Why we're disappointed there's no iPhone 5? » YugaTech

Why we’re disappointed there’s no iPhone 5?

Probably the biggest disappointment with a lot of Apple fans, including me, is that there’s no real new iPhone. Yes, there’s the iPhone 4s but most of us were expecting an iPhone 5 — a totally re-designed and cosmetically enhanced compared to the iPhone 4.

Apple took 16 months from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S and I ask why did they took that long and only had these upgrades?

Since the iPhone 4, a lot of competitors have brought so many Android and Windows Phone 7 handsets into the market — a lot of them are really great and impressive devices.

Let me try to dissect the source of that disappointment.

Apple took 16 months and the only major upgrades were a CPU, graphics and camera. So okay, these are the heart and soul of a smartphone but the upgrades are to be expected. Nothing earth-shattering considering we already saw this in the iPad 2 many months ago.
An 8MP camera with 1080 video recording screams “me too”. A lot of earlier smartphones have this — SGS2, Optimus 2X, Sensation, etc. Camera quality is another thing though and is a saving-grace for the iPhone 4/4s. How about HSPA+? SGS2 already has that as well.
A 3.5-inch display for a smartphone is already considered an entry-level to mid-level display size. Newer and bigger display screens have been around since last year — 3.8″, 4.0″, 4.3″ and even 5.3″. Three-point-five is so June 2010.
We wanted to hear all the superlatives. The iPhone 4 claimed it was the thinnest smartphone in June 2010 at 9.3mm. The SGS2 and the Optimus Black (among others) have displaced the iPhone from that title for months now. We’re hoping the iPhone 4S would have reclaimed that title back.
The iPhone 4S’ crowning glory is Siri. Then again, it’s just an App which you can also install in other iOS5 devices so it’s a function that’s not inherent to the iPhone 4S.
The most obvious of all disappointments is that there was no re-design. The iPhone 4S is like the 3GS of the iPhone 3G. Nothing visually significant.

A lot of people have been asking me for months now if they should wait for the next iPhone or go ahead and get the Galaxy S2. I always tell them to go get the SGS2 right away. With the announcement of the iPhone 4S, I’m glad I know I did not disappoint them.

Then again, it’s really up to the individual user.

So let’s put it to a vote — do you like the new iPhone 4S?

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

116 Comments

riaj says:

14 years ago

I feel sorry for those people who waited for this new iphone
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al says:

14 years ago

Whats up with this constant grammar/typo errors don’t you proof read your blog before posting? I’m still a fan though.

The phone, mehhh. Not enough reason to upgrade.
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Abe Olandres says:

14 years ago

@al – sorry, it’s been a bad habit of mine to publish first then do the edits afterwards. A single post would have undergone 3 to as many as 12 edits/updates after I first clicked the Publish button. It’s been a habit that I have not shaken off for the last 6 years that I’ve been blogging full time.

Yom says:

14 years ago

Hear, hear. If you have been used to Android, then iPhone 4S is not a show-stopper.

Better wait for the Google-Samsung event next week!
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Jam. says:

14 years ago

Bye iPhone. Hello Android. Hi Nexus prime
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marvin says:

14 years ago

Nope, it looks like the iphone 4 from almost 1 1/2 years ago. Why bother upgrade if you are not a power user.samsung’s google event next week i think would be more exciting and worthy to watch.
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Jason says:

14 years ago

How much does it cost here in the Philippines? I’ve heard the prices are much cheaper than before.
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Arnold says:

14 years ago

Exactly my thoughts and source of disappointment. When upgrading to a new phone, first thing I look for is how different the design is from the original.

At least when Apple upgraded the iPhone 3G to 3GS, they tweaked the design a bit.

But with the iPhone 4S, parang tinamad na sina Apple mag-design ng bago.
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poche says:

14 years ago

you forget to mention that aside from the 8mp cam upgrade:
-it has a much larger cmos backside illuminated sensor than the ip4 meaning 73% more light.
-f/2.4 aperture
– 5 lens element which translates to more depth of field and wider f/stop and 30% sharper images than the ip4(4 element).
-hybrid IR filter which gives more accurate and vibrant colors, and also reduces red ghosting and chromatic aberrations which sometimes happen around light sources.

lastly Siri will be exclusive to the iphone 4s since it need the faster a5 to perform according to reports.
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garz says:

14 years ago

That is the only iPhone upgrade I wished I have on my Android. But if you’re buying 4S for the camera, it’s a waste of money. You can already buy a DSLR for its price – here in the Philippines anyway..

domz says:

14 years ago

Im disappointed with apple.. They always entice people with their new products for a very long time.. Sana man lang they came up with a new design and other high end features that can really compete with new phones in the market.. Planning to buy sana pa naman kaso i changed my mind already..
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Ravenmd says:

14 years ago

Good morning all! Lots of disappointed people i know. I was thinking maybe they will come out with the re-designed case with all the upgrades and this time with the 4 inch screen sometime middle of next year. There was a mention of a January 2012 Keynote in one forum.. would you know what that’s about, Yuga Sir?
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