Don’t be fooled by the fact that the iPhone 4S looks identical to the iPhone 4. Deciding which iPhone to buy this year is more complicated than it ever has been, and there’s a lot more variable to consider now than there ever have been in the past.
Should you buy an iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 or iPhone 3GS? Should you get one in white or black? Should you get one with 8GB, 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage? Should you sign up with AT&T, Verizon or Sprint?
Those are big questions, and the answers will vary from person to person. Still, Cult of Mac has given this a lot of thought, and for most people, we recommend buying the 16GB Sprint iPhone 4S in White.
Below you’ll find our logic, but if you disagree, pipe up in the comments and explain why. We’re going to take the reader consensus and turn it into another post. We can’t wait to hear which iPhone the hive mind will choose.
iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S?
This is a no brainer to us. Get an iPhone 4S.
While the iPhone 3GS is now free, and the iPhone 4 is now $99, both those prices are surrounded by invisible quotations marks. Neither of these iPhone models really cost this little.
In reality, all iPhone prices are subsidized by wireless carriers who want to lock you in to two-year subscriptions, and who make you pay the full value of the month by spreading it out over the next twenty four months. That makes the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 not as attractive as they seem. You’re still going to be spending hundreds of dollars on these phones over the next couple of years.
If you can afford to pony up an initial couple of hundred bucks to get an iPhone 4S, you may as well: you’re not paying all that much more money in the long term, and you’re guaranteeing that when your two year contract comes to an end, your iPhone will still be capable of running all of Apple’s latest iOS software.
Here’s another thing to consider. The iPhone 4S is the only iPhone that is a world phone, meaning that any iPhone 4S can run on GSM networks (like AT&T and T-Mobile) and CDMA networks (like Verizon and Sprint). What that means is that if you buy your iPhone 4S through, say, Verizon, once your contract is up you can take the phone over to AT&T without having to buy a whole new device.
Even if you’re cash strapped, save up $199 bucks and get an iPhone 4S. You’ll be glad you did. It’s a future proof decision, and you’ll be able to take advantage of Apple’s incredible new Siri technology too.
Verdict: Everyone should buy the iPhone 4S.
16GB, 32GB or 64GB?
There was a time when we would have recommended the largest capacity iPhone that you could afford, but no longer.
Why? iCloud’s a big part of it. In the past, our iPhones were stuffed chock with media from our iTunes libraries: music, video, podcasts, you name it. The only way to have that stuff with us when were out on the road was to copy it to our iPhones, taking up valuable storage space.
But iCloud changes all of that. Now, iTunes mirrors all of your content to iCloud using iTunes Match, meaning that if you want to listen to a song that isn’t on your iPhone, all you have to do is download it from Apple’s servers. It’s easy. You’re always walking around with your full media library on your iPhone, and if it isn’t stored locally, you just slurp it down from the iCloud as needed.
In other words, space isn’t really as important as it was. Combined with streaming subscription services like Netflix, Spotify and Rdio, iCloud really obviates a lot of the requirement to have as much storage in your iPhone 4S as possible. Most people can get away with the 16GB iPhone 4S.
There’s one big exception to our logic here, though: gamers. 16GB of storage is plenty for most users if they are relying on streaming media services or the iCloud, since the only thing they have to download locally are apps, which usually don’t take up much space. But games are a big exception. For example, Epic Games’ Infinity Blade clocks in at over 600MB, and some iOS games are over 1GB each. If you play a lot of games, you need 32GB, minimum.
Verdict: 16GB for most people, 32GB for gamers.
AT&T, Verizon or Sprint?
This is probably the most important decision anyone buying a new iPhone 4S can make, and all of the networks have their perks.
AT&T has always been the fastest wireless network in America, and with the iPhone 4S, that lead over the competition is doubled. Only AT&T iPhone 4Ses will support 14.4Mbps “4G” speeds, while Sprint and Verizon iPhones will be locked at a maximum of 7.2Mbps.
But newcomer Sprint has a big advantage over Verizon and AT&T, as it is the only carrier still offering unlimited data to new iPhone 4S customers. With a Sprint iPhone 4S, you’ll be able to tether, stream and download to your hearts’ content, where as overage fees will start kicking in at 2GB on AT&T or Verizon.
With the rise of streaming services like Netflix and the rise of the iCloud, unlimited data is a huge advantage. So much so that we think it trumps AT&T’s 14.4Mbps speeds. After all, what good is faster downloads if you’re just burning through your data cap twice as fast?
The big question is, how long will Sprint’s unlimited data advantage last? Both AT&T and Verizon used to have unlimited data, but the demand the iPhone put on their networks eventually caused them to institute data caps. We expect Sprint to follow eventually… the only question is when.
Verdict: Sprint… for now.
Black or White
Honestly, this one’s up to you, but we think there’s a strong argument to be made that at the end of the day a white iPhone 4S is a better choice than a black one.
First of all, the white iPhone 4S doesn’t show fingerprints as badly as the black model, so if you hate your iPhone looking like a mirror at Studio 54, the white iPhone 4S is going to look more pristine and require cleaning less often.
That’s also true for cracks on the back of the device. Cracks show clear as day on a black iPhone 4S because when the glass panel cracks, the edges of cracks turn opaque. Those cracks are not nearly as noticeable on a white iPhone 4 though.
Scratches? Same thing. And it’s worth noting that eBay, Craigslist and even Apple’s own buy back program offer more for white iPhone 4s than black ones.
In short, if you’re going bareback with your iPhone 4S, the white model will look a lot cleaner and newer than the black model. If you’re planning on rocking a case, though, the choice is up to you.
