It’s all about it -
iPhone 5
The Apple iPhone 5 is
the latest smartphone released by Apple as a successor to the very successful
iPhone 4S. The announcement was made on 12 September 2012 (13th for us in
Malaysia) by the boys at Cupertino. The official release date in Malaysia was 14th December 2012, the major networks – DiGi, Celcom, U-Mobile, Maxis and Tune
Talk, have already release some plans.
Some new features of
this new iPhone are:
- Larger 4 inch display (the
iPhone 4S had a 3.5 inch screen)
- Aluminium back, glass front
- New Lightning connector
(smaller than the previous 30-pin)
- Compatible with nano-SIMs
- New faster A6 chip with the
latest iOS 6
- 4G LTE Connectivity (but LTE
services probably not yet ready in Malaysia)
- 8MP rear-facing camera (1080p); 1.2MP front-facing camera (720p)
Users can see the full
technical specs and some more nice photos of the Apple iPhone 5 the Apple
website here.
Better Wireless
The iPhone 5 has 4G LTE
connectivity, a must-have feature for a high-end smartphone these days. It uses
a single LTE chip (rather than two) for voice and data, an engineering decision
that helped reduce the phone's bulk. It also supports more global cellular
networks, including HSPA, HSPA+, and DC-HSDPA. Wi-Fi got a spec bump too. The
iPhone 5 supports dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) 802.11n wireless with a
theoretical maximum speed of 150 Mbps.
Ports
The iPhone 5 is the
first Apple device to drop the old 30-pin connector and replace it with a new,
smaller all-digital port: Lightning. This has a reversible design so you don't
have to worry about which way you plug in the USB cable: it works both ways. It
supports USB 2.0, but not the faster 3.0 standard.
Other
Capabilities
iCloud - Instant access
to all the things you need, whether you’re on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch,
Mac, or PC.
AirPrint - Print
directly from iPhone 5 over Wi-Fi with AirPrint. No software to download, no
drivers to install, and no cables to connect. Send onscreen display to an
AirPrint-enabled printer.
AirPlay - AirPlay
wirelessly streams content from iPhone to Apple TV.
Services in Malaysia
- Non-commitment user - buy
iPhone 5 from the Apple store directly for RM2,199 (16GB) (RM2,499 for
32GB and RM2,799 for 64GB) and put in a SIM-card from a non-contract plan.
- Commitment user - depending on
usage, save over the 12/24-month period by going on a non-contract plan.
Cheapest Non-Contract
iPhone 5 Plans
Here is the cheapest
non-contract iPhone 5 plans, basically any plan in the market which has 3G
Mobile Internet Data included, combined with buying the phone outright at RRP
(here we assume the 16GB version for RM2,199), you can get that at the Apple
online store.
Provider
|
Plan Name
|
Device Price
|
Contract Period
|
Minimum Monthly Fee
|
12 month Cost of Ownership (inc. usage)
|
Data Quota
|
U Mobile
|
UMI18
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM18.00
|
RM2,415.00
|
250MB
|
U Mobile
|
UMI28
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM28.00
|
RM2,535.00
|
500MB
|
U Mobile
|
U28
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM28.00
|
RM2,535.00
|
1GB
|
Tune Talk
|
Cun Plan
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM38.00
|
RM2,655.00
|
1GB
|
DiGi
|
DG 48 Plus
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM43.00
|
RM2,715.00
|
1GB
|
Maxis
|
TextMore28 +100MB
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM46.00
|
RM2,751.00
|
100MB
|
Maxis
|
TalkMore28 + 100MB
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM46.00
|
RM2,751.00
|
100MB
|
Maxis
|
Value FIRST + 100MB
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM48.00
|
RM2,775.00
|
100MB
|
Maxis
|
SurfMore 50
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM50.00
|
RM2,799.00
|
2GB
|
For people who really do
not call or SMS much, and just want the cheapest possible plan with data, the
offerings from U Mobile do come up on top, mind you the UMI18 and UMI28 are
pre-paid smartphone plans. DiGi have a handy prepaid plan called the DG Prepaid
Smart Plan, which gives 60 minutes, 60 SMS and 600MB of data for RM30 (this
lasts 30 days). Maxis also have the SurfMore50 for people who don’t call and
text much but need heaps of data (2GB). However, the table above makes no
assumption about your actual usage, but just goes on the basis that you want
the cheapest plan (with 3G internet enabled).
