The annual iPhone launch is highly anticipated by millions and I'm one of those who salivates over the latest smartphone from Apple.
I decided to skip the 4S and keep my reliable iPhone 4 as I was on a 24-month contract and the extra cost wasn't worth the upgrade for me.
After two years of use my iPhone 4 was a little battered and I could justify the cost of a new handset. I opted for an unlocked black 32GB iPhone 5 that was ordered directly from Apple and arrived three weeks later at the cost of £600.

Design.
Although the iPhone 5 is 20% lighter than the iPhone 4s it still has a reassuring sturdiness and solid feeling in hand.
In my opinion this is the best looking iPhone. The aluminum and glass rear is stunning and looks very expensive without being ostentatious.
The chamfered edge looks very sharp and is finely machined, a little detail that is perhaps my favorite part of the exterior it just looks so precise.
Fingerprints and dirt do show up on the aluminum back more so than the glass but it is easily cleaned, personally I keep mine in a wallet case so it's not problem.

Hardware.
Moving from the iPhone 4 to the 5 I've noticed the speed has vastly been increased. This is a very quick phone, resulting a fluid and smooth user experience.
The screen has increased from 3.5 to 4 inches. Apple have made the phone longer to accommodate this increase, it is still however easy to use and type in one hand.
It has retained its retina display and is now brighter it truly is a great display for gaming and viewing photos.
The rear 8mp is a vast improvement from the unit on the iPhone 4, video recording is very impressive and fluid. I rarely use the camera but it is nice to know that if the need arises I can take a snap that looks good enough to blow up or print.
Battery life is very subjective and greatly varies on the user. I use this phone much as I did my last and it does seem to last a satisfactory amount of time, I'm yet to be caught out with a dead batter.
As I'm not with a 4G network can't comment on the LTE features however call quality and 3g signal strength remain as they did with the iPhone 4.

Software.
I've invested a lot over the years in iOS apps and I still believe that the App Store has the widest selection of mobile apps. Many apps have now been updated to utilize all the iPhone 5 has to offer which is greatly appreciated.
iOS 6 is very similar to iOS 5 and is starting to feel slightly stale. It could really do with a overhaul.

Value for Money.
£600 is an awful lot for a phone granted, my phone is my office away from my office, iPod, sat nav, web browser and portable games machine to name but a few.
Buying an unlocked unsubsidized phone is more expensive upfront however over 24 months I will save £840 by using a 30 days sim deal from Three.
Also I have the freedom to sell the phone when I please, if kept in good condition it is realistic to get an 80% return on the purchase price after a year of use.