Verdict: White
Conclusion
Look, any iPhone you get is going to be an incredible phone, but at the end of the day, Cult of Mac recommends the Sprint 16GB iPhone 4S in White as the best iPhone to get for most people. Sprint’s unlimited data plan is a huge advantage over the competition, the white iPhone 4S keeps its pristine appearance better than the black model, and with the rise of iCloud, most people can get away with just 16GB. But we know your mileage may well vary, so why not let us know in the comments which iPhone you’re going to buy this year, and why? We can’t wait to read your thoughts!
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
290 responses to “Which iPhone To Buy? Get The Sprint 16GB iPhone 4S In White. Here’s Why”
Re. Black/White: I feel that the stainless-steel bands around the iPhone 4/4S match better with black, which gives the phone a nice premium feel, rather than with white. A black phone will also ‘go’ with anything and on any occasion whereas, IMHO, the white one doesn’t really look so good when you’re in a professional/business situation (unless you work in a creative industry). As a male, I also think you really need to be under 30 to get away with a white iPhone, otherwise you could end up looking like you’re trying to “get down with the kids” !
You should make note, on the carriers bit – existing Verizon customers are still grandfathered in to unlimited data. A lot of people won’t be switching carriers to get the iPhone 4s – they’ll be sticking with the carrier they’re on. And for existing Verizon customers, there’s no appeal to switch to Sprint for unlimited data when they’re already getting it.
Sprint – No thanks, too expensive.
White – Oh my gosh, my eyes, they burn.
16 GB – I already have more than that on my iPod. I need 64 GB.
Black AT&T 32 GB or 64 GB for me.
nearly all global verizon and sprint phones do not come unlocked. and the iPhone cannot be unlocked as almost every other phone can. so to think you can just walk over to at&t with your verizon/sprint iPhone is a stretch.
Any word on unlocked iPhone 4S’s yet? You would assume because they are “world phones” they’re unlocked by default… correct?
Sprint – Too expensive….you are kidding right
No Sprint – They won’t offer unlimited data in 6 month. Just like verizon, they will offer unlimited just to get people to switch over…. Unlimited Data will be gone from all carriers (Sprint just killed Unlimited Tethering on 10/1)
My Pick… AT&T 32GB White iPhone 4S.
I’m grandfather in on AT&T unlimited data plan for now plus it’s the faster network. 14.4 mbps
i’m able to use both voice and data at the same time… a must especially for Siri. Imagine if you are not able to do both voice and data at the same time, it’s like having a one way conversation with Siri
Another reason… AT&T is known for pushing up upgrade plans. For example, i got my iPhone 4 from day 1 last year and the year before that I got my 3Gs. I don’t have to wait full 2 years to get a discount on new hardware. I just checked this morning, my upgrade eligibility is now 10/14…. I’m super happy now.
Sprint is the cheapest in my neck of the woods by a few dollars. I’ve never heard anyone say they were more expensive than Verizon or AT&T.
In this day and age CoM is actually suggesting someone should bareback it?
Great article, I was finding this a very difficult decision this time around because the options are endless for me [my last iPhone was a 3G – no s] and I’m on the market for an iDevice with iOS. Apple did something tricky when they released the new iPhone 4S. Instead of keeping the iPhone 4 and dropping the price, they axed the original iPhone 4 and introduced an 8GB iPhone 4 variant. The GB size is clearly the game changer. So if you weren’t sold by Siri, you might stray to the iPhone 4…but not unless you want more GB storage, then, then you’ll have to still splurge for the iPhone 4S. Note that I’m looking this from a viewpoint of buying the phone without a contract. Over all, I’m settling with the 16GB iPhone 4S in black. I need the space so I don’t have to buy an iPod, the network is redundant to talk about cause I’m from Canada and it’ll be black just because the white one is girly. Good read Cult of Mac and good recovery from yesterdays overload.
Oh, and you know those Steve Jobs temporary tattoo’s, I slapped one on yesterday for the event. Cheaaa.
The Apple stores in Canada sell unlocked iPhones, do they not?
agree 100% with you. Once I’ve seen a guy of 40-45 or so with white iPhone and first what came to my mind was “He’s using his dotter’s phone”
Should AT&T owners expect to have the same dropped call rate now that the phone will be HSDPA+? Is there a chance for improvement in this area?
We’re not recommending it at all.
I would like to know this too….
For my needs, 64gb is the way to go. Considering you can shoot in full 1080p, it will slurp down your available storage mighty quick.
For what I need, AT&T is the cheapest. I don’t need unlimited everything and for smartphones that don’t need unlimited everything, I can save a good $20 by going to AT&T. Sprint sucks anyway, speed-wise around here.
I have been waiting to get an iPhone ever since the 3G came out – yes, that long! I just could not afford it then, plus i really though they could make it better. More memory, faster, and FM radio! (the iPods have it, why not the iPhone?) Also, it is important to mention that I live in Canada, where the 3GS is already free, and the iPhone 4 costs $100 dollars. It’s been like this for months now. I cloud is awesome, but it only works on 3G + wi-fi. What if you bought a phone with a contract? If you travel, go deep into a forest, there is no service. I still consider memory to be very important. For the past few years, i’ve been rocking a second gen iPod touch, 16 Gb. I struggle quite often due to the lack of free space. Anyway, my point is that memory is still personally important for me, and 32 Gb might be enough. I am not a person who would sell my iPhone when the new model comes out, when i finally buy the 4S it will last with me for all my contract term. That is why i still think i should get the 64 Gb, because i know i’ll need it later. The only thing i am not sure about is the colour. Black is cool, it looks really nice, but Cult of Mac had some really good points above. With my second gen iPod, and all the years i had it, there are no cracks. A lot of scratches though, and finger prints. I also dropped it a few times, but not a big deal. The iPhone has more glass though, so maybe if i drop it someday it just might smash. Again, the white iPhone will hide those cracks…to a certain point anyway. I’m still thinking about the colour. I also plan to go with Virgin mobile, as they have a 6Gb data plan for $65 a month. That is really good, as many other carriers in Canada highly overprice for data.
