Is the iPhone 5 Still Good in 2020?

It’s amazing to think that it’s already been eight years since the iPhone 5 came out. Within just 3 days of its release date on September 21, 2012, Apple had sold 5 million of these phones. In only 12 months of production, more than 70 million were sold worldwide.

This means that there are a lot of used iPhone 5’s available for sale on classified sites like Kijiji, and on online marketplaces like Orchard. You can save money choosing the iPhone 5 over a newer iPhone, but here’s the big question: is the iPhone 5 still good in 2020?

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Why is the iPhone 5 Still Good?

It can handle all of your day-to-day needs

Calling, texting, emails, web browsing, FaceTime… essentially everything that you need on a daily basis is handled with ease by this model. While you could get all of this out of older phones, none deliver with as much style as the iPhone 5.

The 16:9 aspect ratio of the screen is arguably the perfect design for use with one hand. Apple’s design of the iPhone 5 was so revolutionary, its form factor is still used today for the production of the iPhone SE. Add to that the fact that the iPhone 5 is the oldest iPhone compatible with lightning cables and most other Apple accessories, and you can see why it’s still an attractive option.

Pictures and video

Smartphone cameras have come a long way in recent years, but all things considered, the iPhone 5 still gets the job done with good results. It has an 8-megapixel iSight back camera and a 1.2-megapixel front (selfie) camera, both with LED flash. Furthermore, it can shoot HD video at 1080p.

It is the first iPhone with both a low light mode and a panorama mode. Not to mention it captures photos 40% faster than iPhone 4S.

These specs might not mean much to you, but what it translates to is a camera that can still shoot pictures and videos that you won’t be embarrassed to post on Instagram.

A wide range of available apps

Since the iPhone 5 can’t update to iOS 11, some of the most cutting-edge apps won’t run perfectly on it. Down the line, it’s likely that they may stop working entirely. The good news is thousands of apps still do work. This includes functional apps like those for banking and transportation. Plus, there is actually a huge range of apps that only work on older versions of iOS.

Downsides of Using an iPhone 5 in 2019

No more iOS updates

iOS 11 requires a 64-bit processor to support updates, and with its 32-bit chip, the iPhone 5 is left behind. As mentioned above, this means that not all apps will work. If they do they might be a bit buggy. This also means that things like the improved control center, revamped app store, improvements to Siri, and all future upgrades will be out of your reach.

Limited features

The iPhone 5 is packed full of great features, but there are also a number of things that you’ll get on newer phones that aren’t available. You’ll have to do without Touch ID, 3D Touch, stereo speakers, live photos, wireless charging, and much more.

iPhone 5 still good

The Verdict: iPhone 5 is Still Good

As far as cheap phones go, the iPhone 5 is the best you can do. If you’re only looking for something to cover the basics, or if want something to last you for a while until you upgrade to something more current, it’s a great choice.

Although the enduring design appeal of this device makes it look modern, it really is not. 5 years is a very long time when it comes to smartphones. If you’re in the market for a phone that you’ll be happy with for the long haul, consider moving up to at least the iPhone 5S.

If you might even want to go one step further up, check out our breakdown of the pros and cons of the iPhone 6.

Or… head on over to our shop and pick up an Apple iPhone 5 for as low as $79 today!

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27 comments

  • Michael De Jesus 14 October, 2018   Reply →

    Does a 5 have to upgrade in order to use the face time or download certain apps. I need to know as soon as possible.

    • Ann 24 April, 2020   Reply →

      If there is a key lock on the phone, forgotten….how to unlock or return to factory-setting?

  • MC 21 October, 2018   Reply →

    I still own a 5 and have iOS 10.3. Facetime still works and so do most apps. However a few have stopped working, so it really depends on what you are looking for. Mine is 6 years old now and has started to show signs of an old phone – it freezes, runs out of space often even with no addition of data, so much so that I have to constantly remove some of lesser used apps. I am done with this phone and am just waiting for Black Friday to get a new iPhone on sale.

  • Name *sunilkumar 16 December, 2018   Reply →

    Jio 4g is supported in iphone 5

  • parshv 5 February, 2019   Reply →

    my iphone is between iphone 5 and 6

  • MeatYou 25 June, 2019   Reply →

    iphone 5s here and i have never noticed any problems with any apps. camera is decent too. great day-to-day phone. i’m on OS 12.3. what is not so great is the original battery.. suggest you find a new one from reputable source . also the 16gig storage is killing me.. my apps are nearly 16 gigs.

  • D alexander 8 September, 2019   Reply →

    Verizon store refused to help me change my barely working iPhone 4 to my wife’s old iPhone 5s. We just put new battery in it and headed to Verizon where we have been for 10 years. What’s up. How do I use this phone?

    • Alex Sebastian 8 October, 2019   Reply →

      Hmmm that’s very odd. I am not sure: that’s between you and Verizon. Maybe try a different store? Sorry we couldn’t be more helpful.

  • AC Service Company 31 October, 2019   Reply →

    I am done with this phone and am just waiting for Black Friday to get a new iPhone on sale.