Cheapest Contract iPhone
5 Plans
At the time of writing
(early December 2012), only Maxis, DiGi and Celcom have released plans for
discounted phones along with their contract plans, and here they are compared
over 24-months:
Provider
|
Plan Name
|
Device Name
|
Device Price
|
Contract Period
|
Minimum Monthly Fee
|
24 month Cost of Ownership
|
Data Quota (GB)
|
U Mobile
|
UMI18
|
Apple iPhone 5 16GB
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM18.00
|
RM2,631.00
|
0.25
|
U Mobile
|
UMI28
|
Apple iPhone 5 16GB
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM28.00
|
RM2,871.00
|
0.5
|
U Mobile
|
U28
|
Apple iPhone 5 16GB
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM28.00
|
RM2,871.00
|
1.00
|
Maxis
|
SurfMore 75 (New Year Promo)
|
Apple iPhone 5 16GB
|
RM1,188.00
|
24 month(s)
|
RM75.00
|
RM2,988.00
|
5.00
|
Tune Talk
|
Cun Plan
|
Apple iPhone 5 16GB
|
RM3,111.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM38.00
|
RM3,111.00
|
1.00
|
DiGi
|
DG 48 Plus
|
Apple iPhone 5 16GB
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM43.00
|
RM3,231.00
|
0.00
|
Maxis
|
iValue Simple
|
Apple iPhone 5 16GB
|
RM2,079.00
|
12 month(s)
|
RM50.00
|
RM3,279.00
|
1.00
|
Maxis
|
TextMore28 + 100MB
|
Apple iPhone 5 16GB
|
RM2,199.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM46.00
|
RM3,303.00
|
0.1
|
Maxis
|
ValueFIRST + 100MB
|
Apple iPhone 5 16GB
|
RM3,351.00
|
1 month(s)
|
RM93.00
|
RM3,351.00
|
0.1
|
It’s all about it – HTC
Butterfly
HTC Butterfly was
announced in December 2012.
The key features of this
phone are:
- Screen : Full HD 1920 x 1080
resolution
- Display: 5 inch super LCD 3
with Corning Gorilla Glass 2
- CPU Speed: Qualcomm S4 1.5GHz,
Quad-Core
- Camera: 8 megapixel camera,
1080p HD video recording, 2.1 megapixel front camera
For the full technical
specs and more details of HTC Butterfly, go to HTC website here.
Wireless Network
- HSPA/WCDMA: 850/2100 MHz
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE:
850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Other Capabilities
DLNA® - wirelessly
streaming media from the phone to a compatible TV or computer
Micro-USB 2.0 (5-pin)
port with mobile high-definition video link (MHL) - USB or HDMI connection
(Special cable required for HDMI connection.)
Water Protection - an IP
rating of X5
Best Postpaid Plans for
the HTC Butterfly
The HTC Butterfly is
available in Malaysia with an official RRP of RM2,299.00. As usual, the major
networks in Malaysia are offering discounts off the price of HTC Butterfly, but
users need to sign up for a long term contract plan with each of them. The
non-commitment type can actually get the HTC Butterfly from any HTC authorized
dealers.
Cheapest Non-Contract
Plans
If you really do not
call or SMS much and you don’t mind to pay the phone at the RRP (RM2,299.00),
you can buy the phone outright from HTC. Comparison table for low users (in
fact, assuming no additional usage costs), the cheapest ways to own a HTC
Butterfly.
Provider
|
Plan Name
|
Device Price
|
Contract Period
|
Minimum Monthly Fee
|
12 month cost of ownership
|
U Mobile
|
UMI18
|
RM2,299.00
|
1 month
|
RM18.00
|
RM2,515.00
|
U Mobile
|
UMI28
|
RM2,299.00
|
1 month
|
RM28.00
|
RM2,635.00
|
U Mobile
|
U28
|
RM2,299.00
|
1 month
|
RM28.00
|
RM2,635.00
|
Tune Talk
|
Cun Plan
|
Rm2,299.00
|
1 month
|
RM38.00
|
RM2,755.00
|
Maxis
|
TextMore 28+ 100MB
|
RM2,299.00
|
1 month
|
RM46.00
|
RM2,851.00
|
DiGi
|
DG 48 Plus
|
RM2,299.00
|
1 month
|
RM43.00
|
RM2,815.00
|
12 Month Contracts
For light user, and don’t mind going on
a long term contract in exchange for a cheaper upfront cost for the phone,
Celcom is probably the one to go for. For most average users (defined below),
Celcom First Premier + mBasic and Celcom First Prime + mBasic takes a
significant lead over the other existing plans in the market as the total 12
months cost is lower than other plans. Table for average user (300 mins, 200
SMS, 1GB data) 12-month contracts:
Provider
|
Plan Name
|
Avg. Monthly Cost (including usage/discouts)
|
Contact Period
|
Phone Price
|
Total 12 month cost of phone + contract
|
Celcom
|
Celcom First Premier + mBasic
|
RM118.00
|
12 months
|
RM1,798.00
|
RM3,214.00
|
Celcom
|
