Apple iPhone 5s deals and reviews

The iPhone 5s may have lost its flagship phone status to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but it still remains an attractive option to those who want to buy an iPhone, but want to spend less or prefer the more compact size of the iPhone 5s. When it was released in September 2013, reviewers loved the iPhone 5s and the new features introduced such as the improved camera and the well-designed fingerprint recognition. There have been quite a few internal improvements too such as a much faster CPU with 64-bit architecture and introduction of a motion co-processor, and whilst not immediately visible to users, critics agree that as app developers learn how to make the most of these improvements, the 5s will only get better. Alongside the iPhone 5c, this was the debut of the iOS 7 operating system on Apple devices, which was also generally well-received (both the 5s and 5c can get the newer iOS 8 now). The main criticisms of the 5s were levelled at its price compared to similar phones (especially if you opt for a 64GB version) and the fact that the 4 inch screen seems small compared to most modern high-end handsets. If you want an iPhone, but are put off by the cost or size of the newer version, this is the one to get.

What the critics say (scores are out of 100)

100	Expert Reviews | David Ludlow ...there's still a lot to love about this handset, even if it is nearly three years old. It's no longer the best tiny iPhone (...) but if you're desperate for an iPhone that doesn't cost a lot, then the iPhone 5S is more or less your only option. Read full review
100	Alphr | Curtis Moldrich No two ways about it, the iPhone 5s is an excellent smartphone. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It's amazingly quick, boasts a superb camera and display, and is beautifully designed and put together. Read full review
100	The Guardian | Charles Arthur The 5s is typical Apple: it's got top-end characteristics, at a top-end price. But with that you get really good implementation of complex problems. Read full review
100	MSN Tech | David Phelan Easily the best iPhone yet, it's also the most advanced smartphone on the market. Read full review
100	Pocket-lint | Stuart Miles It's stunning to use, there's stacks of power, it's without gimmicks and a nod to the future. It's these simple elements that make the iPhone 5S, for us, one of the best phones on the market. There's a lot to admire about that. Read full review
100	T3 | Luke Peters It's not only Apple's flagship iPhone but it's also the best phone the company has ever made. The camera is extraordinary. Touch ID is revolutionary. Read full review
100	Stuff | Tom Parsons A great phone and a deceptively big step forward for Apple, but the iPhone 5s doesn't leap quite as far as we had hoped. Read full review
93	phoneArena | John V the iPhone 5s proves once again something we've come to embrace dearly - it works in all the aspects of what makes a smartphone so darn lovable to use. Read full review
92	OtherGadgetGuy | Leigh D. Stark Beautiful screen, excellent design, fantastic speeds and performance; these are the primary things we look for in a smartphone, and they're all here in this device, as well as a couple of new features that will truly show their worth in the coming months. Read full review
91	Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader The iPhone 5s may be expensive, small and its platform heavily curated, but it's probably the best choice for most casual smartphone buyers today. Read full review
90	Australian PC World | Ross Catanzariti Apple's iPhone 5s has a small screen by 2013 standards and is unlikely to attract users switching from large screen Android devices, but it remains the best smartphone Apple has ever released. The useful fingerprint sensor, a faster processor and improved low light camera performance will keep most iPhone users satisfied. Read full review
90	Macworld | Jason Snell The iPhone 5s may look a lot like its predecessor. But with a faster new processor, a fingerprint sensor, and an improved camera flash, it's a serious upgrade. Read full review
90	TechSpot | Shawn Knight At the end of the day, the iPhone 5s is an excellent phone, but whether it's the right choice for you will depend on what you are looking for in a device. If a smallish screen and an ecosystem that's still locked down substantially compared to Android isn't a problem, the 5s is a great choice. Read full review
90	Eurogamer | Damien McFerran Overall, the 5S is the most powerful compact smartphone we've tested and, as such, highly recommended. So as good as it is, the iPhone 5S isn't the default solution for everyone - the market has diversified too much for that - but it's still a hell of a good product. Read full review
90	YourTechExplained | Alex Garcia This phone isn't really that big of an upgrade. The device doesn't bring any real advantages over the iPhone 5 aside from the A8 processor and Touch ID. Nonetheless it's still a great device I highly recommend. Read full review
90	Know Your Mobile | Michael Grothaus The iPhone 5s is still the best smartphone on the market. It's worth it for the 64-bit A7 and the M7 motion co-processor alone. The camera is fine for most people, but if you're going to take a lot of pictures, opt for at least the 32GB model. Apple's Touch ID is still a neat feature with a *wow* factor, but its uses are too limited. But overall, the iPhone 5s has proved its worth. Read full review
90	TechRadar | Gareth Beavis iPhone 5S debuted Apple's newfangled fingerprint sensor and 64-bit processor three years ago, and it's still a viable smartphone for anyone on a budget. It's held up well enough with a good camera and iOS 10 software update. Read full review
90	Trusted Reviews | Evan Kypreos The iPhone 5S may look like an iPhone 5, but it's better in all the right ways. If you are very comfortable with a bigger screen you might want to look elsewhere, but the iPhone 5S is a consummate performer that puts very few steps wrong. Read full review
90	Gizmodo UK | Casey Chan The iPhone 5 was one of the best phones money could buy. The iPhone 5S looks just like the iPhone 5 but packs guts that are even better; improves a camera that was already fantastic, and adds a fingerprint scanner that can be either viewed as a game changer or a gimmick. Read full review
90	SlashGear | Vincent Nguyen The iPhone 5s may be Apple's evolutionary stage, but the combination of usable technological advances and the benefits of iOS 7 add up to a supremely compelling device. Read full review
