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are the 'S' models of the iphone better than the standard model
- Thread starter Chaelinxo
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I think there are some kind of pattern in the S iPhone upgrade cycle, in which, the S class iPhones are having a unique, advanced feature that its non-S iPhones can't have, while the next generation after that S iPhone is merely an advancement of all the features in the predecessor S iPhones, without adding unique feature.
For example, iPhone 3GS got the video recording, auto focus camera, and voice control, while the iPhone 3G can't have it
Then came the iPhone 4, advancing in screen resolution, and higher resolution digital camera
After that iPhone 4s released with Siri, 4S's unique feature that iPhone 4 can't have, which successed by the iPhone 5 a year later with every feature in 4S, just advanced a bit.
So, yeah, basically every new iPhones are better than the previous, but the S iPhones are luckier, for having a unique feature only they can have.
Just my two cent...
For example, iPhone 3GS got the video recording, auto focus camera, and voice control, while the iPhone 3G can't have it
Then came the iPhone 4, advancing in screen resolution, and higher resolution digital camera
After that iPhone 4s released with Siri, 4S's unique feature that iPhone 4 can't have, which successed by the iPhone 5 a year later with every feature in 4S, just advanced a bit.
So, yeah, basically every new iPhones are better than the previous, but the S iPhones are luckier, for having a unique feature only they can have.
Just my two cent...
I've always found the S models to handle later versions of iOS better than the non S versions due to those processor increases. Just take the 3G/3GS for example. iOS 6 ran way better on the 3GS than the 3G. And before the 7.1 update, iOS was completely unusable on the 4 while the 4S got along just fine.
IMO, it's better to wait for an S model if you are the type of person who keeps their phones longer. It'll get the same number of updates as the non S model, but it won't feel as old as quickly.
IMO, it's better to wait for an S model if you are the type of person who keeps their phones longer. It'll get the same number of updates as the non S model, but it won't feel as old as quickly.
I don't consider a 'S' version.
I think it like a new product.
new apple phones are always better than older.
A noticeably better retina screen is what 4 got over 3GS, and a noticeably larger screen is what 5 got over 4S, so there are features that non-S next versions get that only they have (until the next S version which will improve on them). Basically whatever the next version S or non-S will be one that has something that is better than the previous version.
People said the same thing about the 4s compared to the 4 when it came out, "It's marginally better" and it's an "incremental update".
In 2011 the 4 and 4s performed near identical on iOS 4 and 5. It wasn't until iOS 6 that the 4 began to show some signs of slowdown.
Fast forward to 2014 with both phones running iOS 7. Tell me now that the 4s is only an "incremental update" to the 4. The difference in performance now is night and day, the innards of the 4s future proofed it far beyond the 4.
The same will rind true eventually for the 5s vs the 5, and that's not me basing it on the 64-bit processor. Right now side by side there is little to choose between the 5 and 5s, just like the 4 and 4s before it ... that will change with time. The 5s will go on to show that it was more than an incremental update.
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No surprises there ...
In 2011 the 4 and 4s performed near identical on iOS 4 and 5. It wasn't until iOS 6 that the 4 began to show some signs of slowdown.
Fast forward to 2014 with both phones running iOS 7. Tell me now that the 4s is only an "incremental update" to the 4. The difference in performance now is night and day, the innards of the 4s future proofed it far beyond the 4.
The same will rind true eventually for the 5s vs the 5, and that's not me basing it on the 64-bit processor. Right now side by side there is little to choose between the 5 and 5s, just like the 4 and 4s before it ... that will change with time. The 5s will go on to show that it was more than an incremental update.
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No surprises there ...
are the 'S' models of the iphone better than the standard model
I think this thread meant to stand for if the S upgrade is a better model in THEIR time, didn't it?
I understand it that way. Is it a more solid model and more mature than the plain non-S model?!
I think this thread meant to stand for if the S upgrade is a better model in THEIR time, didn't it?
I understand it that way. Is it a more solid model and more mature than the plain non-S model?!
The 5S has a processor upgrade over the 5 the 5C is exactly the same phone as the 5 dressed up in Plastic, no processor change.
i guess the question there would be how much of an upgrade 5S is compared to 5 vs 4S compared to 4. In 4S case the main change was from single to dual core which is rather big, as well as a big GPU change from what I recall. In 5S case it's mainly 64-bit, and some smaller things, so we'll have to see if that's as big of a jump as the 4S one was in that respect.
