Apple · iPhone

iPhone 4S

Released October 2011

The iPhone 4S is Apple's 2011 iPhone, keeping the iPhone 4's 3.5-inch Retina display and glass design but adding the dual-core A5 chip, an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p video and Siri, suited to collectors and anyone comparing early iPhones.

Model history · 5 models, 2007–2011

Screen: 3.5″
Display: LCD, 60 Hz
Chip: A5
Memory: 512 MB
Storage: 8 GB – 64 GB
Main camera: 8 MP
Zoom: –
Battery: 1,432 mAh
Weight: 140 g

Compact

What reviewers say

Both reviews praise the 4S's excellent camera, fast processor, great display and polished software. CNET found the design unchanged from the iPhone 4, little reason for iPhone 4 owners to upgrade, and Siri of limited use in the UK at launch; TechRadar found it costly.

From techradar.com and cnet.com

Specifications

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Display

Screen size: 3.5″
Resolution: 960 × 640
Sharpness: 330 pixels per inch
Panel: LCD
Refresh rate: 60 Hz
Peak brightness: 500 nits
Display type: Retina display; 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display
Pixel density: 326 ppi
Brightness detail: 500 cd/m² max brightness (typical)
Screen protection: Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and back
Display features: 800:1 contrast ratio (typical)

Performance

Chip: A5
Memory: 512 MB
Storage: 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB
CPU: Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 (GSMArena); 512 MB of LPDDR2 RAM (iFixit)
GPU: PowerVR SGX543MP2 (GSMArena)

Cameras

Main camera: 8 MP
Ultra wide camera: None
Telephoto camera: None
Optical zoom: None
Front camera: 0.3 MP
Main camera: 8-megapixel camera with autofocus, tap to focus, face detection in still images and LED flash
Front camera: VGA-quality photos and video at up to 30 fps
Video recording: HD (1080p) up to 30 fps with audio; video stabilisation
Camera features: Photo and video geotagging

Battery and charging

Battery: 1,432 mAh
Video playback (maker's claim): Up to 10 hours
Wireless charging: None
Battery life detail: Talk time up to 8 hours on 3G or 14 hours on 2G (GSM); standby up to 200 hours; internet use up to 6 hours on 3G or 9 hours on Wi-Fi; video playback up to 10 hours; audio playback up to 40 hours; 3.7 V, 5.3 Wh, 1,432 mAh (iFixit)
Wired charging: Charging via USB to a computer or power adapter

Design

Type: Standard
Weight: 140 g
Thickness: 9.3 mm
Height × width: 115.2 × 58.6 mm
Materials: Glass front, glass back and stainless steel frame (GSMArena)
Colours: White, black
Sensors: Three-axis gyro; accelerometer; proximity sensor; ambient light sensor

Software

Operating system: iOS
Software at launch: iOS 5, with Siri

Connectivity

Mobile network: World phone; UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)
SIM: Micro-SIM (GSMArena)
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (802.11n 2.4GHz only)
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0
USB: 30-pin dock connector; 3.5 mm stereo headphone minijack; video mirroring and video out up to 1080p with the Apple Digital AV Adapter or Apple VGA Adapter (sold separately); AirPlay Mirroring to Apple TV at 720p
Positioning: Assisted GPS; digital compass; Wi-Fi; cellular

Storage options

Storage
8 GB
16 GB
32 GB
64 GB

Pros and cons

Pros

8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video and video stabilisation
Dual-core A5 chip with 512 MB of RAM (iFixit)
World phone with both GSM/UMTS and CDMA networks, and Bluetooth 4.0

Cons

VGA-quality front camera
Up to 200 hours of standby, against 300 hours for the iPhone 4
30-pin dock connector

Closest rivals

Model	Screen	Display	Chip	Memory	Storage	Main camera	Zoom	Battery	Weight	Released
AppleiPhone 4	3.5″	LCD, 60 Hz	A4	512 MB	8 GB – 32 GB	5 MP	–	1,420 mAh	137 g	Jun 2010
Sony EricssonSatio	3.5″	LCD	–	–	68 MB	12.1 MP	–	–	126 g	2009
AppleiPhone 3GS	3.5″	LCD, 60 Hz	Samsung S5PC100	256 MB	8 GB – 32 GB	3 MP	–	1,219 mAh	135 g	Jun 2009

Previous model: iPhone 4. Newer model: iPhone 5.

Sources

Photo: cdsassets.apple.com

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