90	The Boxed (UK) | Editorial Team The iPhone 5S has received the smallest update a new iPhone ever received (the 5C is an old phone in a new cover). These small updates, however, seem to really add to the user experience value and Apple seems to have focused on quality rather than quantity. Read full review
90	ITProPortal | Sascha Segan The iPhone 5S isn't the phone for everyone, but it's the best phone for a lot of people. The key, as always, is the combination of Apple's clean design, no-worry interface, still unbeatable selection of apps, and industry-leading customer support. Read full review
90	International Business Times | David Gilbert If you can deal with the (relatively) small 4in screen, then the iPhone 5s is just about the best phone out there. Read full review
90	The Inquirer | Madeline Bennett The iPhone 5S is another winner from Apple, with its Touch ID fingerprint scanner for security, improved camera features and in-built motion coprocessor. However, those impressed by the current crop of large-screen smartphones or looking for an overhaul of the Apple smartphone rather than a few handy tweaks might not rush out to buy it. Read full review
90	Wired UK | Nate Lanxon Apple's ability to bake in advanced features and keep the interface simple, and to provide processing power as seemingly great as what's on offer in a quad-core Android device, is testament to its skill at pairing custom hardware with an in-house operating system. Read full review
90	The Telegraph | Matt Warman The 5s is, overall, a beautiful piece of engineering, lovely to look at and lovely to hold. Is it a brilliant phone to use? Unequivocally. But the accusation is that Apple has lost its magic, and that it is no longer reinventing categories. And indeed it isn't, because it doesn't need to. The 5s makes technology, as Apple has always aimed to, easier to integrate into everyday life - the fingerprint sensor alone is superb. Read full review
90	TechCrunch | Darrell Etherington With the iPhone 5s, Apple once again wins the right to claim the title of best smartphone available. Read full review
90	AnandTech | Anand Lal Shimpi In many ways it's an evolutionary improvement over the iPhone 5, but in others it is a significant step forward. What Apple's silicon teams have been doing for these past couple of years has really started to pay off. Read full review
89	NotebookCheck | Michael Moser The Apple iPhone 5s is a successful refresh of the iPhone 5. In terms of design, it has remained largely unaltered, with the exception of the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, which is not obligatory but can be a useful and reliable addition to the overall smartphone experience. Read full review
88	The Verge | David Pierce Today, the 5S is but a minor improvement over the 5, with only the camera and perhaps Touch ID truly counting as purchase-worthy upgrades. But as Apple learns to make use of its motion processor, its 64-bit operating system, and its fingerprint sensor, and teaches its developers to do the same, the 5S will get far better. Read full review
85	TechnoBuffalo | Todd Haselton It's clearly the best iPhone Apple has ever built. It's a great phone and a very good evolution of the iPhone line. Read full review
83	PC Pro | Jonathan Bray An outstanding smartphone, but with a 4in screen and wallet-damaging price, it's no longer the best of the lot. Read full review
82	Brighthand | Louie Tran For those coming in clean, the iPhone 5s brings a faster processor, better camera, and a well-executed Touch ID concept. The Apple iPhone 5s is a great overall smartphone, but it's not enough of an upgrade from the iPhone 5 to justify a purchase Read full review
80	Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman Apple was a bit lazy in recycling the iPhone 5's design, but at least the company changed up the colors and added the Touch ID sensor to set it apart. The quality of the hardware is top notch, and the Retina display, though small, still looks fantastic. Read full review
80	S21 The iPhone 5s. It's such a nice phone. It's the fastest, the most beautiful, has arguably the best OS and one of the best cameras. But in some areas Apple is still playing catch-up, which is why the almost unbelievable price tag makes us think twice before fully endorsing it. Read full review
80	PC Advisor | Jim Martin Given the build quality, plus the decent performance and still-perfectly-good cameras, the iPhone 5S isn't left in the dust by similarly priced Android phones, and it's considerably cheaper than newer iPhones. Read full review
80	Digital Versus | Florence Legrand The Apple iPhone 5s is the best iPhone yet-no surprises there. It may not have a huge-sized HD screen, a quad-core processor, NFC or a pixel-packed camera, but who needs all that when the iPhone is still such a stylish, lightweight, compact handset that's fast, powerful and runs a stable, user-friendly OS. Read full review
80	IT PRO | Khidr Suleman Apple introduces Touch ID and beefs up the internal specs of the iPhone, but the fundamental design of its predecessor is retained. The 5s is one of the best performing handsets on the market, but is not the best value. Read full review
80	The Gadget Show The Apple iPhone 5s is the phone we expected, if nothing else. It's more powerful than ever, with a better battery life, all inside the same slick design. Read full review
80	V3 | Madeline Bennett The iPhone 5S is another winner from Apple, with its Touch ID fingerprint scanner for security, improved camera features and in-built motion coprocessor. However, those impressed by the current crop of large-screen smartphones or looking for an overhaul of the Apple smartphone rather than a few handy tweaks might not rush out to buy the 5S. Read full review
80	CNET UK | Andrew Hoyle With its identical design and display, the iPhone 5S might not offer enough to tempt existing iPhone 5 owners to upgrade. If you're on older models, however, or if you're looking to take your first steps into the smart phone world and don't fancy tackling the often confusing Android, it's a superb option to consider. You'll need to save up a hefty wad of cash for it though. Read full review
80	Engadget | Myriam Joire The iPhone 5s is an evolution of the iPhone 5, and isn't necessarily a must-have. It ushers in new technologies that will soon be standard on all of Apple's devices. While most consumers will be happy with the 5c, the 5s is better-suited for gamers and power users. Read full review

