Introduction
The Apple iPhone is no longer the Superman of the cellphone world, despite all the hoopla, lines and glitz. Every carrier now has (or will have) at least one comparable Android superphone to the iPhone 4, such as Sprint’s EVO 4G, T-Mobile’s Google Nexus, the upcoming Droid X from Verizon on July 15, and Samsung’s Galaxy S from either AT&T or T-Mobile later this summer. Plus, the iPhone 4 also has to compete with the lower-priced 3G S, which also can run the new-and-improved multi-tasking iOS 4 operating system.
The question really isn’t whether the iPhone 4 is a cool, new phone – it is. Its video chatting FaceTime is fascinating and fun, the Retina high-resolution screen is a salve to squinters, its 5-megapixel camera is exceptional. But the iPhone 4 also suffers from a couple of niggling issues which, now that you have plenty of superphone choices, make it less than it could have been.
Design and Layout
Apple touts the iPhone 4 as being the thinnest smartphone ever. This is misleading. The iPhone 4 is actually thicker around the edges than the tapered 3G S, so it feels thicker. And its glass rear is slipperier than the plastic 3G S.
The iPhone 4 is a smidgen smaller all around than the 3G S and the same weight, but thanks to the metal band around the perimeter and the glass front and back, it feels more solid. It’s also squarer than the tapered 3G S, which means form-fitting skins won’t fit (they’ll be too small), and the upper frame by the earpiece has a sharper edge, which means a naked iPhone 4 held tight to your ear will feel sharp and uncomfortable.
The iPhone 4′s controls and jacks remain in the same place, but the volume controls and home key require a firmer touch, which eliminates accidental presses.
Storage
Inside the iPhone “General/About/Capacity” settings menu, we’re told the 32 GB S has 29.3 GB of user memory, and the iPhone 4 29.1 GB. When you plug the two phones into iTunes, you’re told the S has actually has 29.33 GB and the iPhone 4 just 29.06 GB. But that approximately 270 MB difference (if my math is right) is not big enough to account for the disparity between the content that fit on my S and what didn’t fit on my 4. I had 4,750 music tracks and 2,250 photos on my 3G S with 1.4 GB left to spare; I had to trim these down to 4,550 tracks and just 400 photos, with just 830 MB left over on the 4 (all other content – video, apps, books, et al – remaining consistent between the two). Considering I was hoping the iPhone 4 would be available in a 64 GB version, this memory short-sheeting is doubly disappointing.
Retina Display
Everyone will be talking about FaceTime, but the iPhone 4′s Retina screen that will be the longest-pleasing improvement.
The iPhone 4′s Retina 960 x 640 pixel screen leans to the greener end of the color spectrum compared to the 3G S’s cooler blue hue, most noticeable on white background Web pages, on faces, and on clear blue skies. But those extra pixels make a world of difference in illuminating tiny details and creating sharper edges in images and video. More importantly, the iPhone 4′s screen has deeper blacks (noticeable when comparing the iPhone 4 and the S when in sleep); colors pop in both tone and in contrast like never before.
But all of a sudden, the iPhone’s 3.5-inch screen seems small in the expanding world of 4-inch and larger superphone screens.
iTunes Integration
As it does for photos, the latest version of iTunes gives you the choice of down converting all higher bit-rated AAC and MP3 files to 128 Kbps AAC for use on your iPhone. We were able to save nearly 4GB of space by doing this, with no real loss of headphone sound quality.
Sound Quality
We could discern no qualitative improvement from the 3G S, but the speaker did pump out a bit more volume during FaceTime conversations. In a quiet room, we didn’t even have to go much beyond three quarters of maximum volume.
I`m not high tech., hardly can operate a regular cell phone. I`m looking for a phone with the I-phone 4 capabilities that even a dummy like me can use.
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Full signal everywhere I go. Interesting how others are having a issue.
