Apple iPhone 5 - 64GB - White and Silver (Unlocked) Smartphone (A1429)

Let's Begin...

To start, this phone is like no other. Equipped with an amazing 64 GB of space, compared to it's 16 GB and 32 GB counterparts; 64 GB of space is best suitable for those who love to take countless photos and videos. It's also great for those who are serious gamers and have to have an abundent amount of apps to play, hence the storage space. It's also great for users who have a lot of music to listen to while working out, running track or just because. From my experience of currently owning a 16 GB iPhone 5, I have several different apps on my phone, well over 400 photos, several videos, abd just under 40 songs on my phone, and I still have 3-5 GB space left to be used! 

4G and LTE Internet 

Amazingly fast! And when connected to Wi-Fi, internet speed can become even faster. Surf the web on the popluar social websites Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and more. Watch videos on YouTube, or jump on on Google to search for celebrity news or the local weather channel. Internet useage is endless because there is so much to do on the world wide web. Besides, surfing the web, 4G, LTE and Wi-Fi are also good for downloading your favorite apps or buying the newewst albums of your favorite artists.

It can also be used when playing your favorites apps that require internet use. Possibilities are endless. If you want to video chat, FaceTime will one of the things you will do on 4G or LTE connection. It's recommended that Wi-Fi be connected since FaceTime can eat up a lot of your data plan, unless you have an Unlimited Data plan. 

Email

For those who are in the professional world, access is just an app away. With a pre-installed email app, anybody can log onto their email to receive important notifications from the office, a friend or a loved one. Send an email to your grandparents of the newborn's first steps, or to your bestfriend with a picture of the new puppy. Receive job notifications for upcoming job fairs if you're unemployed and seeking work. 

Don't want that important email to be opened just yet? You can mark it unread. How? Simply open an email, look to the bottom left of your screen, tap the flag button. A menu of two options will pop up. The first option will be to Flag an email. The second, is Mark as Unread. Push the Mark as Unread, and your email will be marked as if it was not open. 

Text Messaging 

Or simply texting, is the most widely used form of communication in today's society. Just type in what you want to say, and press send. It's that easy. Receive text messages from your brother about the barbeque dad is hosting or from your coworker about the concert that is in town. If a text isn't enough, add a picture or video to the text. Or even better, send a picture and a video all in one message, if describing a person, a place or a thing is too much to text. Texting is the new form of communication and will be until something from the future surpasses it.

Phone Calls

So simple it's a no brainer! Simply press the phone app and dial away. Receiving a phone call is just as easy. Either accept or decline a call. If you miss a call, and find a voice message left on your phone, you can at any time choose to listen to the mesage that was left in your voicemail box. There's a Favorites button that allows you to make any contact your favorite without having to search for them.

Like to multi-task? Do you wnt to stay up to date with the social media and still talk on the phone? Play music or apps? Well, it's possible! When you're on the phone, and you feel like you want to play Angry Birds, or you want to get on Twitter, just do it! The iPhone is capable of multi-tasking, as long as you let it! 

Audio voice quality, is pitch perfect. Almost as good as a landline. NO...even better. You feel like you should be right there with that person that you're speaking to. Clear and consistent, yet loud, and not obnoxious.

FaceTime 

If talking on the phone isn't enough for you, the video chat option, which is FaceTime is HIGHLY recommended for those of us that just have to see who we're talking to. Personally speaking, as a former Airman for the United States Air Force, FaceTime helped me cope with the challenging life style the military came with. So for those of us that have loved ones that are away, FaceTime will make them feel, almost as if they never left home. 

The voice and audio quality for FaceTime, is not as close to the quality a regular phone call contains, but I give Apple a B+ for effort.

Camera

If you love to take pictures and record videos of everday life, the pre-installed 8 megapixel 1080p HD Camera app is the best choice for any photographer, who's inspiration is their iPhone. Either swipe open your phone and select the app, or at the lock screen, upon swiping your phone to unlock it, there's a camera button in the bottom right corner that you can swipe upwards and open the camera app to begin using.

After opening the camera app, picture taking or video recording is just a push of a button. Afterwards, you can edit your photos or decrease the video time. What's even better is the ability to take a picture or record a video using the front sight camera option. No more trying to angle or turn your body a certain way just to take a shot.

And when recording a video, after revising and making any changes you see fit necessary, the sound quality is great. Your video won't sound distorted or like there's a micrphone in the background.

Locked iPhone 

If you're not comfortable leaving your iPhone laying around free to be unlocked with no password, gaining access to all your vital information and privacy, simply press the Settings app, go in General, scroll down to Passcode Lock and you will be brought to a menu of options. You can press Turn Passcode On and set your own 4 digit passcode that only you will know to allow you access to your iphone.

