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Wow, the iPhone 4S does look small, doesn't it? That was my first iPhone too! It was my first smartphone, in fact, and it was a hand-me-down. My current phone is a 12 Pro.
 
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OK…I took the 4s off charger at 74%. For whatever reason the phone did not ask me to log back in to iCloud. I suppose that is because of the authorization in the past with the code, IDK. But it didn't ask.

Anyway, side by side is the 4s and my 11 Pro Max. The 4s is on my home WiFi (and in Airplane mode for cellular as it does not have a current SIM). I iMessaged myself on my 11 Pro Max using my phone number.

2024-09-26 12.52.19.jpg2024-09-26 13.08.53.png

4s is running iOS 9.3.5 (and there is a notification for updating to 9.3.6).

2024-09-26 12.53.55.jpg

Home screen and lock screen.

2024-09-26 12.54.42.jpg2024-09-26 12.54.59.jpg
 
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OK…I took the 4s off charger at 74%. For whatever reason the phone did not ask me to log back in to iCloud. I suppose that is because of the authorization in the past with the code, IDK. But it didn't ask.

Anyway, side by side is the 4s and my 11 Pro Max. The 4s is on my home WiFi (and in Airplane mode for cellular as it does not have a current SIM). I iMessaged myself on my 11 Pro Max using my phone number.

View attachment 2428650View attachment 2428662

4s is running iOS 9.3.5 (and there is a notification for updating to 9.3.6).

View attachment 2428651

Home screen and lock screen.

View attachment 2428653View attachment 2428652
Wow that’s awesome!

I replied to someone else above regarding my iCloud sign in issue with a photo of what the 4s tells me when I try.

I’m not sure why it’s different but it just doesn’t like the version of iOS apparently.

Thanks for sharing those pics :)
 
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Wow that’s awesome!

I replied to someone else above regarding my iCloud sign in issue with a photo of what the 4s tells me when I try.

I’m not sure why it’s different but it just doesn’t like the version of iOS apparently.

Thanks for sharing those pics :)
Yeah, that's a weird popup. I've never seen that before.
 
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Wow that’s awesome!

I replied to someone else above regarding my iCloud sign in issue with a photo of what the 4s tells me when I try.

I’m not sure why it’s different but it just doesn’t like the version of iOS apparently.

Thanks for sharing those pics :)
Ahhhhh, thought it might have something to do with current tech…

Take a look here…

 
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4S felt like the future with Siri. Wow. It’s tiny!
It is!

But you know what, after playing around with it for an hour or so last night, there really is something to be said for true one handed use.

Not that I would go back to a phone that size on a daily basis, given the media consumption we all love today, but it really was the perfect size for it’s time.

I mean who doesn’t love one thumb texting!?
 
If you want some good laughs, search here way back when the original Galaxy Note was announced. Oh-boy. Every argument that could be twisted from the imagination is presented to illustrate how Samsung misfired hilariously on the idea of a phone with such a [then] large display. LOL
 
It is!

But you know what, after playing around with it for an hour or so last night, there really is something to be said for true one handed use.

Not that I would go back to a phone that size on a daily basis, given the media consumption we all love today, but it really was the perfect size for it’s time.

I mean who doesn’t love one thumb texting!?
Two hands for me, always. No matter what size phone. I don't use a case on any of my phones and trying to one-hand a device is a quick recipe for disaster (for me).

I've already had to deal with my wife's side-eye twice in 12 years when having to repair or replace a phone that I dropped while using two hands. Having to explain how I was trying to be slick while one-handing a device is not gonna be fun.

I tried using my thumb to text once and ended up almost sending the device flying out of my hand. That's why I use two hands.
 
