One phone uses LTE, while the other uses 3G. I'm also ignoring how the 5 is easily faster than the 3GS, which requires more power.
All of the most popular apps still run on the 3GS, and run well, with the exception of a half dozen or so.
This will change as the 3GS doesn't get iOS 7 and other apps start requiring it (or a full-featured iOS 6).
The internet browsing speed is effectively identical, regardless of whatever the specs claim.
By virtue of the faster processor + GPU, this is patently false. Also, you'll get fewer Safari reloads since the 5 has 4x as much RAM.
The only features that the new iPhones have are things like Siri and Facetime, which are largely gimmicks with no real use case.
You forgot a faster cellular connection and a high-definition screen.
With that said (I won't speak to the camera, since I don't have an eye for that sort of thing), I agree that iOS updates since iOS 4 have not introduced gamechanging features. Still, it's nice to Facetime with my family given that we don't live in the same city.
Wait, is this an argument against a technology that (a) has been widely rolled out by Verizon, and (b) will be even more pervasive in the coming months and years?
It's a question. A buddy of mine in NYC bemoans the fact that he can't actually get LTE coverage despite having an LTE phone. I still have an HSPA+ phone, so I haven't even looked. I'm curious, because it was my impression that outside of a few niche markets, LTE wasn't really a "yay, I get massively fast internets everywhere" feature yet.
Sorry, I expect the worst from the HN crowd these days. See my most recent comment for an example.
NYC is notorious for its poor Verizon LTE coverage. Right now, the US LTE market is "Verizon," however, as AT&T has rolled out slowly and Verizon LTE covers some high double-digit percentage of the US.
One phone uses LTE, while the other uses 3G. I'm also ignoring how the 5 is easily faster than the 3GS, which requires more power.
All of the most popular apps still run on the 3GS, and run well, with the exception of a half dozen or so.
This will change as the 3GS doesn't get iOS 7 and other apps start requiring it (or a full-featured iOS 6).
The internet browsing speed is effectively identical, regardless of whatever the specs claim.
By virtue of the faster processor + GPU, this is patently false. Also, you'll get fewer Safari reloads since the 5 has 4x as much RAM.
The only features that the new iPhones have are things like Siri and Facetime, which are largely gimmicks with no real use case.
You forgot a faster cellular connection and a high-definition screen.
With that said (I won't speak to the camera, since I don't have an eye for that sort of thing), I agree that iOS updates since iOS 4 have not introduced gamechanging features. Still, it's nice to Facetime with my family given that we don't live in the same city.