On Sept. 20 I reported my first experiences with the iPhone 5s, the morning it went on sale. Now, six days into the experience, I feel more equipped to properly review the newest Apple smartphone, and can still say it’s been a positive choice. Of course, as an Apple fan but not a tech geek of the purest variety, I upgraded from a 4s model, so some of my splendor may be exaggerated, but I’ve still found certain aspects of the phone nothing short of amazing.

What can I say about the camera? At 8 megapixels it creates photos of superior resolution, and captures images faster than previous iPhone models. My favorite feature, however, is the panoramic view. I didn’t expect the photos to remain as clear as they do when using the feature. When dragging a panoramic photo of people, however, make sure they remain still, or they may end up looking like Sloth the way my husband did in an experimental shot.

New iPhone 5s users are also bound to love the camera’s burst mode. Every try taking a photo of your kids—or your pets—and get them all to look at the camera at the same time? It’s can be a daunting task, but the burst mode allows you to hold the shutter button while it takes 10 frames per second until you lift your finger, all while sounding off the frames with machine-gun effects.

While the camera is still impressive, it didn’t astound me as much as the improvement in still photography. The ability to shoot footage in 120 FPS slow motion, however, is promising, and we are all soon sure to see cat videos more entertaining than ever.

I remember remarking on the speed of my iPhone 4s after purchasing it, but eventually as the data required by apps progressed, the speed became less impressive. The 5s’ 64-bit A7 processor doesn’t fail to impress. I am still anxious, however, to see more apps designed for the iOS 7 so I can really test its potential.

Possibly the most-anticipated feature of the 5s is the fingerprint censor, speculated since Apple’s previous purchase of AuthenTec. Apple doesn’t disappoint, either. Not only can users scan their fingerprints to replace passcode authentication for unlocking their iPhones, but they can record up to five prints to be validated. Therefore, if you tend to hit your Home Key with multiple digits—or if you want access to a child’s or loved one’s phone—the 5s can accommodate your needs. The fingerprint sensor can also be used to make iTunes purchases, which could be a huge time-saver. Of course ease of purchase isn’t always a benefit of the budget…

Although we all could have wished for a larger screen (the iPhone 5s screen is the same four-inch diameter as the iPhone 5 and is already dwarfed by some competititors), I’ve been incredibly impressed with the overall package that is the iPhone 5s. Two thumbprints up, Apple!