Recap:
>> iPhone 4s
>> 64 Gb
>> Still deciding white or black.
>> Virgin mobile
I’m so glad I don’t live in the US anymore! With money not an object, I’d buy the unlocked sim-free White 4S 32. What will probably happen in real life is I’ll take the upgrade from O2 and add an extra GB of data to my plan so I can tether as much as I like. :)
No way on the 16GB. iCloud only gives you an anemic 5GB of space for free, and matching (exceeding) the 48GB space difference will cost you $100/yr for the 50GB of space. Get the most storage you can afford, just like any other iPhone release. The higher capacity models also seem to hold their resale value better with private party sales.
Is waiting for the iPhone 5 even an option at this point? Do we have any guarantees that it will be coming? From the sound of it they should have just named the 4S a 5 and called it a day. CONFUSED on if I should continue to hold off or not!!?!?!
I’m still grandfathered in to the unlimited data plan at AT&T so I’ll stick with them, and I kind of think the white iphone (much like the original white macbook) looks feminine. I’ll go with 32G Black 4s on AT&T
The ‘ol saying still holds true. Buy as much ram and storage as you can afford. You’ll never pick up your iPhone and think, “Damn, I wish this iPhone had a little less storage”. Plus — you’ll recoup those dollars on re-sell. [1080p = 64GB0
From what I saw on Apple’s website, iTunes/music does not count against the 5gb free allowance (?)
Carrier should be based on coverage/performance in your local area.
I completely agree with your take on white. Looks very feminine.
With regards to capacity, streaming is great and I am bathed in nice, clean wifi for 95% of the day and grandfathered in with unlimited data on AT&T until they tell me I am not. But for someone streaming all the time, wouldn’t that push their data cap unnecessarily? I would say go with 32 GB because you can keep some things on the phone. I’ll go 64GB due to the 1080p video. Not sure how much I will use it but it will be nice when I do have it.
Agree, I considered white but black just looks better. Plus, I don’t meet that under-30 criteria. ;-)
Tru dat and will continue to be true while data caps still rule.
Looks like we are on a fall cycle so new model is likely next fall. Plus, Qualcomm’s LTE chip that Apple will likely use will not be ready until late Q2 2012.
I will take option C and get Nexus Prime.
Im with you 100% except on the white, Black just looks better framing the screen when watching videos. We dont have TVs at with white Bezels for the same reason. But 16gig is plenty with iCloud and streaming services. 95% of the fun games are the short time killers anyhow, which are small enough. Just important to iCloud up all the new LARGER files for videos n photos you shoot!
Could pls someone explain me how actually this iCloud for music works…. if I have a 32GB iPhone and ~700GB in my iTunes music library will it try to push everything to my iPhone until it get full or there is a possibility to control the process somehow?
Exactly dont buy the soon to come hype that the new iPhone will be a spring release. This is clearly the start of a fall refresh for all ipods n iphones.
What good is HSDPA if the carrier has no frickin’ reception. I am sick of AT&T, dropped calls, and poor reception, making it impossible at times to make a call, send an email, or use the internet. Having been a Sprint customer up until 3 years ago I am familiar with their network. It is better than AT&T, but not much. I am not excited about Verizon’s dinosaur network, and not being able to use voice and internet at the same time, but reliability of cell reception is a HUGE plus. I am thinking about buying a Mi-fi device to avert their stupid inability to use voice and internet at the same time. AT&T is simply idiotic, especially now that they’ll be throttling speeds past 2 Gigs. F-them!
So would I…
I’ll be going Black 32 GB 4S on Verizon.
Why Black:
I just like black better. Plus, I’ll have a (hopefully good) case on it.
Why 32 GB:
I am not completely sold on iCloud nor am I willing or able to pay $24.99 a year for iTunes Match. So, with that, I still have a need for local storage, but can’t really afford the 64 GB variety.
Why the 4S:
I’ve waited this long for my first iPhone. I’m not gonna get something older even as “small” as the “spec bump” is. I also want to ensure I’ll always be able to use my apps and not be limited by “outdated specs.” Plus, a better camera and Siri are two really nice feature to have.
Why Verizon:
I am grandfathered into unlimited data so no issue there.
But can this be done when on Sprint?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
Well reasoned. I’ll stick with my black iPhone 4.
iTunes Match is a different service, and you need to pay $20 per year to have your music hosted.
64GB is the key… You can never have too much storage space. I like AT&T but then I’m grandfathered into my unlimited data plan and the service has been good. Black for me… but I had a white Pantech years ago and liked it, so would be comfortable with either color. Oh, since I have an iPhone 4 I would be going for the 4S.
How are you not able to pay 25 dollars a year for itunes match but apple to pay 100 dollars extra at time of purchase. It was take 4 years to recoup the cost of the additional storage? By then you will have bought a new phone?
Able….stupid autospell!
icloud doesn’t help with storage?!? it doesn’t stream anything so you still need on board storage! I’m going for a 64GB white. Unlocked.
16GB? No disrespect but r u guys losing it? With the new camera and new apps being developed that prob require more space apple should elmanite the 16GB all together n as far as carrier AT&T hands down y would u buy a phone that has a feature but u can’t even use it with the other two carriers? N AT&T still is the only carrier where u can simultaneously talk n surf the web or send a picture
as long as his dotter let’s him…
Depends on your contracts….
If you have a family plan, like I do, the iPhone is much cheaper on AT&T, especially with WiFi becoming more ubiquitous. On our first line, the iPhone costs $100. Would cost less but that includes unlimited messaging for all lines which is $30.00 a month. Each additional line would cost $30 to $40 per month, depending on the data package. My wife has a 2 GB package on her phone and she uses it for everything and has never hit the limit. If I put 5 iPhones on my contract, we’ll pay $260 a month. That is with 2 GB packages on each phone, unlimited messaging, unlimited calls to other mobiles (regardless of carrier). All told, it comes down to $52.00 a month per device. I am already paying $200 a month for 5 lines so the monthly increase isn’t much considering.
