Apple iPhone 4S Review
Share:
Talk about a long time in the making, especially when the iPhone 4 established itself as one of the most indelible smartphones in the last year alone, but close after a year and a half of being on the market, we’re finally seeing its successor in the long awaited Apple iPhone 4S. Just like what we saw with the iPhone 3GS in the past, the iPhone 4S is nothing more than an incremental upgrade. Donning a near replica of its predecessor’s design, most of the smartphone’s juicy new features are found internally as its packs a dual-core processor, upgraded 8-megapixel camera, support for CDMA & GSM connectivity, and its innovative Siri intelligent assistance service.
There’s no kidding that many people were hoping for something more next-generation, even more when Apple’s rivals have been cranking out some quality smartphones that push the envelope with today’s technology. In any event, there’s this magical aura of some sort surrounding the handset that entices us to fancy over it no matter what. For starters, we truly adore that the three national carriers are carrying it, which is sweet considering there are more options now than ever, but it’ll need to really excel in execution and performance to keep it shining brilliantly in this fierce landscape. With that lengthy wait, does the iPhone 4S still have the perfect ingredients to stand firm amongst the competition?
 |
- Apple iPhone 4S
- USB cable
- Wall Charger
- Stereo Headphones
- Apple Decals
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Product Information Guide
Design:
Generally, the first thing to capture our attention with any device is its looks, but seeing that the iPhone 4S utilizes a rehashed design, we’re not that compelled this second time around. Rather, we’re accepting of its solid construction and premium feel, but it’s essentially the same phone that we know and love. However, the only subtle difference found with the iPhone 4S is the new arrangement with its antenna design – though, the details to it are almost negligible. Of course, we adore the glass like plates that are sandwiched together with its brushed stainless steel band, which utterly aids the handset in retaining its premium feel. Yet, our mind tells us that the handset wouldn’t handle even the smallest of drops to the pavement – so yeah, you might want to be careful with it.
 |  |  |
The Apple iPhone 4S utilizes a rehashed design | ||
 |
You can compare the Apple iPhone 4S with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.
Last year, we were completely blown away by the Retina Display since there was nothing remotely close in producing its sharp details and realistic colors. Not surprisingly, we’re not as impressed this time because we find the same old 3.5” IPS display that’s featured with last year’s model. Nevertheless, its high resolution of 640 x 960 and screen size provides the perfect combination in giving us a wicked pixel density of 326 PPI – thus, making even the tiniest of text more than discernible to the naked eye. In an age where saturated color production appears to be what enthralls people initially, we still adore the realistic and natural looking colors dished up by the Retina Display. Add in its high contrast ratio and wide viewing angles, we’re able to effortlessly see everything on-screen without a pinch of degradation to its quality.
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
We find the same old 3.5” IPS display that’s featured with last year’s model | |||
Of course, this wouldn’t be an iPhone if it doesn’t pack that iconic home button below its display, which is tactile with its response, but it also executes functions to get toggle the multi-tasking pane and activate Siri. Meanwhile, a front-facing 0.3-megapixel VGA camera sits close to the earpiece to offer us the convenient features of FaceTime – or simply snap some self-portraits.
 |  |  |
Front | The iconic home button | Front-facing camera |
 |  |  |  |
Charging port and speakers (bottom) | Mute and volume keys (left) | 3.5 mm jack and power key (top) | Right edge |
 |  |  |
The Apple iPhone 4S has an upgraded 8-megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash | ||
Drag the picture or use the keyboard arrows to rotate the phone. Double click or press keyboard Space to zoom in/out
Share:
Related phones
84 Comments
24. shayan posted on 21 Oct 2011, 12:06 6 5
actually, this is the best iphone so far. at least it reaches the other highend phones in the market. and phonearena just gave it a 8.5!!!
Im still in shock for iphone4 that phonearena gave 9.5 score.
