Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I personally prefer to get a revoulutionary rather than evolutionary product every 2 years.

The "true" Apple fans go for the former while the more "vanilla" soccer Mom types go for the latter. IMO. :D

There's no "true" or "vanilla" Apple "fans" in regard to this.

It's all dependant on the model you are CURRENTLY contracted to use and the cycle you are basically forced into following unless you change mid contract.

Regardless of which cycle you sit on, you will ALWAYS end up on a "revolutionary" new model of the iPhone, one which skips a model completely.

Using your terminology, if you're on an iPhone 4 now, skipped the 4S, and got a 5 you're getting some revolutionary update. Same applies to those on the 4S who skip the 5 but get the 5S, these people will not get a device which is evolutionary, because to those owners they are getting the new model in terms of design AND more power.

However, if you've come from a 4 to the 5 the jump will feel more substantial and more, dare I use the cringe worthy term once more, revolutionary. The jump is only an evolutionary one if you go from 4 to 4S, 5 to 5S, etc.

----------

Moving from the 4S to 5 is a HUGE upgrade in terms of "sheer power under the hood". It's ridiculously fast...More then double my 4S.

Your on a good upgrade schedule, though. Nothing wrong with the 4s at all. I was just shocked on just how powerful and fast the A6 is. Can't wait to see what's in store for the 5S.

In terms of navigating iOS, there's no difference other than the panes in the Settings tab loading that little quicker. iOS animations are ... iOS animations, they go a set speed and the frame rate of them is the same on the 4S and 5.

When we see some apps being written specifically for the 5, that's when we'll see our jaws hit the ground. But then that's always been the problem with the iPhone and it's annual updates. We never really see the full power of a new iPhone until, what feels like, a year down the line because developers don't want to push too far ahead out of fear of leaving even 3GS and 4 owners behind. There comes a point when the link has to be severed, the old devices need to be cut loose to allow the newer devices to shine.

I keep referring back to the showcase title at the 4S keynote last year, Infinity Blade 2. Epic came out and showed these "God ray" lighting effects, particle effects, water reflections, etc but they were only niche little graphical touches which didn't push the game or the platform in comparison to the iPhone 4 version which, lower frame rate aside, looked identical at a glance.

Even though I won't own a 5, I am looking forward to seeing what developers do with that A6, especially in the gaming genre.
 
My biggest "I want it!" moment with the 5 was when I watched a guy on YouTube taking a dozen rapid-fire photos, one after the other without any delay. Anyone who has small children will understand why zero lag on the camera is so desirable.
 
There's no "true" or "vanilla" Apple "fans" in regard to this.

It's all dependant on the model you are CURRENTLY contracted to use and the cycle you are basically forced into following unless you change mid contract.

Regardless of which cycle you sit on, you will ALWAYS end up on a "revolutionary" new model of the iPhone, one which skips a model completely.

Using your terminology, if you're on an iPhone 4 now, skipped the 4S, and got a 5 you're getting some revolutionary update. Same applies to those on the 4S who skip the 5 but get the 5S, these people will not get a device which is evolutionary, because to those owners they are getting the new model in terms of design AND more power.

However, if you've come from a 4 to the 5 the jump will feel more substantial and more, dare I use the cringe worthy term once more, revolutionary. The jump is only an evolutionary one if you go from 4 to 4S, 5 to 5S, etc.

I get your point that in an "S" upgrader's world it is "new to them". That doesn't make it revolutionary though. A complete redesign does, and that has already happened a year before when an "S" person upgrades.

Also there is nothing "cringe worthy" about calling a redesign revolutionary.

From Merriam-Webster : revolutionary: constituting or bringing about a major or fundamental change.
 
I'm happy with my 4S until the 5S (or whatever they call it) comes out. It's maybe half a second slower than the 5 (I compared it side-by-side at the Apple Store), still buttery smooth, and I'm okay with not having a bigger screen or LTE until next year - AT&T LTE won't roll out in Denver/Boulder until the end of this year anyhow.

Plus every iOS 6 feature is supported, and for stills during video, I have an app.

Only thing that's bugging me about my 4S currently is the battery life.

Oh, and I agree about being on the "S" cycle. You get the more refined, speedier version of each new design.
 
Last edited:
Moving from the 4S to 5 is a HUGE upgrade in terms of "sheer power under the hood". It's ridiculously fast...More then double my 4S.
Okay I'm sorry but no, it's not that huge of an upgrade as far as power goes, and I can say this since I've done several side by side tests of my 4S and my friends 5. You are sort of misinforming people that the 4S they have is now inadequate and that they should get the 5. You must work for Apple.