If you’re on a single plan, then you’ll probably pay more on AT&T. Especially since unlimited messaging is $20.00 a month. Whereas it is only $30.00 on the family plan.
p.s. if you get the highest data package on AT&T which includes tethering, you get a 4GB of data. Of course it costs $20.00 extra as well.
They do in the U.S. as well. It is also legal to unlock your phone in the U.S. if you desire. There are tools online to do this with the iPhone.
The new iPhone has antenna diversity for sending and receiving, sounds like it will have fewer dropped calls, first phone to do this with switching to retain signal. Will be interesting to see new stats a year later on the dropped call rates with the new iPhone 4S…
Much of this isn’t very good advice. First, I would say that most people who currently have an iPhone 4 shouldn’t bother upgrading. The speed bump won’t be noticed most of the time, ditto from the camera upgrade, and while Siri is cool, it only works fully in the US (for now at least) and Apple is artificially tying to the 4S. There is no technical reason for it not to run on the 4. Don’t support this with your wallet.
As for carrier, Sprint is a bad choice for most of the world because most of the world doesn’t live in the US. I’ll stick with my current carrier thanks.
You forgot to suggest that people should buy unlocked phones. Don’t support carriers’ locking practices. Your phone will work even if you (gasp) leave the US and will be worth more on resale.
By default, sure, but carriers lock them when you enter a contract. I know, pointless having dual mode when it’s locked in one mode. You can buy them unlocked off contract if you don’t mind paying $650-$850 for it.
This is true of any GSM carrier, of which AT&T is but one.
If you bought some of that 700GB in the iTunes music library, all of that is free in your cloud locker. Anything else goes toward your 5GB free and the rest you’d pay for additional cloud storage. There is no way all that stuff currently fits on your iphone or ipod, but you could do local sharing to get any of it from your iTunes currently. To stream from the iCloud instead, not sure how what is uploaded is determined.
i have more than 200 GBs and have been going thru and deleting some audiobooks that took up space which I know I would not listen to again and I’ve been rating my music so I use smart playlists.
If you can’t afford $2/month maybe you shouldn’t be buying an iPhone.
hey, I am grandfathered with at&t also, do you know if i will still have unlimited data with the new phone?
Anandtech had a brief article on the antenna. Sounds like the dropped call rate will go down on ATT with the antenna diversity/switching. Exciting! Will be interesting if any statistics are released on this to see how much it improves…
http://www.anandtech.com/show/…
While generally true, it sucks paying 10x the real price of the flash memory. 32GB is a bit more of a compromise between a decent amount of storage and being ripped off.
One other things: Consider getting a used 4 instead. You can get an unlocked one for $350ish. Jailbroken too. Siri will most likely be hacked onto jailbroken 4’s in due time.
Agreed. Agreed. Agreed. The only thing for me, is that I would like a 64GB model, because while it may not be the best camera I have, it is the only camera I have. With kids, theres no such thing as too much memory to take video with.
Jeff I’m jealous. I bought the 3gS on day3 and my iPhone 4 on day 1. AT&T says it will cost me $250. PLUS the contract price of the Iphone 4S to upgrade. I talked on “chat” with a representative and that’s what the website tells me. Maybe I should try calling. What did you do?
The 4s is not enough of a hardware jump to warrant changing the model number, any more than the 3Gs was over the 3G. There is no question the 5 will come, likely fall 2012 id Apple holds to normal product cycles.
AT&T has been claiming a lot of things will make their network more reliable. Nothing has worked in 4 years iPhone has been on their network. I’d like to be optimistic, but I am jaded at this point.
I will be going for the Sprint 32GB white iPhone 4S. You didn’t mention AppleCare+ which I will be getting as well. I might have gone with Square Trade, but Apple provides one stop shopping. I am a current Sprint customer with an unlimited data plan. 32GB of storage because the phone will also become by point-and-shoot camera (to capture those precious moments with my wife and 3 children). White because of the crack and finger prints (that was a good point). I will have a case, but still, when not in the case, the less noticeable finger prints, the better.
Going to Sprint is the worst thing someone could do. As a recovering Sprint customer, I can tell you that Sprint undoubtedly has the worst customer service overall, and the worst network overall. Maybe I’m a little bias, but hear me out.
Once upon a time I bought the best HTC Android phone on the market, the HTC Hero. At that time I was running Android 1.5 and received a courtesy call from Sprint telling me that I could access the all new Android 2.0 via Sprint’s website, and download/install immediately. After doing just that, my phone bricked. I have come to find out that my Hero, after only being three months old, didn’t have sufficient memory to upgrade to the latest Android OS; you know, typical Android stuff. I call Sprint literally a dozen times and after talking to several account reps (the highest in the chain of command), I finally get a refund and credit to buy out my contract; that’s when I went to AT&T and got the iPhone 4; August 2010.
I’m very glad I did. My brother has an HTC EVO 4G along with his wife and her entire family and all have experienced service disruption in the West Michigan area to date. My brother has called Sprint several times demanding a credit to his account because he’s paying for 2 EVOs that weren’t working properly during this service disruption. He asked every time he called as to why service has been rocky and they kept giving him the run around; something about a massive windstorm knocking out towers nearby. Ironically enough, we couldn’t figure what the hell they were talking about because we haven’t had any massive windstorms at that time. Finally, after speaking with a manager, he was told that the new surge in smartphone contracts, both 3G and 4G ( I point this out because it wasn’t just 4G service that saw disruption, even Motorolla Razors felt the pain), were overloading their networks and Sprint just simply couldn’t handle the data transfers.
Which brings me to my point as to why you should stay clear of Sprint. Their networks can barely handle smartphones as it is and if they see a surge of iPhone contracts like AT&T and Verizon did, they won’t be able to handle it. And two, their ghetto ass customer service reps just plain suck at their jobs.
