Apple iPhone 4S
The basics
The Apple iPhone 4S is the latest addition to Apple's iPhone range, packing some exclusive features and some big updates into the same skin as the Apple iPhone 4. Read our Apple iPhone 4S review to see if the changes make it worth upgrading.
The good
On the face of it, the Apple iPhone 4S looks identical to the Apple iPhone 4. That's no bad thing, as even a year on, it's still one of the nicest looking smartphones on the market. It also offers the best quality, proving tactile and strong.
The inclusion of Siri is one of the biggest differentiators between the Apple iPhone 4S and the Apple iPhone 4. A personal assistant, Siri takes voice activation to the next level. You'll be able to carry out virtually any of the iPhone's functions simply by asking Siri.
Unlike most voice recognition packages, you'll be able to chat to Siri – with the application recognising full sentences, rather than just single words. From entering events into the calendar, to searching for files, it's an intuitive, effective and worthy addition to iOS 5.
It's not just software changes with the Apple iPhone 4S, however, as there's also a brand new processor. It's the same dual-core chip as the Apple iPad 2, and helps the iPhone to run faster and more smoothly than ever before.
The camera on the iPhone 4S gets a boost, and now features an 8-megapixel sensor. With a larger f/2.4 aperture, it offers better image quality than before, with sharper snaps also on offer.
The bad
If you don't think you'd use Siri, you'd be just as well sticking to the Apple iPhone 4 over the iPhone 4S. Sure, the camera is better, but there's nothing wrong with the iPhone 4's 5-megapixel snapper. The iPhone 4S's ancestor also manages perfectly well when it comes to speed and responses, and you can download iOS 5 for your current iPhone.
The bottom line
That said, if you're looking to upgrade your iPhone, or swapping from a different handset, the Apple iPhone 4S is a fantastic smartphone. Stylish, well made, easy to use and packed with features, there's loads to like.
User comments (34)
Leave a comment
ben18 October 2011
The phone 4s is poo get the galaxy s2
Report as inappropriateAnonymous18 October 2011
Siri is a great bit of technology.
Report as inappropriateishanty19 October 2011
i love my phone and sri is great to use
Report as inappropriateBrian B22 October 2011
Was really excited about Siri until I found that the location part if doesn't work in the uk. It's like they rushed it out before they got all its functionality working. Also can I just add why when the gadget show raves about the iPhone and the iPad it doesn't slow it's videos to played on the devises. Come on Gadget show up your game. T
Report as inappropriateMichael25 October 2011
iPhone 4s is a great phone with great 1080p recording And still the best smart phone on the market. Samsung galaxy 2 is just a poor mans iPhone and very cheap looking.
Report as inappropriatekashali25 October 2011
Iphone 4S is just great.
Report as inappropriateMikey27 October 2011
The SGS2 is a cheap mans iPhone. Oh god! 1.2ghz dual core processor compared to an 800mhz dual core processor. Double the amount of ram. A bigger screen. removable battery and storage, will be updated to ICS and is much cheaper! Only a complete weirdo would go for the 4s!
Report as inappropriateamanda31 October 2011
i recently sold my iphone 4 to buy the 4s which is a bit dissapointing really the battery life seems terrible compaired to the iphone 4 also cant see much difference in speed. siri is awesome but is it worth compromising battery life seems like a product just thrown out to test siri before the iphone 5 is out in the summer. booked in with apple hopefully find source of battery drainage if not it will be going back sadly wish i hadnt sold my iphone 4 now
Report as inappropriateAnonymous06 November 2011
the iphone 4s is a decent phone the response and loading time is great, the camera is amazing for a phone and siri is pretty handy but if you prefer typing then it is pointless so you might as well keep the iphone 4 or the iphone 3, but some of the bad points of the iphone 4s is that siri doesn't recognise the scottish accent it as wifi problems, the battery life is poor compared to the iphone 4 and it's expensive compared to other decent smartphones although the iphone has it's really useful and helpful qualities, I still reckon you can get a phone just as good as the iphone for roughly half the price.
Report as inappropriatewillam stewart02 December 2011
i am getting one for my x mas :) :) :) siri lookes fab i will finaly have a better phone than my sis yipeeee
Report as inappropriateMartin03 December 2011
Launched 6 months after the Galaxy S II and all it really has to offer of any interest is siri, a feature most of use don't even want. It's also been unable to knock the Galaxy S II off the top spto, Galaxy S II is still best seller, has been for 8 months in a row. iPhone 4s = Fail.
