Apple iPhone 4S - 64GB - black (Sprint)
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: 885909538096
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- Bottom Line:
- The iPhone 4S isn't the king of cell phones, but it's part of the royal family nonetheless. Even without 4G and a giant screen, this phone's smart(ass) voice assistant, Siri, the benefits of iOS 5, and its spectacular camera make it a top choice for anyone ready to upgrade.
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CNET editors' review
Apple iPhone 4S - 64GB - black (Sprint) price range: $399.99
- Reviewed by: Kent German
- Reviewed on: 10/13/2011
- Released on: 10/14/2011
The good: Apple's iPhone 4S has a faster processor and an upgraded camera, all the benefits of iOS 5, and a useful and immensely fun voice assistant. Call quality on the Sprint model is admirable, and the data speeds, while certainly not 4G, get the job done.
The bad: It's about time we get a larger screen.
The bottom line: The iPhone 4S isn't the king of cell phones, but it's part of the royal family nonetheless. Even without 4G and a giant screen, this phone's smart(ass) voice assistant, Siri, the benefits of iOS 5, and its spectacular camera make it a top choice for anyone ready to upgrade.
Editors' note: On November 10, 2011, Apple delivered iOS 5.0.1, which promised to fix the battery life issues affecting some users. The update also fixed a security flaw that allowed third-party applications to add unapproved features.
For the first time since the iPhone was born four years ago, a new model didn't arrive in June this year. The wait set the iPhone 5 rumor mill frothing to overflow, so when the iPhone 4S arrived as an incremental upgrade, fanboys commenced an Internet-wide rending of garments. Some critics grumbled that they didn't get more, and I sympathize...kind of. Yes, the lack of 4G is disappointing. And yes, a totally new design would have been fun. But this is hardly the first time that Apple has chosen to make a subtle upgrade. Remember the iPhone 3GS?
The truth is that the 4S brings healthy improvements to an already excellent device. iPhone owners finally get a 64GB model and a better camera, the dual-core processor delivers more speed, and Siri, the iPhone 4S' personal assistant/robot friend/gofer, adds a new and sassy experience. iOS 5 also trots out changes big and small, and we're glad to see Sprint join the Apple family with a true world phone. So while the iPhone 4S isn't the Jesus phone, it's quite enough for plenty of other people-- more than a million, actually.
Not everything impressed me. I'd prefer a slightly larger screen and my list of iPhones misses remains hefty. Performance on the Sprint model is satisfactory. We encountered slower 3G data speeds than on the Verizon phone, but Sprint has a slight edge in call quality. Remember that there will be a discernible difference between the 4S versions (just like we found with the AT&T and Verizon iPhone 4S) so it's important to choose your carrier wisely.
In the end, the decision to buy an iPhone 4S will depend on your current carrier contract. If you aren't eligible for an upgrade with a rebate, I don't think the new features are worth paying full price (at least $500). But if you can upgrade with a discount, or if you're a Sprint customer waiting to get your hands on the iPhone for the very first time, there is enough here to warrant a switch. Sure, there's the chance that a better "iPhone 5" will come next June, but that's a long time to wait. Besides, in the cell phone world, something better is always around the corner.
Design
As I said, the iPhone 4S is indistinguishable from its predecessor. For the most part, that's fine with me. Having lived through the thin phone craze started by the Motorola Razr, I'm not aching for a slimmer device. Granted, the 4S can feel bulky at times, but I continue to enjoy its solid feel in the hand (something that's not always there with skinny phones). I don't have any problems with the handset's general aesthetics, either. A thinner phone may be prettier, but it's what's inside that really counts.
I also can live without some of the rumored "iPhone 5" features, like a wider Home button and a curved profile. The Home button has never plagued me, after all, and I'd prefer to rest the phone flat on a table and tap away. The glass back continues to concern me a bit, particularly after seeing a handful of iPhone 4s fall to their doom. That shouldn't be an issue if you have a case, of course. But speaking of which, some iPhone 4 cases will not fit on the iPhone 4S because Apple moved the ambient light sensor. So if you're looking to dress your 4S, make sure the case fits perfectly before buying. And if you need suggestions, Executive Editor David Carnoy has a few.
My real design gripe is that the iPhone's display is beginning to look rather small when compared with some of the Android competition. Keep in mind that the iPhone's screen has remained at 3.5 inches since the first edition appeared in 2007. At that time, it was plenty big, but as smartphone screens have crept above the 4-inch mark, I now consider 3.5 inches the bare minimum size for a high-end device.
Absolutely, the Retina Display remains stunningly beautiful (as do many Super AMOLED screens), but its size isn't always practical for in-car and hands-free use. Even worse, it can get rather tiring watching a full-length film with the iPhone perched on your airline seat tray table. How much bigger would I want? Nothing too big--the 4.5-inch displays on some Android models are a bit ridiculous--but something in the range of 3.75 inches or 4 inches would be a Goldilocks just right. I'll leave that up to the next iteration of the phone.
At the iPhone 4S' unveiling, one of the biggest elephants in the room was whether the company would mention any differences to the antenna following the iPhone 4's "antennagate." Yet, when Apple VP of Marketing Philip Schiller took the stage, he revealed that the iPhone 4S has two antennas that it can choose between to find the best signal (more on that later). Even if you can't see any changes on the outside, it appears to fix what I found to be a very real problem.
Basic features
The 4S inherits all the standard iPhone features from the preceding models, including the calendar, voice memos, weather and stock apps, the various clock features, Google Maps, the compass, text messaging and e-mail, and the Notes app. The iPod player is there as well; the 4S splits your music and video libraries into two separate icons. In another change, the 4S also offers an upgrade to Bluetooth 4.0. Though still a growing technology, Bluetooth 4.0 uses less power and will enable the iPhone to talk to small battery-operated devices like Nike+ sensors and fitness machines at the gym. For more on Bluetooth 4.0, check out this deeper dive from Nicole Lee.
Siri
The feature that Apple is touting most is the new voice assistant called Siri. It doesn't completely replace the current Voice Control feature--that's still there if you want it--but it certainly does a whole lot more. Basically, Siri both follows commands and answers your requests for information. For example, you can check the weather, ask for a contact's address, set up a reminder, get directions, and ask for obscure trivia. You speak to a robotic female voice (you can't change her identity) and access the feature by holding down the Home button (just as you do to access Voice Control). It uses both your location and a Google search to find a response, so you will need to have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. The feature is in beta mode and supports English, French, and German. More languages will come later.
On my very first pass the day the 4S was announced, I asked for the next day's weather, the mileage between Cupertino, Calif., and Seattle, a reminder to book air tickets to Chicago, and the capital of Canada. It responded to most of my questions and commands quickly, but it flaked on finding that Ottawa is the capital of our neighbors to the north (according to Siri, she "didn't have enough information"). I'm not sure why that was a problem for her; Siri uses Wolfram Alpha to check facts, which has information on the Canadian city.
On my next pass I tried asking the time in Hong Kong, the current date, where I could get the best burrito by the CNET office, and if Brian Tong is the coolest person ever. It answered the first two questions without any problems, but poor Siri didn't understand our question about Brian. And this time, she did identify Ottawa correctly.
I meant the question about Brian as a joke, of course, but Siri is quite adept at answering a range of queries. When I asked about the best local burrito, she used GPS to give me a list of nearby taquerias with rankings. Yet, not all questions for a preference turned up a good answer. Asking for the best camera, for example, just gave me a list of camera stores. I'm not being critical, since the information Siri delivered was useful--except for listing a Japanese restaurant as a burrito joint--but it is worth noting. On the other hand, Siri didn't hesitate to tell me the best cell phone on the market. "The one you are holding," she replied. Yeah, she can be a bit sassy. I've explored Siri further in this post.
By all means, Siri is a fun and useful feature. Like with FaceTime on the 4S, I got a big kick out of it around the office and I imagine that lots of other people will, too. Over time, I wonder just how much I'd use it, but features like this can surprise you. I asked the same question about FaceTime and I ended up using that pretty frequently while traveling. The challenge for Apple will be to fully integrate hands-free technology. You will be able to activate Siri with a Bluetooth headset (no word on if you can do it with a wired headset), but I understand that car integration is "coming." Given the abundance of hands-free driving laws, it's important that Siri is fully accessible to drivers while they keep both hands on the wheel. Also, it's important to note that even when your phone is locked with a passcode, Siri is usable without entering the code. That means that anyone could use your phone to send a text message, access your calendar, or make a call. You can disable this security flaw in the Settings menu, but bypassing the code is the default option.
