Apple iPhone 4S reviewed: is it a worthy upgrade?

by  Barry Collins  |  Friday 6 January 2012
Recommended
Apple iPhone 4S reviewed: is it a worthy upgrade?
Rating
Overall:

Everything you need to know about Apple's iPhone 4S, including design, Siri, the camera and IOS 5.0. Read our review.

Performance:
6
Features & Design:
5
Value for Money:
3
Price
Price: $799
> Pricing info
Specs
Price 799
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Benchmarks

How we test

Mobile

Graph key:
 A-List product  Apple iPhone 4S  Related product
HTML Page Load Test
HTC One X (A-List Product)
Average time taken 7s
Sunspider
HTC One X (A-List Product)
Average time taken 2203ms
Battery Life
HTC One X (A-List Product)
21% remaining after 24 hours
Quadrant
HTC One X (A-List Product)
4868
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See more about:  iphone  |  4s  |  review  |  apple
 
 

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Comments: 6
photohounds
6 January 2012
 "a level of much-needed refinement". I had a play with one, it's nice enough, but The finest screen? Well if your definition includes only pixel density and you judge displays with a magnifying glass - only just.

If a 'fine screen' includes usability, definitely NOT - especially for the over 35's who appreciate a little more to look at - or gamers, or other real people.

Elsewhere a lot of catching up has been done, that's good.

Meanwhile, Android has moved the goalposts, Ice Cream Sandwich appears slick and also has 400,000 apps to back it ... then there are the new phones, actual, imminent and rumoured.


While it is a nice phone and OS, other makers needn't worry in the least. They can (and will) just keep innovating to maintain the lead. Those flexible Sammy screens look interesting - a screen that looks like a screen protector :)









Edited by photohounds: 6/1/2012 01:52:40 PM
TheToid
6 January 2012
 Siri requiring an A5 processor based device is definitely a load of crap, for a starters, certain hackers have used their iPhone 4S Key to run Siri on their iPhone 4, of course you still need a 4S key to authenticate Siri with the iPhone 4, but the processor requirement is a load of crap, see here for details:

http://www.iphonestuffs4u.com/spire-install-siri-for-iphone-4-3gs-ipad-ipod-touch/

I am disgusted with Apple that they think they need to lie to us, why couldnt they just tell the truth. "Siri is only available on the iPhone 4S because if everybody who owns an iPhone 4 gets it for free, then the infrastructure cost for us would be great compared to the profits we make." There was that so hard?
Tysio
7 January 2012
 Unless you have money to throw away, then it wouldn't be best to go out of your way to upgrade to the 4s.
Sure there may be hardware improvements, but is it really worth to pay more just for a tad better performance?

I also hear that people can get Siri on the iPhone 4 so it doesn't really differentiate the iPhone 4s much.
If you haven't had an iPhone and want one and have the money, go for it!
But I don't think an upgrade is necessary..

http://www.ipad-ipod.com.au
amcmo
9 January 2012
 Ah Photo, still on the screen size issue.

I'm SUBSTANTIALLY over 35, (my youngest of 6 is in her 30's) need reading glasses, and will probably be going to long distance glasses this year, however have absolutely no problems with the 4s screen.

One of our daughters now has a Galaxy 2S, (her choice) which I have played with. The much vaunted OLED screen is no better than the 4s screen, other than everything being slightly larger. (and bulkier)

Just in from the US, reports of the Nexus S screen being fragile and susceptible to cracking, plus your much vaunted Galaxy 2S being very susceptible to scratching - don't put the car keys in the same pocket. (and have you seen the latest Samsung phone that, apart from the camera opening looks EXACTLY like a 3GS iPhone,and strangely enough targeted at exactly the same market segment)

While we're on some of your usual favourite topics - the 'Dead Horse' antennae-gate you insist on flogging from time to time, affected less than 1. something percent of US based users in any meaningful way and was largely restricted to area's of the US where cellphone reception and traffic loading were issues. The Yanks have a very 3rd World cellphone infrastructure. Amazing, once it's looked at beyond the hype, it turns out to be largely just that - hype. Would have been long forgotten, without the endless Android fanboy bleating.
rubaiyat
10 January 2012
photohounds wrote:
Ice Cream Sandwich appears slick and also has 400,000 apps to back it ...


No it doesn't. Only a tiny fraction of those make even remote use of high resolution screens let alone ICS.

I'm still puzzled as to how you upgrade to ICS from prior Android devices and as to whether you get stuck with whatever the manufacturer stuck you with when you bought the gadget.

I've just played with the Galaxy Tab and am struck with how there is no obvious way out of the screen saver and similarly no obvious way to unlock when you get to the home page. It also felt less than smooth when zooming and the screen seemed less distinct than an iPad.

All that and it is still no cheaper. Although that probably won't stop you claiming it is.
photohounds
18 January 2012

Samsung's 30 pin connector is based on CEA's PDMI design, which is a standard, non-proprietary alternative to Apple's docking connector. So ... industry-standard (not copied from Apple).

Bigger, more useful screen, Narrower bezel, lots of connectivity options works with TVs and other DLNA devices - but where's the card slot??? :(

WHY should it be cheaper at this time? It's better.

And here ... a brief video of the upcoming galaxy S3?
http://androidadvices.com/samsung-president-shows-galaxy-s3-ces-press-conference/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AndroidAdvices+%28Android+Advices%29

And Ruby, you can ICS a Galaxy - you have to root it, though.
If Aussie CARRIERS included CarrerIQ I'd be tempted - for now, it works just fine :)
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