Report as inappropriatejack09 December 2011
4 draw backs 1. battery is not replaceable 2.no flash support 3.no FM radio 4.no memory card slot
Report as inappropriatecinny1612 December 2011
i luv this phone ;D it is my first proper expensive advanced phone the only problem with it is that siri can get annoying sometimes because it miss hears what you say which can get really irritating The camera is amazin :D and the sound quality of the video's you record is good as well
Report as inappropriateSoullink12 December 2011
The latest review on the iPhone 4S was flawed as ever, favouring the iPhone. The main points I would like to contest are the camera's photographic ability, and the gaming ability compared to other gaming gadgets. Firstly, with regards to the camera, all pictures were taken in bright daylight ... the picture quality was comparable ... but if there's one thing I've found over the years, it's the ability to take clear pictures in the dark. The best phone I've owned to date was the Sony Ericsson W800 Cybershot - it took clear pictures at day or night with accurate colour reproduction in low light conditions. However all more "modern" phones I've owned since then have produced unfocused, noisey and badly coloured pictures (including my current HTC Desire S). Secondly, with relation to gaming ability it's quite simple ... How can you compare the gaming experience of something like the iPhone 4, which has a decent processor and other spec, to a mobile gaming device costing between £20-30??? ... The other gaming device is sure to loose before you even start. Basically, you cvan't compare the iPhone 4S to a bunch of gadgets, just like you can't compare any other smartphone in the same area's, as they will all look better overall, compared to the seperate "gadgets" provided in this so called "Test". You just have to admit that the iPhone 4S is an amazing piece of technology, but there are other phones out there that will do the same, with a few extra apps. Don't forget that the other phones cost a lot less to buy, thus the cost of the apps (if you buy the full versions of the software) will give you the same functionality for a lot less than the cost of the iPhone 4S.
Report as inappropriateBob12 December 2011
I (carefully) downloaded the new software for my Iphone 4, was like having a new phone all over again. Job done. Most people I know find Siri a bit of a novelty that quickly wears off, although they all say the phone is ace in general, and nothing can touch the build quality at any price in my opinion... glass and steel. I got my son a Galaxy S2 and was pleasantly surprised at how amazing it was, he did want the 4s but I couldn't justify the price for a fourteen year old. The next I Phone has got to be something extra special as HTC and Samsung and the like are now serious contenders.
Report as inappropriateScott14 December 2011
Let's summarise shall we: Low spec, ludicrously overpriced, flimsy, buggy, feature starved, closed, proprietary, a triumph of marketing over substance, inferior to its competition yet still the preferred choice of the pretentious and technologically ignorant. Yep, what we have here is yet another typical Crapple product for the Gadget Show to gush over. Ho hum!
Report as inappropriateBrendan20 December 2011
I agree with Brian B that there's a logic disconnect when Gadget Show videos won't play on any iPhone or iPad. Very disappointing guys. Otherwise I love the show (but tell Otis to stop gurning all the time.)
Report as inappropriateJenzi66621 December 2011
The iPhone 4 s is Awesome! I've had no problems with battery life and use it all time , The picture & video quality is fantastic with full hd ! Also if u need the bigger font, zoom or speech to use your mobile (for people with sight problems) The iPhone 4s is 2nd to NONE! Add on Siri on top of that and that's why I think the iPhone 4 s is the King of smartphone gadgetry ! XD 'Tis Full Of Win!!!
Report as inappropriatedavid 24 December 2011
I have used a i phone 3g for 2 years (without a single problem) could not justify price for a 4s so bought a galaxy S2 what a mistake flimsy poorly made lasted 3 weeks now gone back to my 3g saving for my 4s which will be with me in the next couple of weeks, if you hold a 4s in one hand and a S2 in the other blindfolded you would think the S2 is out of a xmas cracker
Report as inappropriatewilliam9907 January 2012
got one love it
Report as inappropriatesophie230609 January 2012
Great phone, very good quality with its retina display. Siri has some issues with its understanding and not being able to look for businesses in the UK but hopefully that will improve! :D
Report as inappropriateBen03 March 2012
To much money (only problam)
Report as inappropriateThis comment has been removed.
Stablez21 March 2012
Amazing phone, somtimes Siri can mess up though.
Report as inappropriateStablez21 March 2012
I LOVE COKLATE CAKE
Report as inappropriateSimonpeter0122 March 2012
best phone ever by far all apple products are top draw you get what ya pay for
Report as inappropriatebaldok1430 March 2012
But siri has got problems about spelling the names in different languages!
Report as inappropriateRTAlpha16 April 2012
Over all the 4s is a good phone but v disappointed thatthe location searchs with Siri will only work in the US. Any word from Apple on a future roll-out.
Report as inappropriatesir joesph kony20 April 2012
i dont like yo faCE
Report as inappropriateTheGadgetMan36029 April 2012
I think the iPhone is a fab phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report as inappropriateThis comment has been removed.
This comment has been removed.
Tony07 May 2012
It's a bit more expensive than many other smart phones on the market but as with other Apple products.... It actually works. I've bought other companies products before and ended up wasting immense amounts of time fiddling, tweaking and searching for work arounds. If you're a techno geek and enjoy trying to get things to work go buy something else. If you want a reliable tools that gets the job done, get an iphone 4s.
Report as inappropriateBOBBY S08 May 2012
I swapped from iPhone to Galaxy Note, would never return to apple again! The open functionality of android is a breath of fresh air. I put an SD card in it upgraded instantly extra 32gb for less than £30! How much would Apple ask for another 32gb? Also I can use it for data storage, due to standard USB connection, play most types of movies such as DIVX avi's . And also download torrents directly the Note! I rarely find myself reaching for the laptop anymore, and it does everything the iPhone could but better( flash enabled?). The web as it should be with all videos playable! Only thing I miss is having an ITunes application on the phone.
Report as inappropriateJoin Channel 5
Creating an account is free, will only take a few moments and will allow you to enjoy the full benefits of 5FWD and Channel 5:
Leave a comment