Honestly, I like the point that the reviewer makes. I have high fidelity headsets with mic and it works out great with my 3gs. It is definitely more convenient and could be safer as well. I understand antena might be an issue for some people and that is unfortunate. But there is really no point in calling it antenagate. I can use the same grip of death on my 3gs to much the same effect. But overall, what makes most difference is the quality of the network in the particular location. I (unfortunately) have been with ATT long enough to realize how bad the network can be. Compared to verizon, people never have problem telling that you are on cell phone (regardless of brand). I can make calls from my 3gs through skype and the difference is night and day.
I am not a fanboy, but it is not unreasonable to say that Iphone is amazing product. People buy it despite the fact that ATT often makes it completely useless as a phone.
Coming over from Sprints Blackberry Curve, I see a huge improvement going into an iphone4. For one, the reception is at least 3-4 times better. I used to drop important business calls almost every time, maybe 5-6 times a day, very frustrating. With the 4 never. The apps are exciting and new, I'm loading all the free apps I want, the apps to pay for can rack up a monthly bill quick, be careful. I definately use the Otter rubber case, I've already dropped my phone on cement once. The Otter took the hit, the iphone is totally unscathed. The insurance plan, Asurion, my rep recommended, is $11.99/mo. with a $200 ded., that's crazy! But the question is, What will repairs cost without it? The battery usually lasts until evening, so no prob w/ it dying in the middle of the business day, but buy the car-charger.
my iphone 4 is nearly dead.
Its only 2 months. I cannot talk..cracking noise…when i called apple..they confirmed it to be a hardware issue and ask to visit near by apple store to get it serviced..(you wont get a brand new phone. they may replace with a re-manufactured/refurbished one's) I wonder if they have so many remanufactured/refurbished one's in 3 months ?
i have used iphone yet so i can not give verdict on it . http://hubpages.com/hub/Dermitage-Reviews
No problems here. Lotsa bars — with either hand.
i've heard this phone might have a small problem, but i think people are taking it overboard. it's still a great phone. one of the best on the market. they're going to fix the small service problem and it'll be even better. my sister got one from gsmauthority.com and i've been really jealous. if you know any better/reliable sites to get it from let me know. i'm just looking for the best prices on unlocked touch screen phones. called and talked to the owner and this site seems pretty legit so far. and my sister's really happy with her phone. apple has really done a lot for the phone world.
Um.. as far as I'm aware FaceTime works over WiFi .. so naturally you're not going to have the reception (AND transmission) issue .. since you're not using 3G.
There are too many compromises in Apple devices .. such as the iPad and now the iPhone 4 .. Android and other operating systems are open and therefore superior as "Smartphone" operating systems. Until Apple gets its phone hardware design up to the quality of its competitors it will slip further behind.
I predict Android devices to overtake Apple in 2011, especially in the US. Nokia will continue to dominate the rest of the world.
Dude, look for nearest mental health clinic
Yea… just like the Droid X won't let you put on unsigned, unapproved things OR it goes into recovery mode til you factory restore it.
The Droid X is getting pretty bad reviews by the way – So while everyone waits for the iPhone killer (It's going to be the Storm! it's going to be the Pre! it's going to be the Droid! it's going to be the Droid X!) I will just continue to use my iPhone.
And if you don't like the ipad then it's not for you. There's nothing really like it right now.
I enjoy reading all your comments about iphone 4. Some have enjoy having iphone 4 but most have negative points and reviews. I have just got my new blackberry Torch and I must say I need to throw away my iphone 4 which I've bought it 3 months ago. useless
why is the videos from YOU TUBE all blurred? We went to the shop but they're all the same.
From all the research I have done on the web, the iPhone 4 has no real problems. People have shown that the antenna issue also happens on a 3G running iOS 4. This indicates that it is a software issue. The yellow spotting goes away within 3 days. And my response to all the comlaints about the "superglass" breaking is "Duh, its glass, it breaks when dropped from 5 feet onto asphalt."