AT&T BY FAR is the best choice for new iPhone subscribers.
P.s. You are usually in WiFi anyways so 2GB data plans are PLENTY. And if you think you’ll need more, then go to Sprint. Us AT&T customers are tired of you all fat cat data users hogging the bandwidth.
P.s.s. Forgot to mention, the only sort of credit my brother got from Sprint was a free microcell. Seriously?! A fucking microcell?! Turns out, Sprint believed that you were better off funneling your calls through your ISP rather than their own damn network…..
Yup, might as well get the 32GB or 64GB… iCloud only comes with 5 GB for free, then its $10/month ($120/yr) for 10 GB.
Graham and MacHead maybe you should go back to school and take reading comprehension again. Dave never said he could not afford iTunes Match, he stated he was not willing to pay for it. Grow the hell up.
Marge – Try calling. I too got an early upgrade offer, but all I did was login to their website and check eligibility. Had the i4 since August of 2010; AT&T will offer me i4S at new contract price beginning on pre-order date of the 7th.
I’ll be springing for the 16GB white iPhone 4S on Verizon
16GB because of iCloud and other streaming services.
White because I just like it better.
4S because I am not going to get locked into a 2 year contract and not being able to run the latest software.
And Verizon because they may not have the fastest network but it’s more reliable than the other two.
Is there a place to check out the difference between the camera in the 4 and the 4s? Talking to some photographer friends, they say the difference WILL be noticed…
Am I correct that if I find myself in areas that have neither 3G nor WiFi coverage, I should not expect iCloud to work, and thus should max the storage so my data (specifically/especially songs & movies) are on my phone itself?
“Buy back program”??? What’s that?! I swear I don’t know about it!
Agree with you about Sprint hence their roaming agreement with Verizon, but I have never had any service disruption with AT&T. Not sure what facts you found made you think that Verizon is more reliable.
I suppose so. You will only be able to stream music with iTunes match, so it goes without saying that unless you pay 25/yr, you will still have to locally store your library. But even with match, you can stream music and it will cache most listened to songs. I don’t know your complete story, but I wouldn’t imagine anyone constantly running into a problem like this, especially when the song you will more than likely want to listen to, should already be cached on the phone. If anything, match will allow you to free up space by only locally storing what you really want while having access to and streaming capabilities of, the rest of your library.
I understand that all the music I have will not fit to my iPhone. More, I even would not like it to fit. However, I would like to have an ability to control what music is in my iPhone, and not an iCloud to decide and i.e. fill all the free space with my music alphabetically …
Some spare space for photos, videos and docs as well as apps would be highly appreciated :)
“Why 32 GB:
I am not completely sold on iCloud nor am I willing or able to pay $24.99 a year for iTunes Match. So, with that, I still have a need for local storage, but can’t really afford the 64 GB variety.”
Read a little closer retard…..it says ABLE!
Well, if I get a chance, I’m gonna buy an unlocked White iPhone 4S 64GB.
– Why white: I already have a black iPhone, so I kind of have liking the white color since I’m not used to see it, so a new color would be different and good for me. Plus, I was totally convinced by your arguments about the fingertips, scratches and cracks.
– Why iPhone 4S: I already have an iPhone 4.
– Why 64GB: I don’t live on United States, my country doesn’t have an iTunes Music Store yet, so most of my songs aren’t from iTunes purchases, consequently, I’ll barely use music on iCould services. Since I have 10GB+ only on songs, it’s not worthy to buy another 16GB phone, not even take a chance on a 32GB model. Another argument is that I don’t have and iPad to share my storage, so ALL my musics + videos + apps + photos would be on my iPhone.
– Why unlocked: I don’t live on the US. And having a unlocked phone is better, I guess, even though it’s more expensive. Freedom is the word.
Come over to my apartment and try to make a call while using AT&T. Beyond ridiculous! Also, in Cambridge, MA there are long expanses where there is simply no signal. Not remote weird areas either. I’m talking right on main streets directly proximal to Harvard University and long, high traffic roads. AT&T is absolutely pathetic, and I will smear their name wherever and whenever I can.
White iPhone 64gb. Can’t go wrong with more memory. :)
Go here…apple will buy back your old stuff!
http://www.apple.com/recycling…
So android has problems and you blame sprint? Idiot…
I don’t understand the appeal of iTunes match. If you are struggling to conserve space on your iPhone, and have all the songs you really want on it, then if space is skimpy, once you cache one song, you’d likely have to delete another. Space trade-offs. Just give me 64GB! If it was actually streaming service then it would make sense, but it is not. And if you have cheap AT&T cell service and you go on a road trip, no cell reception no iTunes match!!!! Down with AT&T!!!
I’m torn with what to do. I have a Black 32gb i4 in a case withfront/rear & poly side protection in mint shape that has never seen a fingerprint since day 1. I maxed out the 32gb mostly with apps & games. I have unlimited data AT&T. I really could use the 64gb model (I don’t care much for icloud fees after 5gb) but here’s my dilemma. Upgrade says eligible in Dec, but if I wait will my 4 be worth less on ebay etc? Also, am I better off buying 4S at full retail in order to not screw myself out of upgrading to the 5 next year?
Color wise, I prefer Black. Watching youtube, netflix with white borders messes with my eyes.
Thanks fellow COM readers, your comments help me think with greater logic. Advice?
64gb of memory? Talk about 16G speed!
Haha I have small reception issues in my apartment too; surrounded by cement. But I seriously haven’t had any trouble with AT&T other than that. Maybe it’s different in Cambridge, naturally cell coverage is different in different areas. In Michigan, AT&T knocks the socks off Verizon.
I blame Sprint for telling me my phone is capable of upgrading when it wasn’t. And that is seriously the only thing you took from my comment?! When my entire message was about poor CS and horrible cell coverage?
