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:
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helloworldv2 - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
A good review would compare to the best in class, i.e. the Lumia 1020. Of course it would wipe the floor with the 5S, so that wouldn't be very good for Anandtech if they want to maintain good relations with Apple and all that..darkcrayon - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
I think Apple is satisfied with their performance in the 5s form factor and understands it's a reasonable compromise vs sticking what looks like a section of an actual camera to the back of the phone, making an awkward 1/2 inch lump. And of course as an overall device the 5s it's much more advanced in other ways.Gridlock - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
So Apple should have sent Anand a 1020?Or maybe Nokia PR should be slightly more awake.
120fps and 1024 available flash tones beats a Quasimodo Nokia for me.
Fleeb - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
But in photography, in camera flash should only be used as a last resort.Petrodactyl - Monday, September 23, 2013 - link
if you're using remote flash with your phone camera, you're an idiot - and likely a bad photographer, to boot. Please try to stay within the realm of reality. Thanks.akdj - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
It was an excellent review---and not just 'based' on photographic prowess. Is there a blog you've got going that provides 'good reviews'? I'm honestly interested because I found this one incredibly well written...and even responded, by the admin of the site---directly to you. He Didn't Have Your Beloved 1020. That said---plenty of comparison reviews if ALL you're interested in is the photographic abilities of the 5s. (There's a WHOLE lot more 'most' folks are seeking from their chosen phone). That said---Apple has always, for the time, provided top notch---maybe not always #1---but easily and consistently in the top 5 performers (including older models while a new one is released)...not to mention, the popularity to both developers and photo share sites speaks volumes to it's ubiquity. DPReview.com has an excellent and specific write up JUST for your helloworldv2 on the abilities (and downsides) to the iPhone 5s. Seems like an 8 or 10 page write up with plenty of comments for your to participate in as well. Seems like a better idea than coming in to a (possibly the most detailed on the net as well as insightful) site and bitching about one of the MANY functions of your 'pocket computer' review. Only so much time that can be set up to review each subject...and a finite amount of product---I'm sure in the lab hanging around, as well as the public choice...again ubiquitous---to choose Apple or Android en masse vs. Windows handsets at this point. If photography is your 'thing' (I shoot professionally, BTW)---grab a nice point and shoot. The Canon S110 or the new Sony RX100v2 are incredible performers....then you can own a decent phone too and not have to compromise!J
abrowne1993 - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link
Fair enough. I hope Brian gets the chance to do a comparison on here.bootareen - Tuesday, September 17, 2013 - link
There definitely is a display lottery. I've gone through around 7 iPhone 5's with different problems, but all had an interlace/scan line issue which is exactly what it sounds like. Even if you are further away from the screen and can't see the scan lines per se, the screen is noticeably less comfortable to look at and focus on with your eyes compared to a normal screen.Have you heard of this Anand, and are you aware of what would cause this issue?
fokka - Tuesday, September 17, 2013 - link
i can't really wrap my head around how the iphone can compete with high end android phones so well, even beating them by considerable margins in many benchmarks, although "only using a dual core" which is probably not even clocked as high as, say, a snapdragon 800?apple has put an emphasis on gpu-performance for a long time now, but seeing them on top so often and combining that with good battery life, all while using a miniscule battery (by android's standards) i have to say they are doing an astonishing job.
too bad i don't like apple software (and pricing).
Impulses - Tuesday, September 17, 2013 - link
The Moto X competes well with all the current quad cores too, it's not that big of a rarity... The fact that they can optimize for battery life better isn't that shocking either, it's the same deal as OS X... When you're only testing against a dozen models or so versus thousands you can do a lot more in this regard.