iPhone 5S Review Roundup: The Early Verdicts

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By Emily Price2013-09-18 01:17:45 UTC

Apple’s newest flagship smartphone, the iPhone 5S, doesn’t hit stores until Sept. 20. Some reviewers, however, have already had the opportunity to spend a few days with the smartphone.

So, what are they all saying? We've rounded up some choice quotes below, but first here's a recap of the new device's most anticipated features:

The iPhone 5S's biggest claim to fame is its new Touch ID fingerprint scanner. The scanner stores a virtual picture of your fingerprint, and enables you to unlock your phone, or even make iTunes purchases using your finger as a password.

See also: iPhone 5S vs. the Competition

The 5S' camera also saw a huge upgrade, adding a wider f/2.2 aperture and new camera sensor, which is 15% larger than before. What's more, a new burst mode lets you take 10 photos in one second, and videos can be recorded in slow motion.

Here are some snippets from early reviews that have hit the web:

Engadget : "Basically, if you fell in love with the 5's aluminum chassis and chamfered edges, you're in for more of the same here."

CNET : "The iPhone 5S is not a required upgrade, but it's easily the fastest and most advanced Apple smartphone to date."

The Loop : "If you’re the type of person that always has to have the latest and greatest gadget, then this is the device for you."

All Things Digital : "Then there’s the new operating system on this phone, called iOS 7. Its new look, new user interface and new functions represent the biggest overhaul to the iPhone’s core software since the original model launched in 2007."

Slashgear : "We’ve come to expect evolution not revolution from the “S” update to Apple’s iPhone range, but the iPhone 5s could be enough to buck that trend."

Pocket-lint : "Not once have we thought anything took too long to load. But if you are an iPhone 5 user expecting the 5S to be twice the speed of what you've been using, you'll find that's not the case."

The iPhone 5S will be available on Sept. 20 at 8 a.m. local time in nine countries: the United States, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore and the UK. It will be available in Apple Stores, mobile carriers, and big-box retailers such as Best Buy and Walmart. Similar to previous generations, the 5S will come with 16, 32 or 64 GB of storage for $199, $299 and $399, respectively. The phone is launching in three colors: gold, silver and space gray.

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Image: Mashable

Topics: apple, iPhone, iPhone 5S, Mobile, Tech