A few days ago, Apple finally got round to sending journalists an invite to the launch of its new handset, with the iPhone 5 launch officially pegged for Sept. 12 at 10am PT, 1pm ET, 1900 CEST or 1800 BST (6pm).

And then we finally got the announcement we’d been waiting for… The iPhone 5 offers a larger screen, 4G connectivity and a slightly tweaked design. The new iPhone – the world’s thinnest smartphone at 7.6mm – is made entirely of glass and aluminium, something Apple says is “unlike anything we, or anyone in the industry, has made before.”

For anyone following the rumours over the past year, the iPhone 5 will not bring any major surprises, with many of the new features expected – including the new dimensions and the improved A6 chip.

The camera is smaller, hardier and enhanced by the more powerful chip, and the front facing camera is bumped up to a 720p version. WiFi is improved and the inclusion of 4G is a must have in the current phone world. But it is the size, design and shape that will win the most admiring glances. The all glass and aluminium chassis can claim to be the thinnest smartphone at 7.6 mm ‘thin’.

The 4 inch screen keeps the retina resolution despite the added length, which Apple has brought in to make the phone more movie-friendly. The added real-estate is welcome, especially given the growth of its rivals, and apps will apparently be easy to move onto the new screen size for developers.

In the hand the iPhone 5 certainly feels comfortable. You can see why Apple decided to keep the width the same as it fits the hand nicely – just as its predecessors have.