Celcom First Prime + mBasic
|
RM78.00
|
12 months
|
RM1,898.00
|
RM3,254.00
|
Tune Talk
|
Cun Plan
|
RM38.00
|
1 month
|
RM2,299.00
|
RM3,355.80
|
DiGi
|
DG Smart Plan 88
|
RM88.00
|
1 month
|
RM2,299.00
|
RM3,355.00
|
U Mobile
|
U28
|
RM28.00
|
1 month
|
RM2,299.00
|
RM3,355.00
|
Maxis
|
TalkMore 48 + 1GB
|
RM96.00
|
1 month
|
RM2,299.00
|
RM3,451.00
|
18 Month Contracts
Table for average user (300 mins, 200 SMS, 1GB data) 18-month contracts:
Provider
|
Plan Name
|
Avg. Monthly Cost (including usage/discounts)
|
Contract Period
|
Phone Price
|
Total 18 month Cost of Phone + Contract
|
Celcom
|
Celcom First Premier + mBasic
|
RM118.00
|
18 months
|
RM1,668.00
|
RM3,792.00
|
Celcom
|
Celcom First Prime + mBasic
|
RM78.00
|
18 months
|
RM1,768.00
|
RM3,802.00
|
U Mobile
|
U28
|
RM28.00
|
1 month
|
RM2,299.00
|
RM3,883.00
|
Tune Talk
|
Cun Plan
|
RM38.00
|
1 month
|
RM2,299.00
|
RM3,854.00
|
DiGi
|
DG Smart Plan 88
|
RM88.00
|
1 month
|
RM2,299.00
|
RM3,883.00
|
24 Month Contracts
DiGi reigns supreme for the 24 month contract race, blowing away
it’s competition with its newly released DG Smart Plan 88, particularly for
average users
Table for average user (300 mins, 200 SMS, 1GB Data) 24-month
contracts:
Provider
|
Plan Name
|
Avg. monthly cost (including usage/discounts)
|
Contract Period
|
Phone Price
|
Total 24 month cost of phone + contract
|
DiGi
|
DG Smart Plan 88
|
RM88.00
|
24 months
|
RM1,519.00
|
RM3,631.00
|
U Mobile
|
U28
|
RM28.00
|
24 months
|
RM1,888.00
|
RM4,000.00
|
U Mobile
|
U88
|
RM88.00
|
24 months
|
RM1,488.00
|
RM4,080.00
|
U Mobile
|
U58
|
RM58.00
|
24 months
|
RM1,688.00
|
RM4,136.00
|
Tune Talk
|
Cun Plan
|
RM38.00
|
1 month
|
RM2,299
|
RM4,372.00
|
Apple iPhone 5 vs HTC Butterfly
The HTC Butterfly is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 mobile processor running at 1.5 GHz along with Adreno 320 graphics chip. To power it up, HTC has chosen Google Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system and the HTC Sense 4+ user interface. It has also 2 GB of RAM. The Apple iPhone 5 has a dual core processor with a clock speed of 1.2 GHz. It only has 1 GB of RAM. However, the Apple smartphone has PowerVR SGX 543MP3 (triple-core graphics) chip.The Apple iPhone 5's processor also scored low on Geekbench's benchmark and was regarded slower than the Samsung Galaxy SIII.
The HTC Butterfly is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 mobile processor running at 1.5 GHz along with Adreno 320 graphics chip. To power it up, HTC has chosen Google Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system and the HTC Sense 4+ user interface. It has also 2 GB of RAM. The Apple iPhone 5 has a dual core processor with a clock speed of 1.2 GHz. It only has 1 GB of RAM. However, the Apple smartphone has PowerVR SGX 543MP3 (triple-core graphics) chip.The Apple iPhone 5's processor also scored low on Geekbench's benchmark and was regarded slower than the Samsung Galaxy SIII.
HTC Butterfly comes with a 5 inch LCD
display with full HD (1920x1080) pixel resolution. This means it has 440 pixel
per inch density against 326 ppi pixel density of Apple iPhone 5. Also, iPhone
5 has a smaller 4 inch display. In addition, HTC Butterfly comes with Corning Gorlla Glass 2 which is also known to provided protection against scratches and bumps.
HTC Butterfly has a 2020 mAh Li-Polymer battery against iPhone 5's 1440
mAh Li-Po battery. The Apple iPhone 5, which officially provides 8 hours of
talktime on 3G network, had impressed
us with its long battery life. So from the Butterfly, we expect an equal or
even a better performance as it has a bigger battery.
HTC Butterfly is built with 16 GB of internal
memory along with the expandable storage slot for up to 32 GB. The Apple iPhone
5 does not have any micro SD card slot. It does come with 32 GB and 64 GB
variants but here we have considered the 16 GB version of the iPhone 5 which
costs RM 2, 199 in Malaysia. In This model, you will get less that 16 GB for storage without any option to expand the memory.
The HTC Butterfly has its advantages like better processor, powerful RAM, bigger screen and battery, and more storage slot. Hence, we chose the HTC Butterfly based on these criteria.
