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| Reviewer: Callum Povey |
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Apple iPhone 4 Price: £499 (16gig) or £599 (32gig) www.apple.com/uk |
Given the amount of mainstream headlines the iPhone 4 has already received, the entire population generally already has their own opinion on Apples latest smartphone, yet, a good percentage has probably either
a.) never used one
b.) is an Android user.
or c.) is Dan
So, what is all the fuss about?
So, what is all the fuss about?
Design:
The intital responce to the iPhone 4, is that it really is a step up from it's predessesor, the 3Gs. Gone is the curved plastic skin, replaced with a sexy glass and steel finish. It's also slimmer too, at just .37 inches compared to the .48 inches of the 3Gs, but it weighs the same 4.8 ounces.
The device is coated with a silver steel band, that now houses seperate buttons for volume (instead of the 'rocker' of the 3Gs) simply labeled (+) and (-) on the left hand side, accompanied by a profile (loud/silent) switcher. The right side, is present to only the Micro SIM slot.
The steel band also acts as an all round antenna, but we'll talk more on that later.
The front faces you with a glorious 3.5 inch Retina display glass screen, with a secondary VGA camera up top for Face Time calling.
The back, in all it's glossy black, is only interrupted by the silver 'mirrored' Apple logo, and the new 5MP camera, boasting 720p HD recording.
The redesigned housing also allows for a much larger lithium-ion battery on the inside, so the power mad users of you wont have to charge every five minutes.
The iPhone 4, no matter how you feel about Apple, is simply gorgeous. The smooth finish makes the most high end Android toting smartphone feel last generation. Hell, even the 3Gs looks chubby and cheap compared to it's successor.
The device is coated with a silver steel band, that now houses seperate buttons for volume (instead of the 'rocker' of the 3Gs) simply labeled (+) and (-) on the left hand side, accompanied by a profile (loud/silent) switcher. The right side, is present to only the Micro SIM slot.
The steel band also acts as an all round antenna, but we'll talk more on that later.
The front faces you with a glorious 3.5 inch Retina display glass screen, with a secondary VGA camera up top for Face Time calling.
The back, in all it's glossy black, is only interrupted by the silver 'mirrored' Apple logo, and the new 5MP camera, boasting 720p HD recording.
The redesigned housing also allows for a much larger lithium-ion battery on the inside, so the power mad users of you wont have to charge every five minutes.The iPhone 4, no matter how you feel about Apple, is simply gorgeous. The smooth finish makes the most high end Android toting smartphone feel last generation. Hell, even the 3Gs looks chubby and cheap compared to it's successor.
Tech Specs:
Moving on from the Samsung-built ARM Cortex-A8-based CPU the 3Gs uses, the iPhone 4 is blessed with the brand new A4 chip (as used in the iPad), so the device is exeedingly fast. Not that the 3Gs was any snail, mind. However, graphics seem to render that little quicker and responsivness is a little higher, so it seems the 3Gs will be playing keep up.
In terms of wireless, the iPhone 4 is packed with an 802.11n WiFi radio, as well as a quad-band HSUPA chip and Bluetooth 2.1.
The camera has also had a boost, going from the 3MP of the 3Gs, to a 5MP 720p shooting HD camera. And the results are very impressive.
A new second microphone that helps combat background noise while on calls (similar to the Nexus One) is present, aswel as a gyroscope in addition to the standard accelerometer, a light sensor, and a proximity sensor, all built inside the compact frame.
The steel band previously mentioned, is supposed to act as an all round antenna, that is to improve call signal quality. Yeah, that tiny feature that has made it's way around the world of news. Because "it dosn't work".
However, the flaw dosn't deserve the bad name it's received. Sure, it was a tad baffeling that Apples executives let that slip by, but the problem was fixed (with an added appology, something Apple NEVER do) via free bumpers, and an upcoming OS update.
In terms of wireless, the iPhone 4 is packed with an 802.11n WiFi radio, as well as a quad-band HSUPA chip and Bluetooth 2.1.
The camera has also had a boost, going from the 3MP of the 3Gs, to a 5MP 720p shooting HD camera. And the results are very impressive.