And you call me an idiot…
In my own apartment I have to lean over the side of my couch to be near the window so the AT&T reception can work. I should sue AT&T for the neck problems I’ve acquired with all of this leaning!!!
Man, I am a recovering Sprint customer as well. I remember that a couple hundred dollars worth of games (I never bought by the way) were mysteriously downloaded onto my phone. Weeks and weeks of calls to Sprint Customer Service. They were horrendous. I spent hours of the phone talking to and arguing with those fools. Never EVER again Sprint. Down with AT&T and down with Sprint!!!! Verizon has its problems too, but it’s the only one I haven’t tried yet (and everybody on there says that the reception is NEVER a problem).
I’m torn as well. I like the idea of HSDPA 14.4 speeds on AT&T. BUT
1) AT&T’s receptions SUCKS!!!!
2) They are going to throttle your data speeds beyond 2GB.
Sprint Customer service SUCKS!!!
Verizon network won’t allow voice and internet at the same time. BUT at least it is reliable in more areas. Can anyone else here speak to Verzon’s reliability with their iPhone????
I will be buying a 16 gig Black ATT, iPhone 4S
Reasons:
1. I am sticking with ATT as I still have the original unlimited data plan: early iphone adopter. So I get ATT speeds and unlimited data, best of both worlds.
2. I don’t like the way white looks when it’s turned off. Or on for that matter, so “black is beautiful”, for me.
3. As a professional photographer, I just have to have the new camera, and I like the faster speeds, the expanded voice control, the improved battery and the notification improvement.
4. I am dropping down from 32 gig to 16 because of the cloud, and I don’t use over 16 gig now.
Pretty simple, really.
Our family has been with Verizon LONG time so we are grandfathered in with family plan deals no longer available BUT most important is my not young parents travel via car still – to areas in northern LA, AR, KY etc. where cell service is bad – only Verizon works. They will never upgrade to a fancy phone – mom hasn’t even set up a mailbox & daddy is blind. That said, when my Motorola battery dies (been a 3-year workhorse but is not a Smart phone), I will follow my sister and niece and pay extra BUT I will get the iPhone 4S (no Android for me) – will decide about color once I play around due to visual issues mentioned by someone (our Verizon folks are independent & will help me – they are the best). Whether 16, 32 or 64 gigs – I’ll discuss & do more homework. Is it true that this phone WILL run Java apps fully, as that is impt. issue for for me. I know Verizon’s first iPhone offering did not run them fully.
Which iPhone? The iPhone 5, of course! Still waiting with my 3GS…
OK so I’m a current AT&T customer with an unlimited data plan on a BlackBerry (grandfathered.) I’m almost certain I’m losing my unlimited data plan the moment I switch to the iPhone. That being said, with 25gb of music before apps, games, video and streaming capabilities. Which is a better bet for me, the 32gb or 64gb?
OK so I’m a current AT&T customer with an unlimited data plan on a BlackBerry (grandfathered.) I’m almost certain I’m losing my unlimited data plan the moment I switch to the iPhone. That being said, with 25gb of music before apps, games, video and streaming capabilities. Which is a better bet for me, the 32gb or 64gb?
Ok I have being grandfathered in for the AT&T unlimited data (the one they still cap if you over use) so now do you still think I shouldnswitch to sprint? Also is white considers a girly color? I mean I like the white iPhone but does it look good in a guys hand much like the black one does? Also the 4S wil have 1080p which means recording videos in hd will require a lot of space and I also like games, do u recomand I’d get 64gb?
GET AN ANDROID
better everything
me too!!!
This article incorrectly states the max speed of the Verizon and Sprint data network. The MAX speed of an EVDO RevA network is 3.1 Mbps, NOT 7.2 Mbps. Most users on Sprint and Verizon see average speeds of 700 – 1,500 Kbps (.7 – 1.5 Mbps). The 7.2 Mbps spec stated is related to HSDPA, which is a data protocol that is featured on the UMTS network that AT&T uses. With the HSDPA network of 14.4 Mbps in the new iPhone 4S, users should see average speeds in the neighborhood of 3-5 Mbps on AT&T. If raw speed is what you are after, AT&T is the way to go.
Im waiting for the iPhone 5 with LTE technology. I have a 2 year old iPhone 3gs and i am happy enough even with its failing battery to wait another year. If i do end up getting a new iPhone then i would get the iPhone 4s on att in white with 64 gb. i would get the 64 gig because i am constantly pushing my 32 gb iPhone to the max. (my iTunes library is 120+ gb) I would get att because of the faster speed (2 times!!!) white for the reasons in the article and the iPhone 4s because in two years it will probably still be able to upgrade to the latest software unlike the iPhone 3gs or 4 which will probably stop getting upgrades at iOS 5 for the 3gs and 6 for the iPhone 4.
Well said. Also, as a photographer I am liking to take an image on a site, and I have a GPS & time record, in case a need to prove where I was.
Also, I have 3GS: 90 day old device, a replacement of my 2 y/o via Apple Care. It is improved, but battery and camera and other features are not. It’s strange as I get 3G signal in areas I did not. I’ll likely order online.
AT&T signals are drastically improved in two years, in my area. I had a VZW before, but I’ll stick with in AT&T, for all the reasons above and unlimited data I will continue. BTW, AT&T offers a 15% discount on the data for military service – look in to it if one thinks they might be eligible!
AT&T service varies widely by area. It works just fine where I live (even indoors!), but my iPhone was almost useless when I went to visit my brother in Sausalito, CA a year ago. Even outdoors I had trouble getting a signal. The only place I could get any reception at all was right on the waterfront. The service was only marginally better just across the bay in San Francisco.
Ok so I read most of the posts here and I m convinced that I should go with:
White
ATT&T
64GB
I’ve tested the Verizon iPhone speeds. Around 6.5 – 7 Mbps.