Anyways, like I keep saying in these various 4S threads: the 5 seems like such a big upgrade because physically it's reinvented. It's bigger screen, thinner body and lighter weight gives the user the feel that they are using a revolutionary new device. And physically it is. But internally, It doesn't blow the doors off the 4S like people with 5's keep saying. Is it faster? Of course. It's a new model. Maybe I'm just shocked at how many people feel the need to have the newest iPhone. I guess people give in too easily and feel they need to "keep up with the joneses" so to speak, and this is why Apple makes the big bucks. They know how to create a new product each year to keep you hooked and upgrading yearly. And I'm hooked too, for two years, then I'll be hooked on the next.
 
Last edited:
I get your point that in an "S" upgrader's world it is "new to them". That doesn't make it revolutionary though. A complete redesign does, and that has already happened a year before when an "S" person upgrades.

Also there is nothing "cringe worthy" about calling a redesign revolutionary.

From Merriam-Webster : revolutionary: constituting or bringing about a major or fundamental change.

It's revolutionary to them. In fact, can we drop this whole revolutionary stuff? It's a mobile phone, not the cure for cancer. It is cringe worthy when you're using the word in the context of a piece of electrical equipment used to make/receive phone calls & text messages and browse the web. The bringing down of the Berlin wall was a "bringing about a major or fundamental change" for the better ... that was revolutionary, but we're going off track here.

It doesn't matter if it's "revolutionary" or "evolutionary", the fact remains that regardless of the cycle you are on, when you upgrade after two years you get a phone which has skipped a model and which to your experience is superior to what you're upgrading from.

The S version, like it not, is the more powerful model. I don't need to wake up in the morning and think, "I'm using the revolutionary version of the iPhone while these poor sods on 4S's wait for an evolutionary one". And likewise, when I get my 5S I won't wake up in the morning and think I got one over on the iPhone 5 owners because my phone has more powerful innards. I'm not one of these guys who gets a hard on when using public transport and who smugly brings out the newest model of the iPhone whilst smirking because I notice the bloke sitting next to me checking his model from last year.

I deliberately came off the first cycle to move onto the S cycle with the 4 and 4S. I will not be caught out again in that regard.
 
I've had the 4, 4S, and now 5. The 5 screen is amazing. The color looks way better...you have to be using the phone for awhile to completely appreciate the display. Much less glare too. Also, LTE is soooooo fast. OMG. Better than being on home wifi. Battery life is better than the 4 and 4S easily. This is a much much bigger upgrade than 4 to 4S. Completely worth it :D
 
I've had the 4, 4S, and now 5. The 5 screen is amazing. The color looks way better...you have to be using the phone for awhile to completely appreciate the display. Much less glare too. Also, LTE is soooooo fast. OMG. Better than being on home wifi. Battery life is better than the 4 and 4S easily. This is a much much bigger upgrade than 4 to 4S. Completely worth it :D

Physical hardware wise yes, specification wise no.

A4 to A5 was x2 CPU and x7 graphics, A5 to A6 is x2 all round. Although there is twice the RAM I suppose.

So if you come from a 4 to a 5 you're getting a x14 increase in performance.

Of course, that's all dependant on whether you believe Mr Schiller and his slides, lol.

The screen on the 5 is impressive though, the colour saturation is superb and the blacks are really dense.

Don't get me wrong, if I had the funds to spend £500 a year on a phone outright I would upgrade, but being on contract it's not exactly economical to buy out half of a 24 month contract plus £100 on top of that for the new handset.

We really are a sad bunch when it comes to mobile phones, lol.

Although, I don't know how bad your home WiFi is that LTE is better than it. My 20mb constant unlimited Sky broadband connection takes some beating, especially here in the UK where LTE/4G is non existent.
 
No envy here! As long as I have turn by turn navigation, I'm glad that I'm not getting the iPhone5. Here why:

1. My contract isn't a year old yet.
2. I don't need the bigger screen, LTE, the faster A6 chip, or the slightly better camera.
3. I had a feeling there would be another (insert issue)-gate.
4. Glad to be using the last phone (for now?) with a stainless steel band and an all glass back.
 
