200€ iPhone 4S or Something Else?

[smoothbit]

I have ~200€ to spend on an out-of-contract phone and one option is to get a 32GB iPhone 4S with a cracked screen replaced for 200€ at the Apple Store.

Would anyone recommend this? Or would you buy a Windows or Android phone instead?

 

[Martin81]

Depends on how deep you are in iOS / Mac OS and the kind of apps you use.

A friend has a Lumia and it's not so bad.

 

[sunking101]

It's a great phone but I wouldn't put iOS8 or 9 onto it. iOS7 will still support apps for the next couple of years I'm sure and will allow your phone to perform well.

 

[Martin81]

Have you checked the Lumia 535? It cost around 100€. Or for 50€ more the 635 with LTE?
Might be an alternative.

But as I said: depends on how deep you are in iOS / Mac OS. iCal sync should be possible, but I'm not sure how it works with other functions of iCloud (e.g. picture upload).

 

[nTrud3r]

(just remembered I have an account for Macrumors!)
The iPhone 4s is still a decent phone and how good it is is a matter of personal opinion. If you only need a phone for calls/texts, internet usage and maybe some light gaming then an iPhone 4s should be fine. I wouldn't put iOS 8/9 on it as it would lag its 4 year old processor quite bad.

 

[Matheew944]

Buy Iphone 4s NOW? At least , buy an Iphone 5s

 

[LucasEVille]

Save your money and get the 5s / or 6 when the 6s comes out.

 

[madeirabhoy]

Buy Iphone 4s NOW? At least , buy an Iphone 5s

in portugal at least, lots of places doing 5c for 310 euro, i know its a bit more cash but would say youll get your moneys worth in extra use.

 

[geta]

Just got the 4s (16GB) last month as present (like new in original box), this is my first iPhone - for my light user needs, its perfect! spacial since i paid non

If your use will be mainly calls, sms, skype (or other VoIP app), mails & light internet usage - the 4s would be great for you. That been said, if i had to buy one now, i would save a bit more and get the 5s instead > best value for your money and future proof.

PS - I dont know why many ppl complain about the 4s\iOS 8 combo, correctly im using my 4s with iOS 8.2 and i dont feel any problems or lagging...

 

[ramram55]

ios 8.x doing well with my iphone 4s, would still install ios 9 when released, going to run this phone for another couple years. Just my opinion.

 

[Matheew944]

The 4s will get IOS 10, Its confirmed

 

[sunking101]

ios 8.x doing well with my iphone 4s, would still install ios 9 when released, going to run this phone for another couple years. Just my opinion.

Hmm, the 4S was slowed by iOS7 and that's the last version I would install on it. There is a comparison video on YouTube showing the 4S running iOS 7.1.2 and iOS8.3, the latter being much more laggy. Really though, on 7.1.2 it's an ok phone and despite having half the RAM it actually reloads slightly less than the 6+. So if you can stomach the display size then what's not to like at that price point? It was once a premium phone and has the best build quality of any phone ever.

 

[smoothbit]

First, thanks for all the responses. It hasn't made it much easier to decide what I'll do, but I appreciate the time you've all put into this.

Second, a bit of background. I've been using an iPhone since 2010, a Mac since 2001, and until Yosemite I very much enjoyed both Mac OS X and iOS.

Third, I used an iPhone 4 from 2010 until 2014, I bought an iPhone 6 last October. A few days ago my wife dropped her iPhone 4S and I gave her my 6, which is why I now need to decide on whether I get her 4S repaired/replaced by Apple for 200€, or whether I buy a whole new phone for myself.

Fourth, until Apple announced that iOS 9 would run on the 4S, we had expected to buy a new iPhone of some kind when the new models are released later this year. But iOS 9 will run on the 4S, even if some developers decide to drop support for the 32-bit A5 and A6 SoCs.

Fifth, I plan to replace my 2010 MacBook later this year with a Hackintosh. Though I intend to use El Capitan as my main OS, I will use Windows 10 to play games, and so buying a Windows Phone now doesn't seem so ridiculous as it did before.

Sixth, the 4S has 32GB storage, and for how I use an iPhone that really is the minimum. I've had to offload all my music save for a few playlists, where my 128GB iPhone 6 was able to store it all. An 8GB or 16GB phone does not seem reasonable for my use.