Camera
The iPhone 4's 5-megapixel camera was already great--especially when you add a third party app--but the iPhone 4S' is significantly better. The 8-megapixel camera offers autofocus, flash, f/2.4 aperture lens, and a backside-illuminated CMOS sensor that allows 73 percent more light than the previous sensor and should deliver better low-light performance. A hybrid IR filter is also onboard for better color accuracy. Apple also claims the new camera performs 33 percent faster than the iPhone 4's camera, and the A5 processor has a built-in image processor that adds face detection and 26 percent better auto white balance.
From the start I noticed a difference in image quality over the iPhone 4's camera. Colors were brighter, and the focus was a little sharper with a bit less pixelation. Not surprisingly, the camera also does better in low light, though flash continues to be a little overpowering at times. Here's an in depth look at how the iPhone 4S' camera compares with the iPhone 4. And for more photo fun, Senior Editor Lori Grunin compared the iPhone 4S to the Canon PowerShot 100 HS.
The user experience is almost the same, from the tap-to-focus feature to the video toggle and the shutter control. You will, however, notice a new "Options" icon between the flash control and the button for switching between the cameras. Press it, and you'll find both the HDR feature and an option for adding gridlines to the viewfinder.
Thanks to iOS 5 (more on that later), you also get new choices for cropping and rotating your shots, red-eye reduction, and a single-tap color correction option. The red-eye reduction is a simple process that offered instantaneous and impressive results. Similarly, the single-tap color correction tool balances your colors and, in my tests, did indeed make the image look better. Though I welcome these additions, Apple is way too late to the photo-editing party, as this functionality has existed on basic phones for years. I'll take what I can get, but I'd love even more user control.
iOS 5 also adds several requested features to the camera app, making it much more like a point-and-shoot camera. You get a shortcut on the lock screen that will launch the camera immediately, even bypassing the lock code. A simple double-tap of the Home button brings up both the basic music controls (as before) and the camera icon in the lower right. You then can use the volume control to snap a photo. The picture is saved to your Camera Roll, but for security (having not used your access code) you'll only be able to delete the shot (keeping unwanted users from browsing your iPhone photos).
Videos also get a boost with the ability to shoot 1080p HD video clips at 30 frames per second and with video stabilization. Videos continue to be sharp with fluid movements and sound that matches the action on the screen.
The Sprint factor
In the weeks leading up to the iPhone 4S' unveiling, its imminent arrival at Sprint was one of the wireless world's worst-kept secrets. I'm always a fan of customer choice, so it's great to see these two crazy kids get hitched. What's more, it further releases the iPhone from its AT&T shackles.
Sprint's commitment to keep its unlimited data plans is a very big point in its favor over the tiered options from AT&T and Verizon. I wouldn't be surprised if Sprint eventually changed its mind as well--nothing lasts forever in carrier land--but for now I admire Sprint's chutzpah.
On the other hand, we'll have to see just how the increase in data-hungry users will test Sprint's network and how the carrier's strong Android lineup will withstand the new competition. We'll also continue to see how its model fares against its rivals once all those new iPhones go online. Sprint's WiMax 3G EV-DO Rev. A network typically delivers average download speeds of 600Kbps to 1,400Kbps and average upload speeds of 500Kbps to 800Kbps. If you're used to 3G you won't see a difference, but if you're accustomed to the carrier's 4G WiMax network, the change may be painful.
Verizon's promised 3G data speeds are comparable, but AT&T is doing everything it can to boast that it has a faster HSDPA 14.4 network that's capable of reaching theoretical speeds of 14.4Mbps down, 5.8Mbps up (twice the speed of the iPhone 4, if anyone is counting). Note, however, that AT&T has taken some liberties with its marketing by also saying its iPhone 4S is compatible with even faster HSPA+ speeds. To really be classified as HSPA+, its iPhone 4S would technically need to be capable of reaching theoretical download speeds of 21Mbps, such as the Samsung Galaxy S II for AT&T. At present, Apple's device isn't there yet.
Connectivity
For making calls, I'm glad to see that the Sprint and Verizon handsets are dual-band world phones. That means you'll make CDMA calls at home, but then switch to GSM when roaming abroad (Verizon's iPhone 4 is CDMA-only). Sprint and Verizon say that they will unlock the iPhone 4S' preloaded SIM card on request for customers in good standing. Just remember that the handset uses a Micro-SIM, which may not be easy to find for prepaid international service. On the other hand, AT&T will limit international GSM roaming to its specific partners. Oddly enough, the AT&T phone also has the dual-mode chip inside, but the CDMA functionality has been deactivated. It will continue to support all four GSM bands (850/900/8100/1900) for international travel, though.
Unfortunately, the CDMA models still won't permit simultaneous voice and data transmission. That's a current limitation of the CDMA technology (see our Verizon iPhone 4 review for a more detailed explanation) and though new chips are coming, I'm thinking they'll arrive in the next model. So if you really need to be on the phone and surf the Web at the same time, then you should stick with AT&T.
Admittedly, one of the biggest letdowns from the 4S' unveiling was the lack of 4G for Verizon and Sprint. Though AT&T's LTE network is inching along with just six cities at the time of this writing, Sprint and Verizon's 4G coverage (WiMax and LTE, respectively) is quite widespread. What's more, the networks perform well and both carriers offer a wide range of compatible handsets.
Apple has its reasons, no doubt. Battery life remains an issue for 4G phones and Apple must have decided that, at this point, it couldn't offer its optimal customer experience on a 4G handset. Customer experience, after all, is really what Apple loves most. Secondly, the company never jumps on a technology that is still growing, and it must think that 4G doesn't cover enough people quite yet. Remember that 3G networks were pretty developed when Apple rolled out the first iPhone, but it chose to wait a year later until unveiling the iPhone 3G.
iOS 5
Editors' note: Senior Associate Editor Jason Parker contributed to this section.
Though iOS 5 is not as drastic of an upgrade as we saw with iOS 4 in June 2010, it does offer some long-overdue and exciting enhancements. A few are quiet and just improve the user experience while others will seriously change how you use your Apple handset. For a full analysis on the update, check out our iOS 5 review and how-to guide.
Notifications: Instead of pop-up menus that interrupt your work, a new Notification Center will combine messages, missed calls, app updates, a stock ticker, and the current weather in a single place. You can access it by swiping your finger downward from the top of the screen, and notifications will appear on the lock screen as well. You then can jump directly to the related feature for each notification and delete items by tapping the small X next to each line. Though not exactly original--the pull-down menu has long been a hallmark feature of Android--the ability to see all notifications in one place in iOS 5 is certainly welcome.
Newsstand: This app will bring together magazine subscriptions in a central place. The concept is similar to iBooks, even down to an icon that looks like the periodicals shelf at your local library. As you subscribe to a publication through a new channel in the App Store, new issues are delivered in the background, eliminating the need to manually grab them when they publish.
Twitter: Thankfully, users now will be able to post photos to the social networking service without leaving the image gallery or camera application. It's a nice change, given that it will end the need to take a photo, switch to the iPhone Twitter app, and then post the photo. You'll be able to add a location, sync Twitter with your contacts list, and tweet directly from YouTube, Safari, and Maps.
Safari: The mobile version of Apple's Web browser now has the Reader option that was announced at the 2010 WWDC. Rather than having to deal with complicated layouts of various Web sites, the reader streamlines multipage articles in an RSS-like view while stripping out ads, but leaving photos. You can change the text size and you can e-mail the entire text of a Safari page to a contact (under iOS 4, you could send only a link).
The Reader is a great option for scanning strangely formatted Web pages and when there's no mobile site available. My only problem with the Reader is that it may strip out too much--I often want to see comments on an article, but the Reader deems them unnecessary. In other Safari news, you can add a Web page to a Reading List for future perusal on any iOS device.