No envy here! As long as I have turn by turn navigation, I'm glad that I'm not getting the iPhone5. Here why:

1. My contract isn't a year old yet.
2. I don't need the bigger screen, LTE, the faster A6 chip, or the slightly better camera.
3. I had a feeling there would be another (insert issue)-gate.
4. Glad to be using the last phone (for now?) with a stainless steel band and an all glass back.

Not to mention the 4s was the last iphone steve jobs introduced to the world.

the 4s gets most of the io6 capabilities so i guess thats why im not too envious of the new iphone 5
 
Envy? Jealous? Victim? No, no, and really no.

My decision not to buy is just that, a decision. Instead I would like to use the money I would spend there to continue to pay down student loans and my mortgage. The feeling of a new phone dies in a matter of days, the feeling of lower debt makes me happy every 2 weeks when I sit down and pay bills. Color me a boring ass adult because I am. I am certain others can buy and probably don't have debt and I am not saying that you're a child if you don't follow my lead; but I am saying that I've seen so many people in choose to pay for a new phone instead of paying for something that really matters.

But why are you here? Serious question.

----------

Although, I don't know how bad your home WiFi is that LTE is better than it. My 20mb constant unlimited Sky broadband connection takes some beating, especially here in the UK where LTE/4G is non existent.

My home wifi is about the same as yours 20mb down / 6mb up.

LTE in Atlanta in some areas can be 60mb down and 20mb up. I didn't believe it till I ran a speed test.

The LTE upgrade alone made the entire phone appear that much faster. Checking-in, checking mail, loading maps, everything appears instantly now. It's a crazy world we live in.
 
No envy at all here. The 4s still ticks all the boxes for me, there is no lag in the operating system and the only thing that the iPhone 5 can do that the 4s can't is take pictures while shooting video. Actually, there's an app for that as well!
So I'll hold out til the 5s..

The iPhone 5 cAn do several things that the iPhone 4S can't. Get data at LTE speeds for one. Another big one is playing videos at full screen without black bars.
 
The only thing I'm remotely jealous of is LTE. I'm happy with my 4S's speed, camera, screen, and size.
I am looking forward to what the 5S brings though!
 
Nope. The only good thing is has is LTE. The larger size, new proprietary connector, and iOS 6 disaster (at least until an untethered JB and Google Maps come) are all big downsides. My area is OK on HSPA+, so I'm satisfied with the 4S. Might even get a $99 4S for my mom who currently has an old Android phone.
 
Huh .. Envy? Next year's iPhone going to make iPhone 5 users envy too. Just like iPhone 4 users wanted Siri on theirs. So what's your point here?
 
Huh? :confused:

You really think Siri made iPhone 4 owners envious? :p

Sure .. why not? Don't say iPhone 4 users never wish they have Siri on it.

Now iPhone 5 ... comes with LTE, new connector, taller screen, less-than-decent Apple Maps, practically-useless Passbook, and brand new prone-to-scratch antenna band?

Let's just say I'd let the tech matured and wait next year. :p
 
Last edited:
iOS features like Google Maps are keeping me from upgrading, actually. I know there are workarounds but Apple Maps is just poor quality.

You have an internet browser on your iPhone correct? Or did that somehow get removed from yours? ;)
 
I am waiting for the iPhone 13 to upgrade from my 4S.

I would have stuck with the 4 however the camera was way better on the 4S so that is why I upgraded, I no longer carry or use a digital camera, but only my iphone, and the 4S does this super well. I am also waiting until next year to see what they do if there is a 6 or 5S, and what the performance will be.

I think Apple got away with a bump to the 4 and calling it a 4S last year. I think however going forward for Apple to stay competitive, they will need to go way beyond a small bump each year and improve the phone from the prior year.

We will see what next year has to offer....my White 4S 32GB on AT&T's great network works perfect for me now.
 
My home wifi is about the same as yours 20mb down / 6mb up.

LTE in Atlanta in some areas can be 60mb down and 20mb up. I didn't believe it till I ran a speed test.

The LTE upgrade alone made the entire phone appear that much faster. Checking-in, checking mail, loading maps, everything appears instantly now. It's a crazy world we live in.

Well, hopefully one day we'll get to experience that in the UK. :(

I know the T-Mobile/Orange merger to EE has seen 4G introduced, but it's sporadic and with all 4G customers using the one network, it's not going to be as stable as a full network wide roll out. One day though, once we get the finger out.
 
I'm not envious at all - My 4S has better WiFi and doesn't suffer from scuffgate :)

waiting for the bombs in 3, 2, 1..
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.