The iPhone 5S was Apple’s first smartphone with the Contact ID fingerprint dwelling button and a 64-bit processor when it launched in 2013.

It was essentially the most premium, costliest iPhone you can get your arms on, however now it is a very totally different story. 

The present crop of Apple smartphones – iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X – could not be farther from what the Four-inch iPhone 5S provided up, and whereas Apple not produces the 5S, there may be nonetheless inventory available in shops around the globe – and at a low worth too.

In case you’re out there for an iPhone that matches comfortably into the palm of your hand you both must go for the marginally newer iPhone SE from 2016, or plump for the cheaper 5S.

The iPhone 5S would not have the most recent energy, digicam know-how or Animoji, nevertheless it does run the most recent iOS software program guaranteeing it is nonetheless related and safe.

When it was first unveiled, the iPhone 5S seemed rather a lot just like the iPhone 5, regardless that it went a lot additional below the hood. 

We would been there earlier than with the iPhone ‘S’ conundrum: a brand new telephone comes alongside, taking the shell of the earlier mannequin, provides some new bits and items, after which claims to be a completely new telephone.

Which it was, in fact. But additionally wasn’t. Properly, largely was. It is the form of transfer that solely Apple can pull off with any form of conviction: the notion that it may well take the identical chassis, have a little bit tinker, throw in a brand new CPU, barely higher battery and digicam, and name it an all-conquering gadget.

iPhone 5S worth and availability

The 5S began out as an costly smartphone, even on month-to-month plans, though fortunately the worth has fallen significantly because the handset has gotten older.

Now you can discover it in most locations around the globe for as little as $100 (£150, AU$150) at SIM-free costs, though these handsets might be pre-owned, refurbished units, slightly than model new handsets.

Design

The iPhone 5S represented the head of that specific iPhone design for Apple, earlier than it went thinner and extra rounded with the iPhone 6; it was definitely very troublesome to inform the 5S aside from its predecessor, the iPhone 5.

Maybe that is much less of a problem now that the iPhone is turning into one thing of a commodity, a tool that’s so oft-used by the middle-aged era that it not carries the lustre that the exclusivity of the sooner fashions emanated.

That is not essentially a foul factor both; simply because it is not an ‘unique’ design that does not make the iPhone 5S any much less premium. The hazard is that it is beginning to look a bit old school up towards the handsets from 2014 and 2015.

That stated, it is nonetheless a surprising telephone to carry within the hand, coming with the all-aluminium-and-glass chassis. There is no doubt Apple had a have a look at the way in which the iPhone 5 vary (nicely, black and white) chipped so badly across the edges.

However that very same challenge was obvious already in my iPhone pattern inside per week, so it seems like you are going to shortly have to stuff your new iPhone 5S in a case the second you launch it from its field, lest you allow it in a pocket or bag with change and keys and it comes out wanting prefer it’s gone a couple of rounds with a randy cheese grater.

The brand new colors, launched with the 5S, which embrace champagne and house gray are a little bit odd, however not less than promise to indicate up the scuffs rather less prominently.

The way in which the iPhone 5S feels within the hand is one thing spectacular although, coming with the low, low weight of 112g and dimensions of 123.eight x 58.6 x 7.6mm.

It is nonetheless obtained that just about too-light feeling, that the premium metallic end is by some means diminished by means of the shortage of heft, nevertheless it’s a good distance from feeling low cost.

In comparison with one thing just like the Galaxy S5 or LG G3, the iPhone 5S is miles forward in relation to design, though much less so than the HTC One M9 or One Mini 2 which have repeated the aluminium-clad trick.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge display that Samsung has obtained its design mojo again, and each handsets give the iPhone 5S a run for its cash within the seems division.

It is obtained a barely sharper edge than different fashions available on the market, which may make it a little bit uncomfortable when being pressed to the ear. However I am not going to quibble an excessive amount of there lest it makes me appear a little bit wimpy.

There have been solely a few actual design variations in comparison with the iPhone 5, and one in every of them actually is minuscule: the digicam module is flanked by a dual-LED flash, which I will speak extra about later (it is a actually slightly nifty piece of know-how, belief me).

The opposite was much more substantial and spectacular: the house button obtained a redesign which has been carried over to the newer handsets of in the present day.

Sure, it would not sound like a lot, however think about how iconic the Apple dwelling button has been over the previous half-decade, and you will see why I am holding the change in such excessive esteem. The visible impact is spectacular, taking the sq. off the button and placing a elaborate silver ring round the important thing.

The impact is not solely aesthetic both, as this space serves because the Contact ID fingerprint scanner, now nicely established in Apple’s iPhone vary. It is good to know that even on this older handset you have obtained the advantages that Contact ID brings.

Having purchased two separate biometric security firms, Apple was more likely to do one thing like this, however the implementation and visible impact is admittedly one thing that Apple does nicely, and has completed so right here too.

Past that, the iPhone 5S is equivalent to the 5, even right down to the rattle within the energy button. We’re nonetheless a little bit confused as to why a tool with such a excessive construct high quality has a barely unfastened half with it, however shake the iPhone 5S gently and you will really feel the important thing transferring round.

It isn’t a giant deal, however from time to time you will be aware the movement, and it does detract considerably.

Fortunately the remainder of the telephone is constructed impeccably. The spherical quantity keys are straightforward to hit. the change to allow quantity on or off has the identical sturdy really feel that I’ve come to get pleasure from, and the headphone port continues to be welded to the underside of the telephone.

The Lightning connection port is right here as nicely, together with the stereo audio system on the underside of the telephone. I want these have been positioned someplace else, as when cupping the telephone in panorama mode it is too straightforward to cowl these with palms or digits, and there is probably not any option to shift round them.

You possibly can all the time use headphones, however that form of negates the purpose of the audio system for gaming fully.

The suitable hand aspect hasn’t been left fully alone on the 5S, with Apple selecting this floor as the placement for the SIM card tray – the iPhone 5S was one of many first handsets to rock the tiny nanoSIM know-how.

The iPhone 5 and 5S design was such successful which you can nonetheless get a bunch of instances for the telephone, together with quite a lot of types and shapes direct from the Apple Retailer on the net.

However past that I am nonetheless impressed with the design of the iPhone 5S. It is laborious to not be, as if there’s one factor that Apple will get completely proper it is the way in which it assembles its units.

The metallic and glass mixture does really feel a little bit fragile, and I would advocate a case (maybe a third-party choice) to guard the aluminium, however the design is one thing that not less than helps mitigate the upper worth.

After all, good because the design is, it is now up towards the iPhone 6S / iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S Plus / iPhone 6 Plus: sleeker, thinner, and rocking a lot bigger screens. Whether or not or not these modifications are for the higher is as much as you – you is perhaps actually connected to a telephone display screen which you can get your thumb comfortably throughout.