iphone 5 buyers guide

iPhone 5 buyers guide

By Rene Ritchie, Monday, Sep 17, 2012 a 11:07 am

There are a lot of decisions involved when it comes to buying a new iPhone, or any phone for that matter. Once you've decided you do indeed need a new phone, you still have to decide if the new phone you need is an iPhone. While we still believe the iPhone is the best choice for most of the people most of the time, there are a lot of great phones on the market these days and there might be one better suited to some people's individual needs. And let's say you do decide the iPhone is perfect for you, then comes the choice of model (iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4), color (white & silver or black & slate), storage capacity (16GB, 32GB, or 64GB), and carrier network (in the U.S., AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint are the major ones). And what do you do with your old, broken phone when your new, hot phone arrives?

Enter iMore's 2012 iPhone buyers guide. If you need help deciding what to buy, we've got your back. And if you've already decided, just bookmark, email, Facebook, or Tweet this so we can help your friends and family and you can get on with enjoying your new iPhone!

iPhone or something else: Which phone should you get?

By Rene Ritchie, Saturday, Sep 15, 2012 a 6:03 pm

Just because Apple has released the new iPhone 5 doesn't mean you have to race off and get it. Crazy, I know, particularly coming from the biggest iPhone enthusiast site on the web, but that just goes to show you how true it is. When the time comes for you to get your next phone, whether it's today or next year, and iPhone or something else, you should look at what's on the market and decide what best suits your needs.

iPhone 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S3: Which phone should you get?

By Rene Ritchie, Saturday, Sep 15, 2012 a 9:56 am

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Android is the most popular smartphone platform on the planet, Samsung is the most popular Android manufacturer, and the Galaxy S3 is almost certainly going to be the most popular Android phone this year. And the iPhone 5 is going to be one of the most popular phones, period. So, that means anyone looking to buy a new phone for the next year will likely end up trying to decide between the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Apple's iPhone 5. The good news is, both are phenomenal devices. The bad news is, that makes the choice especially tough. Our Mobile Nations sibling site, Android Central has already given you their take. Here's mine.

iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S vs. iPhone 4: Which iPhone should you get?

By Rene Ritchie, Friday, Sep 14, 2012 a 1:17 pm

While some might consider the the latest, greatest 2012 iPhone 5 a no brainer when it comes to their next purchasing decision, Apple keeps the 2011 iPhone 4S and the 2010 iPhone 4 around for a reason. For some people, up-front price really does matter. However, over the lifetime of a typical contract, you'll be paying a couple thousand dollars, so it's important to really run the math on this and see what suits you best.

Black & slate or white & silver: Which iPhone 5 color should you get?

By Rene Ritchie, Thursday, Sep 13, 2012 a 10:28 pm

This year, like the last few years, one of the biggest decisions you have to make about buying an iPhone 5 is which color will you get? Unlike the new iPod touches, the iPhones are still a two color affair -- black and white. But this year, they're also a two-tone affair, with a metal back plate breaking up the glass on the back. And for the black version, it's a blackout affair, which the aluminum anodized as dark as the glass.

16GB, 32GB, or 64GB: Which iPhone 5 storage size should you get?

By Georgia, Thursday, Sep 13, 2012 a 5:22 pm

Decided to get a brand new iPhone 5 but not sure which storage capacity to get? 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB all have their pros and cons, so it's important to weigh all the options carefully and get the very best price/performance ration for you.

How to sell your old phone before upgrading to the iPhone 5

By Allyson Kazmucha, Wednesday, Sep 12, 2012 a 6:47 pm

If you're itching to buy a brand new iPhone 5 the minute it hits store shelves but already have an iPhone, selling it can help offset some, if not all of the cost, especially if you're not yet eligible for an upgrade and have to pay a premium. Odds are you've already decided which capacity and color you'll be getting when the iPhone 5 drops so you have some idea of how much money you need to get out of your current iPhone to cover the purchase.

So if you don't fancy handing it down for free to a family member or using it as a backup phone, we can guide you in the right direction when it comes to selling your old iPhone and getting top dollar for it.

AT&T vs Verizon vs Sprint: Which iPhone 5 carrier should you choose?

By Leanna Lofte, Wednesday, Sep 12, 2012 a 4:44 pm

If you're in the U.S. it's probably not so easy deciding which carrier is best for your iPhone 5 needs, AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. Price is always a huge factor to consider when choosing a carrier, but coverage should be just as, if not more, important when making a decision. Since the iPhone 5 supports LTE cellular technology, you're going to want to take a close look at which carriers offer the best LTE coverage in your area. Then there's the matter of simultaneous voice and data -- AT&T can do it over HSPA data, but Sprint and Verizon need Wi-Fi. And don't forget international roaming.