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Not everyone is on the same purchase cycle. Apple releases a new phone every year so that when someone is looking to upgrade their current phone (whether it be after one year or ten years), Apple is offering a competitive product for that time. Otherwise, they risk losing a customer.
Given the size of Apple, losing just a handful (a couple thousand) really won’t make much of a difference. In the end, providing a lackluster product can also lose customers, even if it is being provided yearly.
They are a business, they have to release new products or they would be out of business. It's as simple as that. If the iPhone 14 series was still the latest model because there has been no groundbreaking feature in the last 2 years, how many people would want to replace an iPhone 14 with another iPhone 14? They would start to look elsewhere. Releasing new products and keeping excitement around them is a must.
Yes they have to, but release what? There’s no shortage of memes joking iPhone 15 is like iPhone 12SSSSSS. People will not be enticed to buy new products if said new products are lackluster and without much of new features anyways. Sure they get something that’s marginally better, but then what? People can form their own opinions that Apple can’t dictate.
 
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Two hands for me, always. No matter what size phone. I don't use a case on any of my phones and trying to one-hand a device is a quick recipe for disaster (for me).

I've already had to deal with my wife's side-eye twice in 12 years when having to repair or replace a phone that I dropped while using two hands. Having to explain how I was trying to be slick while one-handing a device is not gonna be fun.

I tried using my thumb to text once and ended up almost sending the device flying out of my hand. That's why I use two hands.
Worse for me even if I try to use two hands when using my iPhone in portrait mode. In landscape it is ok but iPhone screen is just way too small to see anything. So, I have been using iPad way more since 2018, and in fact I am using said iPad to type out this reply using two hands, on Magic Keyboard Case, and it’s not even that slow.
 
Yeah I’m not sure what’s going on then. But it definitely won’t let me sign in 🤷‍♂️View attachment 2428699
It seems that Apple has updated its iCloud account so much that older devices with older iOS version just doesn’t Work anymore. Or you have something enabled on your Apple ID that requires iOS 16.2 or later to work.
Wait a second. Have you got advanced data protection enabled? That was introduced in iOS 16.2.
 
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Here’s a little nostalgia for those who had the early iPhones.

Apple’s smallest ever iPhone screen vs the largest ever iPhone screen :)

Unfortunately I can’t get the old 4S to connect to WiFi so the first setup page is all I can show.

I’m actually surprised it turns on at all.

It’s been sitting in a drawer for over 10yrs, and luckily I was smart enough at the time to leave a 30 pin cable next to it..!

Anyhow, enjoy a quick look down memory lane and marvel at how far we have come! :)

View attachment 2428383View attachment 2428384View attachment 2428385View attachment 2428386
The 16pm screen is very pink.
 
It seems that Apple has updated its iCloud account so much that older devices with older iOS version just doesn’t Work anymore. Or you have something enabled on your Apple ID that requires iOS 16.2 or later to work.
Wait a second. Have you got advanced data protection enabled? That was introduced in iOS 16.2.
OP is using Security Keys, which isn't something you can use in iOS 9. Hence, the popup.

I texted myself again earlier tonight with my iPhone 4 (after having to log back in). That's on iOS 7. Came through fine on my 11 Pro Max (iOS 18).
 
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To me the iPhone 4 design and iPhone X where the best designs Apple ever made.

Congrats on the upgrade, I doubt I can last as long as you did :) . I am still happy with my 12 pro max for now.
 
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Lovely photos. Thanks for sharing the nostalgia. 4s was the only time I dropped and broke an iPhone glass. It cost me think either $199 or $299 for the back glass. The Genius Bar actually did the repair in house at the Apple Store.
 
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It is!

But you know what, after playing around with it for an hour or so last night, there really is something to be said for true one handed use.

Not that I would go back to a phone that size on a daily basis, given the media consumption we all love today, but it really was the perfect size for it’s time.

I mean who doesn’t love one thumb texting!?
13 years from now phones will be as outdated as the iPhone 4, it will all be AR Glasses. Holding a phone and looking at a display will be remembered as a bad era. Now you can drive and talk and have a heads up display in your line of sight.
 
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Ah, my first iPhone!
Me too! I remember coming from Android and being blown away by everything about the iPhone. My pathway from the 4S has been -> 5S -> 6 -> 6 Plus -> 6S Plus -> 7 Plus -> XR -> 11 Pro -> 13 Pro -> 15 Pro Max. Will sit this year out most likely and go for 17 Pro Max next year.
 
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