iPhone 5 Launch Didn't Happen, Apple Introduces iPhone 4S Instead
As we all know now, iPhone 5 launch didn't push through and instead Apple introduced the iPhone 4S.
The news was underwhelming and disappointing to many who were also expecting an iPhone 5. There's also the fact that the iPhone 4S
looks almost identical to the iPhone 4. However, there's more than
meets the eye, as Apple made a number of changes under the hood to
improve on performance, including a faster processor, a more advanced
camera, and a new antenna design. In addition, Apple expanded its family
to include Sprint and a 64GB model (finally!).
Offering more
choice will certainly help Apple's cause, but is there enough to
persuade iPhone 4 owners to upgrade? Read on for more about the iPhone 4S and our first impressions and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments section below.
Processor and battery lifeThe iPhone 4S features Apple's A5 dual-core 1GHz processor along with a dual-core GPU. Apple says the new chipset will make the iPhone 4S
twice as fast and offer graphics performance that is seven times faster
than the iPhone 4's. Despite the more powerful processor, the company
claims the smartphone will be able to provide 8 hours of talk time over
3G, 14 hours over 2G, 6 hours of browsing over 3G, 9 hours via Wi-Fi, 10
hours of video playback, and 40 hours of music playback.
The
performance upgrades are indeed welcome. We're never ones to pass up
more speed in a mobile device, and if Apple can make that happen without
hampering battery life, then all the better. The promised times are
impressive, but manufacturer promises can be just that. Though the
Samsung Epic Touch 4G and Motorola Droid Bionic had rated talk times of 8
hours and 10.8 hours, respectively, they actually lasted a less stellar
7 hours each in CNET's
lab tests.
During our brief demonstration of the iPhone 4S,
the handset did operate smoothly and speedily. We weren't able to test
it against the iPhone 4 in a side-by-side comparison to notice exactly
how much of a boost the new A5 chip offers, but a change for the better
is definitely there.
SiriThe
feature
that Apple touted most during the event was the new voice assistant
called Siri. It doesn't completely replace the current Voice Control feature,
but it certainly does a whole lot more. Basically, Siri is designed to
deliver information or follow commands that you give it. For example,
you can check the weather, ask for a contact's address, set up a
reminder, get directions, and ask for obscure trivia like the height of
Mount Everest. You speak with a robotic female voice (you can't change her identity) and access the feature by holding down the Home button.
We
used it a few minutes and asked for, among other things, the next day's
weather, the mileage between Cupertino, Calif., and Seattle, a reminder
to book
air tickets to Chicago,
and information about the capital of Canada. It responded to most of our
questions and commands quickly, but it flaked on finding that Ottawa is
the capital of our neighbors to the
north
(according to Siri, she "didn't have enough information"). We're not
sure why that was a problem for her; Siri uses Wikipedia to check facts,
and we know that Wikipedia has an article on Ottawa.
Despite the omission, it's a fun and useful feature
that we imagine many people will like. The challenge for Apple will be
to fully integrate hands-free technology. You will be able to activate
Siri with a
Bluetooth headset (no
word on if you can do it with a wired headset), but we understand that
car integration is "coming." Given the abundance of hands-free driving
laws, Apple will need to make Siri fully accessible to
drivers
while they keep both hands on the wheel. Siri will be in beta mode when
it launches and will support English, French, and German. More
languages will come later.
CameraThe iPhone 4's 5-megapixel camera was already great, but it's about to get better. The iPhone 4S
has an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus, flash, f/2.4 aperture lens,
and a backside-illuminated CMOS sensor that allows 73 percent more light
than the previous sensor and should deliver better low-light
performance. A hybrid IR filter is also onboard for better color
accuracy. Apple also claims the new camera performs 33 percent faster
than the iPhone 4's camera, and the A5 processor has a built-in image
processor that
adds face detection and 26 percent better auto white balance.
We
tried a few indoor shots with the camera and definitely noticed a
change from the iPhone 4. In addition to the sharper details, most
colors were brighter. We'll have to save our final opinion until we can
gauge the camera under several conditions (a sunny day, with a flash,
and so on), but we like what we see so far.
Videos also get a
boost with the ability to shoot 1080p HD video clips at 30 frames per
second and with video stabilization. Yet, even with all the
improvements, CNET digital imaging editor Lori Grunin is quick to note
that while the iPhone might have a killer camera, it's no camera killer.
