Apple iPhone 5 User Reviews
Overal user rating
The overall rating is the average of all user reviews, while the overall alternatives are the ones that has been listed most.
Reception8.9/10Display8.9/10
Build quality8.5/10Text input8.1/10
Everyday usage8.1/10UI speed8.9/10
Camera8.4/10Multimedia8.1/10
Internet8.6/10Call quality9/10
Battery7.8/10Alternatives
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Please note that each user review reflects the opinion of its respectful author and not of Phone Arena.
irvinkeith posted on
Perfect for me
irvinkeith has owned it for less than year before publishing this review
Best all around phone, does everything and there is literally an app for anything u can think of in the App Store. The build quality is amazing and I expect iOS 7 to take it to an entirely different level
Build quality 10/10Reception 10/10Call quality 10/10Internet 10/10Multimedia 10/10Camera 10/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 10/10Display 10/10Battery 10/10
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Reportkusalanupama posted on 06 Jun 2013, 09:01
Simply Awesome Phone
kusalanupama has owned it for less than 3 months before publishing this review
i'm was an android user, i had the Galaxy Nexus for 6 months, rooted. first the build quality of the iPhone 5 is just awesome, perfect weight perfect height. the reason i didn't like my GNX was its size, it was just too big for me although it is also a very good phone. i had plenty of troubles when doing something in a busy environment so big phones are just not for me. the display is very sharp in iPhone 5 though it has a smaller screen when compared its just a pleasure to watch something on it. the camera is an all rounder, it performed well in most of the situations, night or day. the apps are just so much rich than in andoid, the speaker is not very loud but the output is very much clear i even feel a small bass :) than even in Galaxy S4 which is very loud but distorted. im not a heavy user so the battery lasts a whole day which i'm pleased. the reception is good and call quality is very good. there's actually nothing i didn't like about this phone. overall its a very good phone. i'm totally happy with the purchase.
Build quality 10/10Reception 9/10Call quality 9/10Internet 10/10Multimedia 10/10Camera 8/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 10/10Display 9/10Battery 8/10Pros
Cons
- a better battery
- more functionality like in android
kusalanupama alternatives:
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportjamov posted on 01 Jun 2013, 02:58
Iphone 5 alle you need, no stress at all
jamov has owned it for less than month before publishing this review
I bad Lumia 920 before and got bored and finally bought iPhone. Now I'm really happy.
Battery last very nike, screen is fantastic, now I can get all software I need, very very fast camera, all works so well. Couldn't be happier!Build quality 9/10Reception 9/10Call quality 9/10Internet 10/10Multimedia 9/10Camera 9/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 9/10Text input 9/10Display 10/10Battery 9/10Pros
- Light, easy, beautifull, AppStore
Cons
- Expensive
jamov alternatives:
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportcaryhartline posted on 31 May 2013, 13:22
Reliable, secure, and smooth, but it's still not a "super-phone".
caryhartline has owned it for less than 3 months before publishing this review
You can't beat that build quality. I've never had a problem with reception or call quality. Webkit is certainly nice, but I wish I had more choice with what engine I use without having to jailbreak. iTunes and quicktime make for amazing mp3/mp4/m4a. The camera is okay, but it could be better. The UI is ultra-smooth and never stutters and it's totally reliable for everyday use. The autocorrect is okay, but obviously has some problems. Retina and glass make it a beautiful display. The battery is ok, but it could be better.
Build quality 10/10Reception 10/10Call quality 10/10Internet 8/10Multimedia 10/10Camera 7/10UI speed 9/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 7/10Display 10/10Battery 7/10
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportadd119 posted on 06 May 2013, 12:08
Switch from android using since Jan 2009 to now.
add119 has owned it for less than month before publishing this review
It upgrade with guaranteed of 3 years or better on upgrade.
i don't need concept of nexus for me to like android on stock . Truth be told Xperia ion was better then Galaxy s3. Mainly, because of it camera just like s3 over hyped from reviews, I feel like s4 will not be best phone either. Same like nexus 4 wasnt best phone in 2012.
Android have to many phones and that is the main reason why app arent optimize or supported.
Ios have no issue when it come to that even iphone 4 can download and play hd game that 2010 android phones cant . Unless you mod the phone apple is simple and i like that I dont need to tamper with it.
Camera is better the nexus 4 and galaxy s3.
Nexus is yet to get upgrade beside android 4.2 os and galaxy nexus to me is going to probably shaft from getting android 5.0 os and it 2011 year phone.
Can apple say that iphone 4s wont 7.0 os from 5.0 os?? I dont think so.
