94

As low as

$49

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Conclusion: We like it

The iPhone 4S may not have the bigger display, faster processor, and access to high-speed data networks that come with the new iPhone 5. However, recent discounts mean that last year's iPhone -- and a former gdgt Must-have cellphone -- is now available for as little as $99 with a two-year contract. That's a great price for what's still one of the best smartphones ever made. While the iPhone 5 is our current top Must-have cellphone, if you've had your eyes set on an iPhone, and you're looking to save some cash, you won't be disappointed with the 4S.

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90-Day Price History

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Critic reviews

8.6
13 reviews
  • Reception and call quality
    8.0
  • Display
    9.1
  • Battery life
    7.6
  • Camera
    9.2
  • Ease of use
    8.7
  • Design and form factor
    9.0
  • Portability (size / weight)
    9.2
  • Media support
    8.8
  • Durability
    8.0
  • Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
    9.6

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User reviews

8.9
432 reviews
9.0
Macworld Oct 11, 2011

The iPhone 4S has speed, a great camera, some cool voice-recognition features, and the same beautiful industrial design that was introduced in the iPhone 4. It’s destined to be immensely popular. The S, in this case, seems to stand for “sure thing.”

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9.0
New York Times Oct 11, 2011

Android phones seem to come out every Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. Apple updates iOS and the iPhone only once a year. So Apple had a lot of catching up to do, even some leapfrogging. There are some rough spots here and there; for example, every now and then the 4S’s camera app gets stuck on its startup...

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9.0
TechCrunch Oct 11, 2011

I’m happy that Apple decided not to change the form factor even though they had to know there would be some backlash from a certain segment of the population (read: idiots). Instead, Apple focused on the other thing they do best: refining already great products to make them better. The iPhone 4...

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8.0
Wired Oct 11, 2011

The iPhone 4S looks exactly the same as its predecessor - but who cares? If it was shaped even slightly differently or came in a new color, people would still go nuts over the stuff that’s more important anyway: the insides. And both inside and out, this is a magnificent smartphone.

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8.0
AllThingsD Oct 11, 2011

The iPhone 4S is one of Apple’s less dramatic updates, but, when combined with the Siri, iOS 5 and iCloud features, it presents an attractive new offering to smartphone users. Some may be content to skip the new hardware and just enjoy the software and cloud features with older models. But those...

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9.0
SlashGear Oct 11, 2011

There will undoubtedly be smartphones with faster processors, or more megapixels to their cameras, or high-speed 4G connectivity, or bigger, better resolution displays, but it’s difficult to imagine any of them competing with the joined-up ecosystem Apple now offers. Challenging the iPhone isn’t...

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8.0
The Guardian Oct 11, 2011

Siri, the high quality and ultra-fast camera, 30 fps 1080p HD video, globally available voice recognition and the introduction of two antennae (the phone seamlessly switches between whichever is getting the strongest signal) are features that make the 4S irresistible; what is more, the unchanged...

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8.0
Imaging Resource May 9, 2012

Though it's still not as good as a dedicated digital camera for taking photos, the iPhone 4S camera and its ability to snap and share images quickly with the help of thousands of photo apps, makes it the new champ of iPhoneography and a clear Dave's Pick for smart phone photographers.

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9.0
Bloomberg Oct 11, 2011

The 4S is the first phone you’ll ever be tempted to ask for the secret of life. Go ahead -- you’ll get an answer, too. It isn’t from “Star Trek,” though science-fiction readers will recognize, and get a chuckle from, the response.

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9.0
The Telegraph Oct 11, 2011

Overall, the iPhone 4S is a good upgrade to a very good phone. It retains the stylish design of the iPhone 4 and gives it a substantial boost. It's certainly not cheap when you consider some of the alternatives but it feels like a luxury product and it's an absolute joy to use. If you own the iPhone...

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9.0
The Loop Oct 11, 2011

You can look at each of the items that Apple will release in conjunction with the iPhone and be amazed with how innovative each one of them are. When you put them all together in one product like the iPhone 4S, you have an incredibly successful product that other companies just can’t compete with.

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8.0
BGR Oct 17, 2011

This is the best phone Apple has ever made, and there isn’t another company in the world that could deliver all of these features in such a beautifully designed, tightly integrated, and enjoyable packages.

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8.0
USA Today Oct 11, 2011

Apple concedes that Siri isn't a finished product; she is in beta. But even with her blemishes, Siri is pretty darn cool. And she helps make the iPhone 4S pretty darn cool, too.

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10
joshjaffe joshjaffe

I love this phone. It's so fast. Screen is incredible. The camera is awesome. Upgraded from 3GS and it's night and day.

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10
jazzmanmq jazzmanmq

Battery Life has been complained by many people that I have seen. For me it has just been so so. Hit or miss. Some days it will last me all day. When i plug my phone in at the end of my night there is still almost 30%+ left. Other times my phone is almost dead halfway through the day. I have...

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10
e2mtt e2mtt

Compared to the iPhone 4, everything is better on the 4s to some degree. Compared to all other smartphones, almost everything is a lot better - especially the intangibles like interface, quickness, & consistency. Siri is amazing, and will change the way you use a smartphone if you let it....

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