Reminders: This handy addition lets you store multiple to-do lists with dates for each event; you can categorize reminders for when you leave or arrive at a GPS location. So, for example, if you have a reminder of "Call home when I leave work," the app will use GPS to note when you're on the move and send the reminder via push notification. Reminders can be shared between devices and sync with iCal on the Mac with CalDAV, and on Windows with MS Exchange. The app has its own sleek-looking scrollable calendar as well, so you can browse or add new tasks and reminders for future dates.
I tested the reminder by location by having it tell me "Don't forget your iPad" once I left the building here at CNET. Sure enough, the iPhone reminded me once I got about a half block away from the building. Browsing through your reminders is easy with a starting page where you can quickly track and search for reminders using a search field. You also have the option to create tasks for more-open-ended reminders that don't need to be done by a specific time.
Mail: The iOS Mail app now has rich text formatting, better indent control, flagging of messages, and the ability to drag addresses between To, CC, and BCC lines. Also, you now can search within the body of a message instead of just in the From, To, and subject lines.
PC Free and iCloud: Arguably the most notable iOS 5 change, PC Free will bring over-the-air software updates and device activations. So as on Android, Windows Phone 7, and BlackBerry OS 5 devices, you'll no longer have to plug your device into a computer or even own a computer at all. Activation for the iPhone takes quite a few steps, but it's easy and very quick. I was up and running in a just a few minutes, though it took a few tries for the phone to recognize my Apple ID. You don't have to use a Wi-Fi network to set up your 4S, but it helps.
The wireless updates to apps will serve only the changes, so they'll be shorter, and you'll be able to sync, back up, and restore your device using the new iCloud features. You'll also find new features within apps, like wirelessly editing photos, managing e-mail folders, and creating and deleting calendars. I'll add more details about iCloud as I explore it further.
To sync your iOS device to iTunes on your computer, you need only be on the same Wi-Fi network and your device needs to be charging (plugged into a charger). You can then go to Settings > General on your iPhone to select iTunes Wi-Fi Sync. From there you can select Sync Now on your iPhone and your photos, music, and calendars will be backed up in iTunes.
Game Center: Additions for gamers in iOS 5 include the addition of profile photos, the ability to compare achievement points, friends of friends lists, recommended friends and games (based on your current library), and support for turn-based games. The ability to buy games from within Game Center makes it a bit more of a destination, but it still seems like the service will still be a behind-the-scenes social connector as it was before.
iMessage: Apple takes a shot at BlackBerry with this instant messaging app that will work across all iOS 5 devices. As with BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), you'll be able to exchange unlimited text messages, photos, and videos with your friends, family, and colleagues. Even better, your messages won't cost you anything and they won't count against the monthly allotment of messages from your wireless carrier.
You'll also get group messaging, an indicator to see if someone is typing to you, delivery and read receipts, secure encryption, and conversation syncing that is pushed to multiple devices. I'm a little disappointed that the location and contact sharing features don't come straight from iMessage (you need to initiate the process from the related app instead). For example, to send a contact, you'll need to go to your home screen, open your contacts, select a person, choose the Share Contact button, and choose iMessage. It's a bit tedious, but the ability to send that data to a friend is an improvement.
Find My Friends: Announced at the unveiling of the iPhone 4S, Find My Friends is an iOS 5-exclusive app that lets you view your friends' and family's locations in real time on a map when they agree to share location info with you. For added security, you can set a time limit for how long you share your location, a major concern of people who don't want to continually broadcast their location.
After signing in with your iTunes account ID, you can send an invite to friends using their iTunes account ID (they'll need to send you one as well). Once you're hooked up, you'll be able to get a pretty close approximation of where your friends are on a map. The app also has options to give you directions to your friends (via Maps) or speak to them on FaceTime (iPhone 4 or newer) if you can't get an exact location.
In my testing in San Francisco, performance was variable. My location would be very accurate on one street, but in another location it would be a block away from where I was standing. I have the same issue with the GPS fix in general, so it's not surprising. While these types of location features might be useful in specific situations, Android has similar services that have received mixed reviews--specifically by those who were worried about security concerns.
Cards: A new greeting card delivery app also became available in the iTunes App Store alongside the iOS 5 release. Cards lets you design a card on your iOS device and have Apple print it up on high-quality paper (yes, it will be real paper) and send it to your chosen recipient. The service comes with a price, though; you'll pay $2.99 to send a card within the U.S. and $4.99 to send a card anywhere in the world. It's an easy process and you get a lot of design options.
Personal dictionary: A new keyboard shortcut feature lets you create your own personal dictionary. While nothing new, you'll now be able to set up keyboard shortcuts for phrases. Head to Settings > General > Keyboard, then scroll down to Add New Shortcut. Here you can add a phrase like "Talk to you later" then make the shortcut "ttyl." Now, every time you type those letters in an e-mail or text, it will be spelled out automatically.
Alternate Routes: Another new feature that travelers will appreciate is Alternate Routes. When in the Map app, you can get directions as usual, but instead of giving you just one route to your destination, the Map app will now give you two alternate routes (in case of problems like traffic or if you know of nearby construction sites). Simply touch a route to find out how long it will take to get to your destination, then choose the best for your situation. In our tests here in San Francisco, the routes were solid options, and I think this will come in handy wherever you are. The noticeable downside here is that once you've picked your route, the other ones remain on screen, which can be distracting.
What's missing?
Yeah, I have to include this section. With each version of the iPhone, Apple knocks more things off of my wish list, but the list still has plenty on it. Primarily, I'd like to see more choices in autocomplete, shortcuts to individual contacts on the home screen, a way to color code e-mails in the unified inbox, and easier access to common features like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Smaller needs include an HDMI-out port and support for NFC services. I'd also like for Mail to get Safari's Reader feature. With iOS 5, I still stumbled upon the occasional e-mail with its own special formatting that the app didn't adjust to make eyeball-friendly on the smaller screen. Considering how much e-mail reading people do on their iOS devices, this would be a welcome addition.
Call quality and reception
I tested the dual-mode (CDMA 800/1900) iPhone 4S in San Francisco using Sprint's network. Call quality was great in my initial tests. I had no trouble getting a signal and I didn't encounter any static or interference. According to FCC radiation tests, the iPhone 4S for Sprint has a digital SAR of 1.11 watts per kilogram.
Sprint iPhone 4S call quality sample
Listen now:
The volume on my side was loud and voices sounded natural. I heard a very slight background hiss during calls, but it didn't distract from the conversation. Calls in noisy places weren't quite as satisfactory--at times I had to strain to hear--but that was my only real gripe. My friends said I sounded good, as well. They could tell that I was using a phone, and a few folks said my voice had a higher pitch than usual, but the complaints were few. On the whole, Sprint offered the most accurate voice quality of the three phones even if it was more muffled. See my separate call quality post to see how the voice samples from the three carriers compare with each other.
Speakerphone calls were agreeable. Like with many cell phones, there is distortion at the highest volume levels (the speaker gets pretty loud) and I had to sit close to the phone to be heard. My friends could understand me, though, and I had only occasional troubles with automated calling systems.
As I mentioned, the iPhone 4S has two antennas wrapping around the phone. Though Apple never said so directly, we can't help but think that the fix was in response to the attenuation problems on the AT&T iPhone 4. As such, the phone is designed to scan for the best signal and switch to that antenna. I haven't gauged exactly how the two antennas have improved call clarity, but I'm happy to report that the iPhone 4S doesn't suffer from the dreaded death grip.
Data speeds
Like I said, the iPhone 4S runs on Sprint's 3G EV-DO Rev. A network. What that means to you will vary by location, your connection to a tower, and the capacity of the network at a given time. In early testing, Sprint delivered speeds that were comparable with its other 3G devices. It took about 30 seconds to open graphics-heavy sites like the New York Times, Airliners.net, and Giantbomb.com. Mobile sites took a bit less time; CNET's site opened in 20 seconds.
In initial testing, Verizon's 3G was faster than Sprint's network, particularly for download speeds. After running four tests in CNET's neighborhood, Verizon's network delivered an average download speed of 0.88Mbps and an average upload speed of 0.76Mbps. Compare that with Sprint's 3G network, which had an average download speed of 0.45 Mbps and an average upload speed of 0.47 Mbps. I know that San Francisco is not representative of the entire country. As such, your experience may be completely different. But either way, Sprint's speeds are pretty respectable and the network delivered the experience I needed for a 3G device. Absolutely, 4G users won't be happy, but true Apple fans shouldn't be shocked. In any case, you could cheat and connect to a Sprint 4G-capable hot spot using Wi-Fi. Dong Ngo from CNET Labs also conducted data tests but found different results.