Once enabled and you have a desirable passcode, at any time you can change your passcode or change the amount of time required to require a passcode. You may also have a simple 4 digit passcode or a passcode of your choice by simply pressing the off button for the Simple Passcode option. From there you will be required to input your 4 digit passcode, at which then, you can have passcode in combination of letters, numbers and symbols. It's recommended for those who tend to leave thier phone out of their site, to have a password in the event that the phone is stolen, or forgotten about. 

Wi-Fi

To enable, scroll back up to the top of the screen the hit the back button with General read inside and it will take you back to the General menu in settings. Scroll back to the top one more time and hit the back button again with Settings reading inside and you will be taken back to the main menu of the Settings app. Just below Airplane mode, is the Wi-Fi option. Click it and you will be taken to the Wi-Fi option.

Enable Wi-Fi ny turning it on and if you're near any Wi-Fi, you may connect to it. It's recommended for those chronic internet users who dont have an unlimited data plan through thier cellphone carrier. I would know, I have used countless GBs of internet useage.

Siri

Push and hold the main home button at the bottom of your phone and Siri pops up. Simply speak to her or ask her a question and a new friend will have been met. You can set Siri up where she learns your name, she can go through your contacts and find a person to call for you, as long as you request it. She can even find the nearest restaurant that is within feet or miles of your location. No trouble at all. 

Do you feel like talking to Siri just because? Go right ahead. She will have endless, yet bland conversation with you, but she will never turn on you. She's as loyal as your pet dog. 

Battery Life 

Amazing! Even if you don't use the phone one time, when taken off the charger and at 100% battery, this phone can go all day or night and maintain up to 90% of its battery life, even with incoming calls, notifications, text messages and so forth. And if you're like me, and you use your iPhone regularly, and you run the battery dry, the time it takes to restore 100% charge from any percentage, is almost not time at all.

It wont restore 100% battery in a matter of seconds, but when left untouched while being charged, the iPhone can restore full battery in as little as an hour. It's like it wants to be used and conveniently works to satisfy your needs by keeping a charge, or restoring its charge. 

LASTLY 

This phone is light in weight and is easily travel friendly. You can take this phone with you anywhere your heart desires. There is even a protective case made by Mophie, that has a built-in battery that will only fit the iPhone, and can charge your phone when you're on the go. From experience, the case itself once used and depleted to charge your phone, can be recharged also! And the best part about that, if even after that charge, and your phone still depletes due to your addictive useage, both the phone and the recharging case, can recharge, SIMULTANEOUSLY!!

The Best Part

This review apart from my opinions on this phone, is the fact that I'm writing this review on my iPhone! 

The Ugly, the Bad, and the Inconvenient

All of these good things and more will make a great side kick smart phone, however, like any product there are downfalls. One of them being, Dropped Calls. Not an often event, rather very rare at that, there can be times when on a phone call is suddenly dropped for no reason. This can happen on either receiver's end at a moments notice. You may be on an important call and your end may be silent for no reason, then you'll notice the phone call ended. Very inconveniant. And downright frustrating.

Another inconvenience is when a text message does not send. Same issue that a phone call can experience. Except your text just won't be sent. However, you will still retain the message rather than losing it.  

Apps can experience being kicked out randomly for no reason as well. Especially during gameplay. The good thing about this, is that these events do not occur often. And apps are frequently updated, including fixing some bug issues that may be ultimately the cause of being kicked out of a game.

With my experience owning my first Android smart phone, the best part that I liked about the phone that I owned, was the ability that I could record video, AND play music in the background, from the phone! AT THE SAME TIME! How impressive would that be if Apple made their products capable of playing music from your phone while recording a video at the same time? That would truly make the iPhone a top product in this world! 

The Recommendation

Like any product it's not perfect, and it will have its downfalls. But, I highly recommend that the iPhone be your next smart phone. You will love it, and it will never leave your slide. The number of things that can be done on this phone are endless. Why settle for less, when you can settle for the best? Customize your iPhone's look with the purchase of case to add some color to its life. Get a cute case that your wife would enjoy, or something plain in color, yet sturdy and protective for those who are clumsy with their phone. 

HONESTLY

This is one product that may never go out of style, or become uselss! It is the ideal must-have smart phone! I, personally rate this phone 5 out of 5 stars!

***THIS SHOULD BE NOTED***

The NEW iOS 7 software update will be releasing approximately September 10th, 2013. Or so I've been told. Numerous sources that I've read online have said the same, but Apple has yet to confirm this release! Once iOS 7 is released however, I will make an update to this review for all to see! Stay tuned...the best has yet to come!

Recommend this product? Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 200-500
Recommended for: Professionals On-the-Go - Internet and Email is a Must!