A new second microphone that helps combat background noise while on calls (similar to the Nexus One) is present, aswel as a gyroscope in addition to the standard accelerometer, a light sensor, and a proximity sensor, all built inside the compact frame.The steel band previously mentioned, is supposed to act as an all round antenna, that is to improve call signal quality. Yeah, that tiny feature that has made it's way around the world of news. Because "it dosn't work".
However, the flaw dosn't deserve the bad name it's received. Sure, it was a tad baffeling that Apples executives let that slip by, but the problem was fixed (with an added appology, something Apple NEVER do) via free bumpers, and an upcoming OS update.
FaceTime:
FaceTime you say? Sounds fancy. Well, no, for it's Apples answer to video calling, albeit with some bells and whistles. The concept is simple, voice calling (to other iPhone 4 users) but it uses both the front and rear camera, so your loved ones can see what you're seeing with a flip of the camera.
As it only works via Wi-Fi for now, the actual reasoning to use it is a bit bizzare. Hopefully, an update will allow for 3G use (maybe, fingers crossed, you'll be able to use it with non-iPhone 4 users).
As it only works via Wi-Fi for now, the actual reasoning to use it is a bit bizzare. Hopefully, an update will allow for 3G use (maybe, fingers crossed, you'll be able to use it with non-iPhone 4 users).
What Else?
Blimey, you don't want much, do you?
If a high resolution Retina display, 5MP 720p HD camera and beautifully slick multi-touch screen and all round media marvel, all wrapped up in a delicious glass and steel body dosn't quite make you foam at the mouth, there are a few other little tricks that may sweeten the deal;
Folders:
The new iOS4 allows you to create folders for all your apps, simply by holding them down and dragging onto one another. Especially useful if you have alot of Apps.
Multitasking:
If a high resolution Retina display, 5MP 720p HD camera and beautifully slick multi-touch screen and all round media marvel, all wrapped up in a delicious glass and steel body dosn't quite make you foam at the mouth, there are a few other little tricks that may sweeten the deal;
Folders:
The new iOS4 allows you to create folders for all your apps, simply by holding them down and dragging onto one another. Especially useful if you have alot of Apps.
Multitasking:
Although not a brand new thing (multitasking has been standard on smartphones a while) the new iOS4 has brought the iPhone into the world of multitasking. Finally.
iBooks and iMovie
iBooks is Apples answer to Ebooks, now available on the App store, download your favourite novels, read them on your iPhone. Simple.
iMovie is a movie editor, that, although lacking in some features, is a simple and eligant way to edit your movies, with the abilty to export them in glourious 720p HD.
The App Store
If you don't know what this is, you don't deserve a smartphone.
iBooks and iMovie
iBooks is Apples answer to Ebooks, now available on the App store, download your favourite novels, read them on your iPhone. Simple.
iMovie is a movie editor, that, although lacking in some features, is a simple and eligant way to edit your movies, with the abilty to export them in glourious 720p HD.
The App Store
If you don't know what this is, you don't deserve a smartphone.
The Verdict:
Without being biased, the iPhone 4 is the best smartphone on the market right now. Sure, there are other devices out there that trump it in some stakes (camera, abilty to play Flash) but no other phone can match it in terms of overall design and usabilty.
The HTC and Android army will always dismiss every iPhone that comes out. Yet they'll still fork out on a device that is dubbed "the next best thing to an iPhone".
I'd love for a company to make something that really does outdo the iPhone, because we'd finally take a leap forward.
But the iPhone has set the bar, and until companies start thinking original with fresh, new and exciting ideas, the iPhone will always be the desired handset.
But it's a matter of taste, some people with always prefer Android, Symbian or the Blackberry's OS. But it's tough to argue that until the true iPhone Beater arrives, Apple will always be the cream of the crop.
The HTC and Android army will always dismiss every iPhone that comes out. Yet they'll still fork out on a device that is dubbed "the next best thing to an iPhone".
I'd love for a company to make something that really does outdo the iPhone, because we'd finally take a leap forward.
But the iPhone has set the bar, and until companies start thinking original with fresh, new and exciting ideas, the iPhone will always be the desired handset.
But it's a matter of taste, some people with always prefer Android, Symbian or the Blackberry's OS. But it's tough to argue that until the true iPhone Beater arrives, Apple will always be the cream of the crop.
Originaly posted in June 2010 on TG-Radar
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