New carrierThough
it received very little attention during Apple's presentation, the
addition of Sprint is one of the day's high points. Over the past few
weeks, it was pretty obvious the iPhone family would expand, but that
doesn't take away from the fact that millions of new people can now join
the iOS family without switching carriers. What's more, Sprint is
promising that it will keep its unlimited data plans, at least for now.
That alone is a big point in the carrier's favor over AT&T and
Verizon Wireless.
On the other hand, we'll have to see just how the increase in
data-hungry users will test Sprint's network and how the carrier's
strong Android lineup will withstand the new competition.
Once we
get iPhone 4 review devices we'll do a close comparison of how the
Sprint models stack up against the AT&T and Verizon versions in both
data speed and call quality. But at the very least, we're always glad
to see more customer choice.
ConnectivityAs widely reported, the iPhone 4S
is a dual-band world phone, meaning it supports both GSM and CDMA. This
is more significant for Verizon and Sprint customers, as it will allow
them to use the iPhone even if they
travel
overseas. What's yet to be determined is whether the carriers will
unlock the preloaded SIM card, so users can swap it out for a prepaid
international SIM card at their destination. We also don't know if the
CDMA models will offer simultaneous voice and data over the CDMA
network. At present, that's a significant limitation of the Verizon
iPhone 4.
Meanwhile, for GSM customers, the iPhone 4S now
supports HSPA+ 14.4, so the smartphone is capable of reaching
theoretical download speeds of 14.4Mbps down, 5.8Mbps up. It's certainly
an improvement over the current model, but disappointing that there's
no compatibility with the faster HSPA+ 21Mbps networks.
Of
course, the lack of "real" 4G support for LTE on Verizon or WiMax on
Sprint is troubling. Apple has its reasons, no doubt. Battery life
remains an issue for high-speed phones and Apple must have decided that,
at this point, it couldn't offer its optimal customer experience on a
4G handset (remember that customer experience is really what Apple is
all about). Secondly, Apple never jumps on a technology that is still
growing, and it must think that 4G doesn't cover enough people quite
yet.
DesignAs we noted earlier, the iPhone 4S' design is nearly identical to the iPhone 4's. Aside from being 0.1 ounce heavier, the iPhone 4S
is exactly the same size as its predecessor. It also features the same
3.5-inch, 960x640-pixel Retina Display with a glass back and front. One
thing Apple did redesign, however, is the antenna system. The new design
will hopefully prevent another Antennagate situation and Apple says to
expect even better call quality.
Pricing and availability
The iPhone 4S
will be available for preorder on October 7; it goes on sale October 14
from AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint in the U.S. It will come in black
and white and pricing starts at $199 for the 16GB version, $299 for
32GB, and $399 for 64GB.
iOS 5The
iPhone 4S will debut with all the features of iOS 5, which is Apple's
latest version of its operating system. We tackle that analysis in our
separate iOS 5 First Take, so be sure to check it out. In short, it's
not a huge upgrade, but we welcome the new features like the advanced
notifications and "PC Free."
So should you buy it?There's
no question that the iPhone 4S offers several attractive new features.
Granted, some gadget enthusiasts who've spent months watching the
"iPhone 5" rumor mill spin out of control will be disappointed. And in a
way, we sympathize. Indeed, the lack of highly anticipated features
like 4G and a revamped design can be hard to swallow. But as long as the
"antennagate" problems that we saw on the iPhone 4 don't return, we can
live without a new design. A bigger display would be nice, but we don't
see a real need for a thinner phone. Waiting for 4G is more troubling,
but it fits Apple's pattern of staying behind bleeding-edge technology.
Android fans may gloat, but Apple fans shouldn't be surprised.
In
the end, the decision to buy an iPhone 4S will depend on your current
carrier contract. If you aren't eligible for an upgrade with a rebate,
then we don't think the new features are worth paying full price. On the
other hand, if you can upgrade or if you're a Sprint customer waiting
to get your hands on the iPhone for the very first time, then you should
consider it. Sure, there's the chance that a better "iPhone 5" will
come next June, but that's a long time to wait. What's more, there's no
guarantee that Apple will even stick to that schedule. So go ahead and
take the chance because in the cell phone world, something better is
always around the corner.
By: Bonnie Cha and Kent German via cnet
