Is The New iPhone 5S The Ultimate Travel Device?

Tech media is still abuzz with last week’s unveiling of Apple’s latest smartphone: the iPhone 5S. And while gadget addicts are flocking to grab this shiny new device, many veteran travelers may be wondering if this phone will really live up to all the hype. It hits store shelves today (Sept. 20).

When you’re overseas, you need a reliable mobile device to communicate with loved ones, send business documents or simply keep track of your travel itinerary. That’s why we’ve taken an in-depth look at the iPhone 5S by examining some of its features from a traveler’s perspective. 

The fastest phone around

This is probably the biggest one for us. The iPhone 5S smokes the competition with lightning speed, as this chart illustrates. That added velocity is great for all users, but especially for travelers.

Being able to access maps quicker, process photos faster and receive important e-mails in record time help to make your trip more enjoyable. The last thing you want is a phone that can’t keep up with the super-fast pace of international travel.

The most LTE bands

Apple says the iPhone 5S is compatible with “more LTE bands than any other smartphone in the world.” Depending on the model, the device can handle up to 13 different bands. The regular iPhone 5 can handle just five.

Tech experts say this is significant when it comes to global LTE roaming coverage. New additions to iPhone 5S’s band lineup will improve coverage across Europe, South America and Asia. But for travelers to really have access to LTE roaming, operators will first have to ink deals with each other and offer services.

Fingerprint sensor security

Security is a major concern for everyone, but especially travelers. Losing your smartphone at the local mall is one thing, leaving it in a Bangkok bus station is quite another.

And unfortunately, many people don’t bother with their smartphone security features if they’re not simple and easy to use. Enter the iPhone 5S’s new fingerprint sensor. Rather than entering a passcode, you can just hold your finger on the home button.

This new feature certainly makes security simpler, but some experts worry that thieves could use an image or picture of your fingerprint to gain access to your iPhone 5S, according to an article in PC World. But overall, security gurus say the sensor is more secure than a pin code.

Improved camera stays at 8MP

Some travelers rely entirely on their smartphones for snapping vacation shots. It’s not a surprising trend, considering how fast in-phone camera technology has evolved.

The iPhone 5S surprised some tech-watchers by keeping its camera at 8 megapixels – that’s lower than the Galaxy S4’s 13MP ranking. But Apple says that their latest snapper is not without improvements.

It’s increased the pixel size to provide higher-quality images and increased the aperture size to f/2.2, which means the camera can capture better pictures when the light is low. Also, Apple included a unique dual-LED flash that uses an amber light and special algorithms to calculate the perfect color temperature of the shot.

Plus you can share your travel photos using the new AirDrop file-sharing feature that comes with iOS 7. Pretty handy.

However, it remains to be seen whether the actual quality of photos from the 5S can compete with 13 MP giants like the Galaxy S4.

Do you think the iPhone 5S is the ultimate travel device? Is there a smartphone you prefer instead? Tell us about it in the comments below and make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.