First, this is not a review. If you want to read some 2,000 words, I would direct you to The Verge’s review. They have spent far more time than I have with the device and took several more pictures. I, on the other hand, am simply sharing some simple observations based on my use of the device.

Design

The iPhone 5 feels incredibly thin and light in the hand. It feels like a display phone that has had its internals ripped out–it is that light. The dark, aluminum body blends in with the black glass so well that the transition between the two feels more seamless than on the iPhone 4/4S. I am, however, worried about the aluminum case. In the short time I have had it, it already has a slight nick on it, likely due to the zipper on my jacket.

Hardware Buttons

I have to say, the home and lock buttons feel solid. I have never used an iPhone home button that felt this click-y. This is a great improvement.

Display

The size of the new display is a great size. You can see more content than ever before, making it less likely that you will have to scroll to get at any of your content. The color gamut on the display feels very similar to the Retina Display on the latest iPad (Update: I was right). I suspect that Apple is using similar tech here to increase the color accuracy.

Camera

The best back facing camera of any smartphone I have used and, in my opinion the best camera on my current phone except the Nokia 808 PureView. As for the FaceTime camera, I might actually use it now.

Software

The device runs iOS 6, which remains as snappy as ever. There really isn’t much to say here because every iPhone 3GS, 4, and 4S can get the software too.