iPhone 5 Rumors: Weighing Them Against The iPhone 4S

With all the current buzz around the iPhone 5, it's not hard to believe that Apple's next-gen device will be able to beam you to Saturn and allow you to Facetime with God. If you're a current iPhone 4S owner, or planning on purchasing an iPhone but don't know if the iPhone will be worth the effort, wait, and the price (since the iPhone 4S is currently being discounted) here's a realistic look at the iPhone 5 based on rumors and leaks in comparison to the iPhone 4S.

The biggest immediate difference between the iPhone 5 and older iPhones will be the screen size. If the reports are true, the iPhone 5 will come with a 4-inch screen. If predicted resolutions are right, it will finally support proper 16:9 viewing, something the current 3.5-inch, 4:3 aspect ratio iPhone 4S cannot.

As a result of this bigger screen, the iPhone 5 will also be slightly bigger. Most leaked pictures and reports show that the iPhone 5 will only be taller than the current iPhone 4S to accommodate the larger display. The width will probably still be the same and more likely than not, the iPhone 5 will be thinner, even thinner than the Samsung Galaxy S3.

The iPhone 5 will also certainly have 4G LTE support. The iPhone 4S is still on the 3G network, and for those interested in keeping their data streams fast and smooth over the coming years, a 4G LTE phone is definitely the way to go. The iPhone 5 should also come with an NFC chip that would allow you to make wireless payments and transfer data wirelessly.

A smaller dock connector should also be introduced with the iPhone 5. With anywhere from eight pins to 19 pins, the dock will replace the current 30-pin dock of the iPhone 4S. Don't worry about the iPhone 5 working on current iAccessories though; a dock connector converter should be in the works to make sure the iPhone 5 doesn't render every speaker system and cable you bought obsolete.

Other than that, the differences between the iPhone 5 and 4S will be mostly technical and hardware based. A faster quad-core processor should be under the iPhone 5's hood, along with various tweaks for battery life and performance.

The iPhone 4S will also run iOS 6 when it releases this fall (most likely in conjunction with the iPhone 5), which means it will be able to take advantage of all the new features that the iPhone 5 will have (barring any limited by the lack of technical specs such as an NFC chip).

Personally, the inclusion of 4G LTE alone makes the iPhone 5 worth getting. The iOS 6 should be a satisfying experience, and the bigger screen is just icing on the cake. If you've waited this long, then why not wait a little longer? The iPhone 5 will be relevant for a longer time to come than the iPhone 4S.

If you're on the fence about buying an iPhone 5, would you settle for an iPhone 4S? Or if you have an iPhone 4S already, does an iPhone 5 look like a worthy upgrade to you?