Apple iPhone 5S and 5C launch day - so what's new?

APPLE fans queued up overnight outside the company's flagship stores in around the world - in fact some got in line outside the New York shop as long ago as Tuesday - for the tech giant's latest product release.

In the UK, the new iPhone 5S and 5C handsets went on sale at 8am this morning, though it should be noted that the some dealers are reporting a "frustrating" lack of stock of the 5S.

Apple has released a new iPhone every year since 2007, says The Independent. This year, for the first time, it's launching two...

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Why are there two models? It's "a recognition that Apple needed to win back customers" from its main rivals, Samsung and HTC, says the Independent. The two models are designed to appeal to two different groups: high-end smartphoneaddicts and customers happy with something "funkier, brighter and cheaper".

How much do they cost? The iPhone 5C is on sale in the UK at £469 for the 16GB model and £549 for the 32GB model, says the Daily Telegraph while the "main event" is the 5S, yours for £549 for the 16GB model, £629 for the 32GB modeland £709 for the 64GB.

What are the 5S's new features? The 5S uses the same chassis as last year's iPhone 5 but "crams a lot more" into it. It has a new,super-fast A7 processor. The camera has a larger sensor and larger, more effective pixels. And for the first time the phone has afingerprint scanner, integral to the main button, which will unlock the phone only for its owner - though some alarmists have speculated, with tongue firmly in cheek, that this could lead to muggers cutting off fingers.

Is the 5S faster? Yes - it has a new chip, the A7, which makes navigating around apps and other screens quicker. The 5S also comes with a clever motion sensor which works out when the phone is not being carried around and saves power at those times by checking online for updates less often. All these features make the iPhone 5S "the best smartphone Apple, or anyone, has yet made" says the Independent.

What about the 5C? The cheaper model is still an improvement on the iPhone 5. It has a better front-facing camera and enjoys longer battery life. Most eye-catchingly, it comes in a choice of five bright colours - while the 5Scomes only in grey or black.

What about the operating system? Both phones come with Apple's new software under the bonnet - iOS7. Released for use on previous handsets on Tuesday, the new operating system caused shared internet connections across the globe to crash as millions of eager users downloaded it.