Apple is great on movies and games.
Bigger screen?? No thanks I buy tablet or Laptop if i want that.Build quality 10/10Reception 10/10Call quality 10/10Internet 10/10Multimedia 10/10Camera 10/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 10/10Display 10/10Battery 10/10Pros
- Screen resolution is on par with atrix hd and higher s3 that at 315 ppi
- IOS app store
- Friendly
- Battery
- 4 inches display
- Camera
Cons
- Sd card
add119 alternatives:
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportchristony1120 posted on 01 May 2013, 17:38
Best phone Ive had so far!!!
christony1120 has owned it for less than year before publishing this review
I have Verizon and I've been through many of their top smartphones, (Droid Razr, Galaxy S3, Droid X, OG Droid) and honestly I can say that the iPhone has been the best phone I have ever gotten. I wrote everything next to the ratings bar :)
Build quality 9/10Reception 10/10Call quality 10/10Internet 9/10Multimedia 10/10Camera 10/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 10/10Display 10/10Battery 7/10Pros
- Screen
- Fast UI
- LTE
- Keyboard
- Beautiful constuction
- Comes with earphones
- Camera
- Safari
Cons
- Safari cant support flash
- Battery Life
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3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Do you?
ReportKepec posted on 14 Apr 2013, 18:11
iPhone 5 - yes, he's my best
Kepec has owned it for less than year before publishing this review
I am just stuned. I've just almost every phone that is out now and i didn't find anything special in none of those except in iPhone 5. When i first saw it i tought that it's crap but when i tried it a knew that i won't ever switch from iPhone if the next generations brings the same spark that the iPhone 5 brought.
Build quality 10/10Reception 10/10Call quality 10/10Internet 10/10Multimedia 10/10Camera 10/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 10/10Display 10/10Battery 10/10Pros
- iOS
- Screen
- Multimedia
- Camera
- App Store
- Build Quality
- UI
- Apps
- Posibilities
- Thinness
Cons
- Battery
7 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Do you?
ReportAlphaman posted on 03 Apr 2013, 12:27
Best iPhone to date
Alphaman has owned it for less than year before publishing this review
I've had the phone almost 6 months now, and use it regularly every day, from gaming to messaging, email to music. It's on 24x7, and is everything from my car's new nav system to my alarm clock. I can totally depend on it.
It doesn't get much easier to review a phone than this. Great reception with LTE. Great battery life. Awesome display. Perfect weight. Perfect size. Incredibly thin. Awesome camera. Tons of storage. Fast processor. And then, there's the supporting infrastructure, with huge app and multimedia stores with all the content you could desire.
The only thing I can quibble about would be the new 16x9 display -- when in landscape mode and surfing the web or reading text, the vertical height is almost too short. I much preferred the old 3x2 aspect ratio for landscape, but I can live with this as videos and games display better in 16x9. It's a design compromise that I can live with, though.Build quality 10/10Reception 10/10Call quality 10/10Internet 10/10Multimedia 10/10Camera 10/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 10/10Display 10/10Battery 10/10Pros
- metal shell
- reception
- LTE
- display
- speed
Cons
4 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportjavac posted on 01 Apr 2013, 21:35
Iphone 5
javac has owned it for less than month before publishing this review
Lets be honest here all the top end phones are great but the iphone 5 is just lacking when it comes to a lot of features. I bought it and returned it the next day. I am very tech. savy and i notice issue a lot probably wont. This phone is falling far behind the others.
If you compare it wth the other phones out there it just doesnt seem able to compete.
The other thing that really bugs me is all the issues apple is having with the software. the purple haze in the pictures, the battery life after you updated the software, the random lines on the keyboard. They keep putting out more updates that just cause more issues. If you ask me im going to wait for the s4 and pirchase that.Build quality 6/10Reception 8/10Call quality 6/10Internet 7/10Multimedia 3/10Camera 6/10UI speed 9/10Everyday usage 6/10Text input 7/10Display 5/10Battery 6/10Pros
- Simple to start with
Cons
- the quality of this device is horrible for the price
- the software is just riddled with problems
- the updates may fix some issues but from what ihave heard they just create more
- in the end this phone becomes less and less user friendly
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3 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportabdullaaryan posted on 28 Mar 2013, 13:10
Bad iPhone
abdullaaryan has owned it for less than 3 months before publishing this review
i had an iphone 5 for about 2 month.
I had tow big problemes with it
1- the build quality is so bad and very easy to scratch.
2- the battery life, it drained so fast.