Not trying to discredit you, but I have the HTC Evo on Sprint, and so does my girlfriend. I got her to switch from Verizon. Prior to our Evos, with both had Heroes. First, I upgraded not one, but two Heroes from Cupcake to Eclair without any problems. (The phone was sluggish from day one, but that was due to the underpowered processor HTC used.)
Now that we both have Evos, the phones run great and the Sprint service is just fine, other than lack of 4G where I live, however my 3G is very reliable. I am planning to switch from the Evo to iPhone 4S and am sticking with Sprint, as I have been with them since 2003.
Sorry about your bro’s bad CSR experience, however I must have been very fortunate, all my time as a Sprint customer (nearly 9 yrs) and I have had only 1 bad experience with a CSR. Also Sprint won the JD Power & Associates award in 2011 for the best customer service. ( Google it if you don’t trust my word.)
My friend, that is physically IMPOSSIBLE.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E…
If there is NO reception or poor reception at best what good are AT&T’s “speeds”?
Some people get better luck when speaking with CS. The point I made was that my phone bricked (not just sluggish, inoperable) after Sprint told me I could upgrade. I understand that it wasn’t their fault my phone was a POS, but the CS I received through the process is what drove me to AT&T.
I’m sure service is different from area to area, but my Facebook feed is littered with people unsatisfied with Sprint coverage in West Michigan. Just trying to look out for people’s investments by making them aware that Sprint isn’t always the best choice, especially in rural areas.
They’re getting a ton of hype for finally getting the iPhone, but so did AT&T and I think it’s safe to say that AT&T has finally been able to meet the demand of iPhone customers. Stick with a company familiar with Apple’s popularity and is prepared to handle the influx of data.
AT&T will be slowing your data speeds beyond your using 2GB of data. AND, if there is NO reception or poor reception at best what good are AT&T’s “speeds”?
if you want the subsidized price (200.00 vs 700.00) you will be required to renew your contract under current terms and conditions (ie 2GB limit) –
Thanks. Iphone 4S White 32mb Sprint. Sold.
Hahahahahahahaha, no it isn’t.
iCloud is useless without great reception. Something to keep in mind on a smaller network like Sprint.
well I will buy my first iphone, I have now ipod touch with 32 Gb. I’m going for White with 64 GB, 100 euros more will not kill me. The problems we have in Eu is the rooming we must pay additionally. That is a killer. ;(
I agree. What with Spotify and iCloud, I’m changing from a storage hog to a minimalist. I’m not sold on white, however; my friends’ white Apple products look dingy after a while. At 12:01 AM Pacific time tomorrow, I think I’ll preorder the black iPhone 4S 16GB.
I’m with you. I’ve been a Sprint customer since 1999, have had several phones and plans over the years. I’ve always experienced great reception at home, across the U.S. and in Canada, and have always had good to great customer service. I’ve had the HTC Evo for a year, and while it’s been a fine iPhone stand-in, I’ve been waiting patiently for the iPhone on Sprint and am thrilled that time is finally here.
Still, it’s going to be a very bittersweet purchase knowing that Steve is no longer with us.
I’m you don’t anymore too.
HEre is a question, if I am on the grandfathered unlimited on ATT now with iPhone 4 if I get the IPhone 4S will I get to keep my unlimited or will I be forced to their new schedule of data
That is my deciding factor, anyone know the answer?
Great post!
You’ll be able to keep the unlimited data. That’s the joy of being ‘grandfathered’ in..
My unlimited carried over when u bought my iPhone last year with a new contract. They don’t make you choose the new 2gb or 4gb plans. You will be again grandfathered. You will lose it only if you make a change or switch to a non apple smartphone.
ATT as I am grandfathered, black as I use a black cover and 64gb to make room for 1080p movies and larger picture size with new 8 camera. Cost over 2 years in going from 32 to 64gb in about $4 per month. $100 more divided by 24(months).
I know i’ve literally called people a couple of blocks from me in Downtown san Francisco and their phone didn’t even ring on numerous occasions. Sprint is cheaper and at&t in my area isn’t good enough to pay extra for. Verizon is better if your going with LTE. Since i already have the Epic 4g touch on 4g on sprint I am assured that sprint is so far way better.
so far 4g is on android only, i get 10mbs on my nexus S with sprint. But I do love the iphone. I dont understand why they wouldnt add 4g to it
untrue. I called to verify this. I’m grandfathered into the unlimited. per att, if I upgrade my grandfathered data comes with me at the discounted ($199) rate as long as I don’t make changes to my data plan.
One thing to note thought is that the white iPhone 4/4S (and iPad 2) aren’t made of the same white plastic as some previous devices. The white color is under the glass so it will stay just as clean and pristine as the black.
You can keep the unlimited plan, just as when I switched from the 3gs to the 4
Yes, but will the button stay clean and white?
The only reason the white iPhone 4 has a higher resale/buyback value now is because they’ve been out a year less than the 4 has.
some guys aren’t concerned about having a black phone to look masculine. Who cares what people think. One question I do have: what color of iphone did Steve Jobs prefer?
Like Mitch below, I am grandfathered into my unlimited Verizon data package, and despite AT&T’s possibly faster network, and the better value of Sprint – WHEN YOU CAN GET ANY SIGNAL – the Verizon network plain and simply works in more places in the US than either of the others – BY FAR. Since the 4S will take a SIM card regardless of provider, I can travel to Europe and minutes after I land, I can have a local number to use (at THEIR rates, not Verizon’s crazy out of network rates) on a GSM network.
