Not so long ago, when you wanted to buy a new iPhone, the choice came down to one thing: how much storage would you get and, as a result, how much would you pay? Then the iPhone came to Verizon and you had to decide not only how much storage you would buy, but also what carrier you wanted.
With the introduction of the iPhone 4S, deciding which iPhone to buy has gotten a whole lot more complicated. Instead of just having to choose between two storage capacities and two phone companies, there are now three capacities and three companies——AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. And, to keep things in groups of three, there are now three different iPhone models to choose from: the iPhone 4S, 4, and 3GS.
While the iPhone 4 and 3GS are the same models that have been available since 2009, familiarity doesn't necessarily make choosing between the three iPhones easier. So, if you're faced with the choice of which iPhone to buy, here are some tips that may make that decision a little easier.
Why Buy the iPhone 4S
Pros
- It's the latest & greatest - Since the 4S is the newest model, when you have it you're on the cutting edge of iPhone technology. This generally means that all aspects of the iPhone 4S are superior to its predecessors.
- Siri - Want to take advantage of the impressive and useful voice recognition features offered by Siri? You'll need an iPhone 4S because Siri doesn't run on earlier models.
- Faster processor - The iPhone 4S's A5 processor is about twice as fast the processor in the iPhone 4, so you'll go faster and get better graphics performance.
- Better camera & video - Here you'll get an 8 megapixel camera that can record 1080p HD video, as opposed to the iPhone 4's 5 megapixel/720p HD camera.
- Faster top data speeds - The iPhone 4S's 3G connection is faster--14.4 Mbps vs. 7.2 Mbps--than either of its predecessors'. This is mostly theoretical since most U.S. phone networks can't go this fast yet, but when they can, only 4S owners will be able to take advantage of it.
- More carrier choice - Unlike the iPhone 3GS, the 4S works on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon (and a number of smaller, regional carriers), giving you more choice about what company to use and what price you'll pay for monthly service.
- Better battery - The 4S's better is a bit better than the 4's; expect to get about an extra hour of talk time from the new phone.
- FaceTime - The iPhone 4 also supports Apple's video conferencing technology, though the iPhone 3GS doesn't.
- Retina Display - Ditto. Both iPhone 4 and 4S have this high-resolution screen, but not the 3GS.
Cons
- Price - The only real con is the price. Since it's the latest and greatest, the 4S is the most expensive, with prices running US$199-$399 when you sign a two-year contract.
Compare Prices on the iPhone 4S
Why Choose the iPhone 4
Pros
- Cheaper - One of the major attractions of the iPhone 4 is its price: with a two-year contract, you'll get a great phone for just $99.
- Choice of carriers - Like its newer sibling, the 4 works with AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon.
- FaceTime - As noted above, the iPhone 4 offers support for FaceTime video calls.
- Retina Display - Same here; you'll get the beautiful Retina Display screen on the iPhone 4.
Cons
- No Siri - You won't be telling your iPhone 4 to do anything (or at least it won't respond to you); the 4 doesn't support Siri.
- 8 GB only - The $99 iPhone 4 is limited to 8 GB storage capacity, so you'll be limited in what content you can sync to your phone if you've got a large iTunes library.
- Lesser camera - While the iPhone 4's 5 megapixel camera, which also records 720p HD video, is good, it's a far cry from the upgraded camera in the 4S.
Compare Prices on the iPhone 4
Why Buy the iPhone 3GS
Pros
- Free - The best reason to buy the 2-year-old 3GS. With a two-year contract, it's now free.
- Runs iOS 5 and virtually all apps - It may not be the latest/greatest hardware, but the 3GS can still run the newest version of the iOS and most apps (except those that require newer hardware).
Cons
- No FaceTime - If you've got a 3GS, you don't have FaceTime. That's because FaceTime requires two cameras and the 3GS only has one.
- Lesser camera - That camera that the 3GS has is just 3 megapixel, less than the 5 or 8 megapixels offered by the 4 and 4S, respectively. It also records video at a lower resolution.
- No Retina Display - The 3GS's screen is nice, but it looks a bit fuzzy compared to the high-resolution Retina Display.
- AT&T only - There's no choice of phone company here. The 3GS is AT&T-only.
- Probably won't run iOS 6 - While the iPhone 3GS is a good phone today, it's nearing the end of its life and Apple will probably stop supporting it in the not-too-distant future, perhaps with the release of iOS 6 (which could come in mid-2012). Your 3GS could start falling behind at that point.
Compare Prices on the iPhone 3GS
Continue to the next page for the bottom line and a useful chart comparing the features and prices of these three iPhones.