Processor, graphics, and internal performance
The new chipset is the iPhone 4S' biggest star (like on the iPhone 3GS, the "S" in iPhone 4S stands for "speed"). The handset features Apple's A5 dual-core 1GHz processor along with a dual-core GPU. Apple says the new chipset will make the iPhone 4S twice as fast and will offer graphics performance that is seven times faster than the iPhone 4's.
Indeed, there is a noticeable change for the better. Applications across the phone opened quicker--sometimes by up to 3 seconds--and switching between apps using the multitasking feature was smoother. In additional testing, Senior Editor Eric Franklin found just how much faster the iPhone 4S is over its predecessor. On a similar note, Senior Associate Editor Jason Parker found that for some games the iPhone 4S' graphics are far richer. For more on the iPhone 4S gaming experience, check out this post from Senior Editor Scott Stein.
The performance upgrades are indeed welcome, though it's almost a feature that I didn't know we wanted. Previous iPhones never struck me as particularly slow, but if Apple wants to make the experience faster, I'm not going to refuse. And if it can do it without hampering battery life, then even better.
Battery life
Despite the more powerful processor, the company claims that the smartphone will be able to provide 8 hours of talk time over 3G, 14 hours over 2G, 6 hours of browsing over 3G, 9 hours via Wi-Fi, 10 hours of video playback, and 40 hours of music playback.
The promised battery times are impressive, but manufacturer promises can be just that: promises. Though the Samsung Epic Touch 4G and Motorola Droid Bionic had rated talk times of 8.7 hours and 10.8 hours, respectively, the Samsung lasted a less stellar 7 hours in CNET Labs tests and the Droid Bionic went for just 7.55 hours. In talk time battery life tests, the Sprint iPhone lasted a very respectable 9 hours and 13 minutes. The other carriers' phones may fare differently, so we'll be testing them separately. For media features, the 4S delivered 8.2 hours of video playback and 64 hours of audio playback.
Since our review posted, some iPhone 4s owners have come forward to complain of poor battery life. According to those owners, their phones will last just a few hours, even when the phone is in standby mode. I tried leaving the 4S unattended for 24 hours with GPS, Wi-Fi, notifications, and Bluetooth on. As I long as the display was off, it didn't drain faster (83 percent full to 71 percent) than an iPhone 4 with similar settings. On the other hand, the battery would deplete quickly over the course of half a day with the display on. I also found that during "real-world" testing, where I was multitasking with several features running in the background and the display on, the battery didn't drain abnormally fast. On November 2, 2011, Apple admitted that "a small number of customers have reported lower-than-expected battery life on iOS 5 devices." The company also said that it was issuing a fix in the form of a software update.
Conclusion
Android fans are right: the iPhone 4S adds features that competing smartphones introduced months ago. But that misses the point. It doesn't have everything, but Apple's attention to the user experience remains unmatched. Some consider that focus a worthy trade-off for a regulated and locked-down device, while others prefer more control. Apple's philosophy isn't necessarily right, but it may be right for you. And if so, the iPhone 4S won't disappoint.
The iPhone 4S goes on sale October 14 from AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint in the United States. It will come in black and white, and pricing starts at $199 for the 16GB version, $299 for 32GB, and $399 for 64GB.
User reviews
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Amazing Phone!! Lacking a few small things
by frigginbeaner on October 15, 2011
Pros: -Best cell phone camera by far - its not about the mega pixels its about the picture quality
-Superfast performance and improved call quality with the dual antennas
-Siri is amazing. For Someone with a busy life and who doesn't wanna die in a car crash.Cons: - Smaller screen can be hard to get used to. I moved from a 4.3 inch to this and I do miss the bigger screen
- Hype around a redesign caused me to think twice about buying this phone. But apple never said it was coming so thats the medias fault.
- GettinSummary: Ok - So I have purchased apple products for many many years and I am not a fanboy. I simply do my research and purchase what I believe will be ...
Summary: Ok - So I have purchased apple products for many many years and I am not a fanboy. I simply do my research and purchase what I believe will be best for my needs. I have never purchased an apple product on release day until the Iphone 4s. I did this time and I havent regretted it one bit.
The phone is fast, and has an amazing display and I know myself well enough to know what I really need in a phone.
Heres what I think so far...
To start the performance is amazing. I have an apple TV and 27" Imac in my room. Theis phone integrates well with both these items and I havent seen any hiccups or errors while using wireless itunes sync, Icloud, or Apple Tv mirroring. It simply works and works well so far.
I also havent seen any issues with completing tasks such as using photo-stream or I-cloud at all. Apple did well with the way they did this. They have a reputation for quality they aren't a company that focuses on price or rushing a product release to meet public demand. Thats what android does and I have owned only android phones since the release of the Tmobile G1 so I am speaking from years and years of experience. The trend seems to be that Apple creates something then all these other companies rush to meet the demand and also rush in releasing a bunch of subpar products before the really good ones catch up. There have been some really great android phones and Ive owned most of them but every time i have purchased one there have been lots of little things ive had to wait for before all features and software were in sync. Apple is not immune to this but I do have far less complaints with this phone then any android I have ever owned.
The camera takes pictures surprisingly better than any phone Ive owned, I expected it to be better than the motorola and HTC phones I have owned. My old Nexus 1, Droid X, HTC Incredible. None of them even come close to the quality of the iphones photos and I really have enjoyes having all my photos go directly to Iphoto and My Apple TV. The video looks great too although I've only taken two videos thus far, One was walking around best buy and the other was just a tour of my home so i could see how clear and stable it was then mirror the playback to my apple tv. I have to say I was impressed on both fronts.
Gaming on the Iphone is one area I feel a bit of loss here. The games perform beautifully and the graphics are amazing. But the smaller screen is noticeable especially when playing tower defense games which i love. You cant use the mirroring to play the games either because while you can see the image you cant see where your fingers are on the TV. Bummer. But Im still adjusting to the smaller screen so hopefully this gets better.
ICloud works as expected. Quick and seamless and it just works. What else can you say. As for the Itunes wireless syncing. Once you set it up its just like syncing with a cable but without the cable. Just select what you want to sync and you can either sync by hitting the sync button in itunes or you can use the sync button on your phone.
Last but not least theres Siri. My first few attempts here I had mixed feelings. Then I realized I had to let Siri know who my mom and dad and brother was. After that I would say Call my brother and it would call my brother. I ask " Can we go to breakfast" and i got a lit of places that mentioned breakfast in their descriptions complete with a review and map. I schedule appointments, set reminders, call my girlfriend, email my friends and family and it just works and works very surprisingly well. Siri is awesome and I gotta say the fact that when you ask her questions like " how are you today Siri" she responds like a robot assistant. I say good morning and she says it back. LOVE IT.
So overall Im super pleased with my new Iphone. Its fast, intuitive, great for capturing amazing moments, I have a personal assistant now that will only get better with time and updates. The battery life is good and I purchased a Mophie Juice pack which is the best case ive ever owned and charges the phone for me, so it lasts twice as long now. But thats for another review.
I can see a small group that wouldn't use siri as much as I do or who will stick to android at least until the Iphone 5 comes out. But for a busy insurance professional who needs a reliable , fast and super easy to use phone...at least for me...this is it for the next year with no regrets.
On a final note: Thank you Steve for all your contributions to my life and to the world of technology. I know that Apple isn't just a company you started..its the culmination of your life's work and your dedication and love show in so many of the products that you and your team created. You will be deeply missed.. but i promise that every so often you will be thought of when I am marveling at just how far we have come because of you.26 out of 31 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Ditched my Droid
by michaelolenick on October 15, 2011
Pros: * Great camera .. not good - great. Turn on HDR mode and the photos are awesome.
* Siri is, by far, the best voice recognition system I've ever come across. Does everything from reminders to calculus, and even comes up with an ever-evolving definition oCons: * No real keypad still. Honestly, the virtual keypad is so accurate I'm not sure this matters anymore, but it'd be a nice option.
