Apple's iPhone 5: The positives

Apple's iPhone 5 has just hit the market and we've had it in our hands for a few days. Here's five positive things we've found about the iPhone 5 so far.

1. Design

The iPhone 5 looks somewhat similar to the previous iPhone 4S model in photos and pictures, but it's not until you've actually held it in your hand that you realise this is a very different beast. We almost dropped it the first time we picked it up simply because we expected it to be much heavier than it actually is. At just 112g, the iPhone 5's light weight defies its aluminium and glass construction and makes it one of the lightest smartphones on the market.

The detail in craftsmanship is very impressive, too. Although this is what most have come to expect from Apple, the iPhone 5 feels every bit a premium and expensive device. The bevelled edges on the sides, the machine drilled speaker and microphone holes at the bottom and the glass panels at the top and the bottom of the back are typical Apple touches. There's an extraordinary attention to detail in the construction of the iPhone 5 and it's something that most other smartphones lack.

2. 4G

If you're using the Telstra, Optus or Virgin Mobile networks in Australia, you'll be happy to know that the iPhone 5 is compatible with the 1800MHz LTE network band. That means you'll get 4G mobile coverage where it's available. 4G coverage is still fairly limited at the moment but when you are in a coverage area serviced by LTE, you're in for a treat. We managed to achieve download speeds of up 32 megabits per second (Mbps) on Telstra and up to 29Mbps on Optus when 4G was available. Unfortunately, Vodafone users are out of luck right now as the company isn't launching its 4G network until sometime in 2013.

Telstra launched its 4G network late last year, while Optus only lifted the lid on 4G earlier this month so it's still a relatively new phenomenon in Australia. With the iPhone 5's expected huge sales numbers, however, it is likely to be the smartphone that really kickstarts the 4G revolution in Australia. That can only a good thing for all consumers.

3. Display

Apple has fitted the iPhone 5 with a larger 4in screen, up from the 3.5in screen size of all previous iPhone models. The screen is exactly the same width but just taller. The advantage of this longer display means an extra row of icons now fits on the iOS 6 home screen.

The larger screen is actually rather deceptive. In your hands, the iPhone 5 doesn't feel like a much larger phone at all. The width means its easy to stretch your thumb to reach most areas of the screen. It's a bit of a stretch to tap the very top of the screen if you have small hands, but for most part, the iPhone 5 offers far better ergonomics than larger phones like the Samsung Galaxy S III and the HTC One X.

The iPhone 5's screen isn't all about size either. It offers superb colour reproduction, has excellent viewing angles and displays super crisp text. Next to the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5 displays much deeper blacks and is slightly brighter.

4. Speed

The iPhone 5 is a fast smartphone, it's as simple as that. General performance is excellent, opening and closing apps is almost instant and switching between apps is speedy. If you're coming from an iPhone 4S you won't notice the increase in speed too much, but the iPhone feels buttery smooth and fast during everyday use.

I've been using a Samsung Galaxy S III for the past few months and in my opinion, the iPhone 5 feels faster, even though the S III is certainly no slouch. The speed is particularly noticeable when you open the camera app from the lock screen in iOS 6. Do the same on the 4S and it's a second or two slower. Not a huge deal breaker but it's faster nonetheless.

5. Camera

I've only spent a few days with the iPhone 5, but I can already tell you that its camera is exceptional. It's a slight improvement on the 4S, which was no slouch itself. Macro performance is particularly impressive — the iPhone 5 can capture an excellent amount of detail in close up shots.

Apple has significantly improved the front facing camera, too. It remains below average for any serious still photos, but outgoing video performance in apps like Facetime, Skype and Tango is excellent. If you use these apps regularly, the iPhone 5 will offer better video quality.