Apple got the iPhone 5's physical design right
With the iPhone 5, Apple did what it does best: come up with a good industrial design.But that's not always the case.Until I got my hands on the iPhone 5 -- I picked one up on Friday -- I wasn't sure if Apple had nailed the design (hands-on videos and reviews go just so far).Well, after 48 hours I'm pretty sure it did.It just looks and feels a lot better than the 4S (which I owned until Friday). Thinness, in my book, is the foundation for coolness. But thinness isn't just an aesthetic bonus; it can be practical too.In this case, Apple stretched out the 4S just enough to allow for a bigger screen, while making it lighter and easier to hold. Let's quantify that.iPhone 4S:Height: 4.5 inches (115.2 mm)Width: 2.31 inches (58.6 mm)Depth: 0.37 inch (9.3 mm)Weight: 4.9 ounces (140 grams) iPhone 5 Height: 4.87 inches (123.8 mm) Width: 2.31 inches (58.6 mm) Depth: 0.30 inch (7.6 mm)Weight: 3.95 ounces (112 grams)The two-toned back plate is a nice touch too.Not to mention that the metal-clad sides look better when there's about 0.7 inches shaved off. And the front is more attractive too.The ratio of display area to non-display area (e.g., where the home button is) is greater for the 5 compared to the 4S. So, my first impression is that the iPhone 5 seems to be a successful physical design. Related storiesCNET's iPhone 5 full reviewBut let me close with a cautionary note.The physical design of the last Apple product I bought, the third-generation iPad, was a disappointment. I agree with Raymond Soneira of DisplyMate Technologies that the resulting design was plan B for Apple. Though it has a wonderful Retina display, it's noticeably thicker and heavier than the iPad 2 because of display assembly compromises Apple had to make.A newer product -- particularly in Apple's case -- shouldn't be thicker and heavier than the older model. Let's hope Apple continues on the thinner, lighter trajectory of the iPhone 5 with future products, including the expected upcoming iPad Mini.The iPhone 5 I picked up on Friday.Brooke Crothers
