5 iPhone 5 Features You’ll Actually Care About

Today, Apple announced the new iPhone 5 which is set for a September 21st release date. The device features a number of improvements over the iPhone 4S boasting a larger screen, faster data connectivity and new software in iOS 6.

Those are just a small snippet of the features that Apple has put on board the iPhone 5.

It now has a 4-inch display, a faster A6 processor, an improved iSight rear camera, and a design that is made of both glass and aluminum.

Read: iPhone 5 Announced: 4-inch Display, 4G LTE.

And while a number of new and exciting features are aboard the new iPhone 5, there are a few that consumers will likely care about the most. Here are the five iPhone 5 features that we think you’ll actually care about.

4G LTE

First and foremost, one of the features that users will care about is the 4G LTE connectivity that Apple will be offering with the iPhone 5. 4G LTE has quickly become the standard for most smartphones and the iPhone 5 will be Apple’s first iPhone with high-speed data connectivity.

4G LTE will allow iPhone 5 owners to pull down data speeds that can reach up to 10 times faster than those found on a normal 3G network.

This means that users will have a much more fluid experience on the go. YouTube videos that may have stuttered when streaming using 3G won’t face the same issues when the phone is connected to 4G LTE.

Web browsing when traveling will be much faster as well.

Apple also added support for HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA which means that iPhone 5 users on AT&T will likely be able to connect to networks that are faster than 3G when 4G LTE is not available.

16:9 Aspect Ratio

At the event, Apple focused on the size of the iPhone 5’s display which will check in at 4-inches with resolution of 1136 x 640 resolution and the same old 326 PPI. However, Apple only briefly mentioned the 16:9 aspect ratio that will be coming with the iPhone 5.

The iPhone 4S featured a 4:3 aspect ratio which was the the reason why a lot of content had wide black lines. With the 16:9 aspect ratio of the iPhone 5 owners will see less black lines and content that will take up more screen space.

Content on the iPhone 5’s screen should also be crisper and thus, much nicer to look at.

Great Battery Life

Even with the addition of a larger display and 4G LTE data speeds, Apple not only was able to maintain great battery life, it was able to surpass the battery life found on the iPhone 4S.

Many 4G LTE phones have felt the strain of running on 4G LTE networks however Apple’s iPhone 5 looks to offer solid battery life, even with access to 4G LTE.

Apple says that the iPhone 5 will be able to provide for eight hours of browsing time when connected to a 4G LTE network. The Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX HD, which features a highly touted battery, has the same eight hours of browsing time.

We’ll have to wait for battery tests to surface to be sure but at this point, it looks like the iPhone 5 will offer top of the line battery life, something that a majority of smartphone users will care about greatly.

Same Width

Apple’s iPhone 5 features a new design that is composed of both aluminum and glass. It’s also taller, slimmer – its 7.6mm thin and is extremely lightweight. All of this is fantastic but there is one aspect of that design that we think prospective iPhone 5 owners will care about the most.

While it added a larger screen and a taller design, the company was able to keep the iPhone 5 the same width. That means that those who are accustomed to using their thumb to navigate the device’s new, more responsive touchscreen will continue to be able to do so, even if the phone’s display is larger.

Better Sound/EarPods

And finally, one feature that Apple glanced over is the iPhone 5’s new beam-forming, directional microphone system. Technical mumbo jumbo aside, it means that the iPhone 5 will feature better sound and it will also have new noise cancelling technology that will help mitigate background noise.

This is perfect for those who are often on speakerphone or talk on their phone while walking down busy streets.

Read: EarPods Are the New Earphones for Apple.

In addition, the iPhone 5 will have support for wideband audio which should make for clearer and more natural sounding conversations. Apple is also including a pair of its new EarPod headphones with the iPhone 5 which feature better sound and more durability.

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What iPhone 5 feature do you care about the most?