Apple iPhone 4 review: Love it or hate it
Gsmarena have posted their review of the new iPhone 4. Here are the phone's key features, main disadvantages and their final impression.
Key features:
* Quad-band GSM and quad-band 3G support with 7.2 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA
* 3.5" 16M-color LED-backlit TFT capacitive touchscreen of 640 x 960 px resolution
* Scratch-resistant glass front and rear, with fingerprint-resistant coating
* 1GHz Apple A4 SoC; 512MB of RAM
* 5 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and touch focus
* 720p video recording at 30fps
* Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
* GPS with A-GPS connectivity; digital compass
* 16/32GB storage options
* Accelerometer, proximity sensor and three-axis gyro sensor
* Active noise cancellation with a dedicated secondary microphone
* Standard 3.5 mm audio jack, stereo Bluetooth v2.1
* Excellent audio output quality
* Slim waistline at only 9.3mm
* Secondary front-facing camera
* Some degree of multitasking
* Rich AppStore
Main disadvantages:
* Hardware design is prone to reception issues
* MicroSIM card support only
* No Flash support in the web browser
* No true multitasking for all applications
* FaceTime video calls work only over Wi-Fi
* No file transfer over Bluetooth or USB Mass Storage mode
* No hardware shutter key for the camera
* No FM radio
* No stereo speakers
* No microSD card slot
* No smart dialing
* Too dependent on iTunes for loading multimedia content
* Poor loudspeaker performance
We would be lying if we told you we don’t like iPhone 4. Quite the opposite, the iPhone 4 has a way to impress.
The iPhone 4 is not the perfect smartphone but you’ll be inclined to believe it’s the perfect product. It can’t be just how they market it, or can it? Apple is great at giving people what they want, but even better at telling them what they get is the best for them. The iPhone still has very important features missing, some software and multimedia limitations and an annoying iTunes dependency.
But come a new iPhone launch, and you’ll still see people putting up tents at Apple Stores to be the first to get one. Even if they hear about easily breakable glass panels and some bizarre reception issues, they’ll still want to get one and learn to hold it right (or buy some Bumper cases).
The iPhone 4 will probably outsell the older generations and there are good reasons for that. It’s just gotten sexier, flaunts a killer screen, incomparably better imaging and a blazing fast CPU. Apple offers great support for their products and usually takes good care everything runs smoothly on every iPhone. It’s also got one of the richest application markets out there. The AppStore turns Apple handhelds into unsurpassed entertainment centers – games, social networking, video and imaging, silly pranks or whatever – the heaps of available apps fighting for your dollar are changing how we use mobile phones in our daily lives.
We do understand the millions of people out there who are less than impressed with the iPhone concept. Apple-imposed software limitations are stupid, even unfair at times, and their phones lack the flexibility you may be used to on other devices. The iPhone 4 is ridiculously expensive too – 630 euro for the 16GB iPhone and 740 euro for the 32GB version. No matter how you look at it, it’s the most expensive GSM smartphone on the market right now.
For this kind of money, you can get whatever high-end handset you lay your eyes on. And competition is probably at its fiercest.
The newly released Samsung I9000 Galaxy S is the first device to go head-to-head with the new iPhone. Samsung’s Super AMOLED screen, similar hardware and camera plus the great Android OS v2.1 inside are just the start of the Galaxy S feature list. It’s exactly the phone for those who don’t like being told what they can or cannot do with their devices. Yes, its plastic case makes it feel cheaper, but there’s no denying that the Galaxy S IS less expensive than the iPhone 4.
If you are interested in more high-end Droids, you should definitely check out the HTC Desire and Google Nexus One. The Desire enjoys the great HTC Sense UI, while the Nexus One has already been updated to Android v2.2 Froyo for a performance boost and native Flash support. HTC Desire should also get a bump to 720p video recording via a software upgrade before the end of the year. Stateside, a monster of a phone is about to make Android even more compelling. The lethal Motorola DROID X boasts a massive 4.3″ high-res screen at and a top-of-the-line imaging package.
