When news of the iPhone 5C and 5S surfaced, we at The Practice were naturally eager to check out the specifications. So should we rush out, put our names down on the waiting list, and immediately upgrade to a new model, or should we stick with our current phones? We weigh up the pros and cons…

There’s been much online negativity surrounding the 5C, with many arguing that the phone’s price doesn’t really match its “budget” tagline. The 16GB model costs £469 if bought alone, making it only slightly cheaper than the 5S at £549- hardly a more wallet friendly alternative. The second point of contention centres on the fact that the 5C has been marketed as “new”, but many have argued that it merely bares resemblance to a repackaged iPhone 5. Many of the parts have in fact been recycled from the iPhone 5, including the same 8-megapixel camera. It’s these two aspects that have created a negative online response, with 45% of social media chatter criticizing its design, and a further 36% criticizing its price. Overall, Twitter and Facebook conversations berated Apple for producing something that was “stuck in the middle”- a phone not priced low enough to match its features. Ouch!

However, we have to say that there are several aspects of the 5C that we like. The vibrant colour choices for one- there will be green, blue, yellow, white, and pink to choose from, giving Apple fans an injection of colour once again. We also like the promise of longer battery life- (10 hours of talk time, and 10 hours of browsing time), and the fact that this won’t compromise on speed thanks to the inclusion of the same A6 processor of the iPhone 5. The specifications are also impressive, with the new model featuring a polycabonate casing reinforced with a steel frame that also doubles up as an antenna. The plastic case means that of course, there’s much less worrying about scratches, let alone cracks if accidentally dropped; so could this be the biggest leap forward when it comes to durability?

When it comes to the 5S, The Practice team have been bowled over by the sound of its revolutionary scanner. The new model uses a fingerprint scanning system called Touch ID, which allows the user to unlock their phones and even as a security measure when purchasing from the iTunes store. Although this new technology has not yet been tried and tested on other devices, the biometrics industry has applauded its implementation in the 5S model. Neil Norman, founder and head of innovation at Human Recognition Systems states: “The launch of the iPhone 5S with embedded fingerprint biometrics will act as the catalyst for the new phase in the adoption of biometrics by consumers like you and me.” This is perhaps the feature we’re most excited about, as well as the chance to see the much-anticipated iOS7 in action!  In the meantime, we’ll be waiting expectantly for September 20^th, when both iPhones go on sale, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll be enticed into upgrading…

What are your first impressions of both phones? Will you be buying them? We’d love to hear your thoughts so please tweet to us @PracticeDigital and share your comments on our Facebook page.