Which iPhone Will Apple Release?
So which iPhone will Apple release this year? The iPhone 4S or the iPhone 5?
For a while, it looked like the answer to that question was “both.” Apple would release an iPhone 4S to address the low-end market, just like the role the iPhone 3GS currently fills. Additionally, the iPhone 4S would be targeted at the prepaid market. Meanwhile, the redesigned iPhone 5 would be Apple’s top-tier device. Lately, though, reports have suggested that while Apple may have intended on releasing both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 at the same time year, manufacturing issues may have pushed the iPhone 5’s release until early 2012.
So currently, it’s looking like the next iPhone will not feature a redesigned body. It’s not impossible that we will see an iPhone next month that looks different than the iPhone 4, but it’s looks improbable. Physical evidence to support rumors of a redesign have yet to be seen, while there has been physical evidence supporting rumors that the next iPhone will have the same design as the iPhone 4… for example, a number of case designs by well respected companies.
Conclusion
It’s important to remember that the product names ‘iPhone 4S’ and ‘iPhone 5’ only represent different rumors regarding the design of the next iPhone. Even if Apple doesn’t redesign the iPhone, it’s still possible that they may decide to call it the iPhone 5 because it will be the fifth generation. Likewise, the rumors may be true that Apple is releasing a redesigned phone in October, but Cupertino might decide to call it the iPhone 4S anyway. That said, both scenarios seem pretty unlikely, if only because it would break Apple’s own iPhone naming convention.
One thing’s for sure: Apple has done a spectacular job of keeping almost everyone in the dark. Regardless of what they’ve decided to do with the design, or what they’re going to call their next phone, we just hope it gets here quick. But maybe it wouldn’t be a terrible idea for them to drop the suffixes altogether and just call it what it is: an iPhone.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
84 responses to “What’s The Difference Between The iPhone 4S and iPhone 5? Cult Of Mac Explains”
What is this article actually about? Just link bait, this site is easily one of the worst culprits on the web. Jokers, do some actual reporting.
C’mon this site is pure Infotainment … if there’s no info, they just write ‘tainment
I personally think it’s a well written article that is to-the-point. Kudos to the writer! :)
Used a lot of words to explain something really obvious. if its called iPhone 4S it will be slightly improved if its called iPhone 5 it will have better specs and will look a bit different.
Why did it need 2 pages?
..what a “waste of reading time” article…
Of course, if Apple release a 4S phone in a few weeks – and then a 5 sometime early next year, there’s going to be a lot of peed-off customers.
“to-the-point” ? 2 pages. Sorry.
Is this a last-stand attempt to try and appease the reader base after CoM’s whirlpool of nonfactual, opinionated rumors that has left most of us with our heads spinning?
Clear the air so to speak? I’m sure that it’s safe to say that most of your reader base already knows the difference between the two “imaginary” phones that haven’t even been announced yet. Put down the keyboards and wait patiently for Apple to announce the new iPhone(s), would ya?
“it was an exception to the way Apple has usually gone about naming things.” Do you know anything about Apple? Theres been one product that used the silly “S” in its lineup. iPod touch is now refered to by its generation. Same with iPad. And I dont remember hearing about Macbook Air”S” anytime recently. The S was an exception to the rule not the naming of the iPhone 4
Definitely an iPhone with a Bigger 4″ or + screen will come out.
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You mean besides the Apple IIGS, of course.
Honestly no one knows, no one, what Apple is really going to do. It is how they do things. People will say stuff and say that saw clues but if anything those are just there to throw people off.
i say, iPhone 4G !
nope.
Steve
Sent from my iPhone
Not a chance CoM and again if you applied any logic when you write these articles you’d do so much more for your website.
If we’re only going to see a 4s, why delay until now??? Only to release a 5 as you write early in 2012?? You’d have a bunch of people that upgraded to the 4s or worse, going over to Android getting really, really angry, that would be a great way to kill brand loyalty.
If it were not for them loosing the iphone 4 last year in a bar, we would have had no idea what it looked like until it was released. There was no indication from the supply chains or case manufacturers to the fact that i had a different exterior physical design. So i’m confident that apple can keep a newly redesigned iPhone 5 under wraps if they wanted to.
Full marks to the “keep them all guessing” department within Apple. I never seen so many conflicting rumours about an Apple product this close to it’s launch. Usually by now we have a pretty good idea what’s coming. The iPad 2 leaks were spot on so maybe Apple has doubled their efforts to stop it happening with the iPhone.
Even with the first generation of the iPad there were only wild conceptual shots in the dark as to what it would look like. You make a good point.
I’m sure Cult of Mac gets a lot of traffic from google and other search engines. Not everybody is in the loop, and although I already new this information, it’s always refreshing to put everything into perspective.
If there is an iPhone 4S AND an iPhone 5, it makes sense to announce both at the same time, even if the iPhone 5 will only be ready later, in order to not position the phones and to not upset those who buy early. Much like the white iPhone 4.
