A couple iPhone 4S differences from the iPhone 4

[sakau2007]

Had a chance to compare my iPhone 4 with my friend's 4S this weekend.

A few subtle differences we noticed (they've probably been noted here already, but thought I'd pass them along anyway just in case):

- The speaker is better. This was very obvious when we played identical mp3s in the 'Music' app. For ringtones and text tones, the iPhone 4S appeared louder, but it was not as pronounced as when we were playing music.

- The vibrate has changed. The 4S vibrate makes less sound but vibrates just as hard if not harder. If it is in your pocket during class/work, this is a welcome change.

 

[fjrabon]

- The vibrate has changed. The 4S vibrate makes less sound but vibrates just as hard if not harder. If it is in your pocket during class/work, this is a welcome change.

yeah, they've changed to a rotary vibrator (think shaking your fist in a circle), as opposed to a linear vibrator (think shaking your fist back and forth in a straight line). rotary vibrators are substantially more quiet than linear.

I kind of prefer linear, as I now can't feel the vibrate if I have my phone in a case. I pretty much keep my phone on vibrate 100% of the time.

 

[alucinari]

yeah, they've changed to a rotary vibrator (think shaking your fist in a circle), as opposed to a linear vibrator (think shaking your fist back and forth in a straight line). rotary vibrators are substantially more quiet than linear.

I kind of prefer linear, as I now can't feel the vibrate if I have my phone in a case. I pretty much keep my phone on vibrate 100% of the time.

You've got that the wrong way around. The AT&T iPhone 4 and earlier used the noisy rotating counterweight vibrator. The VZW iPhone 4 and the 4S use a quiet linear vibrator.

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-4S-Teardown/6610/2#s28315

 

[troop231]

Personally I think the new vibrate motor is garbage and annoying:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1255199/