  • Cheryl Duperrault 31 October, 2019   Reply →

    Will my iPhone 5c still have a working GPS “maps” after November 3, 2019? I only use my phone for text, emails, maps/GPS and telephone calls.
    I don’t want to get a new phone now but depend on my phone for directions and the basics.

    • Alex Sebastian 2 November, 2019   Reply →

      The iPhone 5C wasn’t on the list provided by Apple (it’s a year newer than the iPhone 5) so I’d expect you’re okay but you might want to update your OS just to be absolutely sure.

    • SnappyJo 24 April, 2020   Reply →

      Fast forward….it is now April of 2020. I also have an iphone 5c. I never updated the OS from the 7.1.2 and never had any problems like GPS not working or whatever else Apple warned about. Now the only reason I am taking the step to get a newer iphone is because my 5c recently began acting strangely. I would not receive calls or text messages or my set alarms would not go off and notice in the top left instead of showing the little black circles and Extended next to the wifi symbol, it said, ” searching……”. Like it was stuck on stupid. When I notice this I will restart it holding both the power and home button, then it is back to normal. But it has been doing this more often now and my boyfriend is complaining he cannot get ahold of me, and griping about what a “piece of ****” my phone is, so I finally ordered an iphone 7 through Verizon. It is Certified Pre-Owned, the cheapest one I was able to afford, only adding an additional $6 to my phone bill. But although it came in the mail almost a week ago, I have not switched yet because I need a cover/protector since it is larger than my 5c, and also found out it has no earbud jack. So now I am waiting on my new cover and lightning jack earbuds to come in the mail before I switch over. What I question is this…am I going to have to update the OS on this 5c before I can transfer the data onto my 7?

  • Gina Granada Alcantara 4 February, 2020   Reply →

    i need help. i forgot my apple ID in my iphone5. what am i gonna do? according to my friend, the solution is to reformat the said cp but it cost almost the same of second hand or used iphone5, 5,000.00 pesos

    • Alex Sebastian 18 February, 2020   Reply →

      Hi Gina, unfortunately there isn’t much you can do until you remember the password. It will lock you out of the phone :/

  • Maria Tran 22 March, 2020   Reply →

    I love using iPhone 5, I have used it for three years. I think that it’s very convenient for me and I like bringing small devices when I go out.
    It’s very suitable for children.

    • Dylan @ Orchard 24 March, 2020   Reply →

      Hi Maria, that’s great to hear! The iPhone 5 is definitely a nice and reliable device. Agreed that it’s suitable for children, particularly if they’re younger and don’t require much of the advanced functionality of the later models. 🙂

      • Pat 26 March, 2020   Reply →

        Is Safari the only browser that will work on iPhone 5?

  • narayana kulkarni 6 April, 2020   Reply →

    i want to buy new iphone 5s (available from Kogan)..I am getting it for my younger kid.. Just want to use it for making call and tracking purpose (using Find Iphone app feature)..

    Is the Find Iphone and location tracking feature still available on Iphone 5S

    • Alex @ Orchard 9 April, 2020   Reply →

      Hi Narayana, thanks for the question. Yes Find my iPhone and Location Tracking features are available on the iPhone 5S. It is a great option as a phone for your kids!

  • SnappyJo 24 April, 2020   Reply →

    Fast forward….it is now April of 2020. I also have an iphone 5c. I never updated the OS from the 7.1.2 and never had any problems like GPS not working or whatever else Apple warned about. Now the only reason I am taking the step to get a newer iphone is because my 5c recently began acting strangely. I would not receive calls or text messages or my set alarms would not go off and notice in the top left instead of showing the little black circles and Extended next to the wifi symbol, it said, ” searching……”. Like it was stuck on stupid. When I notice this I will restart it holding both the power and home button, then it is back to normal. But it has been doing this more often now and my boyfriend is complaining he cannot get ahold of me, and griping about what a “piece of ****” my phone is, so I finally ordered an iphone 7 through Verizon. It is Certified Pre-Owned, the cheapest one I was able to afford, only adding an additional $6 to my phone bill. But although it came in the mail almost a week ago, I have not switched yet because I need a cover/protector since it is larger than my 5c, and also found out it has no earbud jack. So now I am waiting on my new cover and lightning jack earbuds to come in the mail before I switch over. What I question is this…am I going to have to update the OS on this 5c before I can transfer the data onto my 7?

  • Ann 24 April, 2020   Reply →

    If there is a key lock on the phone, forgotten….how to unlock or return to factory-setting?

    • Dylan @ Orchard 12 May, 2020   Reply →

      Hi Ann, please refer to this support documentation from Apple (https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204306) — if you scroll down the page you should find the answer to your question. Thanks for reaching out! 🙂

  • Abhinav 1 May, 2020   Reply →

    Can I go with a used iphone SE ? I really love the design of 5/5s/SE . I already have iphone 11 and i want to choose SE as my secondary device , so can I go with that ?

  • John 14 May, 2020   Reply →

    I have a Verizon iphone 5 not currently being used. Verizon will not support it and I can’t find another MVNO that will support. Does anybody know of a Verizon-based carrier that will support this phone?

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