32. Dr.Phil posted on 21 Oct 2011, 14:44 4 9
PhoneArena gave it that score because they are Apple lovers. I mean think about it. Look back at how many articles they had for the Apple Iphone 4S vs the new Galaxy Nexus. They had more Apple articles than they did Android articles.
33. bucky posted on 21 Oct 2011, 14:54 7 2
i think they were uber conservative with an 8.5 if you ask me. they even said in the conclusion that it deserved a 9. Its a top notch smartphone.
41. Lucas777 posted on 21 Oct 2011, 23:50 6 2
hahahahahahhahahahahhaha if u think this site is pro-apple you are very diceived... do u ever read comments? its kinda like a huge andrroid storm with some apple fans and some various other people (wp7, bb, bada-lol) watching... no the iphone 4 was very diservent of a 9.5... it was literally the best phone for at least half a year....
45. Joshing4fun posted on 22 Oct 2011, 11:16 5 0
Seriously. I would never call this website "iPhonearena". This site definitely has way more android fans. Even some of the writers have mentioned that they prefer android, but respect iPhone. For every iPhone article, there are 10 android. Mostly because android has more phones.
63. NeXoS posted on 28 Oct 2011, 00:10 2 0
Speaking of RE-HASHED DESIGN, the first iPhone 4 stole its design from the Garmin Nuvi after it won a design award!!!
http://en.red-dot.org/2791.html?cHash=de5e1220d7f00b294bd00b01cdcc541b&det ail=7398
How come iPhoneArena doesn't report that???????
51. HTCiscool posted on 23 Oct 2011, 10:44 4 2
U r a fanboy idiot. This phone is actually quite good, you guys have to admit that while Android is more complex and customizeable, iOS is far more stable, the screen, while small is also a lot better than many efforts from Android manufacturers. Siri is an excellent idea, and the A5 chip smokes the Exynos as does the camera. Btw if you can find me lag on an iPhone 4S I will be completely shocked.
You can't deny that the iPhone 4 smoked the S**t out of everything Android released last year, except for maybe the Galaxy S, which is why they gave it a 9.5
Just because this thing is in the same shell doesn't mean it sucks, so stop wining around and accept that this thing is a good product.
11. bobfreking55 posted on 21 Oct 2011, 06:52 7 7
and they said they woud give it a nine/ten... pssshhhh. It's freakin outdated. It's like reviewing the nokia n95 when the galaxy s i9000 just arrived.
52. HTCiscool posted on 23 Oct 2011, 10:50 11 7
How is it outdated?
1. Most powerful CPU-check
2. Most powerful GPU-check
3. Best camera-check
4. Most stable mobile OS-check
5. One of the best screens (Apart from AMOLED ones)-check
6. Smoothest web-browsing (no flash but who cares?)-check
I really hate it when Fandroids bash Apple
products for no absolute reason.
58. nick7237 posted on 24 Oct 2011, 18:47 6 5
Most android fans have never used an iPhone for more than a few minutes so they can't really judge the phone. Android and WP7 would never exist if apple never created the iPhone, and android would probably not be as far as it is if Eric schmidt wouldn't of double crossed apple. Android would be as far as WP7 is right now. And who came out with the tablet first(apple), and who copied it (android). It's easy to see who the innovators are here and who copy's other companies. ICS copied a lot of iOS5 features.
It's obvious who sells more devices and repeatedly gets the best reviews. The iPhone 3GS came out with iOS3.0 and now has 5.0. I can't remember any android devices that have got two full point updates, even the nexus devices only get one update.
The 4S is a huge update internally.
3GS: 600MHZ CPU/ SGX 535 GPU-256MB RAM
4: 800 MHZ CPU/ SGX 535 GPU- 512MB RAM
4S: Dual core 800MHZ CPU/ Dual core SGX543mp2 GPU 512MB RAM
And a 64GB option.
AirPlay, wired mirroring (1080P) and AirPlay mirroring(720P) are some of the most simple and powerful features unique to ios devices. I could go on but I don't need to. Android users don't like iPhones cause their jealous.
