The new iPhone is finally out. It’s not the iPhone 5, but it is the iPhone 4S. As typical with Apple support‘s iPhone releases, this is similar to how the iPhone 3GS came out which was a year after the iPhone 3G. Same car, but different engine.
So, should you buy the iPhone 4S? If you don’t have an iPhone at all, the answer is a resounding yes. Why? The iPhone 5 is expected to be released, at a minimum, in 1 year. So, why wait! Plus, the cost and special features validate buying it.
Here is the cost breakdown of the iPhone 4S:
- $199 – 16GB storage model
- $299 – 32GB storage model
- $399 – 64GB storage model
Keep in mind that the above costs are discounted already if you are eligible for a 2-year extension with AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. If you don’t qualify, you will have to pay at least $200 extra or more according to your plan.
The iPhone 4S has some cool tricks, including:
- auto cloud backups
- 8 Megapixel camera
- 1080p high-def video recording
- Star Trek-like voice commands
- 8 hours talk time
- combined GSM and CDMA phone
- dual-antenna pushes 3G to 14.4Mbps speed
- A5 processor is 2x faster than iPhone 4 support speed
- “world phone” will limit Sprint and Verizon out-0f-network overages
If you have an iPhone 4 already, then the choice might be more difficult. If it comes down to cost, you most likely have already used your get-out-of-jail-for-free card as I like to call it, or as AT&T and Verizon call it, their 2-year upgrade eligibility package. That means if you upgraded to your iPhone 4 for an additional 2-year term, you cannot ask for that favor again, meaning you have to pay a premium for the iPhone 4s. As for costs, it will be a minimum of $200 extra for the 2-year extension costs above. This means the you’ll be paying $399 at a minimum if you are not eligible for a 2-year extension upgrade.
If cost is not a factor, then let’s break down the iPhone 4s vs iPhone 4 to see if an upgrade is warranted:
- Appearance – Absolutely the same! Just in black or white.
- Storage – The 4S has a new 64GB model.
- Camera – The 4 has a 5MP camera and the 4S has a sharper 8MP resolution.
- Video – The 4 has 720p while the 4S has a crisper 1080p high-def.
- Speed – The 4S is twice as fast, processor-wise, and 7x faster with graphics.
- Call quality – The 4S will have less dropped calls with 2 antennas to choose from.
- Screen quality – The same.
- iOS 5 – New operating system brings iCloud and Siri voice commands.
So, there are noticeable differences which you’ll enjoy. If you’re an avid Mac support fan, this is definitely a no-brainer to get. But, in regard to those who don’t want to labor over setting up an new iPhone, I’ll categorize the types of people who should put forth this extra iPhone upgrade service time and buy the iPhone 4s:
- Gamers / Apps fanatics – will enjoy the 7x faster graphics
- Attorneys / Psychologists / Voice Memo folks – the Siri voice command service is top-notch for dictation
- DJ’s / Music lovers – the larger 64GB storage can store and share music to other devices
- Avid file backup / multiple computer synchronizers – iCloud will accomplish this
- Video / picture enthusiasts – the High-def video and 8MP camera are sure to please
As an alternative, you can change the color of your current iPhone 4 with our exclusive iPhone color conversion service. You can change your iPhone to red, blue, green, yellow, white, pink, brown, orange, and other colors.