapes you can flyover, many claim its accuracy is less than stellar. If you'd like Google Maps back, you may be in luck. According to a report from The Verge, Apple still had one year left on its contract with Google to keep Google Maps on iOS.
Considering there's now a YouTube app to download for iPhone, perhaps a Google Maps app isn't too far behind. Choice is good, no? Better audio: You likely know Apple has bundled its new EarPods in the box, delivering a more comfortable fit, added durability and most importantly, better-sounding audio over the classic white earbuds. But the phone has better audio tech all around, including three microphones -- one on the front, one on the back and one on the bottom — working together for clearer audio and noise-canceling technology. Um, so this might be interesting for those who actually talk on phones these days.