Summary: Small changes make for a big difference in a great phone. I thought Siri would stink, like every other voice recognition system I've come across. Wrong about that big ...
Summary: Small changes make for a big difference in a great phone. I thought Siri would stink, like every other voice recognition system I've come across. Wrong about that big time: it's awesome (she's awesome: seems like a real person).
I know some people want a bigger screen, but that'd mean a bigger phone and I love it just the way it is.
If I want to read a book, I use my Kindle. If I want my computer, I use my computer. If I want it to act like my iPad, I use my iPad. It's none of those; it's a phone, camera, and the best PDA I've ever come across.
I know some complain about the GPS but I have one built into my car so the absence of built-in turn-by-turn directions isn't a big deal. In my last car I tried using my Droid for turn-by-turn but it was too distracting. Get a GPS if you want turn-by-turn; they're cheap and single purpose devices work better.21 out of 25 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good upgrade, glad they kept the same design as the 4.
by icejza_dachilla on October 18, 2011
Pros: Siri works better than expected, it's fun to toy with and is the best voice recognition software that I've yet to come across. Camera is improved, especially the video recording. The dual core CPU + GPU make a difference and the 64GB is a godsend. iOS 5 i
Cons: The camera isnt as good as I had hoped for still pictures. No major upgrade for the battery. Price is really high for people unable to sign a new contract.
Summary: Extreamly functional and adaptable for anyone in any field or walk of life, from a young kid to play games with to an executive who needs to have a handy ...
Summary: Extreamly functional and adaptable for anyone in any field or walk of life, from a young kid to play games with to an executive who needs to have a handy PDA.
I upgraded from an iPhone 4 with only 16GB to the iPhone 4S with 64GB. Before my phone was so full I wasnt even able to update my apps but now I can hold all of my podcasts, movies, music,
audiobooks and even keep my apps up to date with room to spare.
I had an issue with my iPhone 4 where after about six months of use the "home" button was getting unresponsive and I'd have to press very hard for it to register which made it nearly impossible to do a hard restart. I hope apple addressed this issue but I guess I wont know that for a while now.
I'm glad apple decided to go with the 4S instead of the 5 because I really like the design of this phone. I do not see how it can be improved on. I think the size is perfect (the 4"-4.5" looks ridiculous when anyone holds it against their face to talk). I like the glass front and back and the sharp edges are not only classy but extreamly functional when it comes to accessories and cases.
I love the iCloud features also, syncing wirelessly is helpful.
I have several friends with "droid" or "HTC" phones and I've had the chance to play with them a bit, they are nice but I do not think the simplicity or functionality of the iPhone can be matched by any of the others. The layout is simple, its clean, bright and easy to understand. I'd reccomend anyone to get the new iPhone.14 out of 15 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Made for the lowest common denominator...
by greystone7 on October 19, 2011
Pros: Anyone can use it...
Well done touch screen
Good cameraCons: Inability to truly customize UI
No 4G
Inability to consistantly connect with Siri
Poor syncing to iCloud
Small screen
Virtual keyboards are awful...period
Limited to Apple store
No replaceable battery
iFans drinking the hype Kool-AidSummary: I'll write my review and then get blasted by the brainwashed masses, but maybe someone will actually consider the validity of these points.
I've used many different types ...Summary: I'll write my review and then get blasted by the brainwashed masses, but maybe someone will actually consider the validity of these points.
I've used many different types of cell phones, smart phones, Macs, PCs, tablets, terminals, PDAs, and other tech devices over the past 30 years (and no, I'm not an old fogey set in my ways. I'm 38 and just appreciate good technology). I mention this, not thinking that my opinion is better than anyone else's, but I flatter myself that I can offer an unbiased opinion coming from a broad base of experience.
Apple is, by far, the greatest marketing entity of all time. Let's look at things one at a time:
Phone - sound quality is decent, but not exceptional. Various phone features are intuitive and work well.
Screen - above average, but there are bigger and better out there.
Camera - quality is good
Available apps - certainly the largest selection of apps. Some of these are useful. Many are cool to use once or twice. Most are useless. The good ones are all available on other platforms.
Siri - Good voice command implementation, when it connects. I'm sure Apple will work this out over time. Functionally, this is nothing new.
iCloud - Mediocre to poor implementation. I've had a great deal of difficulty with consistant syncing on certain file types (particularly with Google).
Keyboard - better than average virtual keyboard implementation. But that that's like saying the prettiest, ugly chick. You'll get used to it if you're used to physical keyboards, but tests with virtual have consistantly shown that you'll never achieve the typing speed you can with a physical keyboard. Your error rate will also be significantly higher with the virtual. Just the facts, folks. I'll add the citations later when I bother to dig them up. Don't get me started on auto correct. Some funny results when sending personal texts. Some horrific results when sending texts to colleagues and clients. I'll never understand why Apple allows corrections to insert profanity and crude language.
Fit and finish - It's pretty. The materials, however, are not particularly durable. I'd strongly recommend a protective cover for the sides and back and a protective screen for the front. Let me clarify. Get the protective covers or be prepared to have a beat up looking device within a month. And that's coming from someone who babies his electronics.
UI - Okay, this is where I get flamed. The UI is great if you have never used an electronic device before. It is built for the lowest common denominator, meaning, anyone can use this device. If you have used a computer....ever...you'll have to live within the limitations and learn to compromise. No real customization for you! Your iPhone is going to look like everyone elses. Understand, that this is the primary direction from Apple. Their products are built for the masses, so if you're even a little bit tech savvy, you're going to be frustrated. I know that the iFans are going to jump all over me and say that this is really "ease of use" and simplicity, "elegence of design", if you will. Umm, it's not. It's giving minimal functionality, flexibility, and customization to ensure users will not be confused by too many options. If that works for you, have at it.
Misc - Crappy battery life. Barely makes it through the day, and yes, I make sure all of the apps I open are truly closed and not hiding on me ;)
Conclusion - Overall this phone is a close to average. Some of the features are above average, and some are below. There's nothing really revolutionary here. All of the "new" features have been around for a year or two in other phones.
I tried to join the club, become an iFan, but I just can't do it. There's too many limitations and too many, better for me, options out there. The real functionality is nothing new, and while this implementation is pretty, I find it to be a bit more of style over substance. This became my wife's phone, and she's very satisfied. If you're not very technical, I'm sure you'll be very happy. If you're technical at all, you'll need something a bit more powerful.
*To all of the "technical" iPhone fans: Before you get all in a twist because of this assessment, be honest and ask yourself if I'm not just speaking truth.24 out of 41 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I don't mind the 3.5" screen. Siri Rocks.
by rspetterborg on October 16, 2011
Pros: Siri is A fun useful addition. iCloud has a kink every now and again, but it's pretty useful. the app store is huge. The phone is well made and feels natural. the interface and setup was easy. the storage is useful. The small touches of quality make
Cons: Battery could be a bit better. Price is way too high. iCloud will not sync my word, excel, or ppts. It's a pain that I can't print to a non-airprint printer.
Summary: I upgraded from a blackberry. The support on the device is huge, where the blackberry was minimal. The iPhone has a gorgeous screen and Siri will make your life wonderful. ...
Summary: I upgraded from a blackberry. The support on the device is huge, where the blackberry was minimal. The iPhone has a gorgeous screen and Siri will make your life wonderful. The customizable options and settings are useful. It's a decent size. The phone for any mac user is an obvious choice. For others, weigh the choices, then convert.
5 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Only a little better than the 4
by Moose316 on October 14, 2011
Pros: Faster Processor. Siri. 8mp camera
Cons: No 4g. Same design.
Summary: If you were a fan of the 4, this is basically a quicker 4 with a better camera. Siri is cool but will get tiresome and will be a useless ...
Summary: If you were a fan of the 4, this is basically a quicker 4 with a better camera. Siri is cool but will get tiresome and will be a useless feature just like facetime. The lack of 4g really is disappointing. How can you sign up for 2 more years with 3g speeds when everyone else will be at 4g?
5 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great for all users.
by Vincenzo_23 on November 27, 2011
Pros: Siri, great camera, the screen's resolution is outstanding, iCloud is handy, elegant design, simple and easy to use. it's a phone for all ages!