Nokia N8 should be released this quarter and, given the reported iPhone 4 market shortages, it might just land in time for the big show. It brings the revamped Symbian^3, a nice capacitive AMOLED screen and the hottest feature of all – 12 megapixel camera with Carl-Zeiss-certified optics and Xenon flash. Oh, there is 720p video recording too. Nokia N8 is an excellent package and it will be offered at the very tempting price of 370 euro (before taxes). That’s almost half the iPhone 4 price tag.
And finally, there’s the iPhone 3GS, which some of you may consider if your local iPhone carrier can give you a good deal. Buying last year’s Apple tech is a good enough way of getting the iPhone experience. Software-wise, the iPhone 3GS is nearly the same as the iPhone 4. Here's a rundown of the advantages the iPhone 4 has over the 3G - they're all hardware-related.
iPhone 4 advantages over iPhone 3GS
* Sexy new design, exclusive glass panels
* New display has 4x the resolution and contrast ratio, wider viewing angles
* 1GHz Apple A4 platform is faster than ever before
* Double the RAM amount (now reaching 512MB)
* Quad-band 3G with HSDPA and HSUPA
* 802.11n Wi-Fi support (though conclusively faster even in G mode)
* Three-axis gyro sensor for unsurpassed motion control
* 5MP AF camera with backside illuminated sensor and LED flash
* Camcoder shoots 720p HD videos at 30fps
* Front video-call camera (FaceTime calls)
* Active noise cancellation with a dedicated mic
* Improved battery life
So, to wrap it all up – we admit we enjoyed the company of Apple’s latest toy and we would like to keep it around. We wouldn’t mind a Samsung Galaxy S either to watch some movies or a Nokia N8 to take some cool pictures and videos. And we wouldn’t say no to a Moto DROID X that gets along with European networks.
No, there isn’t a perfect smartphone out there. There’s always something for anyone to love or hate. What makes the iPhone so special is that it takes love and hate with the loftiness of a royalty.
Key features:
* Quad-band GSM and quad-band 3G support with 7.2 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA
* 3.5" 16M-color LED-backlit TFT capacitive touchscreen of 640 x 960 px resolution
* Scratch-resistant glass front and rear, with fingerprint-resistant coating
* 1GHz Apple A4 SoC; 512MB of RAM
* 5 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and touch focus
* 720p video recording at 30fps
* Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
* GPS with A-GPS connectivity; digital compass
* 16/32GB storage options
* Accelerometer, proximity sensor and three-axis gyro sensor
* Active noise cancellation with a dedicated secondary microphone
* Standard 3.5 mm audio jack, stereo Bluetooth v2.1
* Excellent audio output quality
* Slim waistline at only 9.3mm
* Secondary front-facing camera
* Some degree of multitasking
* Rich AppStore
Main disadvantages:
* Hardware design is prone to reception issues
* MicroSIM card support only
* No Flash support in the web browser
* No true multitasking for all applications
* FaceTime video calls work only over Wi-Fi
* No file transfer over Bluetooth or USB Mass Storage mode
* No hardware shutter key for the camera
* No FM radio
* No stereo speakers
* No microSD card slot
* No smart dialing
* Too dependent on iTunes for loading multimedia content
* Poor loudspeaker performance
We would be lying if we told you we don’t like iPhone 4. Quite the opposite, the iPhone 4 has a way to impress.
The iPhone 4 is not the perfect smartphone but you’ll be inclined to believe it’s the perfect product. It can’t be just how they market it, or can it? Apple is great at giving people what they want, but even better at telling them what they get is the best for them. The iPhone still has very important features missing, some software and multimedia limitations and an annoying iTunes dependency.
But come a new iPhone launch, and you’ll still see people putting up tents at Apple Stores to be the first to get one. Even if they hear about easily breakable glass panels and some bizarre reception issues, they’ll still want to get one and learn to hold it right (or buy some Bumper cases).