I recommend iPhone 4s, it's one of the best phone I have ever seenBuild quality 3/10Reception 8/10Call quality 10/10Internet 9/10Multimedia 9/10Camera 9/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 8/10Text input 10/10Display 8/10Battery 5/10
3 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Do you?
ReportNokiaFTW posted on 19 Mar 2013, 07:28
I expected much more
NokiaFTW has owned it for less than 3 months before publishing this review
My close friend bought this mobile phone. I cant find a difference between that and my iPhone 4. The build quality is good but the user experience is like just the same as the first iPhone. Battery life is not the best and no expandable storage.
Build quality 9/10Reception 9/10Call quality 9/10Internet 8/10Multimedia 8/10Camera 9/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 3/10Text input 7/10Display 7/10Battery 7/10Pros
- Great build quality
- Fast and smooth performance
- Healthy ecosystem of third party apps
- Very compact and light weight
- Great camera
Cons
- No expandable storage
- The UI is very limiting and outdated looking
- Average battery life.
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5 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reporttaikucing posted on 19 Mar 2013, 05:05
Overhyped, Overrated, Overpriced
taikucing has owned it for less than month before publishing this review
Ok, I didn't buy this phone. It's a prize from a friend of mine. After comparing this phone to my Galaxy Note II, everything that exists in this phone also exists in My Note II. Even my Note II have much more features. People say this is the best phone, but it's just a gimmick & hype. I can't even customize the home screen like my Note II. The UI is as simple as usual, just a boring grid of icons . As you know, no widgets here, it's pretty boring for a person who always want speed & ease like me. I don't want to open the mail app just for checking my email, it can be done faster & easier with widgets. The maps app sucks, the map of my country isn't complete. Luckily I can download Google Maps from the app store. The signal & the speaker are weak. The proximity sensor behave weirdly. G sensor is not sensitive. I can't transfer music via bluetooth. Why do you buy iphone if there are many smartphones that are better & cheaper than the iphone? The summary is concluded in the score below.
Build quality 2/10Reception 2/10Call quality 2/10Internet 2/10Multimedia 2/10Camera 2/10UI speed 2/10Everyday usage 2/10Text input 2/10Display 2/10Battery 2/10Pros
- It has many weaknesses
- Nothing special
Cons
- very very very expensive, pay more for less features
- no true multitasking
- no SD card, no NFC, can't transfer music via bluetooth
- still has a few bugs, lock screen is hackable
- no widgets & not customizeable
- small screen, not HD resolution, retina display is a gimmick
- bendable case, don't put it in the pocket of your pants
- Weak reception & speaker
- GPS takes long time to lock
8 out of 22 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportselena1000 posted on 17 Mar 2013, 08:31
Pretty(and)Awesome
selena1000 has owned it for less than 3 months before publishing this review
I have never owned an Apple product before but decided to buy iphone 5 to see why its so famous and so liked. I guess now I know why,this phone is simply awesome.its a pleasure to hold this phone.it really feels like a swiss watch and the hard work and time on its design could be felt when you hold it in your hand.its smooth and fast.battery life is also satisfactory and screen might not be the best on paper n=but in reality its the best i have seen.
Build quality 10/10Reception 10/10Call quality 9/10Internet 9/10Multimedia 8/10Camera 10/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 8/10Display 10/10Battery 8/10Pros
- best build quality
- smooth and fast
- the best appstore handsdown
- pretty awesome camera
- beautiful screen
Cons
- ios ui is too simple
8 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportkingakash posted on 13 Feb 2013, 11:34
Never go for Apple before Checking it.
kingakash has owned it for less than month before publishing this review
Bought a new iPhone 5 just a 2 days back. this phone had a camera flash issue. The Apple people told me to get replaced but only the mobile device not the full box that too i should wait for 1 week. The re seller never helps in this issue even though it was just a day happened after the sale. So please dont buy apple without checking at shop itself. As it has lots of bug and hardware problem. The customer care is worst with apple.
Build quality 7/10Reception 8/10Call quality 8/10Internet 10/10Multimedia 5/10Camera 3/10UI speed 8/10Everyday usage 7/10Text input 7/10Display 6/10Battery 4/10
7 out of 21 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reporttgirlnc posted on 12 Feb 2013, 14:13
Meh...way overrated
tgirlnc has owned it for less than year before publishing this review
So, I am compelled to give my honest opinion on the iPhone 5....it is the most overrated device on the market. I had the HTC One X for about a month and the new larger size drove me crazy...but the UI on the HTC was amazing...however, I was convinced by many devoted iPhone lemmings and close friends that my life would change with the 5, so..I traded my HTC for the 5. The two biggest benefits- size of phone and camera. Beyond that the iPhone 5 comes up short everywhere else. Now, I know you iPhone/Apple fanboys are shaking your heads with blinding dissent of the facts that I am presenting..but they are indeed facts. Poor predictive input, horrible user interface (too many steps for simple things..really setting an alarm shouldn't take that many steps), availability of apps and ability to customize...safari browser limitations, poor button layout on screen..battery life..are some of the major offenders. So, for anyone who is researching what smartphone to get...if you have a brand attachment to Apple....get the iPhone 5...for shallow reasons alone..if you want great UI get one of the new Android devices.
