Apple unveils thinner, lighter iPhone 5

Apple unveiled the new iPhone 5 in California on September 12, a thinner and lighter version of its iconic device capable of running on many (but not all) of the world’s 4G/LTE networks.

Much of the speculation in the run up to the launch proved correct: the new device has a larger four-inch Retina display – enough room for a fifth row of icons – but is 18 per cent thinner and 20 per cent lighter than its predecessor, the iPhone 4S. It is powered by Apple’s new A6 chip, which the firm claims can provide up to twice the CPU and graphics performance, while at the same time improving battery life.

It also sports an 8MP iSight camera, improved audio and microphones (including a redesign of Apple’s famous white ear buds); and – as widely expected – a new connector known as ‘Lightning,’ replacing the 30-pin cable used for many years on Apple gadgets.
It will run the previously-announced iOS6, which includes 200 new features to the software, notably new mapping and navigation (by Apple rather than Google) and deeper Facebook integration.

The iPhone 5 will retail in the US (after subsidy) for US$199 (16GB), US$299 (32GB) and US$399 (64GB). It will ship in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UK on September 21 with pre-orders taken from September 14. The device will rollout to 22 more countries on September 28.