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Apple iPhone 4s

Apple iPhone 4s

Released: October 14, 2011

Price TBA
Display3.5"
Camera8 MP, f/2.4, 35mm (standard), 1/3.2", 1.4µm, AF
RAM512GB
BatteryLi-Po 1432 mAh, non-removable (5.3 Wh)

Apple iPhone 4s: A Timeless Icon of Premium Design and Compact Power The Apple iPhone 4s stands as a landmark device in smartphone history, celebrated for its impeccable build quality and refined simplicity. Targeted at collectors, retro-tech enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a ultra-compact, beautifully crafted smartphone, the iPhone 4s delivers an experience defined by its iconic glass-and-stainless-steel design, a crisp 3.5-inch Retina display, and the smooth iOS ecosystem. With its dual-core Apple A5 chip and an 8MP camera that set a new standard for mobile photography in its era, this device remains a compelling piece of mobile heritage for those who value form factor and craftsmanship over raw specs. 📱 Premium Build & Iconic Display The iPhone 4s features a stainless steel frame sandwiched between two panels of glass (front Corning Gorilla Glass with oleophobic coating, rear glass back). This construction not only exudes a premium feel but also contributes to a remarkably compact profile at just 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm and 140g. The 3.5-inch IPS LCD display offers a resolution of 960 x 640 pixels (330 PPI), delivering sharp text and vibrant colors with a 3:2 aspect ratio — ideal for one-handed use and easy pocketability. 📸 Camera Excellence for Its Time Equipped with an 8MP main camera (f/2.4, 1/3.2" sensor, 1.4µm pixels) and LED flash, the iPhone 4s was a mobile photography pioneer. It captures 1080p video at 30fps and supports panorama and HDR modes. The front-facing VGA camera enables video calling over Wi-Fi and 3G, a feature that was ahead of its era. While modest by today’s standards, this camera setup delivers consistent, natural-looking images that defined the “point-and-shoot” smartphone experience. 🔋 Battery & Connectivity A Li-Po 1432 mAh battery powers the iPhone 4s, providing up to 8 hours of talk time on 3G and a standby time of up to 200 hours. It supports HSPA+ (14.4/5.76 Mbps), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with LE, and GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS. The device runs iOS 5, upgradable to iOS 9.3.6, ensuring access to a wide range of legacy apps and services. Storage options range from 8GB to 64GB (no expandable slot), with 512MB RAM. Who Is This Phone For? The Apple iPhone 4s is best suited for collectors, vintage smartphone enthusiasts, and users who want a secondary device that prioritizes compact size, premium materials, and classic iOS simplicity. It offers excellent value for those seeking an affordable entry into the early Apple ecosystem or a reliable music player/camera with legendary design. However, its low RAM, small battery, and lack of 4G/LTE mean it is not intended for heavy modern usage — but as a nostalgic piece of technology, it remains unmatched in build quality and aesthetic appeal.

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Reasons to Buy

  • Iconic glass-and-stainless-steel design with premium build quality
  • Compact 3.5-inch IPS LCD display with high pixel density (330 PPI)
  • 8MP rear camera capable of 1080p video recording and HDR
  • iOS ecosystem with upgrade path to iOS 9.3.6
  • Reliable GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS support
  • Supports GSM/CDMA/HSPA/EVDO networks for broad compatibility

Reasons to Avoid

  • Only 512MB RAM – limited multitasking and app performance
  • Small 1432 mAh non-removable battery with moderate endurance (45h rating)
  • No 4G/LTE or 5G connectivity – limited to HSPA+ speeds
  • No expandable storage – fixed internal memory options
  • No IP rating for water or dust resistance
  • VGA front camera (0.3MP) – low resolution for selfies and video calls

Full Specifications

Network

Technology
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO
2G Bands
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, CDMA 800 / 1900
3G Bands
HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Speed
HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps

Launch

Announced
October 4, 2011
Status
Discontinued

Body

Dimensions
115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm
Weight
140 g
Build
Glass front (Glass front (Corning-made glass)), Back (Glass back), Frame (Stainless steel frame)
SIM
Micro-SIM

Display

Type
IPS LCD
Size
3.5 inches
Resolution
960 x 640 pixels (3:2 ratio) (~330 ppi density)
Protection
Corning Gorilla Glass, oleophobic coating

Platform

OS
iOS 5 (Upgradable to iOS 9.3.6)
Chipset
Apple A5 (45 nm)
CPU
Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9
GPU
PowerVR SGX543MP2

Memory

Card slot
No
Internal
8192GB 512GB RAM, 16384GB 512GB RAM, 32768GB 512GB RAM, 65536GB 512GB RAM

Main Camera

Modules
8 MP, f/2.4, 35mm (standard), 1/3.2", 1.4µm, AF
Features
LED flash, panorama, HDR
Video
1080p@30fps

