Look & Feel
The single biggest reason for the groans of disappointment is mostly
because the 4S looks so much like the previous iPhone. Not that it is a
bad thing at all, considering the solid build and comfortable to hold design.
What it does is doesn’t really offer that stand out-ish feel. Two people side
by side, one using an iPhone 4 and the other is using an iPhone 4S -
yet you wont be able to make out the difference.
Features & Performance
It seems that Apple followed the same naming pattern as they did when
the upgraded the iPhone 3G to the iPhone 3GS,
with “S” for speed. The A5 dual core 1GHz processor powering the iPad 2 makes
its way into the 4S. Graphics have been boosted as well, with the PowerVR
SGX535 making way for the PowerVR SGX543MP2. Performance wise, the 4S is
definitely faster than the iPhone 4, yet we must point out that the 4 was not
slow by any stretch of the imagination. Apps open slightly quicker on the 4S,
and the UI is slicker and smoother even with multiple apps open in the
background. The upgrade to a dual core is all fair and good on paper, but even
the power package on the iPhone 4 was quite excellent in itself, considering
the immense optimization between the OS and the hardware.
Apart from the power package, the camera has been upgraded as well. The
5MP camera makes way for the 8MP one, with 1080p video recording and video
stabilization. The still pictures look a lot better than the predecessor. While
it is still susceptible to noisy images in low ambient light, but to a lesser
extent. Video recording bump up is a real value boost, particularly with the
video stabilization feature.
What is completely new is the voice-activated personal assistant, Siri.
It is a whole lot of fun to speak to the phone, and quite an attention grabber
as well. Speaking on the phone we are all used to, but speaking with the phone
is something totally different!
The 3.5-inch display is carried forward, as if, from the 4. Apple seems
to be following the adage of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” to the hilt. The
display quality is excellent. Despite being the small sized one in the company
of 4-inch and above display sizes, this display does very well as far as
multimedia viewing is concerned.
We were surprised to find that the 2G/3G toggle was missing in the
network settings. There was no way we could turn off the 3G data and stick to
only 2G.
Battery life
is supposed to be an improvement over the older 4, but we really didn’t see
any. With 3G connected at all times, the battery life of the two phones is
similar. However, the 4S’s battery lasts a bit longer than the 4, with 3G
turned off.
What the operators are offering
In India,
Airtel and Aircel are selling the iPhone 4S. However, let us make it very clear
- these phones are not network locked. For example - You can buy the 4S from an
Airtel store with or without a new connection with it. You can put in the SIM
card from any GSM service provider and it will work. The only requirement is to
get your existing SIM converted to a micro SIM. If you are upgrading from an
iPhone 4 or will be using the SIM you were currently using with the iPad 2,
then there is no need to get anything changed.
Prices of iPhone 4S
iPhone 4S (16GB- black and white)- Rs 44,500 (Airtel) and Rs 44,500
(Aircel)
iPhone 4S (32GB- black and white)- Rs 50,900 (Airtel) and Rs 50,900
(Aircel)
iPhone 4S (64GB- black and white)- N.A. at the moment (Airtel) and Rs
57,500 (Aircel)
There are special tariff plans on prepaid and postpaid that offer a
reverse subsidy over a period of time, if you stick with those plans. Any
existing but upgrading customer of the same service provider, or new iPhone 4S
customer can subscribe to these plans. Also read, iPhone 4S tariff plans compared - Aircel vs. Airtel
Our Take
As far as product upgrades go, this one has received the treatment
where it matters the most - power and performance. For anyone who has a budget
that can fit in the iPhone 4S as a possible purchase, we suggest you give this
a try. It does bring in a bundle of magnificence, but will cost quite a lot of
money. However, the fact that it looks like the older iPhone 4 will put off a
lot of picky users, and even those who are currently using an iPhone 4.
Price: Rs. 44,500
Specs
Platform: Apple iOS 5; Processor: Apple A5 dual core 1GHz; RAM: 512MB;
Display: 3.5-inch LED IPS with 640x960 pixel resolution; Storage: 16GB; Camera:
8MP with 1080p HD videos; Battery: 1432mAh
