Apple has introduced a new and improved iPhone, the iPhone 5 which was released on Sept. 21, 2012. With much controversy the new iPhone definitely has some lovers and haters, but the question is why? According to pcmag.com Apple sold over five million of their newest iPhone within the first three days of its launch. Its popularity is evident, but the question remains, is it better than the most recent additions, the iPhone 4s and iPhone 4?

Community High teacher Laurel Landrum decided that she likes her new iPhone 5 more than her old iPhone 4, “I like that it’s lighter, I like the voice command stuff which I just think is iOS 6… but I didn’t have it before and it’s pretty cool. Not necessarily Siri but being able to voice text is really nice.” Landrum also finds that the difference in size is helpful. Because it’s so much lighter, she feels that if she drops it there won’t be as much damage done.
Some might speculate if Apple will continue to make more iPhones because of the death of CEO and cofounder Steve Jobs. Landrum feels that Apple will not make any more good products, Community teacher Craig Levin disagrees. Levin is a recent owner of the new iPhone 5 and thinks there will be a new one soon. “They make a new one every year because every year a few million people go and spend $200. So for Apple, Verizon, [or] AT&T, to be able to collect hundreds of millions of dollars because they come up with a new product it’s in their best interest to do it. So yes I know they will have a new one next year,” he explained.

Rosi Simmer a CR monitor and forum leader at Community High, has an iPhone 4s and does not plan on upgrading anytime soon because there are so many things to like, “I like their applications I use a lot of those things, I like to be able to sometimes read a book I have my kindle in there and I like to go running to music. So it’s very useful in many different ways.” Compared to the iPhone 5 the price of the iPhone 4s is less pricy, but Simmer thinks it would be nice if it were cheaper, but also finds the price to be the same as droids, which seems like a good deal to her. With the new iPhone released just recently the price of the iPhone 5 is fairly expensive, setting its lowest price at $199 for a 16GB and it’s highest at $399 for a 64GB. Compared to the iPhone 4s, setting its lowest price at $99 for a 16GB. As for the iPhone 4 the price is free for a 8GB (with a upgrade and a 2 year warranty depending on your carrier). Landrum and Levin both would like for the price of the new iPhone to be much cheaper, but because they needed a new phone to replace their old and broken phones they were willing to pay the high price for the fancy new iPhone or, in Landrum’s case, have it paid for her, though her husband’s job.

So it is clear that the iPhone 5 is popular among the two teachers at Community High and their dislikes are minimal. With prices as high as they are, many people might not rush out to buy the first one on the rack but wait and see if the prices drop. Only time will tell if the iPhone 5 will be the most popular phone Apple Inc. has released.