APPLE anti-climactically released its iPhone 5 to the disappointed groans of iPhone loyalists worldwide last Wednesday. Though members of the general public can't actually buy the iPhone 5 from Apple until this Friday, September 21st, those following the iPhone 5 rumours since the launch of the iPhone 4s last October were left asking: "So?"

It is true, the iPhone 5 may look a lot similar to its predecessor, but TEENage decided to break down the newest iOS smartphone to let you know what exactly it is packing. But whether or not these upgrades were enough for Apple to create a whole new phone is still up to you, but we learnt our iPhone upgrade lesson when the iPhone 4 morphed into the iPhone 4s.

Difference in size, weight and display

The main difference in aesthetics with the iPhone 5 from its predecessor is that the iPhone 5 is taller and thinner with a larger display. Though just as wide as the iPhone 4s at 2.31 inches, the iPhone 5 stands at 4.87 inches high (compared to the 4s at 4.5 inches), and weighs only 3.9 ounces, a full ounce less than the iPhone 4s. The iPhone 5's 4 inch diagonal retinal display is also half an inch larger that the 4s', and gives you an extra row of icons and more space for browsing, apps, and movies.

Cameras, and Video Recording

Though both the iPhone 5 and 4s have the same eight mega-pixel iSight main camera, the iPhone 5 allows you to use it to take panoramic shots, and when it comes to videos it provides improved video stabilisation, face detection and allows you to take still shots while recording. The iPhone 5's 1.2 mega-pixel face time camera which takes 720p HD video and has a backside illumination sensor is also an upgrade from the iPhone 4s' face time VGA resolution photos and videos.

Processor Chip

The iPhone 5 boasts the upgraded A6 processor chip, which Apple says is up to twice as fast as the A5 chip in the iPhone 4s. The A6 chip will allow faster browsing, downloading and uploading without being a burden on the also improved browsing battery life, which is up two hours from its predecessor.

SIM Card

The iPhone 5 requires a new nano SIM, an even smaller SIM card than the micro SIM found in the 4s model. It is completely incompatible with larger SIMs which cannot be shaved down to fit the new requirement, as nano SIMs are not only smaller, but thinner too.

Connector

The iPhone 5's new Lightning connector is a proprietary connector that 80 per cent smaller than the old 30 pin connectors seen on every iPhone and iPod previously. Its main feature is that both sides of the connector's head are the same, so it can be plugged in without needing to be correctly oriented. But as impressive as this new connector is, it also means that none of you previous 30 pin iPhone/iPod accessories and cables can work with the new model. Apple does of course have an answer for this: they will soon be selling a Lightening adapter; separately.

— Kristen Laing