The iPhone 4 will probably outsell the older generations and there are good reasons for that. It’s just gotten sexier, flaunts a killer screen, incomparably better imaging and a blazing fast CPU. Apple offers great support for their products and usually takes good care everything runs smoothly on every iPhone. It’s also got one of the richest application markets out there. The AppStore turns Apple handhelds into unsurpassed entertainment centers – games, social networking, video and imaging, silly pranks or whatever – the heaps of available apps fighting for your dollar are changing how we use mobile phones in our daily lives.
We do understand the millions of people out there who are less than impressed with the iPhone concept. Apple-imposed software limitations are stupid, even unfair at times, and their phones lack the flexibility you may be used to on other devices. The iPhone 4 is ridiculously expensive too – 630 euro for the 16GB iPhone and 740 euro for the 32GB version. No matter how you look at it, it’s the most expensive GSM smartphone on the market right now.
For this kind of money, you can get whatever high-end handset you lay your eyes on. And competition is probably at its fiercest.
The newly released Samsung I9000 Galaxy S is the first device to go head-to-head with the new iPhone. Samsung’s Super AMOLED screen, similar hardware and camera plus the great Android OS v2.1 inside are just the start of the Galaxy S feature list. It’s exactly the phone for those who don’t like being told what they can or cannot do with their devices. Yes, its plastic case makes it feel cheaper, but there’s no denying that the Galaxy S IS less expensive than the iPhone 4.
If you are interested in more high-end Droids, you should definitely check out the HTC Desire and Google Nexus One. The Desire enjoys the great HTC Sense UI, while the Nexus One has already been updated to Android v2.2 Froyo for a performance boost and native Flash support. HTC Desire should also get a bump to 720p video recording via a software upgrade before the end of the year. Stateside, a monster of a phone is about to make Android even more compelling. The lethal Motorola DROID X boasts a massive 4.3″ high-res screen at and a top-of-the-line imaging package.
Nokia N8 should be released this quarter and, given the reported iPhone 4 market shortages, it might just land in time for the big show. It brings the revamped Symbian^3, a nice capacitive AMOLED screen and the hottest feature of all – 12 megapixel camera with Carl-Zeiss-certified optics and Xenon flash. Oh, there is 720p video recording too. Nokia N8 is an excellent package and it will be offered at the very tempting price of 370 euro (before taxes). That’s almost half the iPhone 4 price tag.
And finally, there’s the iPhone 3GS, which some of you may consider if your local iPhone carrier can give you a good deal. Buying last year’s Apple tech is a good enough way of getting the iPhone experience. Software-wise, the iPhone 3GS is nearly the same as the iPhone 4. Here's a rundown of the advantages the iPhone 4 has over the 3G - they're all hardware-related.
iPhone 4 advantages over iPhone 3GS
* Sexy new design, exclusive glass panels
* New display has 4x the resolution and contrast ratio, wider viewing angles
* 1GHz Apple A4 platform is faster than ever before
* Double the RAM amount (now reaching 512MB)
* Quad-band 3G with HSDPA and HSUPA
* 802.11n Wi-Fi support (though conclusively faster even in G mode)
* Three-axis gyro sensor for unsurpassed motion control
* 5MP AF camera with backside illuminated sensor and LED flash
* Camcoder shoots 720p HD videos at 30fps
* Front video-call camera (FaceTime calls)
* Active noise cancellation with a dedicated mic
* Improved battery life
So, to wrap it all up – we admit we enjoyed the company of Apple’s latest toy and we would like to keep it around. We wouldn’t mind a Samsung Galaxy S either to watch some movies or a Nokia N8 to take some cool pictures and videos. And we wouldn’t say no to a Moto DROID X that gets along with European networks.
No, there isn’t a perfect smartphone out there. There’s always something for anyone to love or hate. What makes the iPhone so special is that it takes love and hate with the loftiness of a royalty.
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