'iPhone 4S' to Debut as Only New iPhone Next Month?

[Teste]

iOS is no longer the leading OS in new mobile phones, but sales and profits continue to increase, and with Apple's ecosystem in place, people already invested in that ecosystem are likely to stay with it.

Sure, but...

1) If someone is invested in the Appel's ecosystem, that person already has the iPhone 3 family or the iPhone 4. Why would someone who has the iPhone 4 (or the iPhone 3GS, but didn't want to upgrade to the iPhone 4) upgrade to the iPhone 4S? Slightly increased speed and slightly better camera are likely not going to make that many people change their current iPhone.

2) If someone does not already have an iPhone, it could be because that someone does not like the current iPhones, or due to their cost (among other reasons). The iPhone 4S (if it's the only iPhone being released) is likely not going to be any cheaper than the current iPhone 4, so those who can't afford an iPhone 4 won't buy the iPhone 4S; and those who don't like the iPhone 4 are going to see basically the same thing when they look at the iPhone 4S.

 

[KnightWRX]

Edit: listen to KnightWRX, I think he knows what he is talking about.

To be fair, I am speculating as much as anyone here. Except I tend to try to use Apple's logic and reflect on history rather than just go for emotional responses. Wanting a redesign of the outward appearance of the iPhone doesn't mean that if it doesn't get one, it's automatically a lesser phone.

Apple is not about huge upgrades and redesigns for the sake of redesigns. They have no problem packaging up new hardware in an existing and familiar package and calling it shiny and new. Marketing wise, as you can see from these threads, they would have no advantage in naming the phone the "iPhone 4S" as that would give it a negative connotation.

How many people here are really just hung up on that name ? Apple marketing won't make that mistake. They'll name whatever we get iPhone 5. That's my thinking. It doesn't matter what it is we get. People tend to belittle the 3GS because they do not know what the 3GS brought. It was a much better phone than the 3G, it had a much longer lifespan and it will get more out of software upgrades than the 3G ever could hope to get. Why say it was a "minor" upgrade because of the case ? Emotional response that makes no sense.

 

[dvoros]

One of those who waited

Your quite right. I would feel very stupid and cheated that after waiting all those months and all we get is an updated iPhone 4.

just curious how all those folks who were saying how stupid it was to buy an iPhone on Verizon back in February are feeling. "The new one is coming out in 4-5 months."

 

[vitzr]

there aren't many reason to go for an iPhone 4S.

Nor are there many reasons to buy an iPhone 5 either. It will be a very minor hardware update with the major focus on iOS5. Yet that version of the OS will be buggy and take awhile to sort out. And that's just a fact, not being critical. Just like it's natural to take awhile to get Lion sorted.

Now iPhone 6 with the A6 chip, a sorted iOS, that will be the one I buy. While I usually upgrade every release, 5 is worth passing up. I'll live with my Antennagate 4, save the hassle of dealing with short supplies predicted for iPhone 5 and be early for iP6.

 

[jb1280]

Sure, but...

1) If someone is invested in the Appel's ecosystem, that person already has the iPhone 3 family or the iPhone 4. Why would someone who has the iPhone 4 (or the iPhone 3GS, but didn't want to upgrade to the iPhone 4) upgrade to the iPhone 4S? Slightly increased speed and slightly better camera are likely not going to make that many people change their current iPhone.

There seems to be a major disconnect on this forum that the majority of people actually upgrade their phones based on their contract cycles - not on an annual basis. I would argue most 3GS owners who bought their phones attached to a 2 year contract did not upgrade to the iPhone 4. Similarly, I would argue that most people who purchased an iPhone 4 would not upgrade to an iPhone 5 or a 4S or an iPhone "Will Grant you 3 wishes everyday" since they still have time on their contract.

2) If someone does not already have an iPhone, it could be because that someone does not like the current iPhones, or due to their cost (among other reasons). The iPhone 4S (if it's the only iPhone being released) is likely not going to be any cheaper than the current iPhone 4, so those who can't afford an iPhone 4 won't buy the iPhone 4S; and those who don't like the iPhone 4 are going to see basically the same thing when they look at the iPhone 4S.

There are any number of reasons that people might not want an iPhone - a natural aversion to Apple's ecosystem, the price associated with any smartphone on the contract and data plan side, an affinity for Android. The industrial design of the hardware, however, is a pretty low order issue.

If all Apple does is put an A5, upgrade camera, and better battery life in the current chassis, I'm willing to bet an unsubsidized iPhone that it will be more successful than the iPhone 4 in the market.

