So here i am,belong to a 3rd world country,as i cannot afford 5c/5s/5 so buying a used auto gevey 4s running iOS version 6.1.3 quite cheap...I want to know is the 4s worth buying even in 2014? just tell me your most honest and rational opinion please? Should i opt for a moto G/Lumia etc or will the 4s will be fine?is it still in production? how much longer it is gonna supported?
I still use one and bought it when it was new. I think they are of a good build quality and are very reliable.
Not sure what you can afford or how much they are compared to the competition. My inlaws are in a developing country but both have iPhone 5S', drive new european cars, have servants and buy millions of dollars worth of property over here. Being in a developing country doesn't mean people are all poor (i.e. I don't know what you make or how far you are stretching it to get this 4S). Obviously you'll know your finances better than anybody so will have to do that calculation yourself.
In my inlaw's country there's no Apple stores but the parts are everywhere (cheaply) and people can repair iPhones for ~$5 so a lack of official Apple service isn't a biggie. I doubt Apple will support a 4S in a big way (they probably call them 'vintage' by now) BUT what can go wrong?
Only issues I can think of are:
- The glass case cracking (no biggie, can probably be replaced for peanuts in a developing country... I saw somebody quoted ~$3 for one when I was over with my inlaws)
- Home button breaking (same story... cheap/easy to replace)
- Battery going dead... probably my only concern. Check how much it is for some guy to replace them.
The 4S supports iOS 7 and you'll get that upgrade for free. I suspect they will also support iOS 8, but who knows after that? Either way, this won't break your phone... you just might not be able to update the system software in 2-3 years time.
My only other comment is that if you intend to get an iPhone that will last/be easy to repair, a 4S is probably better than a 5. Why? Only because they are easier to repair without stuffing things up. As they progress, Apple make their iPhones more difficult to repair I find. Since they are popular and Apple only makes iPhones (unlike android manufacturers) I think parts/repair knowledge are easy to find with Apple gear.
So the 4S... if you can get a BARGAIN price that won't stretch you too much... I think they are an alright phone. I still use mine and have no immediate plans to upgrade (never had an issue with mine... it uses that latest iOS 7 and I've never seen an app that won't run on my phone due to speed limitations...etc). As a phone they are fast and reliable IMO.
