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I have been using this iphone 5 8 days already and these are some of my observations . On day 2 I have upgraded the OS to 6.0.2

1. Appearance - I was lucky I got a scuff free set ( Black). Immediately bought a cheap soft PU back casing ( RM15) to protect it. On the 4th day bought a PU leather flip top ( Fav/Ve) casing , cheap only RM 59. I do not normally spend much money on such casings - is more for protection rather than show off appearance. Maximum I ever spend on any phone casing is RM 120. No screen protector as I dont believe in using such stuffs unless is free applied on by seller. The covered PU leather casing is good enough. In all my years of using phones/tablets I have keep to this habit and at time of selling off, even after a year usage, the gadget still looks brand new like day one

2. Battery life : i read many users complaining of high drainage in v 6.0.2 . I am quite satisfied - do not really see high drainage as reported and my phone is set to auto receive tweeter, facebook and email updates. Example most recent record - my screen on time is close to 2 hours with 50% battery life - quite fair/acceptable to me. Cannot compared with my Note 2 which easily doubles it

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3. Warmness - the phone display gets warm very fast , within 10-15 minutes usage and I can feel it and is obvious. Well. I can live with this

4. APPS alternative : i have replace Safari with my favorite Atomic ( with better features especially ability to auto resize fonts ). I have never like Safari. And so far all browsers I have tested cannot match any of the Android browsers ( eg Stock Android, Dolphin, Boat ) in smoothness and scrolling. Facebook with Facely HD and Tweeter with Tweetcaster - mainly for better features vs default especially sharing of posts/feeds which is lacking in stock apps

5. UI smoothness - till today after using all the iphone series I still puzzle why so many users are so amazed with the iphone UI smoothness and throw praises as if is the best and unparalleled.  Yes, I agree its UI is smooth but it does at times is jerky too. The closest Android that I have used that can match it is G Note 2. The other common Androids ( S2, S3, Incredible, Sensation, Xperia, Note etc ) loses out slightly in its UI smoothness but again this depends on how critical one view this. One must remember Androids are loaded with widgets which iphone does not have and comparison is actually not fair

6. Display - is in one word excellent but I still prefer a bigger display anytime. Maybe I have got too used to display sizes of 4.5, 4.8,5.0, 5.3 and 5.5 inch. It would be great if iphone 6 comes with a bigger display of at least 4.7 inch ! I used the phone browser a lot and the smaller display is a disadvantage and most nerve wrecking is trying to access the other pages of say LowYat thread. My success rate of hitting and connecting is 50% and often have to pinch zoom it to have a successful access - quite irritating at times. I have reset it twice and reinstall firmware once and the effect is still the same. Yesterday I tried with my friend's unit and is similar too. Perhaps my fingers is too "fat " ?? A slight inconvenience i have come to accept

7. E Books - I also read a lot of ebooks. I used both iBooks and Kobo. Have spend another US$50 buying iBooks ( using itunes gift certs through US account)
iPhone is excellent in this - the smoothness of reading is unmatched and beats Androids on same app eg kobo

8. File management - something I dislike , having to use iTunes !!

9. Maps accuracy - generally poor. The phone always detect my house location 1 km away consistently . I just found another bug, perhaps related to Maps location detection. New York these past few days is very cold ( my daughter is there now since 4 days ago). Temperatures are 1-3 degree Centigrade. But the iphone weather apps shows is 21 degree C - what a wide difference. See pics vs my Note 2 detection
Anyway I do not use Apple Maps for navigation - just got to live with it and wait for Apple to improve. My son told me he and his friend ( using ip5 maps)  were directed few kilometers away and on opposite side of highway when trying to use it to go to Mines Resort

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10. 3G /WiFi : I also read of many users complains of 3G disconnecting and need phone restarts and some Wifi detection issues. Well, I am happy I do not have such issues at all. My 3G ( on Celcom) is good and around my place I have hit 7000 kbps download and my house 1500-1800 kbps ( weaker than my Note 2 Maxis but still acceptable ). WiFi is generally slight weaker than Note 2 but still acceptable. No complains here
Overall I am happy using the iphone as a  secondary phone. My Note 2 still remains my main favorite main phone.
It is a good phone for those who just like something to use right out of the box. For those who like to customize and tinkers with phones, they will find Android a better choice
There is no best phone I have always said - it all depends on one needs
You are free to disagree with some of my comments - as after all , all of us view things differently. I am a senior guy ( retiree)  in his late fifties and has different views/perceptions compared to many of you guys here which I can see are teenagers, students or young working execs ( based on your postings )