Cons: Very limited customization, no "4G speed (if you want to call these data speeds 4G), very closed OS, sketchy battery life, call quality could be better, not durable. Super Techies should probably look to premium Android handsets for more options.
Summary: This is a phone after all, so let's start there. The integrated phone app is very easy to use. Just press phone and there you are. It's the ...
Summary: This is a phone after all, so let's start there. The integrated phone app is very easy to use. Just press phone and there you are. It's the communicating that can be a problem. At times, I found it hard to understand or comprehend what others were saying. Now by at times, I mean here and there. For the most part, it's been okay. However, Apple could have done better in this department. As I said, it is a phone after all! Now reception hasn't been a problem for me. Maybe Apple really learned something from Antennagate. The antenna has been moved. Perhaps that's a viable reason for me not having an issue. I'm also on Sprint. Perhaps that also has something to do with it.
iOS- Now...I said that this was a phone, but let's move on. We all know that smartphones are more than just phones these days. In fact, I sometimes forget they are phones...Now we've heard it all before. The iPhone is the device that your child can use as well as your grandparents. In fact, my friend's daughter uses his iPhone 4S and iPad 2 without complications Scary isn't it? iOS is easy, intuitive, and designed to be this way. Now that's just great! It just works! This is actually good enough for me these days. When I buy a product, I but it because I want it to work. However, if you are a techie person, you may not appreciate this attribute all that much. WIth the birth of Android, users are now given a ton of options like scrollable wallpapers, alteration to the UI, widgets, and so forth. With different launchers, you can change the appearance of all the icons! Now if you're one who loves to customize to the fullest and feel the need to have your device to be totally different from all others, this is not the phone for you. Apple designed this product to be the same as everyone else's 4S...like they have with all its predecessors. Which isn't a bad thing. I believe this actually comes down to preference. Now the subtle changes to iOS can be appreciated. It's nice that I can now customize tones for specific apps thanks to the iOS 5 firmware update. iOS has evolved somewhat in many areas, and most of these are welcomed. However, one can argue that iOS is getting stale. There have been many great changes, but perhaps in comparison to the evolution of Android, these changes for iOS may be far and few in between. My mother's iphone first gen has more similarities than differences with my 4S. This isn't completely bad, but a revamping of iOS would be nice. However, this could take away from the ultra intuitiveness of iOS itself. So perhaps Apple has taken this into consideration and decided not to engage in a rapid revamping of iOS. I'll say I wouldn't mind it, but I like how the functionality is intuitive enough that my godson, goddaughter, and father can work their way around this device with ease.
Web Browsing - Web browsing has been sort of a joy. Pages load pretty quickly over wifi. Now we can get into the flash debate...but after using numerous devices that have mobile flash...and seeing that it really bogs down load time and battery life, I can live without it. Over a phone company's network, pages load much slower. It's an improvement over the iPhone 4, but not by much. I kind of miss the days where I could browse on HSPA+ or LTE and load pages quickly. However, I don't miss the huge battery drain. Images and such do load quickly enough over 3G, but these so called 4G speeds actually have something to them. I understand Apple's position to not get into this debate, but giving users the option of "4G" would have been nice considering the processor would have been able to handle "4G" with ease. Notice the quotations around 4G...Despite what the phone companies tell you, none of them offer true 4G.
Screen - The screen is smaller than many premium handsets these days. Remember when 3.5 inches was huge and innovative back in 2007? Well that was then and this is now. Android handsets boasting up to 4.6 inch screens makes it tough for Apple. That is actually a preference that many users actually love. Having said that, the resolution of the iPhone 4s is outstanding. Everything is crisp, clear, and sharp...unless you're zooming in all the way on objects of course...though some still come in crystal clear. Yet, many Android handsets offer crystal clear displays on par with the iPhone 4S, though the 4 and 4S are still top dog.
Camera - The camera is great. Shot to shot is nearly instant. The photos are beautiful and crisp. Color is close to being true. The iris is set automatically, so all lighting conditions are welcomed by this device. You're not going to get the live photo effects options you will with other handsets, but there are tons of apps that allow you to edit your photos. Careful, though. You don't want to try and do too much with a poor app. Experiment and see what fits you best. I edit all photos on my PC. Something about a bigger screen and an actual PC app with more control just feels a bit more effective for me. Now the video recording, like the camera, is great. You won't see much of a difference between 720 and 1080. However, the 4S has a similar component that is found in DSLRs from Canon, which allows it to take crisp and fluid videos. You will not get the same options as you will on other handsets as far as effects, but who shoots negatives? Or Emboss? Or Vintage? Well...I might shoot in vintage...Now it is my opinion that Nokia is still top dog when it comes to photography and videography on handsets, but the 4S takes stunning photos and shoots amazing video. The HDR option is a great feature for the 4S. It pieces three copies of the same image and forges it into one taking the best features from each. Now there are reasons why you can't use the camera flash with this. I won't get into them here because that is another discussion altogether. Just know that HDR photos in normal to bright lighting is great. It gets a bit sketchy in low light conditions and this where control of the iris would probably be good. However, the three shots would then have been shot and pieced from the same ISO. It would, in a way, defeat the purpose of having the feature on. All in all, the camera is probably one of the best features of the 4S.
Siri - Practical, fun, and a great time killer. Siri is probably the other greatest feature of this phone. You can ask it to set up meetings, call contacts, send and read text messages, emails, set reminders, snooze/cancel alerts, ask it random questions, search for nearly anything, have it tell you a story, fail at telling a joke, poke fun at it, and so forth. It truly is the closest thing to a very ample virtual assistant for the general consumer. Siri can also refer to you by name, which makes the experience feel a bit more personal. Siri also has a dark side. Tell it that you have to hide a body..and she gives you options! Siri is just great.
iCloud - A handy feature that allows you to back up your phone's data over the air! Now there are a few kinks...Sometimes it doesn't connect. Sometimes it doesn't back up everything. Yet, it has worked well with me. It's cool that I can snap a photo on my phone and have it pushed to my macbook, iMac, and iPad. Apps downloaded show up on my iPad when I arrive home and vice versa. It's handy and useful. Kudos to Apple for this one. Careful, though. You only get 5GBs. I currently have only used 4.5, but I've had the phone less than a week.
Find my iPhone - Now this is a joy to have. Say you lose your phone. Well, find a device with a data connection and go find it. It's easy to use and your devices pop up instantly. You can locate, send messages to, and even set off an alert in order to find your device. I've used this to find my iPad once already. Again, Kudos to Apple! Remember, your devices have to be connected to the internet and the feature must be switched on. You can't find a device that is off.
Battery Life - This is where I'm on the fence. When I used my phone out of the box, the battery life was decent. The 5.0.1 update was suppose to fix the bugs that drained the battery. It wasn't until I updated that I experienced the terrible battery life. After five hours, my 4S would be out of juice. Now I found a solution that worked for me. I basically reset my phone and set it back up as a new device. I then let my phone charge fully, let it die completely, and recharged to 100% twice. I also switched off the ping feature and decided to turn off all push notifications from Facebook. Since then, my standby time has dramatically improved. I got 20 hours of the battery before it died today. That's pretty good considering this is a touch screen smartphone. This includes web browsing, four videos played on youtube ranging from 54 seconds to 4 minutes in duration, numerous plays on words with friends, navigating three trips with turn by turn navigation, foursquare checkins, snapping photos, shooting a 30 second video, three phone calls with one lasting twenty minutes (the other two were only two minutes max), numerous text messages sent and received, an alarm sounding, streaming from pandora for about an hour, and an ample use of siri. Now that's a lot to ask for from a smart phone these days without dying in a few hours. My last device would only last five hours on this sort of usage. I will say that the battery drains much faster when surfing the web or using apps that require data. That's to be expected, but Apple boasted about the 4S's battery life. It's decent, but not great. My Nokia N97 and N900 would last days without a charge. Still, I think the 4S is good enough for a daily commuter. If you're a heavy data user, perhaps buying a charging case is an option you ought to explore. Yes...a removable battery would have been a great option. Technically, the battery is removable; it's just a pain to get to it. I'll say whenever I bought a new smart phone, I would buy an extra battery just in case. There are other options available for the iPhone because it is so popular. Though, I would prefer to have a spare battery.
