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Apple iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S vs iPhone 4 specs comparison

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Apple iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S vs iPhone 4 specs comparison
Today marked the most drastic change in the story of the Apple iPhone - its screen just got bigger! Granted, 3.5" was fine when it took off in 2007, but as smartphones started to increasingly become our "window" to both work and play, the size of that window inevitably grew bigger, and Apple is now syncing in with the times.

While keeping the general feel and appearances of its last two predecessors, the iPhone 4/4S, which were virtually identical, the iPhone 5 also got the usual third year redesign, with fine aluminum plate on the back, instead of an all-glass chassis, making the body much thinner and 22% lighter than the 4S, and that's despite the larger screen.

We also got a brand new, smaller dock connector, which can be outfitted with adapter for those existing accessories, and a smaller nano SIM card. In terms of internals, the new iPhone also got a 2X beefier processor and graphics subsystem, a better camera, plus that all-important multiband LTE radio. Oh, we forget the most important thing - a 5th row of apps has now appeared, and some apps are upgraded to take full advantage of the 4" display. As for the others - they will appear with black bands on the sides.

Have a peak at how the new iPhone stacks up against its 4/4S predecessors in the table below, and tell us whether you consider it an worthy upgrade.

Apple iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S vs iPhone 4 specs comparison

DesignApple iPhone 5Apple iPhone 4SApple iPhone 4
OSiOS (6)iOS (5.1, 5)iOS (5, 4.x)
Dimensions4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 (123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm)4.54 x 2.31 x 0.37 (115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm)4.50 x 2.31 x 0.37 (114.3 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm)
Weight3.95 oz (112 g)
the average is 4.1 oz (118 g)
4.94 oz (140 g)
the average is 4.1 oz (118 g)
4.83 oz (137 g)
the average is 4.1 oz (118 g)
Display


Physical size4 inches3.50 inches3.50 inches
Resolution640 x 1136 pixels640 x 960 pixels640 x 960 pixels
Pixel density
326 ppi330 ppi330 ppi
Battery


Talk time 14.00 hours
the average is 9 h (529 min)
14.00 hours
the average is 9 h (529 min)
Stand-by time9.4 days (225 hours)
the average is 20 days (479 h)
8.3 days (200 hours)
the average is 20 days (479 h)
12.5 days (300 hours)
the average is 20 days (479 h)
Talk time (3G)8.00 hours
the average is 7 h (405 min)
8.00 hours
the average is 7 h (405 min)
7.00 hours
the average is 7 h (405 min)
Stand-by time (3G)  12.5 days (300 hours)
the average is 21 days (514 h)
Music playback40.00 hours40.00 hours40.00 hours
Video playback10.00 hours10.00 hours10.00 hours
Capacity  1420 mAh
Hardware


System chip
Apple A6Apple A5Apple A4
Processor
Dual coreDual core, 800 MHz, ARM Cortex-A9Single core, 1000 MHz
Graphics processorYesPowerVR SGX 543MP2Yes
System memory

512 MB RAM / DDR2 (800 MHz)512 MB RAM
Built-in storage16 GB16 GB16 GB
Camera


Camera8 megapixels, Immobile8 megapixels, Immobile5 megapixels, Immobile
FlashLEDLEDLED
Aperture sizeF2.4F2.4 
Focal length (35mm equivalent) 35mm 
FeaturesBack-illuminated sensor (BSI), Auto focus, Touch to focus, Digital image stabilization, Video stabilizer, Face detection, Geo tagging, High Dynamic Range mode (HDR), PanoramaBack-illuminated sensor (BSI), Auto focus, Touch to focus, Digital image stabilization, Video stabilizer, Face detection, Geo taggingBack-illuminated sensor (BSI), Auto focus, Touch to focus, Digital zoom, Geo tagging
CamcorderYesYesYes

1920x1080 (1080p HD) (30 fps)1920x1080 (1080p HD) (30 fps)1280x720 (720p HD) (30 fps)
FeaturesVideo callingVideo callingVideo calling
Front-facing cameraYes0.3 megapixels VGA0.3 megapixels VGA

