New iPhones Score Well with 'Consumer Reports', but Display and Battery 'No Match' for Android Competitors

Influential ratings and review magazine Consumer Reports has reviewed Apple's new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c models, giving them high scores but calling the 4-inch Retina display and 8-10 hour battery life "no match" for Motorola's latest Droid smartphones. The full mobile phone ratings are behind the magazine's paywall, but the summary blog post outlines the magazine's thinking on the issue.

The iPhone 5s tops the already great iPhone 5 with a surprisingly reliable fingerprint reader, a faster processor, and better-than-ever camera. And the affordable iPhone 5c is a compelling offering for budget-minded buyers. Consumer Reports testers found both phones delivered better performances than the iPhones they succeed—they even have longer talk times (a tad less than 7 hours). [...]

Yet, battery life was still notably shorter than on other phones in our tests, including three of the latest Droids from Motorola, which ran for as long as 24 hours. Also, their small screens, while sharp and bright, can't beat the larger, sharper displays that adorn flagship models from Samsung, LG, and HTC.

iphone_5s_5c
Many Android device manufacturers have been increasing the size of their devices and displays, pushing into so-called "phablet" territory, but Apple has so far kept to smaller displays facilitating one-handed operation. In a minor change, Apple increased the height of the iPhone's display with the iPhone 5 last year, but the 4-inch display now standard on Apple's latest iPhone and iPod touch models remains much smaller than seen on many competing devices.

Apple has reportedly been testing prototype iPhone designs with larger displays measuring between 4.8 and 6 inches diagonally, with a particular focus on 4.8-inch models. Apple does, however, routinely test a variety of different prototype designs and it is unclear if the company is planning to launch the larger-screen designs with the next iPhone hardware update presumably scheduled for next year.

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Top Rated Comments

stuffradio Avatar
153 months ago
Consumer Reports? Does anyone care what they have to say anymore?

Just because they bashed Apple, doesn't mean they're not good.
Score: 54 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
153 months ago
Consumer Reports? Does anyone care what they have to say anymore?
Score: 52 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unggoy Murderer Avatar
153 months ago
Never thought I would have heard Android being better for battery than iOS.

I can usually get a couple of days out my iPhone 5... yet my GS4 wielding friends get worried at the thought of leaving their houses without the charger. :confused:
Score: 48 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kevinp8192 Avatar
153 months ago
Man are some of the posters here crazy. CR was very complimentary of the iPhone, and thinks it a great choice--they didn't "bash" them at all. They list one or two areas where the iPhone "may" lag, and some of you are ready to storm the place. What a reactive, nutty freak show some of you are. I love my Apple ecosystem, but thank God I'm not some kind of cultist.
Score: 46 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Klae17 Avatar
153 months ago
Consumer Reports? Does anyone care what they have to say anymore?

A lot of people read them.
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Konrad9 Avatar
153 months ago
Consumer Reports? Does anyone care what they have to say anymore?

Probably the millions of people that read their reviews to get more informed about products. They're one of the most unbiased sources out there. I bet if this review was saying the iPhone beat the competitors in every category you'd be praising them.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)