 

[vitzr]

If all Apple does is put an A5, upgrade camera, and better battery life in the current chassis, I'm willing to bet an unsubsidized iPhone that it will be more successful than the iPhone 4 in the market.

Very true. As has been said frequently, the average buyer doesn't have a clue. They simply want an iPhone. If it's got an Apple logo it it will sell. Each year the numbers grow larger due to more buyers in the market through population growth and those who migrate from feature phones to smartphones. Apple being the simplelist, they appeal to young & old alike.

 

[Teste]

I would argue most 3GS owners who bought their phones attached to a 2 year contract did not upgrade to the iPhone 4. Similarly, I would argue that most people who purchased an iPhone 4 would not upgrade to an iPhone 5 or a 4S or an iPhone "Will Grant you 3 wishes everyday" since they still have time on their contract.

I'm not in the USA, so that reference is moot to me. In my country (Brazil), we do not have 2 years contracts. I don't know how it works in other parts of the world, but if Europe also does not follow that scheme, then it isn't a good argument for no big upgrades this year.

Very true. As has been said frequently, the average buyer doesn't have a clue. They simply want an iPhone. If it's got an Apple logo it it will sell. Each year the numbers grow larger due to more buyers in the market through population growth and those who migrate from feature phones to smartphones. Apple being the simplelist, they appeal to young & old alike.

Under such point of view, there was no need to even release a new iPhone this year, since the "average buyer" that would blindly buy an iPhone 4S could also blindly buy an iPhone 4.

I'm not sure if the iPhone 4S will be more successful than the iPhone 4. I doubt very much the iPhone 4S will sell significantly more, in the next months, than the iPhone 4 would if the iPhone 4S had not been released. A lot of people will buy the iPhone 4S, but I think the majority will be people moving from feature phones to smartphones, or moving from Android to iPhones, not those specifically seeking the iPhone 4S.

 

[Tiggs]

Whatever gets announced will be a significant upgrade. Who cares if the design changes or not. When the 3gs got released, lots complained it was a minor update. As someone who bought one, it felt like a major upgrade, night/day difference especially with games. The impact to user experience is what will ultimately sell and result in huge lines to get one.

 

[Illumination]

I don't see why everyone is expecting a major re-design anyway. There was a huge one just last year. There's no rule that says there must be one. The 3G -> 3GS was a significant internal upgrade; that's what I think this year is. iOS 5, iCloud, and iTunes match are going to be the headliners this year, not the design of the phone. At least that's my opinion.

I think iOS 5 is the reason the phone was held out so long. Not because of some romanticized screen problem people keep telling themselves to rationalize their irrational expectations.

 

[daveathall]

I'm of the opinion that it will be an internal re jigging, faster processor and possibly more pixel count for the camera, next year for a redesign. If its more this time around I will be pleasantly surprised, and probably upgrade. Headline act this year is the new OS, JMHO.

 

[KnightWRX]

Very true. As has been said frequently, the average buyer doesn't have a clue. They simply want an iPhone. If it's got an Apple logo it it will sell. Each year the numbers grow larger due to more buyers in the market through population growth and those who migrate from feature phones to smartphones. Apple being the simplelist, they appeal to young & old alike.

And what of us who understand what we're actually getting and would still buy an iPhone 5 that is a faster processor, better camera and other goodies inside the iPhone 4's form factor ? Are we also clueless ?

Or maybe, just maybe, do we understand the fact that a case doesn't mean anything. It's comestic, superficial. It barely has any function outside of being nice to hold and comfortable when slammed on the side of your head. And you know what ? I know 10 year old designs that accomplish that just fine.

No really, the reason to upgrade your handset these days is 2 fold :

- Internal hardware upgrades.
- Software lifecycle upgrades.

The iPhone 5, with A5 processor will be a tremendous upgrade on its own. Just look at the lifespan the 3G had and they look at the much longer lifespan the 3GS enjoyed. Then come to the realisation that the iPhone 4 has the same SoC as the iPhone 3GS (same as the iPhone 3G vs the original), only that it's Apple branded rather than being from some other entity. Realise 2nd that the A5 is the new architecture (same as the 3GS and this new rumored "iPhone 4S" that's actually in all probability the iPhone 5).

I'd rather have a full featured iOS 7 on my iPhone 5 (think iOS 5 on the 3GS) than a crippled iOS 6 on my iPhone 4 (think iOS 4 on the 3G).

People really need to stop being negative about a darn external faceplate. Who cares what it looks like as long as its functional ? It's not like the iPhone 4 has such a horrid design.