Technology


CDMA
800, 1700/2100, 1900 MHz800, 1900 MHz 
GSM850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
UMTS850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz
LTE700 MHz Class 13, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz  
DataLTE Cat3 Downlink 100 Mbit/s, HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, UMTS, EDGE, GPRSHSDPA 14.4 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s, UMTS, EDGE, EV-DO Rev.AHSDPA 7.2 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s, UMTS, EDGE
Micro SIM nano SIMYesYes
Global RoamingYesYesYes
Positioning
A-GPS, GlonassA-GPS, GlonassA-GPS
NavigationTurn-by-turn navigationYesYes

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1. Savage posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:16 12

Wait, Quad core GPU or CPU?

10. e.wvu (unregistered) posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:24 11 1

I think GPU.... No way it has a Quad Core CPU. Lol. I think the A6 processor is just a dual core with twice the speed of the A5.

17. Savage posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:32

It just says quad core. So the specs aren't confirmed I guess.

20. e.wvu (unregistered) posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:38 1

We all know what is says. But I was just referring to what was said during the announcement, not the spec sheet listed above.

23. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:52 1

C'mon PhoneArena.com! Here is a link from PhoneArena.com:

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Apple-iPhone-5_id7378

You guys need to get it together. You guys have conflicting information. lol

27. Cacharoes posted on 12 Sep 2012, 15:01 1

Better yet Here from Apple Itself

http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html

Though the A6 is not mentioned at all, you will have to beat that info out of someone.

28. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 12 Sep 2012, 15:15 1

Well they haven't fixed it here on this article but on the other comparison article they fixed it.

Little by little PhoneArena.com. Baby steps. lol

29. DonkeySauce posted on 12 Sep 2012, 15:27 1

It's like the all new 2013 Camry... nice, but not impressive.

2. Mightymack posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:16 9

does the iphone 5 really need quad core?

3. Mightymack posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:18 5

its smart for them to keep mentioning the new adapter too

18. hariprasath.j posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:32

they forgot to mention the new design of barcode on back of every iPhone box :p

4. romeoc1984 posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:19 9 2

Hardly an upgrade...

6. MATOZ posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:21 9 2

Indeed, my friend.

21. CardiWPfan posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:42 1

I concur!!

25. E.N. posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:54 1 1

To be honest, I'm really not impressed either because hardware-wise, it doesn't do anything new. If you compare it to the devices on the market, it isn't an obvious choice (like I was really hoping it would be), but its still a reasonable choice.

26. romeoc1984 posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:58

Yeah they basically added .5 of an inch and an updated processor that they are probably too embarrassed to release the clock speed, which is most likely outdated, and sadly called it an "Upgrade." SMH

30. E.N. posted on 12 Sep 2012, 15:35 2 1

I did say I wasn't amazed with the iPhone 5 (why again is it called the iPhone 5?) but I also think you guys are being way too excessive. A 4 inch screen is exactly what most people wanted, myself included. I'm pretty sure the A6 is a great processor (the A5X was solid) and keep in mind that the iPhone 4S was one of the fastest smartphones until the Droid Razr was announced, so I don't think embarrassment is a factor.

this is definitely a hard-ware upgrade. Does it smash the competition? No, plain and simple. Is it smashed by the competition? I don't think so either. I'm officially disappointed with 2012. Nothing's jumping out at me....and I've been out of contract for months, lol.

39. nsnk86 posted on 13 Sep 2012, 19:26

yup u r ryt E.N. 4inch screen wil do...... no need of huge screens...... btw i feel dis A6 chip wil really do justice, it will be fast enough for the current competition!!

42. cptbeatstix posted on 14 Sep 2012, 15:18

This is why I just got the 4S, not worth spending an extra $100.

5. MATOZ posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:20 5 1

In what part of the Apple Event, they said; Quad-Core?
They Just said A6 processor, even in the official website is not stated.

7. MATOZ posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:22 5 1

even the memory is not clearly stated yet...

