The iPhone 5s Review
by Anand Lal Shimpi on September 17, 2013 9:01 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Apple
- Mobile
- iPhone
- iPhone 5S
Video
Apple’s new H6 ISP brings with it a modernization of the video recording options for the iPhone 5s. The default video record mode is still 1080p at 30 fps, but there’s also a new 720p 120 fps “slo-mo” mode as well. In the latter, video is captured at 120 fps but optionally played back at 30 fps in order to achieve a high speed camera/slow motion effect. The result is pretty cool:
In the camera UI you can select what portions of the video you want to play back at 30 fps and what portions you want to leave at full speed. The .mov file is stored on NAND as a ~27Mbps 720p120 without any customizations, however when you share it the entire video is transcoded into a 30 fps format which preserves the slow motion effect.
The slo-mo mode is separate from the standard video recording mode, it’s the next stop on the dial in the new iOS 7 camera app. Video preview in slo-mo mode also happens at 60 fps compared to 30 fps for the standard video record and still image capture modes.
Camera preview frame rate, toggling between slo-mo and normal modes
Adding high speed camera modes to smartphones is a great step in my opinion and a wonderful use of increases in ISP and SoC performance. I would like to see Apple expose a 1080p60 mode as well. Technically 1080p60 does require slightly more bandwidth than 720p120, but I’d hope that Apple targeted both in the design of H6 and simply chose to expose 720p120 as it’s an easier feature to market.
Standard 1080p30 recording is also available:
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
464 Comments
View All Comments
lucian303 - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
I'd hardly say browser benchmarks are indicative of actual CPU or overall performance considering the huge differences in browser implementations. It tests the speed of the browser on the hardware, not the hardware itself.Whitereflection - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
Normally when people write cellphone reviews, They write things that most people can understand and comparing specs that are practical and features that people actually use and care about. Keep in mind most people have one or more smartphone nowadays, You don't need to be a rocket scientist to read a review. Sadly 50% of review is written in Mars language.tech01x - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
You are free to read a lightweight review from any number of less competent reviewers. There are plenty on the net. Matter of fact, plenty of other reviewers are going to incorporate Anandtech's review as a fundamental part of their review.tredstone - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
that's very true. in fact there are lots of reviews that incorporate parts or Anandtech's review. if people cannot make sense of the technical info they can always go and find a review that places more emphasis on the pretty coloursMikefromSA - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
I'm interested in how it performs as a phone. Did I miss that section, or was it not a consideration?tecsi - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
What are the implications of non-world Qualcomm chip for China Mobile?BSMonitor - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
I want to know if your OG iPhone is in Mint condition! Some day that'll sell on eBay for $2M!hydreds - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
Great review Thanks. Wish you had a video review. Not that I love to see you. I am lazy to read.webdev511 - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
And of course as far as handsets go this is an iOS Android only party. While I'm sure Windows Phone 8 devices would probably score lower, they certainly don't feel that way when you're using one.apertotes - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
"Now going back and holding an iPhone 4S, it feels like the very opposite is true - the 4S was too heavy"And that is why Apple can't loose. No matter what they did, the last thing they settle for its going to always be perfect. At least for most reviewers.
Of course, this does not mean that the nimble Galaxy S2 was right. No, at the time, it was wrong. Lightness is only good starting on iphone 5.