Durability - You need a case that is shock absorbant - PERIOD! The phone is nearly all glass. The sides, top, and bottom are aluminum. One drop can be fatal. I dropped my phone twice since I've purchased it. I'm thankful that it was secured in my casemate and leather case.
Gaming - The A5 chip makes gaming pretty fluid on the 4S. The duo core processor makes everything feel snappy and responsive. Gaming is still much better on the iPad 2 concerning function, but the 4S is close. I have no quarrels at all with this. I'm quite happy actually.
Video Playback - Videos load pretty quickly and are extremely clear over wifi. Over 3G, videos load noticeably fast, but nowhere near the fastest, and videos look decent. This is where I think "4G" would have really come in handy. I'm not completely happy with the load time. Most will be while some will not be.
App Availability - We know iOS is king when it comes to the availability of apps. Now we all factor in cost when making a decision. In this case, monetary cost should play a roll. Almost every app that you might want require payment, so that is something to consider. I use free apps, so the paid ones do not really get my attention. However, I have considered paying for an app that I wanted and thinking...I'd never have to pay for this on Android. Now I could jailbreak...but I prefer to keep my phone clean. You will run into this dilemma. There is no way around it. You'll either have to divi up, hack, or go without. I choose to go without. Though, I ponder the former two options here and there.
Music - iOS is king in this department. The ipod/music function is solid. Though it hasn't changed much at all over the years, it's still the best mobile music player around. The UI is just unmatched. With iTunes right on your phone, you can download music and enjoy it. Simple as that.
Syncing - You can now sync to itunes without a cable! Genius! However, you have to be connected to wifi and plugged into a power source, which means the cable isn't completely eliminated. Supposedly this is true with iCloud as well. But, I've been able to back up to iCloud without charging. You can also update OTA, but that still requires a cable to charge. I understand why Apple did this. Cellular data networks can be untrustworthy. If you are updating OTA and then lose coverage, that can be a pain. This can happen via wifi, but chances are you'll be at home and able to deal with the problem right then and there. Also, I'm sure that OTA updates and syncing would be a battery drain. It was for Android, but I still enjoyed having that option.
All in all, the 4S is a great device. It may lack in many areas in comparison with other premium handsets, but it surely excels in many other areas. Now there isn't much difference between the 4 and the 4S. The 4's camera is close the 4S's along with nearly everything else. Should you upgrade from the 4 to the 4S? Probably not. Most users will probably not notice much difference. Those users should probably wait for the 5. If you've been using a phone that is two or more years old and are looking to upgrade, the 4S is a viable option that stands at the top of the cell phone hill. But, keep in mind that it shares the hill with other devices. It'll all come down to preference. I will say that iOS is a much smoother and intuitive OS and feels much more stable. So if you lean more toward stability and ease, go with the 4S. If you're leaning toward customization, look elsewhere.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Wanted to try something new
by 6istynin9 on November 3, 2011
Pros: Camera, Siri, Resolution, Apps
Cons: Design, UI, Features, Mass Storage option, Screen Size, Method of media transfer, Price
Summary: I've been using RIM and Windows Mobile for a while and wanted to try something new. A lot of people have been making such of big deal out of ...
Summary: I've been using RIM and Windows Mobile for a while and wanted to try something new. A lot of people have been making such of big deal out of the iPhone so I wanted to see what the fuss was about. At first impression, the phone is really attractive so who wouldn't want it. It's also very user-friendly. The screen has really high resolution for it being LCD. You can record really high resolution videos and pictures. Siri works really good (when it does work). There is tons of apps, would probably take more than a day to go through all of it. Despite the iPhone 4S being one of the best device in the market, it really doesn't suit me. The phone looks and feels super high-end, but the design of it is flawed. Glass on both side of the phone - a big No-No. Siri was an excellent idea, but I don't find it very useful. I even forget that it's there. Call quality is good, though, at time, I do get occasional drop calls. The iPhone has the highest resolution on any mobile phone to date, too bad the screen is so small the resolution is not even used to its full potential. The UI looks just like my iPod, plain and boring. The phone is very simple to use, maybe a little too simple. All my phone has always been able to act as a Mass Storage device (which eliminates the need for me to carry an USB flash drive), unfortunately, this phone doesn't allow that, which for being such an high-end device, I don't understand why not. I never knew, but in order to transfer media to/from phone/PC, I'd have to connect to iTunes all the time, which is very inconvenient. For its hefty price, it lacks a lot of features that is should be standard on all cell phones. Once there's more selection of Window Phone 7 headsets, I might go for one of those, or if my area gets 4G expansion, I'm getting one of those Android.
Bottom line - the cons outweighs the pro. The way people and reviews made this phone out to be, I didn't experience any of it. Though the iPhone is super fancy and has everything another person would want, it's not a phone that meets my expectation.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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iPhone4s Not for business use. Returned to Bold 9900
by rath69 on November 2, 2011
Pros: Games run very good with excellent graphics & fast enough in loading & running. Touch screen is good & responsive.
Cons: Notification centre shows events for a fixed future period where BB shows next 3 evens. No smart dialing with auto prefix country code like BB. Emails has to be pulled 15/30/60 minuites interval causing batt drain. Can't see address book after battery dra
Summary: This is aimed for audience who are not on email/SMS. Gaming & other fun apps are good time pass. May be better compared to other full touch phones in ...
Summary: This is aimed for audience who are not on email/SMS. Gaming & other fun apps are good time pass. May be better compared to other full touch phones in overal if you pay the extra money. Handling this steel & glass body is not firm on hand and definitely need a rubberised grip. After putting the cover the look of steel & glass goes away for which you reaLLY paid the extra money.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Refined and polished, great camera,intuitive interface.
by tradermark888 on October 30, 2011
Pros: Camera is definitely one of the best in it's class,
Siri is a great example of how to implement voice recognition, display is very clear easy on the eyes,
email works very well, on all my carious accounts,
best virtual keyboard I've used ( but that's notCons: Importing contacts from Gmail unworkable by using Microsoft exchange ( best done by exporting contacts from Gmail then importing into Address book , for Macs, then syncing through iTunes.), ringtones are difficult to create on your own (is that because o
Summary: After having the original Droid for 2 years I wanted to try the iPhone. For the most part, I am pleased and feel that instead of a phone that requires ...