Selfie Camera

Modules
VGA, videocalling over Wi-Fi and 3G
Video
480p@30fps

Sound

Loudspeaker
Yes
3.5mm jack
1

Connectivity

WLAN
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot
Bluetooth
4.0, A2DP, LE
Positioning
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
USB
2.0

Features

Sensors
Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery

Type
Li-Po 1432 mAh, non-removable (5.3 Wh)
Talk time
Up to 8 h (3G)
Stand-by
Up to 200 h (3G)

Misc

Colors
Black, White
Models
A1431, A1387, iPhone4, 1
SAR
1.18 (head) 0.98 (body)
SAR EU
0.99 (head) 0.99 (body)

Tests

Display
["Contrast ratio: 1261:1 (nominal) \/ 2.269:1 (sunlight)"]
Camera
["Photo \/ Video"]
Loudspeaker
["Voice 65dB \/ Noise 64dB \/ Ring 74dB"]
Audio quality
["Noise -91.2dB \/ Crosstalk -93.0dB"]
Battery (old)
["Endurance rating 45h"]

Apple iPhone 4s Review

Apple iPhone 4s: A Timeless Icon of Premium Design and Compact Power

The Apple iPhone 4s stands as a landmark device in smartphone history, celebrated for its impeccable build quality and refined simplicity. Targeted at collectors, retro-tech enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a ultra-compact, beautifully crafted smartphone, the iPhone 4s delivers an experience defined by its iconic glass-and-stainless-steel design, a crisp 3.5-inch Retina display, and the smooth iOS ecosystem. With its dual-core Apple A5 chip and an 8MP camera that set a new standard for mobile photography in its era, this device remains a compelling piece of mobile heritage for those who value form factor and craftsmanship over raw specs.

📱 Premium Build & Iconic Display

The iPhone 4s features a stainless steel frame sandwiched between two panels of glass (front Corning Gorilla Glass with oleophobic coating, rear glass back). This construction not only exudes a premium feel but also contributes to a remarkably compact profile at just 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm and 140g. The 3.5-inch IPS LCD display offers a resolution of 960 x 640 pixels (330 PPI), delivering sharp text and vibrant colors with a 3:2 aspect ratio — ideal for one-handed use and easy pocketability.

📸 Camera Excellence for Its Time

Equipped with an 8MP main camera (f/2.4, 1/3.2" sensor, 1.4µm pixels) and LED flash, the iPhone 4s was a mobile photography pioneer. It captures 1080p video at 30fps and supports panorama and HDR modes. The front-facing VGA camera enables video calling over Wi-Fi and 3G, a feature that was ahead of its era. While modest by today’s standards, this camera setup delivers consistent, natural-looking images that defined the “point-and-shoot” smartphone experience.

🔋 Battery & Connectivity

A Li-Po 1432 mAh battery powers the iPhone 4s, providing up to 8 hours of talk time on 3G and a standby time of up to 200 hours. It supports HSPA+ (14.4/5.76 Mbps), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with LE, and GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS. The device runs iOS 5, upgradable to iOS 9.3.6, ensuring access to a wide range of legacy apps and services. Storage options range from 8GB to 64GB (no expandable slot), with 512MB RAM.

Who Is This Phone For?

The Apple iPhone 4s is best suited for collectors, vintage smartphone enthusiasts, and users who want a secondary device that prioritizes compact size, premium materials, and classic iOS simplicity. It offers excellent value for those seeking an affordable entry into the early Apple ecosystem or a reliable music player/camera with legendary design. However, its low RAM, small battery, and lack of 4G/LTE mean it is not intended for heavy modern usage — but as a nostalgic piece of technology, it remains unmatched in build quality and aesthetic appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

The iPhone 4s features a 3.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 640 x 960 pixels and a 3:2 aspect ratio, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 330 PPI. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass with an oleophobic coating.

The iPhone 4s is powered by the Apple A5 chipset built on a 45 nm process, which includes a dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 CPU and a PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU.

The iPhone 4s has a non-removable Li-Po 1432 mAh battery. It offers up to 8 hours of talk time on 3G and up to 200 hours of standby time on 3G. No fast charging is supported.

No, the iPhone 4s does not support 5G or 4G LTE. It operates on GSM, CDMA, HSPA, and EVDO networks with maximum speeds of HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps.

The main camera is an 8 MP sensor with an f/2.4 aperture and autofocus, capable of recording 1080p video at 30fps. Features include LED flash, panorama, and HDR. The front-facing camera is a VGA unit for video calling and records 480p video at 30fps.

No, the iPhone 4s does not have an IP rating for water or dust resistance. Its construction includes a glass front and back with a stainless steel frame.

The iPhone 4s was available in storage variants of 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. All models come with 512 MB of RAM. There is no expandable storage via a card slot.