I was leaving the house this morning when I got a phone call from Xcite letting me know they received the new iPhone 5 and if I was interested in picking it up to check it out. Luckily traffic wasn’t that bad and I was over at their head office 15 minutes later picking up the phone.
The new iPhone 5 looks smaller than my iPhone 4s even though it’s taller. It looks very slick and slim while the iPhone 4s which I didn’t have a problem with an hour ago now looks pretty bulky sitting next to the iPhone 5 on my desk. I have the black iPhone 5 with me which is black all over including the side trimming which is what is also helping the iPhone 5 look smaller than it actually is.
Even though I was expecting the iPhone 5 to be light based on the reviews I read online, I wasn’t expecting it to feel this much lighter than the 4s. It’s really the first thing that grabbed my attention when I picked it up and it kinda feels like the phone is hollow on the inside. The second thing that grabbed my attention was the aluminum back of the phone. To me it doesn’t look or feel like aluminum but more like a plastic. I think it’s because I was expecting the metal to have some sort of texture which is doesn’t.
I booked my nano sim card from Viva [Here] but I still haven’t received the sim card yet nor do I know when they’ll be available. So right now if you want to use the iPhone 5 you’re going to have to cut and sand your sim card down to the size of the nano.
If you want to check out the iPhone 5 yourself you can since Xcite have it on display right now at their Avenues location. They aren’t selling them just yet nor have they priced them since they’re waiting to secure a large quantity of phones first. If you have any questions or curiosities about the phone let me know since I’m going to have it with me for a few more hours.
Update: Xcite just informed me they’re now selling the iPhone 5 starting at KD299
64 replies on “First Impression: The iPhone 5”
Will the devices bought from both the US (once it is available unlocked) and the UK work in Kuwait?
Unlocked iPhone 5’s from anywhere in the world will work in Kuwait. LTE on the other hand is a different story. There are different frequencies for LTE and supposedly I’ve been told the UK iPhone will work with LTE in Kuwait but I haven’t gotten a confirmation on that. If all you will be using is 3G then you don’t have to worry about it.
I guess I just saw on Eureka’s website/Facebook pricing the i5 for 350 KWD. I’m just curios is it worth the money we might shell out, I remember last year when 4s was out it was not priced at the edge of a cliff . But back in states it’s priced the same as last year. What’s up Q8?
It would be stupid to pay 350 when you could order it right now yourself for KD240 or wait a bit like me and get it for even less once the telecoms release it.
But if you get it from telecoms here won’t it have FaceTime disabled?
My iPhone currently doesn’t have facetime disabled.
Mark, How much have you paid for your phone in Xcite?
They aren’t selling the phones yet. Check the last paragraph.
My facetime works, never heard of this.
Is it even ethical for an “official” retailer to sell the phone above its MSRP!!
Only in Kuwait
They’ve been doing that for as long as I can remember. Sellers here will suck you dry if you let them. Aramax is a nice company to single out since it charged me more money for delivering a single book than what it cost to buy it (30KD).
Unfortunately, here in kuwait everyone doesn’t mind. In fact, they seem to WANT to throw their money away.
Of course, then they complain that their salaries aren’t enough…
Have you noticed any scratching on the aluminum and has it revealed the white colour underneath it?
I’ve only had the phone out of the box for a few hours and I’m not trying to scratch it since it’s not mine. But I don’t think it will scratch that easily as to reveal the natural aluminum finish beneath. If you drop it onto tarmac I can imagine that happening but if you’re concerned about scratches you could always get a case for it.
this is what u3abdalla meant ..
https://www.gsmarena.com/certain_black_iphone_5_reportedly_come_with_dents_out_of_the_box-news-4844.php
Ah in that case no it had no scratches
Mark is it fingerprint proof? or does the screen smudge when you touch it?
nope, it still smudges like crazy
why not wait for Nokia Lumia 920 ?
The Nokia doesn’t run iOS among other things
Mark, have you also tried the Samsung Galaxy S3? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts between the two, as I plan on getting one of them fairly soon.
My dad has it and I don’t like it. I’m not a fan of the android OS which is my main reason for not liking it. They’re also always a step behind Apple and then you’ve got the whole copying thing going on so really not a Samsung person. But, I do love my Galaxy Tab 2.0 as a travel media player. Nothing competes with it (when it comes to playing all kinds of video files)
Can we start an Android-Apple flame war? Please please please? Pretty please?
“Theyโre also always a step behind Apple”
Yeah right, like it’s the other way dude; Apple is always a step behind Android/Samsung. Go check it out…
I have to agree with FreeSpeech
Yep.. I can’t recall Android OS being overtaken by iOS since 09′ or 10′ lol ..
And talking about S3, it has more features than iphone5 .. regarding copying, Adroid is licensed to these guys and you can skin the shit out of it, so really, the one to blame for copying is Samsung and not Google or the Android OS :/
iOS has been and is still behind Android OS
as developer, ios is way better. because there is no money in android. you are lucky to find 2 out of 10 guy buying the app.
Yeah this is what it comes down to. Apple has better apps because people trust the App Store more.
What you pay at app store you will get it free on android !!
Apple has copied the Swiss Railway’s Clock as is so while it sues others for copying, it does the same.
Also if copying design was crime, everyone auto maker shud be sued by Ford. You should not see any two brands of same product with same physical features..no two brands will sport square TVs, no two brands will sport fan with three blades so on and so forth..patent on design/look is s***..
