iPhone 5 in front of smartphone pack

When Apple introduced the iPhone 4S last October, you could sense the initial disappointment. Many people were longing for an iPhone 5. The iPhone 4S that came instead may not have represented a dramatic upgrade, but it was a snappy handset with an excellent camera and a sometimes-obedient virtual digital assistant named Siri. It went on to become the best-selling iPhone to date.Nearly a year later the iPhone 5 is upon us. And what I detect this time is lust. The feelings are unlikely to diminish once buyers get their hands on the iPhone 5 Friday, or whenever their pre-ordered phones arrive.The iPhone 5 is a winner that should keep Apple at the front of the smartphone pack. But choosing iPhone 5 vs. a top-of-the line Android alternative isn't a cut-and-dried decision, especially if you're partial to a jumbo display, such as the one on the big, bold and beautiful Samsung Galaxy S III, an Android rival for which I've had high praise.
The new iPhones cost $199, $299 and $399, for models with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB respectively, on top of customary two-year wireless contracts.At the core of the new iPhone is iOS 6, the mobile operating system software upgrade that will also be made available free (as of today) on older iPhone models dating to the 3GS. Apple says there are more than 200 new features in iOS 6, but the ones you'll most likely notice include audible turn-by-turn navigation in Maps, a digital wallet called Passbook, Facebook integration, VIP status for your important mail senders, and a greater voice for Siri. Of course, the arrival of iOS 6 begs the question of why owners of older iPhones who get the upgrade gratis would choose to invest in the new hardware?
For starters, and not to be underestimated, iPhone 5 is the first iPhone to tap into speedy 4G LTE networks, from AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint in the U.S. Samsung and other rivals may have gotten to LTE first. But LTE (Long Term Evolution) placates iPhone devotees who grew tired of relying on creaky 3G wireless networks when a Wi-Fi network was unavailable. It was a pleasure browsing the Web on the iPhone 5's Safari browser in the cellular fast lane. What remains to be seen, though, is how LTE performs at peak times under the strain of all the new iPhones hitting the network. Also, be mindful of data consumption on LTE; faster speeds mean you may gobble up more data.