Seventh, though the screen is cracked I've been using the 4S (running iOS 8.3) for the last few days and other than Crossy Road and the camera, it has been satisfactory for all that I do with it. The iPhone 4/4S design is by far my favourite, much more so than the 6, the fact that I can keep it in my pocket and sit down much more comfortably is an added benefit.

Eighth, I don't trust Google, so an Android phone seems unlikely for me, but the Lumia 640 does look very nice. It reminds me of the iPhone 5c, which I would also consider if they sold a 32GB version, but it's currently only avaiable new with 8GB.

Ninth, the Apple features I use that I would miss on a Windows phone are shared photo streams, Safari iCloud tabs, contacts and calendars. I would need to look into alternative solutions that work between Mac OS X and Windows Phone and are not Google. Does anyone know of good options?

Tenth, thanks again for your feedback and suggestions and for reading all this too.

 

[recoil80]

I have ~200€ to spend on an out-of-contract phone and one option is to get a 32GB iPhone 4S with a cracked screen replaced for 200€ at the Apple Store.

Would anyone recommend this? Or would you buy a Windows or Android phone instead?

If you really want an Apple phone I suggest the 5C, you can get it for about 300 euro, is lighter and faster and you get some more screen space as well.

If you can't afford that I suggest looking at some Lumia phones. I really like them, you can get a decent model for about 100 euro and I can tell you the quality is good so is the speed.
You'd miss the App store though. There are more apps for iOS and the average quality is higher, but you can find most of the apps you need even on windows and they work, so you do have a valid alternative to an iPhone.
Obviously if you go for a low price phone you cannot expect a really fast cpu, a stunning camera, a light and thin phone etc.

 

[geta]

Third, I used an iPhone 4 from 2010 until 2014, I bought an iPhone 6 last October. A few days ago my wife dropped her iPhone 4S and I gave her my 6, which is why I now need to decide on whether I get her 4S repaired/replaced by Apple for 200€, or whether I buy a whole new phone for myself.

I would definitely won't do it, 200€ is way to much for crack'd screen repair! it should cost you max 50€ (for parts + work). for that price i would spend a bit more and get newer model...

 

[ramram55]

I've been using the 4S (running iOS 8.3) for the last few days

There you are have been running with IOS 8.3 and IOS 9 should be fine, why bother buying another one for right now. As long the cat catches mice who cares it is black or white, do not care what youtube reviewers say it is slow.

 

[smoothbit]

I would definitely won't do it, 200€ is way to much for crack'd screen repair! it should cost you max 50€ (for parts + work). for that price i would spend a bit more and get newer model...

Do you know anywhere (preferably in Germany) that will fix a cracked-screen-4S for only 50€? That would of course be ideal.

There you are have been running with IOS 8.3 and IOS 9 should be fine, why bother buying another one for right now. As long the cat catches mice who cares it is black or white, do not care what youtube reviewers say it is slow.

The screen is cracked and Apple charge 200€ to repair it, which is to say replace it with an as-new-4S.

Normally I wouldn't have considered anything other than an iPhone, but while 200€ seems too much to replace such an old phone, the next cheapest 32GB iPhone (a 5c) costs 500€.

Considering a Lumia 640 with a 64GB microSD card totals just over 160€, the price is mostly what's tempting me. I played with one in a shop today and was surprised at how responsive and nice to use it is.

What's funny is that it reminded me of when I started using Macs back in 2001. Small marketshare, little software support, and few people take it seriously as a platform. That was interesting to me.

 

[geta]

Do you know anywhere (preferably in Germany) that will fix a cracked-screen-4S for only 50€? That would of course be ideal.

if you're a bit technical and dont mind DIY, you can find a kit (screen plus tools) in amazon\ebay for around €20-25. if not, im sure there are plenty of cellular repair shops in your area that can do it for you in a reasonable price.

Dont know where you live in Germany, but here is one link for repair shop, and im sure you'll find cheaper one if you look around...
http://iphonesandrepairs.com/product-category/iphone-4s/

 

[ramram55]

Considering a Lumia 640 with a 64GB microSD card totals just over 160€, the price is mostly what's tempting me. I played with one in a shop today and was surprised at how responsive and nice to use it is.

What's funny is that it reminded me of when I started using Macs back in 2001. Small marketshare, little software support, and few people take it seriously as a platform. That was interesting to me.

I would say if you can hang on to your iphone without doing any repair, and work with it. That should be fine, otherwise lumia will do you good, consider MS has windows 10 in the offering and should be a good alternate than Iphone.