If you’re an Android fan…
Apple hasn’t announced anything to sway the legions of Apple critics or Android devotees, unless you’re really into fingerprint scanners or multi-coloured plastic (you could always just buy a case, anyway). Ditto Windows Phone loyalists. The team at Apple HQ, as ever, have their targets almost completely aligned on the converted.
If you want the fastest phone out there…
Theoretically, the new 64-bit processor running the iPhone 5S is the fastest out there, so tech junkies will likely be excited by the possibilities this opens up. Be warned, though: it will take a while for the potential of the new hardware to be realised, and Samsung has also promised their next phones will offer 64-bit tech.
If you want to try iOS7…
It’s the flagship feature of the new phones, but the fancy new operating system is rolling out to all iPhone 4, 4S and 5 users next Wednesday - although the older two phones will not support some key features like AirDrop and certain camera filters.
If you’re on a budget…
The 5C was not exactly the ‘budget’ iPhone some were expecting, and will still set purchasers back a serious chunk of change, contract or no contract. If your budget is limited, stick with one of the many competitively priced Android options such as the Google Nexus 4 (if you're willing to import) or one of Nokia’s Windows-based Lumia phones. If you’re absolutely set on an Apple product, the two year-old 4S is still a very capable device indeed, and has been heavily discounted alongside the announcement of the new phones.
If you want a fingerprint scanner...
It's certainly the one area where the 5S differentiates itself from most of the competition. It remains to be seen how effective it will be in practice, but the hardware and Touch ID software could be the first step in what will become the prevalent mobile device security technology.
If you’re a photographer
If the camera is one of the biggest selling points when you’re in a market for a new phone, surely it’s the 41-megapixel Nokia Lumia 1020 that has you excited. Still, the 5S will offer a slightly improved camera with a larger image sensor that should perform better under low-light conditions. iPhone 5C’s offering is effectively identical to the 5’s. Honestly, there are many better phone cameras out there.
If you’re an iPhone 5 owner…
Stick with it. The battery life might be miserable, but while Apple promise improved performance with their new phones the increase is not likely to be a gamechanger. Most Apple fanatics tend to upgrade every two years when there’s been more significant hardware changes, and this year should be no different. Wait to see what Apple have to offer next September.
If you’re an iPhone 4S or 4 owner…
Well, the hardware has advanced enough at this stage that an upgrade is certainly justified, and soon you’ll start seeing less and less software and hardware support for previous generation iPhones. If it ain’t broke, though…
If you like bright colours…
Well, you can’t say the iPhone 5C models are aesthetically dull - they come in 5 different bright, loud colours. If the minimal design of earlier iPhones put you off for whatever reason, Apple are looking to woo you in no uncertain terms. As mentioned earlier, however, you can always just get a cover, and the Lumia series has been available in a veritable rainbow of varieties for years. Still, these are some of the most vibrant Apple products in years.
If you ‘need’ a gold or silver phone...
The iPhone 5S has you covered if you’re one of the few who really, really loves their bling. The new ‘premium’ colours haven’t exactly wowed observers, but at least they’re cheaper than this.