14. PAPINYC (limited) 10 hours ago posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:29 5

Allow me: 769MB (up from 768); now that's a true "upgrade".

32. true1984 posted on 12 Sep 2012, 16:09

I think you mean 512, so thats 50% more RAM. Although, most high end smartphones have at least a GB, but whatever who needs multitasking right?...

8. drnggaj33 posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:22 5 5

1g of ram and quad core that phone gonna crash ....they didnt put 2g ram smh ....again samsung nexus all day fuk iphone

12. sudbury78 posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:28 6 3

go back to the classroom, cause you sound like one uneducated person.

34. Berzerk000 posted on 12 Sep 2012, 20:02

The iPhone doesn't need 2 GB RAM. It's UI is so simple and it doesn't have true multi-tasking, so it isn't really neccessary.

9. squallz506 posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:23

The radios are nice but I'm going to pass it up.

11. PAPINYC (limited) 10 hours ago posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:28 11

Dear PhoneArena,

Pretty clever of you to use a ¾ view of the new iPhone 5 this way we don't blatantly see how much different it is not; it's the same ole' phone with a new marketing campaign.

13. hariprasath.j posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:29 7 1

Looks like the small boy is growing taller year by year..

15. melvineus posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:30

Drastic? Hahaha

16. hariprasath.j posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:30 3 1

"Today marked the most drastic change in the story of the Apple iPhone " .....

I was actually expecting it to be.....

"Today marked the most drastic change in the story of the SMARTPHONE world"

19. hariprasath.j posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:37 3

iPhone5 is not tempting me to share it via facebook..

22. MATOZ posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:47

Neither I...

24. Quezdagreat posted on 12 Sep 2012, 14:53

My next phone. Not going to preorder, I'm going to try radio shack on release day

37. PapaSmurf posted on 13 Sep 2012, 11:11

If you have a 4S, you're wasting your money. Any model before it is worth the upgrade.

38. Quezdagreat posted on 13 Sep 2012, 11:58

im giving my 4s to my little brother. And im going to use his eligible upgrade to get the 5

31. lauremar posted on 12 Sep 2012, 15:44

And the countdown begins for the next Google Nexus Phones!!! I'm sure all of it will blow the iPhone 5 out of the water...

33. gazmatic posted on 12 Sep 2012, 18:25 2 1

not even world's thinnest smartphone... there is already a fullHD 1080p, 441ppi, jellybean, 5" and 6.65mm phablet out there... it also is five inches... #iFail

and apple says android copies lol

40. nsnk86 posted on 13 Sep 2012, 19:39

dude are you talking abt galaxy note2? if yes then you are wrong....
its 267ppi & 9.4mm......

43. gazmatic posted on 15 Sep 2012, 07:24 1

nope. oppo find5 ... world's first 1080p phone. why have fullHD display on a phone you ask? if this was on apple you would be gloating...

sucks that ip5 doesn't even have proper HD and has less ppi than the 4s

who would've thought that they would've lost the ppi wars to Nokia?

i didnt even see that coming.

35. pikapowerize (banned) posted on 12 Sep 2012, 22:02

what wait...quad core?

36. Nikolas.Oliver posted on 13 Sep 2012, 06:34 2

it has a sapphire crystal lens ! REVOLUTIONARY

41. faizanshakyboy posted on 14 Sep 2012, 12:41

As one who has to manage several hundred iPhones and Androids... I'll take the SIII over the iPhone 5 everyday of the week and twice on Sundays. No competition. As a corporate device and in the mobile managemnet field, it isn't even close. Apple is a nightmare. Apple will not release vital API's for development. Want to make a GPS tracking location on Apple. Nope. Apple won't allow apps to auto start on restart. Know many employees who will choose to turn on their own tracking??? Google has a ways to grab the corporate brass ring the way RIM did, but they certainly are leaps and bounds ahead of Cupertino.
http://www.iphonbuzz.com/iphone-5-iphone-4s-and-iphone-4-heres-the-technical-differences-between-apple-smartphones.html

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