The new Apple iPhone 5 is expected to be the top selling smartphone this holiday season. It is well known that the new device is not as revolutionary as some home had hoped, but for many consumers, that is no barrier to a holiday iPurchase. Most consumers fail to use the majority of features on newly-released smartphones, so for many, the iPhone 5 is a handset which avoids overwhelming consumers with unnecessary features.

Many critics have highlighted Apple's decision to ditch NFC and wireless charging, but for many consumers, those abilities might be superfluous. NFC is not available in all countries and is barely making dent in the U.S. and Canada, so Apple may have no reason to jump on the NFC bandwagon when many owners of the iPhone 5 would remain unable to take advantage of it. For most iPhone 5 users, wireless charging might also have been a misplaced investment. Compared to normal charging methods, wireless charging is slow, and the device must remain stationary on the wireless charger pad for optimum performance, which means it cannot be used while charging.

The design of the iPhone 5 remains very similar to previous iPhone handsets, with the main difference being the increase in height and screen size. If Apple were to make huge changes to the device, fans might have revolted. Its 4-inch display pales in comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Nokia Lumia 920, but the smaller size may appeal to consumers who prefer having a smaller, easier-to-hold handset.

Despite the underwhelming response of tech pundits, many consumers may be satisfied with the iPhone 5, and Apple may be satisfied with its holiday profits.