Apple iPhone 5 review: Finally, the iPhone we've always wanted
Editors' note (September 19, 2014): The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are now the flagship phones in Apple's 2014-2015 product line. The 2012 iPhone 5 reviewed here is no longer sold, but the 2013 iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C remain on sale at reduced prices. The 5C is basically the iPhone 5 in a plastic body, but -- as of September 2014 -- is now only sold in an 8GB capacity.
The iPhone 5 completely rebuilds the iPhone on a framework of new features and design, addressing its major previous shortcomings. It's absolutely the best iPhone to date, and it easily secures its place in the top tier of the smartphone universe.
The iPhone 5 adds everything we wanted in the iPhone 4S: 4G LTE, a longer, larger screen, free turn-by-turn navigation, and a faster A6 processor; Plus, its top-to-bottom redesign is sharp, slim, and feather-light.
Apple Maps feels unfinished and buggy; Sprint and Verizon models can't use voice and data simultaneously. The smaller connector renders current accessories unusable without an adapter. There's no NFC, and the screen size pales in comparison to jumbo Android models.