Should You Buy An iPhone 4S?
October 5, 2011
Now that Apple’s special event in Cupertino is over, many people are expressing some disappointment. A lot of folks are left wondering whether or not they should buy the iPhone 4S. This is a personal decision, but here are some things to think about before you decide one way or another. The first thing to consider is what sort of phone you have now.
If you have a non-iPhone:
You’ve been thinking about getting your first iPhone for a while now. But all the disappointment surrounding the iPhone 4S’s announcement has you confused. Is it a bad phone? Should you wait for the next one? I say, go for the 4S. Now is as good a time as any to jump into the iPhone world. No, the 4S is NOT a huge jump over the iPhone 4 -- but make no mistake, it IS a jump, and the iPhone 4 is pretty darn great already. But will the next phone be even better? Well, sure, I’d assume so, and the one after that better still. That’s just how it works. So if you’re new to the iPhone, I really don’t think you’re going to be disappointed with the iPhone 4S.
If you have an iPhone 3G or 3GS:
The iPhone 4S will be a big jump for you. Having been an iPhone owner for some time now, I’m sure you’re well aware of how much of an upgrade the iPhone 4 is, and, well, the arrival of the iPhone 4S brings a great opportunity to see a massive change in user experience. If I were sporting a 3GS, I would definitely be taking the upgrade this month.
If you have an iPhone 4:
Here is where it gets tricky. The fact is, the new features announced yesterday do look quite nice. IF the Siri feature works as well as claimed, IF the improved camera really does result in faster, vastly better quality pictures and video, then it may be something to consider. Here is something else to think about. I bought an iPhone 3GS right when it came out in 2009. I signed a two-year contract with AT&T, so I assumed I would not be allowed to upgrade again until 2011. But, in the frenzy surrounding the iPhone 4 in 2010, lo and behold, AT&T allowed me to upgrade to the iPhone 4 after only one year without paying any penalty (when I signed a new two-year contract, of course). This immediately made me think that the iPhone would be going to Verizon, and AT&T was desperately trying to hang on to my business, which turned out to be exactly the case. So, I decided to check and see if AT&T still wants to keep me badly enough to let me upgrade after only a year again. The answer? No. If you bought the iPhone 4 on day one, you may not be allowed to upgrade until November 25, as you can see from the price chart posted below. Unless, of course, you want to pay an extra $250 for the privilege.
If you bought it the next day, as I did, push that date back to November 26, and so on. So, you’ll need to check with your own provider to see when you’re eligible to upgrade without paying hundreds of dollars extra. I can only report my own experience; others have reported being eligible to immediately upgrade from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S at full upgrade pricing. Read more about upgrade eligibility here.
The bottom line:
If thinking about getting your first iPhone, or upgrading from the iPhone 3 or 3GS, you’ll definitely find the iPhone 4S to be a great upgrade. If you’re coming from the iPhone 4, it’s not going to be as big of a jump. Whether or not it’s worth locking into a two year contract when surely another great iteration will come in a year or so -- this remains to be seen. AppAdvicers Alexander and Mahmoud discuss their thoughts here, in the “Inside The App Store” podcast. You can read more about the difference between the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S here. Personally, I’ll be checking out the iPhone 4S once it’s in stores, but unless the Siri and the new camera totally blow me away, I’ll probably sit this one out.
