iPhone 5 or earlier iPhone 4S... what can be done with it?

[Omega Mac]

In the world of hand me downs someone got an iPhone 4s with iOS7 - what can be done how far can it be upgraded in iOS levels and if so is it still possible.

Phone works fine for calls and iMsg/Texts but iOS7 has some serious limitations quite obviously.

What would users suggest doing with the phone to bring hot as up to date as possible?

 

[kohlson]

A friend just retired his 4, and replaced it with an X. So this model seems to have some life.
My suggestion is to keep it at the current IOS level, make sure the apps are up to date as far as they will go, and then consider a new battery.

 

[44267547]

In the world of hand me downs someone got an iPhone 4s with iOS7 - what can be done how far can it be upgraded in iOS levels and if so is it still possible.

Phone works fine for calls and iMsg/Texts but iOS7 has some serious limitations quite obviously.

What would users suggest doing with the phone to bring hot as up to date as possible?

I personally would use it for like an iPod touch . I would probably leave It at the current iOS if it was me.

 

[jav6454]

Going all the way up will most likely slow it down due to extra processes. Also, the return of features will be minimal.

 

[eyoungren]

Apple is still signing iOS 6.1.3 for the iPhone 4s, so all you have to do if you want to roll back is download the IPSW and use iTunes to restore to it.

I use my 8GB as a third phone. It monitors my server at home using iStat. Also serves as a securty device in the when Google or Yahoo want me to approve a login I can use that.

Jailbroke it last week too so I also have other options now as well.

 

[DevinNj]

My 4s does everything an iPhone should do, just not as quickly. I use my 4s as a backup phone if needed it also gets use as an Ipod.

 

[Acronyc]

I have a 16GB 4s that I use as a backup, iPod, and just to mess around with. Most of the time it stays in the box though. It is still on iOS 6 and I don’t plan on upgrading it any further because iOS 6 is very smooth and fast on this phone. If you can downgrade I would recommend it if you want a faster experience.

I’ve been thinking of getting rid of it because I have too many iPhones (4S, 5S, and 6S, all of which were previous phones) but I can’t really bring myself to because I have such fond memories with this phone.

 

[mccjim12]

Apple is still signing iOS 6.1.3 for the iPhone 4s, so all you have to do if you want to roll back is download the IPSW and use iTunes to restore to it.

Did not know that was possible. I see that is not possible with a 4, though. Only 7.1.2, which I begrudgingly had to use to get my 4 going. Seems backwards... Any idea why they do this?

 

[eyoungren]

Did not know that was possible. I see that is not possible with a 4, though. Only 7.1.2, which I begrudgingly had to use to get my 4 going. Seems backwards... Any idea why they do this?

No, no idea.

I had heard that a while back, for a very brief moment, there was some sort of glitch that had Apple signing all IPSWs again. But after they shut that down the 4s IPSW remained signed.

I don't know how true that is, but the reality is the 4s IPSW is signed again for 6.1.3. How long that will last - who knows?