Apple iPhone 4S vs Apple iPhone 5
A spec-by-spec comparison of the Apple iPhone 4S and the Apple iPhone 5, taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.
Head to head
| Apple iPhone 4S | Apple iPhone 5 |
|---|
| Our rating | 8/10 | 4/10 |
| Battery | 1,432 mAh | 1,440 mAh |
| Storage (max) | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| Screen size | 3.5 in | 4 in |
| Main camera | 8 MP | 8 MP |
| Weight (lower is lighter) | 140 g | 112 g |
| Released | Oct 2011 | Sep 2012 |
Summary: Apple iPhone 4S is ahead on our rating. Apple iPhone 5 is ahead on battery, screen size, weight (lower is lighter).
★ Which should you buy? Apple iPhone 5 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 4S | Apple iPhone 5 |
|---|
| Type | IPS LCD, Retina display | IPS LCD |
| Size | 3.5 inches | 4.0 inches |
| Resolution | 640 x 960 pixels, 326 ppi | 640 x 1136 pixels |
| Protection | Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and back | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Aspect Ratio | — | 16:9 |
| Pixel Density | — | 326 ppi |
Platform
| Apple iPhone 4S | Apple iPhone 5 |
|---|
| OS | iOS 5, upgradable to iOS 9.3.6 | iOS 6, upgradable to iOS 10.3.4 |
| Chipset | Apple A5 | Apple A6 |
| CPU | Dual-core 800 MHz Cortex-A9 | Dual-core 1.3 GHz Swift (ARM v7-based) |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX543MP2 | PowerVR SGX 543MP3 (triple-core graphics) |
Memory
| Apple iPhone 4S | Apple iPhone 5 |
|---|
| RAM | 512MB DDR2 | 1GB LPDDR2 RAM |
| Internal Storage | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB | — |
| Card Slot | No | — |
| Card slot | — | No |
| Internal | — | 16GB, 32GB, 64GB |
Main Camera
| Apple iPhone 4S | Apple iPhone 5 |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4, 35mm (standard), AF | 8 MP, f/2.4, 33mm (standard), 1/3.2", 1.4µm, AF |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR, face detection, image stabilization, backside illumination sensor | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
Selfie Camera
| Apple iPhone 4S | Apple iPhone 5 |
|---|
| Single | 0.3 MP (VGA) | 1.2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Features | FaceTime over Wi-Fi or cellular | — |
| Video | VGA@30fps | 720p@30fps |
Battery
| Apple iPhone 4S | Apple iPhone 5 |
|---|
| Type | Li-Ion 1432 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 1440 mAh, non-removable |
| Stand-by | Up to 200 h (3G) | — |
| Talk time | Up to 8 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 4S | Apple iPhone 5 |
|---|
| Dimensions | 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm (4.54 x 2.31 x 0.37 in) | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight | 140 g (4.9 oz) | 112 g (3.95 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back, stainless steel frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Nano-SIM |
Comms
| Apple iPhone 4S | Apple iPhone 5 |
|---|
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.0, A2DP |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS |
| NFC | No | No |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | 2.0 (proprietary 30-pin connector) | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
Launch
| Apple iPhone 4S | Apple iPhone 5 |
|---|
| Announced | October 4, 2011 | 2012, September 12 |
| Status | Released October 14, 2011 | — |
| Released | — | 2012, September 21 |
| Discontinued | — | 2013, September 10 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better battery, Apple iPhone 4S or Apple iPhone 5?
Apple iPhone 5 — 1,432 mAh for the Apple iPhone 4S versus 1,440 mAh for the Apple iPhone 5.
Which is lighter, Apple iPhone 4S or Apple iPhone 5?
Apple iPhone 5 — 140 g for the Apple iPhone 4S versus 112 g for the Apple iPhone 5.
Which is newer, Apple iPhone 4S or Apple iPhone 5?
Apple iPhone 5 — Oct 2011 for the Apple iPhone 4S versus Sep 2012 for the Apple iPhone 5.
Is the Apple iPhone 4S or the Apple iPhone 5 rated higher?
We rate the Apple iPhone 4S 8/10 and the Apple iPhone 5 4/10.
Best phone lists →
