iPhone 4 Review
The iPhone 4, so many different emotions come to mind when you hear the name of that device no? The complaints of signal issues, proximity sensors, everything right? For me this is easily the best device I’ve ever owned.
I remember when the iPhone 3G came out, and Apple presented their commercial for it, and the words “The only phone to be the iPhone, the new iPhone..3G.” To me that’s the only true device that can beat the iPhone, the iPhone that follows it. You can call me a fanboy but when you get down to it, it’s true. Android is a very worthy competitor but you didn’t come hear to hear about that OS did you? Hit the jump for the full review!
Design:
Apple has completely redesigned the iPhone 4, and it’s either a love or hate it thing. My opinion? Love it. The phone feels more sturdy, and durable (same thing I loved about the original iPhone). The last two, 3G and 3GS, felt nice, but didn’t have that build, that “not so cheap” feel to it.
The iPhone 4 is now more rectangular, and not curved like modern Apple products, like the magic mouse. The back and front are both glass made from aluminosilicate glass, basically the glass that’s used in the windshields of helicopters, and high-speed trains. It’s strengthened to be 20 times stiffer, and 30 times harder than plastic. The glass is “more scratch resistant than ever”. I haven’t dropped it yet *knock on wood* so when I do, I’ll let you know how it did.
Display:
Probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest, and most noticeable change on the new iPhone 4 is the display. I am amazed at how clear and crisp the screen is. My guess for the new iPhone was that they were going to go to about 3.7’ – 4’ for their displays but that would only require developers to change graphics and proportions of their games/apps/etc..
I don’t think my camera can capture the beautiful display and the ppi (pixels per inch) but let me just say it’s amazing and take my word for it, ok?
Camera
The camera was upped from 3 megapixels on the 3GS to 5 megapixels and you can notice a difference. Now when we talk about cameras, people automatically want better pixels, but as Steve made very clear through the regular presentations we always get, megapixels doesn’t determine the quality of the camera but other things such as photons, lighting, even with this iPhone having 5 megapixels, it still takes better picture than a Droid X which has a 8 megapixel camera.
The camera also brought forth 720p HD video recording. The quality is amazing. It’s going to take some getting used to, but it is amazing. Plus with the built in LED flash on the back, pictures and HD video recording is a walk in the park for the iPhone 4.
Battery Life
Quite simply the biggest reason for me to upgrade to the iPhone 4 from a 3GS was the battery life. Apple tried to make the 3GS sound like a powerhouse and while it was a big upgrade from the 3G or original iPhone the battery life was simply a no-go I honestly couldn’t get more than 6 hours of using it, let alone 7-8 of standby.
With the iPhone 4 I can easily last the whole day on one charge doing way more than I could on my 3GS, and I think that easily has to do with the A4 chip inside the device, which maximizes performance while not affecting the battery life too much.
Operating System: iOS 4
A lovely upgrade to the newly branded iPhone OS operating system, Apple has done some major revisions to this huge upgrade for the iPhone. It’s brought forth multitasking, home screen wallpapers, spell check, new widgets, and high quality, glossy-like icons, plus MUCH MUCH MUCH more.
To make it short and simple, it’s easily the most advanced Operating System in the mobile world.
FaceTime
Now to most, it’s nothing new, that’s basically to anyone living in the Europe/Asia, or tech bloggers. We’ve known that video calling has been alive for a while now but no one has brought it to the table quit like Apple has, with the simple, easy to get to UI, I mean what’s not to appreciate about it?
Sure, you have to have an iPhone 4 to use and be on Wi-Fi, but do this before you complain, download Fring! From the App Store and try a video call and lemme know how well that works out for you. Now imagine all 3.4 million iPhone 4 using FaceTime over 3G and how much that would strain AT&T’s network, or any network for that matter! Plus being on Wi-Fi brings crisp, and clear video calling, and come to think in this day and age where is there not free Wi-Fi?
Stainless Steel Band/Antennagate
Now who doesn’t have a video up about the bad reception problems? Gizmodo has one, nearly all iPhone youtubers, as for me? I can produce the problem but I have yet to have it affect one of my calls or data, I do have a bumper on it, but even without it I don’t have an issue.
People get mad because you have to put a case on it, but I mean why wouldn’t you want a case on a phone you spent $200-$500 on? I always have cases on my iPhone, so that problem never affected me but apparently for some it’s like the world ending, put a case on and shut up.
Summary
To sum my review up, I simply love the phone, the build quality is awesome along with the retina display simply makes it awesome hardware wise, then you get iOS 4 which is the other component to this phone and that’s just like the perfect tag team partner in this wrestling match. I don’t think a phone will be able to match it hardware wise, sure the Droid X is there, but the iPhone still succeeds to me in everything. If your hesitant to buy this phone, don’t, buy it!
For any questions/comments/whatever you can tweet me on twitter @iRockish
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21 comments
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Hey iRockish, get off Apple’s dick. Sure the iPhone 4 is a nice phone but the antenna issue kills the whole thing. And I’m 1 of them that doesn’t want a fuckin bumper or any case on my phone. So u can suck on this thing piss through. Fuckin dick rider
Lol, read my post bitch, I don’t have antenna problems, so quit internet bangin and kill yourself
I agree with you but saying put a case on and shut up is… Shall we say, imature?
I couldn’t agree more. The phone is way better than the before ones. One might feel its like same as iphone 3gs. But it is soo much faster, best resolution, camera is awesome, display awesome, gyroscope is just amazing. Coming to antennagate, it sure drops bars but not calls. I am yet to drop a call or even data. The 3g is as well faster. I mean it loads pages faster than the 3gs.