It’s an article to show my wife :)
Apple could get away with naming their iphones off the generation path because the iphone 3G denoted the 2nd gen iphone. the 3Gs denoted the 3rd gen and the 4 simplified the naming as the 4th gen. If they only release the iphone 4S next month then the next big iPhone release (2012) would be called the iphone 6 to denote the 6th gen iphone. A jump from 4S to 6 is un-Apple like. How confusing would it be to denote the 6th gen iPhone as iPhone 5.
iOS 5 releasing with iPhone 5 sounds nice, youll here that in the keynote many times for sure. Apple knows they have to come out strong with the android onslaught occurring. If they diversify their carriers they have to give certain people a reason to get the iphone over the “other guys” by offering bang out design and specs (really just a bigger screen). Lets hope they didnt make us wait this long over some crap A5 heating issues.
exactly
that was the plan. it was written for people who aren’t hardcore about reading apple news but have enough knowledge to confuse themeselves
Losing patience. Been a huge Apple fan the past 5 yrs, and never got an iPhone. Finally want one. Will get the iPhone 5 if it is new design, but if only a 4S speed bump, then itz the Samsung Galaxy S2 Droid for me. Yes, I will switch teams for that 4G beast, Pffft!
If they release a world phone would that mean if you have an ATT or Verizon phone, you would be able to use it on the other carrier when your contract expired? I would think the companies wouldn’t let you do that. I still long for the day when we can just buy a phone and then use it on any carrier…(Cuz right now even the no-contract people really have a contract because if you just spent several hundred dollars on a phone, you’re not going to dump that carrier in a few months and then have to pay another few hundred for a new phone on another carrier – you may not have a 2 year contract but that is a quasi penalty). It is incredible how good Apple is at keeping secrets and managing the media speculation and hype. Id think the executives are laughing all the way to the bank. IT does seem like the latest rumors are that an iphone4s would be released in October and then maybe an iPhone5 in 2012…(although would they release 2 versions in less than a year, and would they announce that now? Who would buy an October iphone4s if they knew an iPhone 5 was coming in six months?) Some even speculate that Tmob would get the 2012 iPhone and Sprint is getting the 4s now. Guess we’ll find out soon enough.
just curious if you’re a heavy data user, would you choose iPhone even if it doesn’t run on the 4g lte network? I don’t have a smartphone yet so just wondering how important speed is to people. Personally I don’t think I want to be so connected; I don’t have a need to be on the web 24/7.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Not the iPhone 4 is not a good looking, phone but whole antenna-gate thing turned me off from upgrading my aging 3G. If Apple keeps the same small, squarish screen, it’s going to start dating itself. Most, if not all of iPhone’s major competitors have great looking and larger screens with a widescreen format. It will be tragic if Apple doesn’t release a significantly redesigned iPhone. It will also mean that my aging 3G may not soon see retirement.
Not a heavy data user. Just sayin that I only want to get an iPhone if it is the redesigned version. 3G speed is just fine, but I will get a 4G Droid if no redesign.
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i agree about this post :
http://macxapple.iphoneportuga…
It doesn’t matter if it runs on LTE, heavy data users can no longer exist on AT&T or Verizon. People are all up in arms about whether the device is 3G or 4G but it’s nothing more than hype and they need to get over it. Unless you are going to tether your device, which cost a lot more, there is no purpose in worrying about it.
spot on buddy
Iphone 4 vs Iphone 4s :
http://mobile-egadget.blogspot…
enjoy :)
Guess you don”t really know much.
awesome
\
Great article! Will get the iPhone 5 if it is new design, but if only a 4S speed bump, then itz the Samsung Galaxy S2 Droid for me. read more: http://news.top-shoppingmall.c…
Here’s one more interesting post on the differences between iPhone 4S and 4 – http://cellphoneswatch.blogspo…
This is not even 4G phone. $100 for what. Some lame speech recognition software, which does not work well with people speaking with accent. I would like to see German or Korean to successfully use Siri. This phone feature is pretty much useless outside USA. I just got my Blackberry 9810 and got it for .01 plus I am getting $100 worth of free apps for last week network RIM network problems. :)
Blackberry is the worst smart phone on the market. I have the tour and I can not wait to get rid of it. Blackberry has horrible apps and the apps that were given so far should be free anyways.
want 4s for free? try wruu.info !!
and hurry up!!
i have an i phone 3 should i wait for the 5 or get an iphone 4s?
Never getting a dime outta my pocket for this piece of shit excuse me to the creator of Apple but this is a sham for money. If any of you people buy this phone you are the stupidest idiotic buffoons in the goddamn world. All they did was update the camera, antennae and the processor. GARBAGE GARBAGE GARBAGE. I could open my iphone 4S And do that myself. Idiots.
OMG Thanks. He even knows it
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