Hands-on with the new iPhone 5, iPod touch, and iPod nano

We went hands-on with Apple's new iPhone 5, iPod touch, and iPod nano following Tuesday's special media event, and all three devices come off as much faster than their predecessors. Let's start with the iPhone 5.

I compared the iPhone 5 to my old iPhone 4 (which has the same screen size as the more modern iPhone 4S). The devices feel similar, but the iPhone 5 is definitely taller. Holding the iPhone 5 by itself, it's hard to even tell that it's physically taller, but the added screen space is a benefit in many ways: a 16:9 aspect ratio for movies, larger space for apps, and even an extra row of apps on your springboard.

Next is the bottom of the iPhone 5. I have an old, crusty iPhone 4 on top with the iPhone 5 on the bottom. As you can see, the iPhone 5 has speakers on the bottom as well as a headphone jack and the new Lightning connector. (The iPhone 4 and 4S have a headphone jack on the top.)

It's worth noting that both the white and black iPhone 5s have aluminum backs. But with the black iPhone 5, the backplate is also black (or rather, "carbon"). It's hard to tell in photos, but when you look at it in person, the back is matte and different from the gray aluminum back of the white iPhone 5.

Next up is the iPod touch. This device is thin. I was impressed by the level of thinness here, and the colors are a first for the iPod touch.

Again, the headphone jack (as well as speakers and the Lightning connector) are on the bottom of the iPod touch.

Subjectively, the iPod touch also feels extremely fast. Zooming around in 3D view within Maps was very speedy, and I think users will find this to be a huge plus.