Photo: iGeeks Media Pvt. Ltd. / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons · source
iPhone 4S
Dual-core speed, an 8MP camera and the arrival of Siri.
Overview
On the outside the 4S looked like its predecessor, but nearly everything inside was new. The dual-core A5 processor roughly doubled CPU speed and boosted graphics several times over, while an improved antenna design that switched between two antennas addressed the signal complaints of the previous model.
The camera was upgraded to 8 megapixels with a five-element lens and 1080p video recording, a big leap for a phone. Siri, a conversational voice assistant that could send messages, set reminders and answer questions, was exclusive to the 4S at launch and became its main selling point.
It was a world phone, supporting both GSM and CDMA networks, and was the first iPhone offered on three US carriers. It also shipped with iOS 5 and iCloud from day one. It was the last iPhone developed while Steve Jobs was alive; he passed away the day after the announcement.
Why it mattered
Siri on the 4S brought voice assistants to the mainstream, and it was the last iPhone launched under Steve Jobs's watch.
At a glance
- Announced
- October 4, 2011
- Released
- October 14, 2011
- Discontinued
- September 9, 2014
- Launch price
- $199
- Chip
- Apple A5, dual-core 800 MHz
- Display
- 3.5"
- Storage
- 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Siri voice assistant
- Dual-core A5 chip
- 8MP camera with 1080p video
- Dual-antenna design, GSM and CDMA
- Shipped with iOS 5 and iCloud
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 3.5-inch
- Type
- Retina IPS LCD
- Resolution
- 960 x 640 pixels (326 ppi)
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
Chip
- Chip
- Apple A5, dual-core 800 MHz
- GPU
- PowerVR SGX543MP2
Memory
- RAM
- 512MB
- Storage options
- 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
Camera
- Rear cameras
- 8MP, f/2.4, LED flash
- Front camera
- VGA (0.3MP)
- Video recording
- 1080p HD at 30 fps with video stabilization
Battery
- Video playback
- Up to 10 hours
- Charging
- Via 30-pin dock connector
- Talk time
- Up to 8 hours on 3G
Connectivity
- Cellular
- GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA+ 14.4 Mbps, CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (model dependent)
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
- Connector
- 30-pin dock connector
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 4.0
- SIM
- Micro-SIM
Design
- Dimensions
- 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm
- Weight
- 140 g
- Materials
- Stainless steel frame, glass front and back
- Water resistance
- None
Security
- Authentication
- Passcode (optional); hardware data encryption
Software
- Launch OS
- iOS 5
- Final OS
- iOS 9.3.6
