iPhone 4 vs iPhone 4S

[Techie_Mom]

I just got my iPhone 4 in July, used and about a year old. It was in mint condition and wasn't lost/stolen. I'm learning quickly to use it and with the help of this forum I'm picking up on some jargon and secrets.

My Question is this, I am due an up grade and I'm not sure the 4s has anything special that would change the need to upgrade. What do you guys say??

What

 

[Skull One]

I have owned the 4, 4S and now the 5.

My opinion on them are as follow.

4:
It has the best battery life (when the battery is new). This is due to it being a single core CPU but it is the slowest of the three in terms of launching apps. The antenna design requires a case to protect your from dropping calls (unless you can hold it properly) and the camera is decent but no where near the 4S and 5. This is a very solid phone still. My wife won't give hers up.

4S:
The best compromise between the 4 and 5. Speedy, incredible camera, and battery life is very serviceable (when the battery is new). Apps can launch anywhere from 2 to 3 seconds faster than the 4. Antenna problem was fixed. I almost didn't upgrade to the 5 since I am thinking about leaving iOS development. The phone is simply that good.

5:
Fastest of the 3. Benchmarks for CPU performance show it to be four times faster than the 4 and twice as fast as the 4S. Camera as good as the 4S. Larger screen allows me to display more text from websites and other text based apps that have updated to the 5 new screen size. No antenna issues so far and LTE (when available) is fast. Light weight is probably the biggest thing I notice about it. I could blind pick up each of the phones and tell you the 5 from either the 4 and 4S with no issues. That much of a difference.

But the thing that sold me on it, IE pushed me to buy it even though my 4S was perfect for my needs, was the optical clarity and brightness of the new screen. The color saturation is better and more vibrant. The brightness can now be set high enough to overcome direct sunlight, a first in iPhone history. BUT it does come at a price. At night, at the lowest brightness setting, it doesn't get as dark as the 4S and 4. So using it in bed has to be done in such a way that the 5 doesn't wake my wife up. 4 and 4S didn't have that issue very often or at all.


Again, just my opinion after using the 4 from March 31st 2011 till Oct 14th 2011, the 4S fro Oct 14th 2011 till Oct 13th 2012 and the 5 from Oct 13th till today. And yes, it is odd that I know those dates off the top of my head.

 

[Techie_Mom]

Skull, thanks a lot for your input. It gives me something to think about as I never really like the Camera on my 4 and I use it a LOT.

I've never paid an upgrade fee before, so that will have to be taken into consideration.

Again, thanks so much.

I have owned the 4, 4S and now the 5.

My opinion on them are as follow.

4:
It has the best battery life (when the battery is new). This is due to it being a single core CPU but it is the slowest of the three in terms of launching apps. The antenna design requires a case to protect your from dropping calls (unless you can hold it properly) and the camera is decent but no where near the 4S and 5. This is a very solid phone still. My wife won't give hers up.

4S:
The best compromise between the 4 and 5. Speedy, incredible camera, and battery life is very serviceable (when the battery is new). Apps can launch anywhere from 2 to 3 seconds faster than the 4. Antenna problem was fixed. I almost didn't upgrade to the 5 since I am thinking about leaving iOS development. The phone is simply that good.

5:
Fastest of the 3. Benchmarks for CPU performance show it to be four times faster than the 4 and twice as fast as the 4S. Camera as good as the 4S. Larger screen allows me to display more text from websites and other text based apps that have updated to the 5 new screen size. No antenna issues so far and LTE (when available) is fast. Light weight is probably the biggest thing I notice about it. I could blind pick up each of the phones and tell you the 5 from either the 4 and 4S with no issues. That much of a difference.

But the thing that sold me on it, IE pushed me to buy it even though my 4S was perfect for my needs, was the optical clarity and brightness of the new screen. The color saturation is better and more vibrant. The brightness can now be set high enough to overcome direct sunlight, a first in iPhone history. BUT it does come at a price. At night, at the lowest brightness setting, it doesn't get as dark as the 4S and 4. So using it in bed has to be done in such a way that the 5 doesn't wake my wife up. 4 and 4S didn't have that issue very often or at all.

Again, just my opinion after using the 4 from March 31st 2011 till Oct 14th 2011, the 4S fro Oct 14th 2011 till Oct 13th 2012 and the 5 from Oct 13th till today. And yes, it is odd that I know those dates off the top of my head.

 

[Skull One]

Skull, thanks a lot for your input. It gives me something to think about as I never really like the Camera on my 4 and I use it a LOT.

I've never paid an upgrade fee before, so that will have to be taken into consideration.

Again, thanks so much.

You are welcome.

The 16GB 4S at $100 is a fantastic value in my opinion. Probably the best value on the market.

I paid $300 for my 4S (32GB) and I don't regret it for one second. In fact I handed to my daughter and told her to treat it like it was mine still in case I ever wanted it back . But the $300 I paid for the 5 (32GB) is also worth every penny. With the 5 only being $200 for 16GB version, I would find it to be a very tough call on spending $100 vs $200. You have to decide if the three real differences in my opinion (LTE, screen size, screen clarity) are worth the $100 more over the 4S.

 

[Beer Snob]

You are welcome.

The 16GB 4S at $100 is a fantastic value in my opinion. Probably the best value on the market.

I paid $300 for my 4S (32GB) and I don't regret it for one second. In fact I handed to my daughter and told her to treat it like it was mine still in case I ever wanted it back . But the $300 I paid for the 5 (32GB) is also worth every penny. With the 5 only being $200 for 16GB version, I would find it to be a very tough call on spending $100 vs $200. You have to decide if the three real differences in my opinion (LTE, screen size, screen clarity) are worth the $100 more over the 4S.

Yes it is a great value. I almost wasted double the money for a phone that wasn't half as good through Metro PCS just because I didn't think I would have the credit for a contract without a deposit.

Not sure what provider the OP goes through but sometimes you can get even more money off if you want more services. While they might not be the best iPhone provider, Sprint gave me 100.00 off any smart phone by also getting a landline. I walked out of the store spending 100.00 total for two 4s's.

 

[anjali189]

Great write up Skull, a really detailed view of each of the iPhone generations. Personally I will stick with the 4S for now as the iPhone 5 hasn't really grabbed my full attention.

 

[Techie_Mom]

Thanks everyone, I'm trying to decide now if the $100 is a good deal on the 16g 4s vs my current 4. I want to say my current is a 32g, but not sure how to tell.

 

[Skull One]

Settings -> General -> About -> Capacity.

If it says around 28 GB it is the 32GB version.

 

[Techie_Mom]

Thanks Skull, I am seem to be working a 16g 4.

I might just upgrade to the 16g 4s.

Settings -> General -> About -> Capacity.

If it says around 28 GB it is the 32GB version.

 

[Skull One]

I gave my 4S to my daughter to upgrade her from her 4. She LOVED her 4. In fact I already need to replace the battery in it because she used it so much. She has had the 4S for a week and has already stated "This is sooooo much better"!