iPhone 5S Review & Specs Comparison

The new iPhone came out, and we got a hold of it. In this review, I'll be telling you the Pros, Cons, Features, and the competition.

2 years ago in the world of the smartphone, the iPhone dominated the market, and the competition seemed weak. Android was super laggy, with OS fragmentation and lack of applications. Now that we're in the end of 2013, the smartphone age has changed dramatically. New and powerful phones from once underrated companies are starting to emerge. Phones that could arguably lead the next generation. From the Sony Xperia Z1 to the Note 3, the competition is getting tough, and does the Apple iPhone 5S deserve to be the crowned king again?

The iPhone 5S is nothing new to the iPhone 5. Theoretically, the processor is the same, only in a 64 Bit architecture, hence the reason why they were comparing the 5S's specs to the ORIGINAL iPhone. If the processor was any better, they would be comparing it to the 5's processor. The screen remains the same "retina display" 4 inch screen with 326PPI which was good 2 years ago, but now with the rise of 720P and now 1080P screens and phones with a sweetspot of 4.7 to 5.7 inches, the iPhone 5S is a dwarf. However, iOS is smooth like always. Thanks to iOS, it covers up for the mediocre processor specs, and the screen doesn't look that bad. The small screen helps you be able to sneak a text in class, or have it in your pocket comfortably. One handed use is a pleasure on the 5S without a case, but if you plan of getting a case for your 5S, why not just save some money and get a 5C?

Anyway, the 5S has a very nice camera, even though it is only a 8MP camera (while Sony has a 20MP one, and the Note 3 has a 13MP one that shoots 4K resolution) the iPhone 5S really stresses the fact that Megapixels don't matter. Lowlight performance is quite nice on the 5S, but the dual flash is just a gimmick. The larger aperture is quite noticeable if you put the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5 cameras side-by-side. The front facing camera is a joke, but it still produces some good selfies.

The main feature that makes the iPhone 5S stand out from the others is Touch ID. Apple pretty much took a really good fingerprint scanner, managed to cram it into the Homebutton of the iPhone, utilized the proximity sensor as a slick looking ring around the homebutton and finished it with a sapphire crystal button without the square thing in the middle. The homebutton is also slightly smaller on the iPhone 5S, but it's hardly noticeable.  Touch ID is not one of Apples gimmicks, Touch ID works. Of the 30 times I tried, all of them were successful. This feature is useful for people who tend to text in class or at work, or for people who press their homebutton to wake the phone up.

Overall,  the iPhone 5S is NOT the total beast you've been looking for, it is only a polished version of the iPhone 5. I would not recommend anyone with a iPhone 5 to get the 5S as it is a disappointing experience. If you have the 4S (or lower) it is a great experience with innovative features (not specs). If you have an Android phone, unless you have a reason to switch to iOS (people at school/work uses iMessage, rich Emoji's, a lot of people have an iPhone) it would be slightly awkward at first because chances are, you used a bigger screen, but you won't be disappointed with the number of app's there are (Google PlayStore is catching up though).

I would rate this phone a solid 8.5/10 because, it doesn't matter if the spec wars is stupid to Apple, but a 1.2GHz DUAL CORE processor and 1 GB of RAM is truly ridiculous (these are the specs of a GALAXY NEXUS aka a 2 year old phone). iOS's redesign is a mixed bag for everyone, but the thinner fonts, more colors, and the focus on movement makes iOS a more lively OS to use. iOS barely has any lag or stutters, so this partially make up for the disappointing specs. The camera is OK, at least a 12 MP camera with a bigger aperture and more features than Slow-Mo would have been a definite way to win people over. TouchID is flawless, and makes up for all of the points lost, but still, same design, same screen, same processor that is in 64 Bit now, and a somewhat acceptable camera holds the phone back from getting more than a 8.5/10.

A game changer of Transportation, Boosted boards; A skateboard on steroids

A small company in Palo Alto, California, founded by some Stanford University students is about to change the way we travel.

Boosted Boards has introduced a prototype of what it's calling "the lightest electric vehicle that's ever been made"--a longboard electric skateboard that the company hopes will easily and quickly transport commuters from wherever their bus or train stops to wherever it is they actually want to be.

"The last mile of transportation is this huge problem that hasn't been solved yet," Boosted Boards co-founder Sanjay Dastoor said in the company's promotional video below. "Once you get off of a public transit system, whether it's a bus or a train or anything else, how do you get along that last mile to your destination? What Boosted Boards does is gives you a really portable vehicle that you can use in conjunction with public transit." 

So far, the company is still working on prototypes, which weigh 12 to 15 pounds, can climb hills with grades as steep as 15 percent, go as fast as 20 mph, and last for six miles without being recharged.

The board's throttle and braking are all controlled with a little hand-held remote that's worn on the thumb. And, unlike other electric skateboards, there's room to grip underneath if you're looking to do any fancy tricks. The braking system is also regenerative, charging the battery a bit with every stop. If you do drain the battery and don't want to wait two hours to recharge, the board will still work like a regular skateboard, offering just a touch more resistance.

It appears as if the small company has a lot of support. It's partnered with longboard skateboard maker Loaded Boards and is consulting with a former director of engineering at electric vehicle maker Tesla Motors; Dastoor says he hopes the consultant will help the company avoid some of the common mistakes that young hardware companies make when they bring a product to market.

Nevertheless, Dastoor says that making a product like an electric longboard skateboard is extremely expensive, which is why the company has asked for pledges via online pledging system Kickstarter. So far, the company has raised more than $180,000, with 80 people (and counting) pledging the $1,199 required to receive a board by next June. 

Go donate now to support Boosted Boards! Kickstarter Page

Photo and video courtesy Boosted Boards