Build quality 3/10Reception 8/10Call quality 9/10Internet 4/10Multimedia 5/10Camera 9/10UI speed 3/10Everyday usage 5/10Text input 3/10Display 6/10Battery 5/10
7 out of 22 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reporttechguy22 posted on 12 Feb 2013, 11:31
good phone for any average joe ( review based on my sister iphone 5)
techguy22 has owned it for less than 3 months before publishing this review
i have used this phone for quite few time. my sister loves it. for her its the best phone on earth. for me. its really a mediocre phone. there are so much better phone out, doesn't matter if its android or WP8. IP5 did not deserve all the hype. im sure the next iphone wont look any different from its predecessor
Build quality 9/10Reception 9/10Call quality 8/10Internet 6/10Multimedia 7/10Camera 5/10UI speed 6/10Everyday usage 4/10Text input 5/10Display 8/10Battery 7/10Pros
- awesome build quality
- light and attractive to most people
- awesome apps
- bigger screen
Cons
- same boring OS
- looks like any other IPhone with slightly upgrade
- taller and awkward feel
- small screen, 2013 is about 1080p the iphone isnt even 720
7 out of 18 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportcheekyrose posted on 31 Jan 2013, 01:52
Fairly good
cheekyrose has owned it for less than month before publishing this review
I really enjoyed its good looks and resolution. It also perfectly fits in my hands. Very light compared to iPhone 4/4S. I got this just because of the Starmaker app. But i still have to say i still prefer an android phone specifically Samsung phones because I can be more productive and efficient. in my own opinion, this phone is for people who doesn't care much how everything is being done in their phone and those who hate to configure things.
Build quality 10/10Reception 10/10Call quality 5/10Internet 1/10Multimedia 5/10Camera 5/10UI speed 5/10Everyday usage 2/10Text input 10/10Display 7/10Battery 8/10Pros
- Better resolution
- Perfect size
Cons
- Lots of restrictions
5 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Do you?
ReportJimCanning posted on 24 Jan 2013, 10:47
iPhone 5 Top Dog
JimCanning has owned it for less than year before publishing this review
I upgraded as soon as the iPhone 5 came out and gave my 4S to my wife. The screen size increase in length was "just enough" to keep it useful for one hand operation. IMO the size is outstanding as the width is perfect for one hand operation. Personally I do not like having to use two hands for a cell phone like is necessary in the larger Samsung devices. Absolutely love the thinner design, less weight and the aluminum back, replacing the glass back. The speed of the A6 chip has me hooked, as I experience NO lag and the most responsive phone I have ever used. I use AT&T and have my own opinion with them, however in the LTE zones sometimes I feel the phone can actually out think me. I mean I touch the icon and instantly get results. IOS is very easy to learn and master and honestly who really cares about changing your screen look all the time. A smartphone should function to what you need it for and Apple has it down. Let the Android people concentrate on continuing to make changes and goofing with the useless modifications and such. If you want a quality smartphone who's call quality is IMO the best and response is outstanding, grab this one. As far as iTunes goes, yes, it is tight but there are ways to make things happen without having to pay a dime. I won't discuss that here but I have everything I need and don't need to worry about investing $$ to get them.
Build quality 10/10Reception 9/10Call quality 10/10Internet 9/10Multimedia 8/10Camera 10/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 10/10Display 10/10Battery 10/10Pros
- Call Quality
- LTE areas internet if fastest anywhere
- Size is perfect for one hand operation
- Screen display is clear and easy to see even is bright sunlight
- Lightning plug is far more durable than old 30 pin
Cons
- multimedia is same as the beginning of time
10 out of 18 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportjmoney62987 posted on 25 Dec 2012, 18:46
Went fro i4 to gs3 to i5 back to gs3..now going back to i5
jmoney62987 has owned it for less than month before publishing this review
Same old same old...if you had the i4 I think if you want to stay with apple than get this. If you have the 4s stick with it until the 5s comes out. Personally I like the GS3 more but because I spent so much on apps etc I am sticking with apple; not to mention I really hate how android phones are replaced by better ones weekly it seems.
