Apple iPhone 4 vs Apple iPhone 4S
A spec-by-spec comparison of the Apple iPhone 4 and the Apple iPhone 4S, taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.
Head to head
| Apple iPhone 4 | Apple iPhone 4S |
|---|
| Our rating | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Battery | 1,420 mAh | 1,432 mAh |
| Storage (max) | 32 GB | 64 GB |
| Screen size | 3.5 in | 3.5 in |
| Main camera | 5 MP | 8 MP |
| Weight (lower is lighter) | 137 g | 140 g |
| Released | Jun 2010 | Oct 2011 |
Summary: Apple iPhone 4 is ahead on weight (lower is lighter). Apple iPhone 4S is ahead on battery, storage (max), main camera.
★ Which should you buy? Apple iPhone 4S is the stronger overall pick on the measured specs.
Researched with AI assistance by infozme.com from manufacturer and retailer sources — see how we research & rate phones.
Display
| Apple iPhone 4 | Apple iPhone 4S |
|---|
| Type | IPS LCD, LED-backlit, capacitive touchscreen | IPS LCD, Retina display |
| Size | 3.5 inches | 3.5 inches |
| Resolution | 640 x 960 pixels | 640 x 960 pixels, 326 ppi |
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and back |
| Pixel Density | ~326 ppi (Retina display) | — |
Platform
| Apple iPhone 4 | Apple iPhone 4S |
|---|
| OS | iOS 4, upgradable to iOS 7.1.2 | iOS 5, upgradable to iOS 9.3.6 |
| Chipset | Apple A4 | Apple A5 |
| CPU | 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 (800 MHz underclocked) | Dual-core 800 MHz Cortex-A9 |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX535 | PowerVR SGX543MP2 |
Memory
| Apple iPhone 4 | Apple iPhone 4S |
|---|
| RAM | 512MB | 512MB DDR2 |
| Internal Storage | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB |
| Card Slot | No | No |
Main Camera
| Apple iPhone 4 | Apple iPhone 4S |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.8, autofocus | 8 MP, f/2.4, 35mm (standard), AF |
| Features | LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR, face detection, image stabilization, backside illumination sensor |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
Selfie Camera
| Apple iPhone 4 | Apple iPhone 4S |
|---|
| Single | 0.3 MP (VGA) | 0.3 MP (VGA) |
| Features | FaceTime over Wi-Fi | FaceTime over Wi-Fi or cellular |
| Video | 480p@30fps | VGA@30fps |
Battery
| Apple iPhone 4 | Apple iPhone 4S |
|---|
| Type | Li-Po 1420 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 1432 mAh, non-removable |
| Stand-by | Up to 300 h (2G) / Up to 300 h (3G) | Up to 200 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 14 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G) | Up to 8 h (3G) |
| Music play | Up to 40 h | Up to 40 h |
| Video playback | — | Up to 10 h |
| Internet browsing | — | Up to 6 h (3G), Up to 9 h (Wi-Fi) |
Body
| Apple iPhone 4 | Apple iPhone 4S |
|---|
| Dimensions | 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm (4.5 x 2.31 x 0.37 in) | 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm (4.54 x 2.31 x 0.37 in) |
| Weight | 137 g (4.8 oz) | 140 g (4.9 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Corning Gorilla Glass), glass back, stainless steel frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back, stainless steel frame |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
Comms
| Apple iPhone 4 | Apple iPhone 4S |
|---|
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz only) | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | 2.1 + EDR | 4.0, A2DP |
| GPS | A-GPS | Yes, with A-GPS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | 30-pin dock connector | 2.0 (proprietary 30-pin connector) |
| NFC | — | No |
Launch
| Apple iPhone 4 | Apple iPhone 4S |
|---|
| Announced | June 7, 2010 | October 4, 2011 |
| Released | June 24, 2010 (GSM model); February 2011 (CDMA model) | — |
| OS at Launch | iOS 4 | — |
| Status | — | Released October 14, 2011 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better battery, Apple iPhone 4 or Apple iPhone 4S?
Apple iPhone 4S — 1,420 mAh for the Apple iPhone 4 versus 1,432 mAh for the Apple iPhone 4S.
Which is lighter, Apple iPhone 4 or Apple iPhone 4S?
Apple iPhone 4 — 137 g for the Apple iPhone 4 versus 140 g for the Apple iPhone 4S.
Which is newer, Apple iPhone 4 or Apple iPhone 4S?
Apple iPhone 4S — Jun 2010 for the Apple iPhone 4 versus Oct 2011 for the Apple iPhone 4S.
Is the Apple iPhone 4 or the Apple iPhone 4S rated higher?
We rate the Apple iPhone 4 8/10 and the Apple iPhone 4S 8/10.
Best phone lists →