Summary: After having the original Droid for 2 years I wanted to try the iPhone. For the most part, I am pleased and feel that instead of a phone that requires a degree in programming, I have a phone that just works. I don't need to "root" it, I don't have to wonder why controls were placed on the edge of the frame where they are prone to getting activated by mistake. I have a device that some one obviously put a lot of thought into the design and how a person would interface with it as opposed to a device that was designed by a committee of engineers. Don't get me wrong engineers are the brains behind getting things to work but on interface, there are few that can really understand how non-technical people use their wonderful creations. This is not their fault; engineers by nature love complexity, why have only 1 or 2 ways to accomplish a task when they can engineer a dozen different ways. The iPhone works like any appliance should work , simply.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: 885909538096
- Description: iPhone 4S picks up where amazing left off. It's the fastest, most powerful iPhone ever. It features an 8-megapixel camera with all-new optics. It records stunning 1080p HD video. It comes with iOS 5 and iCloud. And it's the only phone with Siri - your intelligent assistant that helps you get things done, just by using your voice. Now you can use your voice to use your iPhone. Just talk to Siri as you would to a person: "Do I need an umbrella? " or "Any great burgers around here? " or "Where's the closest ATM? " Siri not only understands what you say, it knows what you mean. It figures out the right apps to use to find the right answer. Then, just like a personal assistant, it answers you. Siri makes phone calls, sends messages, schedules meetings, sets reminders, and more. How much more? Just ask, and Siri tells you that, too. Two cores in the A5 chip deliver up to two times more power and up to seven times faster graphics. And you'll feel the effects. Fast. iPhone 4S is quick and responsive, which makes all the difference when you're launching apps, browsing the web, gaming, and doing just about everything. And no matter what you're doing, you can keep on doing it. Because the A5 chip is so power-efficient, iPhone 4S has outstanding battery life. This just might be the best camera ever on a phone. And with all-new optics, it just might be the only camera you need. Because behind every shot, you've got 8-megapixel resolution and a custom lens with a larger f/2.4 aperture. Not to mention an improved backside illumination sensor, excellent auto white balance, advanced color accuracy, face detection, and reduced motion blur. It all means that no matter how many people, how much light, and how much action you capture, everything looks exactly as it should. And just wait until you see the photos. The iPhone 4S camera gives you 8 megapixels - that's 60 percent more pixels than the camera on iPhone 4. And they're engineered with a higher, full-well capacity to collect even more light. With more megapixels and more light, you'll see a dramatic difference in the resolution and details of your images. Shoot stunning 1080p HD video everywhere you go. With all-new optics, the light is always right, the color is always vivid, and everything will look even better than you remember. Video stabilization steadies shaky shots. And you can edit video right on iPhone and share your lush life as fast as you shoot. Record amazing 1080p HD video at 30 frames per second. The advanced backside illumination sensor and larger aperture let in even more light. Improved auto white balance makes color even more accurate. And temporal noise reduction helps you take great videos in low light. With every iOS advancement come even easier ways to do everything. That's what makes iOS years ahead of anything else. iOS 5 leaps even further ahead, bringing over 200 new features to iPhone 4S. iCloud is the easiest way to manage all your stuff, because it manages it all for you. iCloud stores your music, photos, apps, mail, contacts, calendars, documents, and more. And wirelessly pushes them to all your devices. It's automatic, effortless, and seamless. And it just works. With iCloud, the music you buy in iTunes appears automatically on all your devices. You can also download your past iTunes purchases. So your music collection goes where you go. The sharpest, most vibrant thing you'll see on iPhone 4S is everything. The Retina display is the highest-resolution phone screen ever. In fact, the pixel density is so high that the human eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels. But without a doubt, you'll notice crisp text, sharp graphics, and stunning images. It's more remarkable than the printed page. And you'll be completely absorbed. FaceTime lets you hear a voice and see the face that goes with it - iPhone to iPhone, iPad 2, iPod touch, or Mac over Wi-Fi.5 So no matter where they are, no matter where you are, you'll always be there. Making a FaceTime call is just as easy as making a phone call. And it's even easier with Siri. Just tell Siri "FaceTime with Mom" and you show up, smile, and wave hello. You'll never miss a big event, an important meeting, or a good laugh. And who wouldn't be happy to see your face?
General
- Product Type Smartphone
- Form Factor Touch
- Phone Design PDA
- Resistance Scratch resistant glass,
Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating - Integrated Components Wi-Fi hotspot,
GLONASS receiver,
GPS receiver,
2nd camera,
Digital camera,
Digital player,
Voice recorder - Width 2.3 in
- Depth 0.4 in
- Height 4.5 in
- Weight 4.9 oz
- Body Color Black
- Body Material Glass,
Stainless steel Cellular
- Technology CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS)
- Band WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 / CDMA2000 1X 1900/800
- Mobile Broadband Generation 3G
- Service Provider Sprint Nextel
- Operating System iOS 5
- Application Software Twitter,
Game Center,
iTunes,
FaceTime,
Safari,
Photos,
Stocks,
Find My iPhone,
Adobe Acrobat Reader,
iCloud,
Siri,
Newsstand,
Weather,
CNN iReport,
Vimeo,
iMovie - Input Device(s) Touch sensitive screen (multi-touch)
Messaging & Internet
- Cellular Messaging Services MMS,
SMS - Instant Messaging Services Yes
- Supported Social Networks and Blogs Twitter,
Flickr,
Facebook - Messaging & Data Features Microsoft PowerPoint support,
Microsoft Excel support,
Microsoft Word support,
PDF support - Downloadable Content Audio files,
Video files,
Games,
iTunes music collection,
iBooks - Mobile Services App Store,
iTunes Store,
YouTube,
Video Call Communications
- Data Transmission GPRS,
EV-DO,
EDGE,
HSUPA,
HSDPA - Wireless Interface Bluetooth 4.0,
IEEE 802.11b/g/n - Communication Features Internet browser,
Mobile Email client Phone Features
- Phone Functions Voice control,
Call timer,
Conference call,
Speakerphone,
Voice dialing,
Vibrating alert - Polyphonic Ringer Yes
- Sensors Three-axis gyro sensor,
Digital compass,
Proximity sensor,
Accelerometer,
Ambient light sensor - Additional Features TTY compatible,
Multitasking,
Video editor,
Picture editor,
Adjustable volume limit,
FaceTime,
AirPrint wireless printing,
AirPlay wireless streaming Organizer
- Personal Information Management Alarm clock,
Synchronization with PC,
Calendar,
Calculator,
Reminder Media Player
- Supported Digital Audio Standards Audible AAX,
Apple Lossless,
PCM,
AAC,
Audible AAX+,
WAV,
HE-AAC,
MP3,
AIFF,
Audible,
AAC-LC - Supported Digital Video Standards MPEG-4,
AVI,
MOV,
M-JPEG,
M4V,
H.264 Processor
- Type Apple A5
Memory
- Bult-in Memory 64 GB
Digital Camera
- Sensor Resolution 8 megapixels
- Lens Aperture F/2.4
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- White Balance Automatic
- Camera Light Source LED light
- Video Recorder Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (1080p)
- Features Geo-tagging,
Face detection,
Landscape/portrait mode,
Video stabilizer,
Video recording Navigation System
- GPS Navigation A-GPS/GLONASS receiver
- Navigation Software & Services Maps+Compass
Display
- Type LCD display - Color
- Technology Retina Display
- Diagonal Size 3.5 in
- Display Resolution 960 x 640 pixels
- Multi-language Menu Yes
- Display Languages Slovak,
Thai,
Indonesian,
Hungarian,
Croatian,
German,
English,
Czech,
Catalan,
Romanian,
Brazilian Portuguese,
Turkish,
Arabic,
Hebrew,
Swedish,
Finnish,
Polish,
Portuguese,
Norwegian,
Italian,
French,
Dutch,
Spanish,
Russian,
Danish,
Chinese (traditional),
Chinese (simplified),
Malay,
Japanese,
Korean,
Greek,
Vietnamese,
Ukrainian - Features Scratch resistant glass,
Retina Display (326 ppi),
Backlit Connections
- Connector Type Dock connector - 30 pin dock connector,
Headset jack - Mini-phone 3.5 mm Battery
- Technology Lithium ion
- Run Time Details Talk ( WCDMA ) - up to 480 min,
Talk ( GSM ) - up to 840 min,
Standby - up to 200 hour(s),
Continuous browsing ( WCDMA ) - up to 6 hour(s),
Continuous browsing ( Wi-Fi ) - up to 9 hour(s),
Playback ( Video ) - up to 10 hour(s),
Playback ( Audio ) - up to 40 hour(s) Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Power adapter , Power adapter,
USB cable,
Stereo headset with remote control Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 95 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 5 - 95% (non-condensing)
Product series
-
Apple iPhone 4S - 16GB - black (Sprint)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Sprint Nextel,
CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS),
Up to 840 min (2G),
Up to 480 min (3G),
With digital camera / digital player,
4.9 oz,
8 megapixels,
3.5 in -
Apple iPhone 4S - 16GB - white (Sprint)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Sprint Nextel,
CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS),
Up to 840 min (2G),
Up to 480 min (3G),
With digital camera / digital player,
4.9 oz,
8 megapixels,
3.5 in -
Apple iPhone 4S - 32GB - black (Sprint)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Sprint Nextel,
CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS),
Up to 840 min (2G),
Up to 480 min (3G),
With digital camera / digital player,
4.9 oz,
8 megapixels,
3.5 in -
Apple iPhone 4S - 32GB - white (Sprint)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Sprint Nextel,
CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS),
Up to 840 min (2G),
Up to 480 min (3G),
With digital camera / digital player,
4.9 oz,
8 megapixels,
3.5 in -
Apple iPhone 4S - 64GB - black (Sprint)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Sprint Nextel,
CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS),
Up to 840 min (2G),
Up to 480 min (3G),
With digital camera / digital player,
4.9 oz,
8 megapixels,
3.5 in -
Apple iPhone 4S - 64GB - white (Sprint)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Sprint Nextel,
CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS),
Up to 840 min (2G),
Up to 480 min (3G),
With digital camera / digital player,
4.9 oz,
8 megapixels,
3.5 in
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Apple
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
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