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.

Apple iPhone 4 smartphone

Apple iPhone 4

From £25
Full specs, price & review →
VS
Apple iPhone 4S smartphone

Apple iPhone 4S

From £3,999
Full specs, price & review →

Head to head

Apple iPhone 4Apple iPhone 4S
Price£25£3,999
Our rating8/108/10
Battery1,420 mAh1,432 mAh
Storage (max)32 GB64 GB
Screen size3.5 in3.5 in
Main camera5 MP8 MP
Weight (lower is lighter)137 g140 g
ReleasedJun 2010Oct 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. If budget matters more than the extra capability, Apple iPhone 4 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 4Apple iPhone 4S
TypeIPS LCD, LED-backlit, capacitive touchscreenIPS LCD, Retina display
Size3.5 inches3.5 inches
Resolution640 x 960 pixels640 x 960 pixels, 326 ppi
ProtectionScratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coatingFingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and back
Pixel Density~326 ppi (Retina display)—

Platform

Apple iPhone 4Apple iPhone 4S
OSiOS 4, upgradable to iOS 7.1.2iOS 5, upgradable to iOS 9.3.6
ChipsetApple A4Apple A5
CPU1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 (800 MHz underclocked)Dual-core 800 MHz Cortex-A9
GPUPowerVR SGX535PowerVR SGX543MP2

Memory

Apple iPhone 4Apple iPhone 4S
RAM512MB512MB DDR2
Internal Storage8GB, 16GB, 32GB8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
Card SlotNoNo

Main Camera

Apple iPhone 4Apple iPhone 4S
Single5 MP, f/2.8, autofocus8 MP, f/2.4, 35mm (standard), AF
FeaturesLED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus, HDRLED flash, panorama, HDR, face detection, image stabilization, backside illumination sensor
Video720p@30fps1080p@30fps

Selfie Camera

Apple iPhone 4Apple iPhone 4S
Single0.3 MP (VGA)0.3 MP (VGA)
FeaturesFaceTime over Wi-FiFaceTime over Wi-Fi or cellular
Video480p@30fpsVGA@30fps

Battery

Apple iPhone 4Apple iPhone 4S
TypeLi-Po 1420 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 1432 mAh, non-removable
Stand-byUp to 300 h (2G) / Up to 300 h (3G)Up to 200 h (3G)
Talk timeUp to 14 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G)Up to 8 h (3G)
Music playUp to 40 hUp 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 4Apple iPhone 4S
Dimensions115.2 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)
Weight137 g (4.8 oz)140 g (4.9 oz)
BuildGlass front (Corning Gorilla Glass), glass back, stainless steel frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back, stainless steel frame
SIMMicro-SIMMicro-SIM

Comms

Apple iPhone 4Apple iPhone 4S
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz only)Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth2.1 + EDR4.0, A2DP
GPSA-GPSYes, with A-GPS
RadioNoNo
USB30-pin dock connector2.0 (proprietary 30-pin connector)
NFC—No

Launch

Apple iPhone 4Apple iPhone 4S
AnnouncedJune 7, 2010October 4, 2011
ReleasedJune 24, 2010 (GSM model); February 2011 (CDMA model)—
OS at LaunchiOS 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.

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