As for the “size of the prize,” I will gladly take your 16 GB advice. I have 16 GBs on my Droid “Incredibly Frustrating” now, and because of insane Linux limitations (like disk format), I am using most of my 8 GB fat-format card, but only a tiny bit of the 8 GB EX2 (or 3, or 4, or whatever) internal storage they provide, and then gracefully withhold from use. You have also successfully changed my mind (I think) about the white phone – but the black one has greater contrast with the screen…
This “voice/internet incompatibility-thing” is not quite the whole truth regarding Verizon’s CDMA-limitations. What IS true is that you can’t use voice and data over the CDMA network simultaneously. What is ALSO true (and, clearly, not exactly publicized by AT&T) is that you CAN use voice and internet together if you have an available WiFi connection for the ‘net, while you are on the phone. So, as much as I hate Verizon’s “nickel-and-diming,” their network is by far the most reliable. Sprint has the “best deals” – but only if you are within shouting distance of a major interstate highway – and AT&T has roll-over minutes, but their signals drop so frequently that, again, if you are in one of their good spots, and don’t plan on driving anywhere, they also have a “good deal.” Everyone has different needs, none of the carriers has even remotely the perfect deal for ANYONE, let alone EVERYONE, so it’s a good thing there are choices!
It will change the form factor of the phone. At&t just started their real 4G roll out and it looks like Sprint is ditching Wimax for the same LTE that Verizon currently uses. Sprint will make a network announcement tomorrow. I think the big issue is the battery drain.
Its cheaper to redesign the iPhone when all the LTE dust settles instead of trying to cram all the potential radios in it now.
I would have got the white version but I really HATE that black sensor strip over the earpiece. Ruins the “whiteness” of the phone.
thank you for your smart and straight ahead answers to all my questions. Was torn between the 16 and 32G, you helped me make up my mind. I am grandfathered into unlimited data with Verizon….icloud was the final answer for me….white 16G here I come……
You’ve posted this about 600 times now. WE GET IT! YOU DON’T LIKE AT&T! STFU!
BUT… and this is a big BUT AT&T will THROTTLE any data usage over 2GB. That means they will slow it down to save money on their end, so there is not value to having unlimited with AT&T anymore. That, and their crappy reception, is why I went to Verizon today when I pre-ordered my iPhone 4S!!!!!!
and AT&T
the Sprint network will not be able to handle all the new iPhones that jump on its network next week. Then all the Sprint folks who find trouble with the network will have to call Sprint Customer Service and will learn the meaning of pain.
Depends on where you live. I have great customer service at Sprint in NYC. They email me our phone conversation via email transcript, you can also chat online with a rep. When I bought the HERO HTC from Sprint, it was crappy & they gave me a new one but none of the androids were good then until 3 months later when new Androids came out.
ATT- I had the iphone 3g. It got stolen, I went to ATT & begged for a reduction to buy a new one. They said to just wait a year 1/2. I got so angry I went back to Sprint and paid the early termination of $120.00.Sprint helps me save $$ I never had a customer service problem. I recently bought the Nexus 4g but the voicemail sucked. So, I exchanged it and it still sucked (Sprint did not give me a problem). Now I returned it after the iphone 4s came through (they were so nice & reset my upgrade so I can get the iphone4s)
I love Sprint Customer service & their phone conversation transcript. I escaped to ATT for 3 months & I hated it. I went back to Sprint & paid the early termination fee to ATT.
It’s because you are in west Michigan. Sprint works wonders in NYC. Any buyers need to think about location location. Sorry, facebook is not a reliable source of date. Check the research. Sprint has more 4G towers & Verizon has 4G LTE, ATT does not. Now the iphone4s, I’m getting that from Sprint.
All you needed to do with Sprint Androids was go to Setting and then manage applications then press stop running program or uninstall. I did this without needing customer service. And you can always call the techs directly. I had ATT & they sucked for me, I was on Sprint from 2000-2010, jumped to ATT for 3 months and ran from them and came back to Sprint since April 2011 & I love their Customer service especially the emailed transcript to share what was reported in your phone calls.
exactly, its about location, location but the people here don’t get that…
I’ve seen some information that needs to be cleared up to the best of my knowledge.
A CDMA phone purchased in the US, will NOT be able to accept a GSM chip internationally. Once a CDMA phone is attached to a Verizon or Sprint account, it is permanently locked to be a Verizon or Sprint phone. Same goes for an ATT purchased device. The only device that will be able to accept an international SIM is an unlocked (full price) device.
Also, after your 24 month contract on Verizon/Sprint is over, the phone will not be Unlocked for a SIM carrier.
Thank you! This was a great article! I’m new to iphones and needed info on the GB, yours was the first site out of 8 that could give me a thought out straight forward answer.
Does Sprint really give you free tether for free? Tether by wire or bluetooth right? CS told me it is $29.00 for WIFI to another device!! I am asking is tether and Mobile hotspot not the same thing?? (included unlimited on the phone only) Can you please expand of this?
About the phone insurance … there is a smaller company that not many people know about called Worth Ave that is the only one that you can get lost and stolen protection and everything else the others offer for the Iphones. Not sure about the pricing, there CS is closed on the weekend, so I am calling first thing Monday morning!!
I am having the same problem as you. People at the Sprint store say you have to pay as it would be a mobile hot spot. But, when I called the 800 number they tell me that tether is free. The other problem I was having was that the last person I spoke with yesterday said that the iPhone did not tether…..but as we see in this post and others it does.
To answer your question, the 800 # says you do not pay for tether…..if the store tells you different tell them that the 800 # told you so, that’s what I am going to do.
Mostly untrue. “World phones” from Verizon and Sprint are CDMA and GSM. They can take an international sim for GSM usage out of the country. They also generally block usage of a domestic sim, so you cannot simply walk your iPhone over to AT&T.
CDMA phones are not necessarily tied to one carrier permanently, but it is difficult to move them to another one. However, by hacking the iPhone to allow usage of a domestic sim, it won’t matter if you aren’t using the CDMA service, you can still have unlocked GSM.
The iPhone has very good Accessibility features. Turn them on and hand one to your father, you might be surprised what he’s able to accomplish even blind.