Of course the 5s is better than the 5; and the 5 is better than the 4s, etc. Currently, my wife and I have 4s's for personal and I have a 5 and she has a 4 for work. Her 4 is almost unuseable for anything other than email and feature phone stuff. Her personal 4s is still awesome in her eyes. Meanwhile, my work 5 makes me want to smash my personal 4s (on VZ, the 3g is soooo slow 
) on the ground anytime I want to download anything. And I find it semi-laggy compared to the 5. The bummer about the 5 is that it's pretty locked down by work and big brother is always watching so I never do anything fun with it. I'm trying to hold out for the 6 to replace my 4s but the battery is almost toast.
) on the ground anytime I want to download anything. And I find it semi-laggy compared to the 5. The bummer about the 5 is that it's pretty locked down by work and big brother is always watching so I never do anything fun with it. I'm trying to hold out for the 6 to replace my 4s but the battery is almost toast.
You forgot way better battery at least pre 7.1.1 for me. Battery has taken to the crapper lately but initially it was a very noticeable improvement over the 5. Wasn't even close to be honest.
iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS were in a different class. New CPU architecture (ARMv6 to ARMv7), huge speed increase, doubled RAM, improved camera. The iPhone 3G (and the original iPhone) were just slow, slow, slow. It wasn't until the iPhone 3GS that Apple started putting really high-end stuff in the devices.
iPhone 4 to 4S:
Fixed GSM antenna issue (see: "antennagate")
Improved internals with much faster CPU (there was a bigger jump from the 4 to 4S than there was from the 3GS to 4).
Much improved camera, cellular radio, etc.
The iPhone 4S pretty much had the improved (and released late) CDMA iPhone 4 designs (antenna layout and vibration motor).
iPhone 5 to 5S:
New CPU architecture again (ARMv7 to ARMv8), 32-bit to 64-bit, huge speed bump.
Altered paint style to reduce appearance of scratches and scrapes.
Fixed power button and revised radio.
Note that iPhone 5 models from September 2012 to April 2013 had the older radio (lack of AWS) and power button design (now being fixed by Apple). iPhone 5 models after April 2013 have the newer radio and power button. If you're buying used, you may not know which iPhone 5 you will get. All iPhone 5S models released will all have the newer radio and power button.
So YES, the "S" models have both fixed and improved over the non-S models. They are basically the old device, "perfected".
If you're going to buy multiple iPhone models, I would definitely pick the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 5S. You get the best of each generation.
iPhone 4 to 4S:
Fixed GSM antenna issue (see: "antennagate")
Improved internals with much faster CPU (there was a bigger jump from the 4 to 4S than there was from the 3GS to 4).
Much improved camera, cellular radio, etc.
The iPhone 4S pretty much had the improved (and released late) CDMA iPhone 4 designs (antenna layout and vibration motor).
iPhone 5 to 5S:
New CPU architecture again (ARMv7 to ARMv8), 32-bit to 64-bit, huge speed bump.
Altered paint style to reduce appearance of scratches and scrapes.
Fixed power button and revised radio.
Note that iPhone 5 models from September 2012 to April 2013 had the older radio (lack of AWS) and power button design (now being fixed by Apple). iPhone 5 models after April 2013 have the newer radio and power button. If you're buying used, you may not know which iPhone 5 you will get. All iPhone 5S models released will all have the newer radio and power button.
So YES, the "S" models have both fixed and improved over the non-S models. They are basically the old device, "perfected".
If you're going to buy multiple iPhone models, I would definitely pick the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 5S. You get the best of each generation.
In terms of build quality, or quality of parts, there have been variances, but there will always be variances with the level of mass production.
I see the "S" line as an opportunity to clean up the design flaws of the previous version, in addition to making some much needed updates, regardless how incremental they may be (ie, faster processor, better camera, etc.). However, it is also an opportunity for Apple to find cheaper methods of producing the same parts, which in turn could mean that the integrity of certain parts or structure is affected (ie, cheaper glue/adhesive, thinnier logic substrate, etc.). And I believe this is probably the concern that the OP is referencing to.
I haven't made enough comparison between the models and parts of each model series to draw any conclusion, but maybe someone else might have a better opinion?
I see the "S" line as an opportunity to clean up the design flaws of the previous version, in addition to making some much needed updates, regardless how incremental they may be (ie, faster processor, better camera, etc.). However, it is also an opportunity for Apple to find cheaper methods of producing the same parts, which in turn could mean that the integrity of certain parts or structure is affected (ie, cheaper glue/adhesive, thinnier logic substrate, etc.). And I believe this is probably the concern that the OP is referencing to.
I haven't made enough comparison between the models and parts of each model series to draw any conclusion, but maybe someone else might have a better opinion?
