# Apple announces iPhone 5S & 5C **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 10, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516 "2013-09-10T19:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/21 "2013-09-10T22:46:30Z")
D’oh, forgot the smiley at the end, I was joking on the last part… ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/22 "2013-09-10T22:58:54Z")
Yeah the prices outside the US seem quite high. A premium of $150-200 on top of the US unlocked prices. I have an iphone 4 (not S) so either of the new phones would be a substantial upgrade. But I’m a klutz, and I’m not sure I should be trusted with a nine hundred dollar phone. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/23 "2013-09-10T23:25:05Z")
I just upgraded in July to the 5 because my contract was almost up and Canada’s new wireless plans were going into affect in August. Good thing I did, because the new plans are ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/24 "2013-09-10T23:51:07Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > In Australia: > > I hope we get a jar of lube thrown in free for that extra $640. :eek: American prices are subsidized on contract, the Australian prices are for outright sale. Of course when you sign up to a plan with a carrier it will be subsidized. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/25 "2013-09-11T00:18:43Z")
If you compare the US and Australian outright prices, they’re still $150-200 more here in Oz. The base model unlocked 5S is $USD 809 in Australia vs $USD 649 in the USA. I was forgetting about GST though. Subtracting GST from the Aussie price gives $USD 736 vs 649. So a premium of about 12%. Not too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/26 "2013-09-11T01:38:07Z")
The fingerprint scanner sounds cool. I don’t bother using the lock code because it would be a pain in the ass to have to type in a code every time I want to do something on the phone, so having the home button itself be a fingerprint scanner would be pretty neat. Still I’m pretty happy with my 4S though. I don’t like having to change all the connectors for a newer model. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/27 "2013-09-11T01:44:00Z")
I was watching a story on the news tonight about the new iPhone and one of the bullet points they put up was that it had a “fingerprint censor”. It made me wonder if it also came with a spell checker. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/28 "2013-09-11T02:21:34Z")
I have an iPhone 5 and mmm… that 5S looks nice. Certainly a bigger jump than from the 4 to the 4S. I’m gonna console myself with iOS 7. Some commentators are saying the 5C (Color?) is neither here nor there. It certainly makes more sense to phase out the 4S instead of the 5. Does the fingerprint scanner work with fingertips? Because I thought most variation in fingerprints is in the centre of the finger, where the whorls and loops are, but I only use my fingertip to press the button (like typing, or playing the piano). They seem to be using their fingertips in the videos. If I were concerned about privacy, I’d be more concerned about Find My iPhone, which requires your location to work. Also: all the 5C colours use the black faceplate? And the gold 5S uses a white faceplate? Can’t they come up with matching colours? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/29 "2013-09-11T03:31:45Z")
Well, as it stands it’s time for me to upgrade as I’m still on a 3GS and it will not get iOS 7 – All along I intended to wait until the iOS upgrade was no longer supported to upgrade the hardware – gave me over a year of use beyond the contract. On the CNET liveblog coverage of the event, when they had Elvis Costello on: “Now here’s a sad song: _Your cheap unlocked off-contract iPhone isn’t here today_.” I’m wondering if someone getting the 5C be able to hold on to it through as many upgrades as someone with an equivalent 5S – probably not with equal support of features after iOS8. I went from iOS3.something to iOS6.1.2 over 3+ years and it was starting to tax the 3GS. Will probably get a 5S to be confident about holding on to it longer until it too becomes unupgradable. I’ll wait about a month or two to hear the feedback before actually taking the step. I’ll miss the old original form factor, must admit. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/30 "2013-09-11T03:46:42Z")
Do people think it’s a waste of money to pay monthly but not be on a contract? I think my phone can last more than 2 years but less than 4, and I’m torn between always being on a contract, and using my phone for longer. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/31 "2013-09-11T04:16:58Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > The fingerprint scanner sounds cool. I don’t bother using the lock code because it would be a pain in the ass to have to type in a code every time I want to do something on the phone, so having the home button itself be a fingerprint scanner would be pretty neat. > > Still I’m pretty happy with my 4S though. I don’t like having to change all the connectors for a newer model. Reports from the “hands-on” room after the announcement today are that the fingerprint scanner works extremely well. I am intrigued. It would be better than the passcode lock, but you may not be aware that you can set the phone to only require the passcode after some time being locked. That makes it much more convenient, and, while it doesn’t protect you from a thief who get hold of the phone shortly after you used it, it’s better than no security at all. I have a 4S as well, and changing the connectors will be somewhat painful (but not that much–I don’t have any docks, just cables). However, every one of my old 30-pin cables is about to fray at the joint, and they are a pain to insert correctly if you can’t see the little icon on the cable, which I often can’t, being mostly blind. My wife has a 5 (and a new iPad) and those new connectors are very smooth and easy to use–and much less prone to wear from bending. I’ll be happy to see those old cables go. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/32 "2013-09-11T04:27:44Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > I have an iPhone 5 and mmm… that 5S looks nice. Certainly a bigger jump than from the 4 to the 4S. I’m gonna console myself with iOS 7. Some commentators are saying the 5C (Color?) is neither here nor there. It certainly makes more sense to phase out the 4S instead of the 5. They have to keep the 4S for another year and ditch the 5 to keep to their pattern. For the last few years, the current (base) model has been $199 with contract, the 1 year old model has been $99 with contract, and the 2 year old model has been “free” with contract. They want to hit those 3 price points in the US market. The 5 and 5C are so close in specs (nearly identical except for the camera, I think) that they would need to occupy the same price point, leaving a hole. That’s why the 4S stays for one more year, and the 5 goes away. Next year, we’ll have the 6 at $199, the 5S at $99, and the 5C at $0, I feel sure. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/33 "2013-09-11T06:25:59Z")
