Apple's faster iPhone 5S features fingerprint scanner (pictures)

Landing in stores on Friday, the iPhone 5S is Apple's latest flagship smartphone. It sports a handful of new features including a unique gold color choice, a faster 64-bit A7 processor, and a fingerprint scanner for security. It'll be available in three storage options, starting at $199 on contract.

In terms of the iPhone 5S' screen, not much has changed compared with its predecessor. It's still equipped with a crisp 4-inch Retina Display that has a 1,136x640-pixel resolution and 326ppi.

As expected, the device comes packaged with a pair of Apple EarPods and a Lightning connector charger.

The handset measures 4.87 inches tall, 2.31 inches wide, and 0.30 inch thick. It weighs 3.95 ounces and remains very lightweight.

At the bottom edge, there's a 3.5mm headphone charger, the Lightning charging port, and dual speakers.

At the handset's launch, Apple touted its Touch ID sensor, a fingerprint scanner that's integrated into the home button and made out of sapphire crystal and a "stainless-steel detection ring."

Touch ID doubles as your security key in lieu of a lock-screen password, as well as your verification when you purchase music and other media content from iTunes.

To set up Touch ID, tap and circle your finger to capture multiple fingerprint angles. The phone will collect more prints the more you tap, and after that, you're in.

The device's 8-megapixel camera sports a True Tone LED flash that reportedly adjusts to different lightning environments, and gives photos a more natural look.

New camera features include a sensor that's 15 percent larger than previously, and a f/2.2 aperture to capture more lighting with every photo.

After launching burst mode shooting, which rapidly takes several photos consecutively, you or the camera app itself can select the best photo out of the bunch, and delete the rest at once.

In addition, you can now see the Camera Roll as expansive "collections," initially organized by year.

Upon more-thorough combing, photos can then be viewed by events and locations.

The rear-facing camera can record 1080p HD video, as well as in slow motion.

For new iOS 7 devices, iMovie comes free. However, editing onscreen shows how real estate can get tight with just a 4-inch screen.

As the successor to iOS 6 (seen on the left with the iPhone 5), the iPhone 5C (middle) and 5S' (right) iOS 7 software comes with many new features. For a deeper dive on the OS, check out CNET's hands-on.

With iOS 7's music app, Apple launched iTunes Radio, a Pandora-esque music-streaming service. For more on iTunes Radio, check out CNET's hands-on.

Also currently available on OS X, Apple's file-sharing service, AirDrop, will be integrated with iOS 7. You will be able to send and share photos, videos, and contacts via a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection.

Another new iOS 7 feature is Notifications. Though already a mainstay in Android devices, Notifications let you check on app activity and updates by swiping from the top of the screen.

The device also features Control Center. Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to quickly access settings (like adjusting screen brightness and turn on Wi-Fi), as well as other apps like the music player and camera.

The new iOS version will still feature Siri, Apple's voice assistant service, where you can launch Web searches.

Compared with the iPhone 5 (left), the 5S has a longer battery life. Reported stats include 10 days of standby time, 10 hours of talk time on 3G, 10 hours of Web browsing on 4G LTE or Wi-Fi, or 10 hours of continuous video playback.

The handset features a faster, 64-bit A7 processor and M7 motion co-processor. Here, the game XCom looks great, though a bigger screen would make gameplay a bit more enjoyable.

Running 3DMark's graphics test shows the iPhone 5S' gaming's potential.

In the US, the iPhone 5S will be sold on all four major carriers: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. It will face stiff competition from reigning Android flagships, which include the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4, and Motorola Moto X (from left to right).