+100000000000000000
@Aarti
You’ve got it completely wrong. When Samsung does it, it’s called COPYING but when Apple does it, it’s NOT COPYING, it’s called a “NEW INVENTION”.
apple is invativation:
1. mind-controlling the masses (how else would you explain people being fine with not owning the phone they bought?)
2. distorting copyright law and patent law; although at was already screwed up to begin with.
3. suing people for “crimes” they did not commit, and winning.
I <3 Apple.
lol, my friend. lol.
Eureka – KD- 349.900 only in Kuwait lolxxxxxxxx kikikiki ๐
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=368746513201469&set=a.113425078733615.18753.113052838770839&type=1&theater
F That, Xcite has a good chance to make a lot of fans if they release it at a proper price soon.
Let us Preorder :I
Blink has it at 365 KD!!
https://www.blink.com.kw/product-detail/apple-iphone-5-16gb-black-md297b-a.html
and they have gone out of stock as well!!
๐ ๐
Saw in LULU hypermarket ad for pre-ordering iPhone 5. It was written expected price to be 360 – 390 KWD ๐
Mark have you seen any new feature or anything enhanced from previous 4s?
Why don’t you read about what’s changed on http://www.apple.com
Wataniya has them in stock along with the new SIM; but in limited quantities. Keep an eye on their twitter feed for updates (@WataniyaTelecom)
I think of all the iPhone releases, this one is the most boring in terms of design or features. It looks like they took a roller pin to the 4s and wala here you go.
I am looking forward to the Nokia Lumia for something different and unique.
Mark:
Have you tried the “new” panorama feature? What’s so new about it?
Still can’t make coffee or do the dishes yet. Apple has a long way to go.
I had my eyes set on a “5” coming from a “4” but I’m starting to have my doubts. A 4S might not be a bad idea after all as the “5” is more and more starting to feel just like a stretched “5” than an all new phone.
Saw it today, not super impressive. Biggest difference is how heavy it is …. feels cheap as a result of being too light and why the battery life issue hasnt been addressed is beyond me.
The battery life is longer
its on deals.com.kw for 343kwd!!!! thats a huge load of money, id say a 4S is pretty much enough
Mark, can u give a review abt the new ios6 maps of kuwait (tomtom)
Though they r messy worldwide
havent used it much but here are two experiences:
– was trying to find the exit number of a highway and google maps only gave me the name of the road, io6 maps gave me the number not the name. so io6 maps was better in this case
– io6 maps thinks baghdad street is cairo street. that’s wrong obviously.
Sorry to disappoint you.
but with what’s available in the market as of this moment, you might as well buy a sgs2.
It’s hardly a software war out there as of now. And in terms of software, there havn’t been much change for a few years.
all wars are going towards hardware, and yes, ios has lost its touch.
pay 400 kd so that u can share only through email. *sigh* it’s almost 2013 !!
Guys, please be practical. The 350-400kd price tag includes the airfare of the person who had to fly to the UK and back to get your iPhone before anyone else.
It really is a good deal.
Lol what practical i can order it online much cheaper than this and anyone can order online… plus eureka wouldn’t fly there they would get a shipment… plus the shipment and Kuwait tax 5% might be in total max KD5-10or cheaper for a company.
If you order it yourself you might pay KD10-20max
IPHONE 5 16GB: KD250 shipped to Kuwait
IPHONE 5 32GB: KD282 shipped to Kuwait
IPHONE 5 64GB: KD328 SHIPPED TO Kuwait
Dude… you really need to develop a sense of humor.
Dude… you really need to read carefully ๐
im going for a iphone 5 run, my flight (business of course) and accommodation total to 1890 KD
ill divide that by the number or orders i get + cost of iphone 5
email me at [email protected]
Does anyone know where I can get my Sim Card cut & sanded?
Ask your telecom operator to upgrade your SIM. They will charge 5KD and it will be guaranteed to work.
You don’t want to ruin your phone by sanding your old SIM and then finding out it doesn’t work / got stuck / won’t remove.
How real are you? like the real KATANGA?
he’s legit, I checked his name.
But I must ask.. Are you real?
Only the real Tariq knows about KATANGAAAAAA
If your girl friend switches to iPhone 5 from iPhone 4 just for the sake of another 1/2 inch!!
Then you sir… might have a problem in you…:D:D
Souq.com is now offering it at KD 333
If I have a time machine, I would go back in time and buy all apple stocks I can get !
Seriously Apple is a cult more than a product provider! my friends stayed hours online to get the IP5 the day it went on sale ! A store in sharq sold 2 ip5 for 680kd !
I don’t know, but there are better options for mobile enthusiasts . For a powerhorse open source OS Android SGIII, for a new slik promesing OS with great screen and camera Nokia 920
Rather than paying 300kd for – new IP4S with 4″ screen and faster processor.
Lots of people getting angry about personal phone choices in here
Mark
The phone cannot be activated without a sim. How was your phone activated? Any news on when Viva will start delivering nano sims?
Hey everyone, I have a question. I am in Canada and may be moving to Kuwait soon. I mostly use my phone for regular call/text watsapp/instagram and web surfing + youtube. Here in Canada, there is wifi pretty much everywhere I go, so I donโt really use a 4g network data connection, I mostly do all the websurfing and video watching on wifi (with really fast connection).
My question is, if I move to Kuwait do I really need to get a phone that works on 4G speed? Is 3G fast enough? And, is wifi connection fast + widely available?
For example, last time I was in lebanon the internet connection there is horrible so I canโt see myself relying on wifi there, Iโd have to get the 4g data. Is it the same way in Kuwait?
Please advise! Thank you, and sorry for the super long post lol