There are many sides to the Apple iPhone 5's story. You can, for example, look at the progress it makes and compare it to the last major Apple release, the iPhone 4. That one was truly revolutionary - or, as the saying went back then, resolutionary.

Quad-band GSM and quad-band 3G support with 14.4 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA; LTE support where carriers support it and CDMA support when sold by CDMA carriers; 4" 16M-color LED-backlit IPS TFT capacitive touchscreen of 640 x 1136px resolution; Scratch-resistant screen glass,

Aluminum body looks cool but is easy to scratch; Proprietary connector; incompatible with previous-gen accessories (needs adapter; The new display is not proportionally bigger; but only taller; Unadapted apps run letterboxed due to the unusual resolution; nano-SIM support only; Apple Maps app not up

The iPhone 5 offers a thoroughly pleasant redesign with a taller display and a thinner, lighter frame. Fast and packing a great camera, the hardware is hard to fault, while iOS feels slick and offers loads of apps, even if Apple's new Maps software feels like a step backwards.

Larger screen with increased resolution; Extremely quick; Winning redesign makes for a thinner; lighter phone

IOS 6 Maps app is a step backwards; 4G won't work on all UK networks; New connector means you'll need to buy an adaptor for current chargers and docks; Very expensive

Most people anticipated seeing the iPhone 5 surface last year but, of course, Cupertino had different plan, instead opting to beef up the iPhone 4's internal hardware and leave its chassis virtually untouched.

Super fast; larger display; thinner body; solid battery life; LTE; improved camera

Some apps still need to be updated for the larger screen; if you've invested in iPhone accessories you'll need a $30 Lightning adapter to use them; Apple Maps feels half-baked -- though this is an iOS 6 feature and a Google Maps app is coming

When we review a product, we're usually given a sample by the manufacturer that's been hand-picked just for us to test. The hardware has been examined for defects, every feature has been fully vetted and scrutinized, and the software has been triple-checked.

Elongated display provides easy access to more apps, and makes for pleasant, un-letterboxed widescreen viewing; Lots of iPhone 5-ready apps to choose from already; Apple-engineered A6 processor is wicked-fast.

Anodized aluminum rear plate, particularly in black, has a reported propensity for scratches; Video recording picks up a surprising amount of audio interference, even in a quiet room; Updates, while all worthwhile and technologically impressive, won't make your jaw drop with awe

People waited in line for days all over the world to get their hands on the iPhone 5. Is it truly the next worthy chapter in the successful book of iPhone, or is it just marketing hype dressed up in a two-tone case?

For people with a large hardware investment in Apple's iOS ecosystem-connecting cables, speaker docks, car chargers and the like-the iPhone 5 signifies a major transition. This device marks the beginning of Apple's replacement of the nine-year-old 30-pin dock connector with the new Lightning...

Slim; light case; Taller; roomier display; Improved performance; Higher-resolution front-facing camera

Lightning connector incompatible with older peripherals; Features limited by some carriers

The Apple iPhone 5 smartphone underwent the scrutiny of two reviewers during our in-depth test. The verdict was pretty much unanimous. Even though the device may divide opinions on the web, it ultimately remains a smartphone with both strengths and weaknesses.

High quality auminum body; Appealing design; Thickness and overall weight; Slim Lightning Connector; iOS 6: fast (improved) operatin system; Up-to-date wireless technology; Good performance of the integrated cameras; Applications and games performance; User experience and touch interface; 4 inch...

Battery and memory fixed; Older cables and docks require adapter; Maps software full of errors; LTE only available with T-Mobile; Only 12 months manufacturer warranty; EarPods (Headset) mediocre; Hefty price tag; starting at 679 Euros; We might lament the absence of a killer feature or NFC; but...

The latest smartphone from Apple brings a larger display, faster processor, and quicker wireless access. How does it stack up in the real world

Faster Processor; Thinner and lighter; Beautiful Retina Display; Well Designed; 725,000 Apps Available; LTE (FINALLY!!!

New Lightning Adapter; Larger screen makes minimal impact; Lots of room for improvement for iOS 6

The Good Larger display LTE radio Extremely fast Thinner Lighter The Bad Apple Maps Scratch prone No NFC After months of persistent rumors and Apple's high-profile unveiling, the iPhone 5 has finally arrived on the market.

Larger display; LTE radio; Extremely fast; Thinner; Lighter

Apple Maps; Scratch prone; No NFC

With the iPhone 5, Apple has done everything it needs to on paper: it's bigger, lighter, and faster. But not by much: it still feels like the iPhone 4 and 4S, and while the 4G connection is a welcome addition, it does little to help with the poor battery life and call quality.

The big news with the iPhone 5 is the new display: for the first time, Apple's jumped from the traditional 3.5-inch panel; It's a welcome move: the longer 4-inch 1136x640 display is as sharp as the original Retina Display, with great viewing angles and print-like detail.

It's hard to find faults with the iPhone 5 hardware: it's refined, and packed with bleeding edge tech; Some people might grumble at the new Lightning port, but Apple had to draw a line in the sand at some point to keep making the iPhone thinner: Apple's AirPlay wireless streaming set up should more...