250million iOS devices sold, each with satisfied customers.
61. tahnik posted on 26 Oct 2011, 11:16 10 3
iphone has:
No Flash support in the web browser
No Facebook integration
No proper widgets for the lockscreen
No USB Mass storage mode for uploading content to the device
No haptics for the touchscreen
No Bluetooth file transfers to other phones
Dated?
64. thebikerboi2 posted on 29 Oct 2011, 02:22 2 1
dude you just proved this guys point about androiders not using an iphone for anything over a minute
76. gain1998 posted on 01 Dec 2011, 18:29 3 3
I think you should probably know...
iPhone users don't necessarily care too much about Flash support... and in case you hadn't noticed this had been posted in the positive comment you negatively responded to.
iPhone users don't care about FB integration.
iPhone users don't care all too much about proper widgets for the lockscreen.
iPhone users don't care about USB Mass Storage mode for uploading content to the device
iPhone users don;t care about haptics for the touchscreen
iPhone users don't care about transferring files to other phones through Bluetooth
What iPhone users DO care about are reliable, dependable phones, with outstanding reputations. They're not looking for all these different features. And if you ARE looking for these features, then this is OBVIOUSLY not the phone for you. Keep looking.
67. RandomRobbieGuy posted on 05 Nov 2011, 23:45 1 2
The iPhone is outdated. People buy and use it because they don't care about their phone. Or because everyone else has one. I have had every iPhone in all colors. (execpt the 4S) I keep buying them because i am used to them and know them just about inside and out. Nothing changes. OMG! SIRI....like for real. think about it in your daily life. I have the iPhone 4 and don't use voice control. You can never expect the newest and best tech from apple. I don't know why people are so attached to the iPhone. Android is amazing i have had one. Blackberry... no its not business like really at all......just because they have email. I am returning to blackberry for the keyboard. iPhone 4S is a piece of crap and not worth the upgrade.
Hey apple where is the keyboard.....oops
Flash.....nope
big nice screen.....nope
Annoying.....uh duh.
68. robinrisk posted on 06 Nov 2011, 12:05 4 1
1. It is not the most powerfull CPU. Dual core @800Mhz is not better than the exynos at 1.2.
2. GPU, i do not know much about it, so i'll give you that one.
3. Best Camera? Best camera in an iPhone that is, there are several smartphones with a camera better or just as good as the iPhone's.
4.Most stable Mobile OS?. My photon has never given me any force closes, WP7, Blackberry and Symbian are just as stable.
5. One of the best screens. Not the best though, ain't it? SamoledHD FTW =)
6. Yeah.... without flash even the low end handsets have a smooth browsing experience. Plus, at 3.5 inches, it is not as confortable as in an Android device.
73. HTCiscool posted on 26 Nov 2011, 03:00 3 3
1. Actually the dualcore A5 chip @ 800MHz is far more powerful than the Exynos in terms of I/O.
2. I am right
3. No the 4S\' camera really does beat everything else by a longshot
4. No they\'re not
5. you are probably right
6. Right again =)
82. Gdrye posted on 13 Jan 2012, 22:14 1 0
samsung Galaxy has a quad core graphics processor, so i wouldnt let them have that one
85. TheDog700 posted on 03 Apr 2012, 23:21 0 0
Time for the nine year olds to go to bed, the adults are talking.
Some of you probably do not know what software does. iOS is obviously not as laggy as android which is why you don't need a 1.5 ghz proccesor for it to run smoothly. Yes there are some great android smartphones out there. But the iPhone 4s functionality and preformance are on par or better than these other phones. For the average consumer, functionality is all that matters.
What I am saying is that you can have a 4ghz proccesor but if it has horrible software it won't be functional.
And for the record, the ppi on the iPhone 4s is currently the best on the market and the color accuracy is the best or one of the best on the market.
