- pcmag.com October 4, 2011 04:58pm EST
Apple today finally announced the long-awaited iPhone 4S. Looking identical to the previous iPhone 4, it certainly isn't the radically redesigned iPhone 5 many people were expecting.
"Don't be fooled. Inside it is all new," Apple's Phil Schiller said during the phone's unveiling. Indeed, while the iPhone 4S looks strikingly similar to the iPhone 4, it's packing some seriously upgraded hardware and promising new software.
We've stacked up the specs for the new iPhone 4S side by side against the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 3GS in the chart below to help you determine which smartphone is right for you.
The iPhone 4S is powered by Apple's new dual-core A5 chip, which Apple claims can deliver up to two times more power and seven times faster graphics performance than the iPhone 4. In addition, the iPhone 4S will be available on Sprint, along with AT&T and Verizon Wireless. It is a world phone, meaning it will support both CDMA and GSM networks.
Schiller said users will get eight hours of 3G talk time with the iPhone 4S, which is an improvement over the iPhone 4's seven hours. He also said the device will "intelligently switch between two antennas to improve call quality" and double download speeds. It will support HSPA+ 14.4, which can deliver speeds up to 14.4 Mbps.
Improvements have also been made to the phone's camera, which can now take 8-megapixel photos and record video at 1080p. The phone will be available in 16GB and 32GB capacities, along with a new 64GB option.
In addition to these improvements, the iPhone 4S will feature advanced support for voice-recognition and control through Siri. At the phone's unveiling, Scott Forstall, senior vice president of iPhone Software at Apple, demonstrated Siri by asking for the weather, the time in Paris, restaurant recommendations for Palo Alto, and the status of the NASDAQ.
Despite these improvements, many things remain the same. The physical design, for instance, has remained untouched, and the phone has the same 3.5-inch display found on the iPhone 4.
But with the introduction of the iPhone 4S comes a price drop for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS. An 8GB iPhone 4 can now be had for just $99 on AT&T or Verizon, while the iPhone 3GS will be available for free with a two-year service agreement on AT&T.
So is the new iPhone 4S worth it? You'll have to check back for our review before we can make that call, but right now, it looks like if you're willing to drop at least $200, the iPhone 4S will offer some significant upgrades over the previous generations of iPhones.
But if you're looking for a new, entry-level smartphone, and don't want to spend a lot of money, it's hard to beat a free iPhone 3GS.
The only deal I'm not sure about is the iPhone 4. Sure, $99 is a great price, but that's for an 8GB model. A 16GB iPhone 4S starts at $199.99. It seems like it may be worth it to spring the extra hundred bucks for the 4S, given its higher storage capacity, improved hardware, and new features.
For more from today's Apple event, see the slideshow below.
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