With the Apple iPhone 4s, Apple is clearly aiming at buyers who want a well-rounded phone without too many compromises. Here is our take on what it brings to the table. Announced in 2011, October 04. Released 2011, October 14, it arrives at a time when the competition is as tight as ever.
Design & Display
Up front there is a 3.5 inches, 36.5 cm 2 (~54.0% screen-to-body ratio) screen, pushing a resolution of 640 x 960 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~330 ppi density). Colours look punchy and text stays clean, so you will not have much to complain about here. It is not trying to reinvent the wheel with its design, but it does look the part. You can pick it up in a few finishes, including Black.
Performance & Software
Under the hood you will find the Apple A5 (45 nm). For the kind of tasks most of us throw at a phone, there is plenty of muscle here. It runs iOS 5, upgradable to iOS 9.3.6 out of the box, so the software experience feels current.
Camera
Photography is handled by a main 8 MP shooter that should cover most situations, from daylight shots to the occasional low-light frame. Point-and-shoot results are reliable, and that is exactly what most buyers want.
Battery
There is a Li-Po 1432 mAh, non-removable (5.3 Wh) battery inside, which should comfortably see most people through a full day on a single charge.
Our Opinion
Coming to the important bit, our opinion on the Apple iPhone 4s. This is a phone that does not try to be the flashiest option on the shelf, and honestly that works in its favour. It gets the basics right, offering a dependable main camera, a crisp display, which is exactly what most buyers are really after. If your priority is a phone that just works, day in and day out, then this one deserves a spot on your shortlist. There are rivals that beat it in one area or another, as is always the case in this segment. But taken as a whole, the Apple iPhone 4s is a sensible, well-judged choice that should keep most users happy for a good while. If you have used this device or are planning to pick one up, do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
