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Inside the iPhone 5: What makes it tick

Apple's revamp of the iPhone included an overhaul of the inside too. So, what new silicon did Apple drop into the iPhone 5's chassis?

A6 chip: It's faster! (duh). Here's a summary of what Apple says. "Up to twice as fast compared with the [iPhone 4S' A5 chip]...The A6 chip also offers graphics performance that's up to twice as fast as the A5."

Problem is, Apple doesn't say much beyond that. So, I asked Anand Shimpi from chip review site Anandtech.

It turns out that Anand's initial guess was wrong. … Read more

Where, when, and how to buy the iPhone 5

Now that the iPhone 5 is official, the real fun can begin. Ensuring that you'll be one of the lucky few to have the latest iPhone in your hands at the end of launch weekend can be a challenge.

There are more carriers and retailers selling the newest iPhone on launch day than ever before. We'll continue updating this page with the latest information surrounding the iPhone 5 launch on September 21, and how you can get your hands on it as soon as possible.

Apple

If you're into the whole line-standing, fanfare, and clapping-employee thing, Apple … Read more

We now know the iPhone and Apple jumped the shark in 2011

You wouldn't know it from the sales numbers, the monstrous profits and the insidious hype, but the decline of iOS, the iPhone and perhaps even all of Apple 2.0 (the 21st century iteration) is now in progress.

This week's Apple media event to introduce an iPhone 5 utterly devoid of any new innovations for the first time ever confirms to me something that I began to suspect at WWDC 2011 -- the Cupertino juggernaut has reached its zenith and has since begun to coast back to earth (although very slowly, with the help of a parachute made of billions in cash). To put it more simply, Apple and the iPhone have jumped the shark.… Read more

Which phone should you buy?

This story, originally published September 14, 2012, updates often to reflect the arrival of new phones.

"Which phone should I buy?" This is the single most common question readers like you ask us phone reviewers every day. With the launch of a new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone and upcoming BlackBerry Q10 joining the Apple iPhone 5, a legion of excellent Android handsets, and the rise of Microsoft's Windows phones, the choices are more numerous than ever before.

On the bright side, options are a good thing -- if you're armed with the knowledge necessary to make smart shopping decisions. Sit tight as we lay out what you need to find the right mobile platform and model for you.… Read more

Low Latency No. 37: The iPhone 5 edition

Low Latency is a weekly comic on CNET's Crave blog written by CNET editor and podcast host Jeff Bakalar and illustrated by Blake Stevenson. Be sure to check Crave every Thursday at 8 a.m. PT for new panels! Want more? Here's every Low Latency comic so far.… Read more

iPhone 3GS fades into the sunset

One more loose end to clean up after Wednesday's iPhone 5-fest. Apple has now reportedly confirmed the discontinuation of the venerable iPhone 3GS, a product that entered the market in June 2009. Not a huge surprise given that Apple usually carries three generations of the iPhone at a time, with the earliest model usually going for free.

So in this case, the iPhone 4S, bumped aside by the iPhone 5, now sells for $99, while the older iPhone 4 is the new free phone with a two-year contract.

See CNET's full coverage of Apple's iPhone 5 event

iPhone 5 preorders start September 14 at 12:01 a.m. PT

If you're a night owl -- or a very, very early riser -- and don't want to wait on line, you can go online at 12:01 a.m. PT on September 14 to place a preorder with Apple for the iPhone 5.

Otherwise, you can do it the old-fashioned way and wait for the doors on Apple's retail stores to swing open at 8 a.m. local time on September 21.

Apple is hoping that history does not repeat itself, after the company ran into preorder problems with the iPhone 4 and 4S. Both Apple and … Read more

iPhone 5 shares its thoughts about its September 12 debut

After its greatly anticipated unveiling, and the endless tapping, stroking, pinching and praising at the event, the iPhone 5 retired for the night to its private suite.

Jony Ive stopped by to say he was very pleased with its performance on stage, and ordered iPhone 5 to get some sleep. Tim Cook plugged iPhone 5 in for a power refresh with its new Lightning connector and fondly wiped its screen of the smudges from too much handling during the auspicious event. 

As the room gradually emptied, iPhone 5 thought about Steve Jobs, and how he was missed. The unveiling … Read more

Biggest quarter for iPhone sales, says iSuppli

Apple is headed for a record quarter for iPhone sales, according to market researcher IHS iSuppli.

The fourth quarter will be huge, iSuppli said in a research note today. "Apple's biggest quarter for iPhone sales in history."

The iPhone 5 will drive Apple's smartphone shipments in 2012 to 149 million units, up 60 percent from 93 million in 2011, iSuppli said.

"The new phone will be released with just over a week left in the third quarter, so most of the iPhone 5 sales bump in 2012 will be seen in the final [fourth] quarter … Read more