Not very impressed. The new iPhone 5c looks pretty gaudy especially when combined with the new iOS7 like [here](http://cdn2.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/8923705/iphone5creport_large_verge_medium_landscape.jpg). It’s also a lot more expensive than many people expected and I can’t see it expanding iPhone market share in Asia for example. That’s probably the reason Apple stock prices fell after the announcement. The 5S is decent enough though personally I find the screen too small. The fingerprint scanner is nice though it would have been much bigger if they had built a payment system around it using NFC. Overall there seems to be a lack of innovation. I find phones like the LG G2 and Lumia 1020 a lot more interesting than the 5S/5C. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/34 "2013-09-11T06:42:04Z")
Boring and incremental. I thought this would incorporate a game changer like a built-in Leap Motion controller. Jobs would have fired up the ol’ Reality Distortion Field Generator and gotten a contract as an exclusive feature on phones and pads. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/35 "2013-09-11T07:20:29Z")
I’m torn. I have a 4S and usually upgrade every second year but I can’t see any compelling reason to upgrade to a 5S. Might have to wait and see what next year brings and get off the S roundabout. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/36 "2013-09-11T13:29:15Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > Do people think it’s a waste of money to pay monthly but not be on a contract? I think my phone can last more than 2 years but less than 4, and I’m torn between always being on a contract, and using my phone for longer. Why would you want to be on a contract after your 2 years if you have a functional phone? That’s the ideal situation - you’re paying the exact same rate you were while on contract, while being free to shop around other networks and wait for the perfect time to upgrade. > [@gaffa](#): > > Boring and incremental. I thought this would incorporate a game changer like a built-in Leap Motion controller. Jobs would have fired up the ol’ Reality Distortion Field Generator and gotten a contract as an exclusive feature on phones and pads. I don’t know much about the specs, but the tech blogs seem to think doubling the processor is a very big deal. iOS 7 also seems to be getting extremely rave reviews, and while it’s being pushed to other back models, this phone seems to be geared towards really utilizing it closer to its full potential. I’m also getting leary of the finger scanner. I think the tech is cool, and I’d probably get some utility out of it - but I’m worried about being an early adopter on that. I’m usually very security lax, but that’s just a step too far for me right now. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/37 "2013-09-11T13:57:06Z")
what’s their endgame on the scanner? they must know that the “feature” will put off a lot of people, and it is definitely an added cost and a great length to go for apparent little gain. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/38 "2013-09-11T14:14:42Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > what’s their endgame on the scanner? they must know that the “feature” will put off a lot of people, and it is definitely an added cost and a great length to go for apparent little gain. Having the finger scanner without NFC seems weird to me. I think the immediate gain for the scanner is all the people who forget their Apple ID and can’t make impulse app/iTunes purchases. I’m not sure I’ve met someone older than 50 who knows what their password is, as odd as that sounds. Who knows how much of my inheritance my mom would have spent already if she knew how to buy things without having to be at home near the giant printout of passwords in her life. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/39 "2013-09-11T14:34:56Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > Also: all the 5C colours use the black faceplate? And the gold 5S uses a white faceplate? Can’t they come up with matching colours? I know this is petty, but I do wish they would make the color of the faceplate optional. I really like the gold phone, but I hate the white faceplate. If I could get a gold phone with a black faceplate, I would be up at midnight on the 20th waiting to be first with my pre-order. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516/40 "2013-09-11T14:42:26Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Having the finger scanner without NFC seems weird to me. I think the immediate gain for the scanner is all the people who forget their Apple ID and can’t make impulse app/iTunes purchases. I’m not sure I’ve met someone older than 50 who knows what their password is, as odd as that sounds. Who knows how much of my inheritance my mom would have spent already if she knew how to buy things without having to be at home near the giant printout of passwords in her life. Not sure what you’re kvetching about here. I already don’t have to enter my password for every iTunes purchase I make from either my phone or my iPad. Unless it’s been a couple of weeks or months or whatever, I just hit purchase and it starts the download. And thus far I have yet to see any retailers that use any kind of NFC for transactions. Frankly, I’m not ready to trust my phone to double as my credit card for any exchange of goods or services. I’ll allow that I could be uninformed about the technology, but at the very least I can’t see where this is anything that even affects people in the US since NFC transactions are (AFAICT) non-existent here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-announces-iphone-5s-5c/668516.md?page=3)