Build quality 10/10Reception 10/10Call quality 10/10Internet 8/10Multimedia 3/10Camera 10/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 10/10Display 10/10Battery 7/10Pros
- Camera- the best (yes i compared to my gs3)
- Build quality
- Value- it cost a lot to begin but it HOLDS that value
- Apple has timely updates/ upgrades
- App selection
- facetime
Cons
- Its exactly the same as the i4 except better cameras and siri
- Its exactly the same as 4s except lighter and a tiny bit faster
- UI IS STALE
- Battery isn't as good as GS3
- Apple limits a lot of what can be done
- Doesn't have nearly the amount of features found on android
12 out of 20 people found this review helpful. Do you?
ReportWindsponge posted on 24 Dec 2012, 17:36
Best phone for me
Windsponge has owned it for less than 3 months before publishing this review
I know for some reason some people are dogging it more than they should. No phone out is as smooth or as dependable as it. The ease of set up and use are the very best. I have owned droids and really looked into the windows phone. They are both ok phones but they are not IPhones. Try for your self, don't go by other people's feelings.
Build quality 10/10Reception 10/10Call quality 10/10Internet 10/10Multimedia 10/10Camera 10/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 10/10Display 10/10Battery 10/10Pros
- Reception, ease of use, very good quality of build
Cons
- I would like a bigger screen but it isa great screen
10 out of 19 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportmichalis11 posted on 24 Dec 2012, 04:51
good but not the best
michalis11 has owned it for less than month before publishing this review
this phone is good. i have it for less than a month and i know apple cause i had iphone 4s as well. ITS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I HAVE EVER MADE! i should never bought this phone! it has lots of goods but its not the best and that is what makes me fell sad about that one!
Build quality 6/10Reception 7/10Call quality 8/10Internet 8/10Multimedia 6/10Camera 7/10UI speed 8/10Everyday usage 6/10Text input 7/10Display 7/10Battery 7/10michalis11 alternatives:
9 out of 19 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportbinblessing posted on 07 Dec 2012, 09:00
Best phone ever
binblessing has owned it for less than month before publishing this review
I love this mobile than any other thing
it's the best mobile i've ever used
it's faster than samsung galaxy S III 's quad core
8 mp better than every other mobile
4 inch it's the screen which is best suitable for a mobileBuild quality 10/10Reception 10/10Call quality 10/10Internet 10/10Multimedia 10/10Camera 10/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 10/10Display 10/10Battery 10/10
11 out of 33 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportgsinghkhosla posted on 05 Dec 2012, 01:16
Iphone 5
gsinghkhosla has owned it for less than month before publishing this review
well optimized phone/fone,perfect size ,awesome build quality,good screen,hardware is enough to support any new thing......weight factor...camera quality is best out there,fast shutter speed...but very expensive !
Build quality 10/10Reception 10/10Call quality 10/10Internet 10/10Multimedia 10/10Camera 10/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 10/10Display 10/10Battery 10/10Pros
Cons
- no jailbreak yet!
- cost
11 out of 22 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportdrdaly posted on 19 Nov 2012, 21:40
Totally awesome device
drdaly has owned it for less than month before publishing this review
iPhone 5 is a beast but, beautiful good looking one. You should all give it a try to feel that luxury in your hands, extremely responsive, one hand operated smoothly, battery is great and lasts even if you're a heavy user of games and social networking like i'm. I had a galaxy s3 blue one and it was large to fit in my bucket, laggy and battery is less than a day happy to get rid of it
Build quality 10/10Reception 9/10Call quality 10/10Internet 10/10Multimedia 9/10Camera 9/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 9/10Display 10/10Battery 10/10Pros
Cons
- Needed bigger screen 4.5" would be awesome
- IOS gets things done but, needs major change it' a bit boring
drdaly alternatives:
9 out of 18 people found this review helpful. Do you?
Reportjulyo posted on 30 Nov 2012, 22:59
i phone 5
julyo has owned it for less than 3 months before publishing this review
could be better. about the size of the phone and the back material. but overall is the best phone on the market. nice display and very fast . maps is no ok. prefered google maps with street view . best place to get it at&t
Build quality 9/10Reception 10/10Call quality 10/10Internet 10/10Multimedia 10/10Camera 10/10UI speed 10/10Everyday usage 10/10Text input 10/10Display 10/10Battery 9/10
7 out of 17 people found this review helpful. Do you?
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