On the whole beautifully designed phone with cutting edge features and hardware. Kudos apple!!!
I just want to THANK YOU for such a good review, but most of all for your honesty about the pros n the cons. I’m just waiting for my time to upgrade so can go from 3gs to 4. One question can I jailbreak the iPhone 4???? Thanks again. I b waiting for your answer.
I too have always used a case, it’s saved me hundreds of dollars in repairs, ask my wife who’s on her third iPhone because she keeps taking it out of her case. I read a review from a computer magazine that said if the iPhone 4 were biting peoples ears off, we would still buy it. I agree. I have not had any issues, I bought the bumper when I bought the iPhone, and apple gave me my money back. Why all the hate?!?
Couldn’t agree more with your review bud, big thumbs up all the way here from Australia. True to your point about the antennagate issue, get a case, and who wouldnt? fair enough for those who don’t want to put a case on it and thats up to them, but remember, apple did recommend you to do so, so if you don’t and you have a problem with coverage, you can go get a life for not listening to recommendations.
Iphone 4 best phone ? Apple clear your minds with publicity! And the signal problem – whay you want to use a case on a phone you spent so much, and maybe you will change next year. Is a simple phone, not a piece of art! And a phone with a lot of bugs and problems, but promoted briliant (and this is the only thruth).
One more question. If camera megapixels is not important, how many people shill have a standalone photo camera with less than 8 megapixels?
Wakeup ppl !
Craple iphone 4 make me laught!
Nokia will launch new Nokia N8 this month!
This will be best phone ever!
@ George, I don’t have a case and I have NO attenna issues, in fact my reception and call clarity is far superior to my old 3GS.
@ Michel, get your English straight please? I’m sure your opinions would have more weight if you did
the iPhone 4 *is* a piece of art for it’s users, and a bloody expensive one, so why in the he’ll wouldn’t we want to protect it with a case? Your actually mental if you think it’s “simple”. As to the megapixels no one said it wasn’t important full stop, but it’s only a factor, I you knew the slightest thing about photography you would know that, perhaps you should ‘wake up’ and do your research before bashing a product. If you don’t want and iPhone 4 – don’t buy it, if you did and you don’t like it – take it back. Man I loved that song haha.
@ Robin, craple? Really as to the N8 I’m seen about as much hype about that phone as that new $10 Taiwanese tablet, good luck with that.
@ all the non haters and the OP – great job, will have to FaceTime you all sometime haha.
Cheers
Dale.
I’m left handed, so i hold my phone with my left hand which causes my signal strength to decrease rapidly. I shouldn’t have to switch hands or put a case on it for it to work properly. The phone should work without problems as it comes. Apple fucked up with the antenna design regardless of how nice everything else on it is.
@ George, no you shouldn’t I agree, however as clearly demonstrated the iPhone 4 isn’t the only phone to have this fault, and it’s something the industry as a whole is working to resolve, even the Droid X, which has been at the centre of anti-Apple advertising exhibits similar behaviour to the iPhone 4 when gripped in a particular way, ironic when their latest advert said ‘No Jacket Required’.
If the antenna design really annoys you that much then take it back, Apple have waived all handling and re-stocking fees so you will receive a FULL refund, if you don’t take it back we’d be right to assume you think the benefits of the iPhone 4 outweigh the cons (though I have yet to experience any) and you should therefore, with all due respect, stop complaining.
Regards.
Dale.
@Dale, 1st off I don’t give two shits about other phones. This article is about the iphone 4. 2nd off why would I return it to apple when i can sell it on ebay for way more than I paid for it. And as far as you telling me to stop complaining, “with all due respect”, go fuck yourself. I can state whatever opinion I want.
@ George, with a small risk of turning this comments thread into, some sort of virtual battle ground where you play hard with a keyboard… (which you seem to think it is) I’ll say this: Sell your iPhone on eBay, get £1200 for it (you won’t but if you think you can hey, be my guest) and then as I said, stop complaining, there is a big difference between stating an objective opinion and what you have been doing, to the OP if you can lock this thread I’d suggest you do so before other’s join in.
Regards.
Dale.
Yes you can jailbreak it now, but I’d wait till it’s a little bit more stable
Thank you, once these idiots who are bitching drop their phone and find out its $200 to replace it, they’re gonna wish they got the FREE case provided by Apple
When was the last time Nokia released a phone that changed the mobile world? Uhh not since like 1990.. Their OS hasn’t changed one bit for like 20 years and sucks dick
Ok a couple a things…
1) Go back to school because your grammar blows
2) If you can read, and hopefully type “apple.com” and watch the presentation, Steve Jobs thoroughly explains why megapixels doesn’t matter, and if your dumbass still can’t understand that, google comparisons between the DROID X and iPhone 4 and let your eyes be the judge
Hope I didn’t hurt your brain..
All phones DO that, you fucking idiot, Apple’s design of the phone doesn’t allow them to put the antenna in many places, the FCC also has regulations on where Companies can place antennas on the phone.
I have no issues, so i’m not complaining..
Except for the fact that your opinion blows, and just going along with the other millions of people who SUPPOSEDLY have a problem
@IRockish – I agree that the phone rocks compared to my 3G. Two things I’ve noticed so far. Fluctuating signal strength. With a bumper on I can watch the phone go from 1 to 5 bars while in the same place. Not quite sure what’s going on there. As I’m typing this I’ve gone from 1 to 3 bars. The 2nd issue is the LED flash reflecting off the thicker cases and washing out the pictures and video. I have a silicone yellow cases and with the flash I get over-exposed pics. Peeling the cases off and retaking resolves. Overall it’s awesome since talking on the phone is secondary to all the other great features. The iPhone interface is truly the best.