There's a 64-bit Apple A7 chip on board with more than a billion transistors (32-bit and 64-bit apps are supported) That's an incredible 56 times as fast as the original iPhone.
The first-of-its-kind chip packs twice as many transistors in a piece of silicon roughly the same size as the A6 - 102mm squared.
iOS 7 will obviously support the 64-bit chip, too. A native 64-bit kernel, libraries and drivers are all part of the package.
The graphics, featuring OpenGL ES 3.0, are also twice as fast and Apple was keen to demonstrate the gaming prowess of the handset with Infinity Blade 3.
iPhone 5S battery life and LTE
As for battery life, the iPhone 5S will allow for 10 hours of 3G talk time, and 10 hours of LTE browsing. Indeed, the iPhone 5S is better at mobile browsing on LTE than on 3G - 10 hours versus eight. Now that's a leap forward.
Although you won't be able to tell them apart, Apple is making four slightly different models available globally to circumvent the global differences in LTE bands. These are A1533, A1453, A1457 and A1530. Seefor more on these models.
iPhone 5S camera
The camera is a case of same resolution, bigger sensor with the 8 megapixel device featuring a f/2.2 five element Apple designed lens. Video is 1080p, while there's 120fps 720p slow motion, too, plus a burst mode.
It can capture a 28MP panorama that adjusts exposure as a user pans their camera. There's also a new True Tone flash that variably adjusts color and intensity for more than 1,000 combinations. Flesh will appear more natural - no more washed out profile pics?
The sensor includes a 15% larger active area, and pixels (taking the bigger is better route) amount to 1.5 microns.
The long-rumored dual-flash is indeed part of the iPhone 5S' camera package. Auto-image stabilization is on the way.
iPhone 5S Touch ID
Apple has also introduced a new fingerprint reader on the home button of the iPhone 5S. It scans sub-epidermal skin layers, scans at 500ppi and is, incredibly just 170 microns thick.
Thanks to the ring around the home button, it knows your finger is there and you don't have to tell it to scan. It can even scan your print at whatever angle you press the button at. It's also integrated with iOS 7.
All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored securely in the ominously named Secure Enclave inside the A7 chip
Touch ID can also be used as a secure way to purchase from the iTunes Store, App Store or iBooks Store.
iPhone 5S M7
There's also the M7 chip, a motion co-processor that continually measures motion data featuring an accelerometer and gyroscope. So think better and more precise fitness apps.
Developers can access new CoreMotion APIs that take advantage of M7 to create even better fitness and activity apps than we have already. Apple claims it goes "well beyond what other mobile devices offer", although we remain to be convinced of that.
The M7 will save battery life for pedometer or other fitness apps that use the accelerometer all day.
iPhone 5S release date and price
The iPhone 5S release date is September 20 and you can pre-order from September 13. US pricing is set at $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for 32GB and $399 for 64GB.
These are on two-year contracts.
The UK iPhone 5S SIM-free price is set at £549, £629 and £709, while Australians will pay $869, $999 and $1,129.
Apple also released the iPhone 5C, which is essentially an iPhone 5 reworked inside a plastic case at a budget price point.
Apple's past 'S' models have featured the same shell as the core model, though with different features and slightly different tech specs. Once again, it seems that will be the case for the 5S.
The iPhone 5S isn't expected to differentiate itself from the iPhone 5 too drastically, though a better camera and slightly faster processor will surely be part of the package.
One analyst has claimed Apple could use the iPhone 5S to increase its margin for iPhones as a result of falling profitability.
One thing is for sure, with the release of such super handsets as theSamsung Galaxy S4, Sony Xperia Z and HTC One, the next iPhone will have to seriously up its game.
- Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z vs HTC One vs iPhone 5 vs Lumia 920
Apple will no doubt be feeling the pressure to get its next phone out on the market as soon as possible. But is it really as important a product as some suggest?
iPhone 5S release date
At least we know when the iPhone 5S is coming now - the official Apple invite has dropped and we're going to definitely (well, almost definitely) see the new iPhone on September 10.
