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 |
|---|
| Price | ₹3,299 | ₹4,765 |
| 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. If budget matters more than the extra capability, Apple iPhone 4S is the cheaper option.
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.
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