Compare Apple iPhone 5s specs side-by-side with other phones COMPARE SPECS

Dimensions & Form	Form factor: Touchscreen Bar Dimensions 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.3 in) Weight: 112 g (3.95 oz)
Screen	Size: 4 inches diagonal Resolution: 1136 x 640 pixels Screen Density: 326 ppi Screen-to-Body Ratio: 60.8 % Display Type: LED-backlit IPS LCD
Runs
Performance	Chipset: Apple A7 CPU: Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based) GPU: PowerVR G6430 (quad-core graphics) RAM: 1GB
Camera	Main Camera: 8 megapixels with 2 LED flash, f/2.2 aperture ,1080p video at 30fps, 720p at 120fps Secondary Camera: FaceTime HD camera:1.2 megapixels with 720p video recording
Storage	Built-in Storage: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB Expandable Storage: Not Available
Battery & Charging	Capacity: 1510 mAh Removable Battery: No Wireless Charging: No Quick Charge: None
SIM standard	Nano SIM Compare SIM Only deals
Water & Dust Resistance	Not Available
Fingerprint Reader	Front
References & More info	Official website GSMArena specs page

Photos taken with the Apple iPhone 5s

We've used Flickr to find a selection of pictures taken by the Apple iPhone 5s camera. Here is a selection of photos taken by users from around the world so you can see what kind of picture quality you can expect from real-world use of the Apple iPhone 5s.

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All images shown are used under the rights and terms specified by the Creative Commons.