Apple iPhone 4 review: Love it or hate it

01 July 2010
You can't make a phone that everyone loves and Apple is not even trying. Much like any other iPhone so far, the iPhone 4 is a phone that everybody loves AND hates. Apple’s latest is always the greatest – you have to give them that...

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • nXZ
  • 02 Jul 2010

Anonymous, 02 Jul 2010Just want to thank our lord and master Steve Jobs for not i... moreHang on, i thought iphone owners were the ones spoon fed?

Mr Copy-and-Paste here uses iphone fever like a bible.

How very sad.

1.7 MILLION units in THREE DAYS.

I bet that makes his teeth grind :)))

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • S2C
    • 02 Jul 2010

    Don't you dare say you hate Apple's product. You'll be automatically labeled "douchehbag" That's how schoolboy's marketing works, effectively at that :D :D :D

      • a
      • are you sure
      • pFx
      • 02 Jul 2010

      "Apple’s latest is always the greatest – you have to give them that..."

      Whatever!

        • S
        • Spikey
        • mqy
        • 02 Jul 2010

        So not even original wit? Oh dear...

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • pqB
          • 02 Jul 2010

          Just want to thank our lord and master Steve Jobs for not including this bunch of features in iPhone 4!

          Thank you Steve jobs for not including these useless features we neither want nor need!

          iPhone is the best!

          HARDWARE:
          iPhone 4

          Screen:
          iDon't have a touch friendly screen, gloves, pens, styluses and not even fingernails work!
          iDon't have neither haptic nor any other type feedback whatsoever.
          iDon't have any precision compared to resistive touchscreens.
          iDon't have a standard(16:10, 16:9, 4:3) aspect ratio only Apple custom ones(3:2) will fit my screen.

          Power:
          iDon't have USB charging without a dock adapter.
          iDon't have any safety garment for the battery(1) melting is known to occur in Apple products(2)
          iDon't have warranty for damage made by "external" force aka. the above.

          Connectivity:
          iDon't have DLNA (streaming HD content wireless on a HDTV).
          iDon't have UPnP technology (automatic WiFi setup) some networks simply don't work.
          iDon't have full 3G HSDPA speed (7mb/s vs. 2008 smatphones that have 10mb/s).
          iDon't have full GPRS/EDGE speed (CLASS 10 is four times slower than CLASS 33!)
          iDon't have a decent GSM/GPS/WiFi signal(1) the connection is far worse than on 3GS(2)
          iDon't have standard USB connectivity(1) only custom cables(2)
          iDon't give a damn about the environment: short cables but tons of iAccesories.
          iDon't have IR, can't control: basic household items(1) TV, HDTV(2) DSLR camera(3) MAC(4)

          Media/camera:
          iDon't have stereo speakers.
          iDon't have radio.
          iDon't have FM transmitter.
          iDon't have decent camera (small sensor and 72 DPI, which is less than most 5mp phones)

          Design:
          iDon't eject my sim without a special key.
          iDon't have a removable battery.
          iDon't have hot swappable memory.
          iDon't sell cheap but my value at FOXCONN in China(1), where I am made, is ~190$(2)



          SOFTWARE:
          iOS 4.0

          Web:
          iDon't have audio/video streaming for 90% of the multimedia sites.
          iDon't offer a real web experience, various sites only offer a phone version.
          iDon't have Flash or Flash Lite - flash sites, apps or games simply do not work.
          iDon't have push idle so battery drains fast even on push.
          iDon't have push e-mail if i'm jailbroken, even if you pay!
          iDon't render HTML5 graphics, nor can iHandle HTML5 controls.
          iDon't process HTML attachments correctly.

          File management:
          iDon't have access to my internal folders by any means - no app in the iStore allows this!
          iDon't even have access to set mp3s as ringtones.
          iDon't have MIDP/JAVA support.
          iDon't handle DivX,XviD,FLV native video.
          iDon't handle ZIP, RAR or SFX - no app in the iStore allows this!

          Connectivity:
          iDon't handle videocall via the network, gTalk or Skype.
          iDon't A2DP right (BT stereo) right: lags on videos(1) and games(2).
          iDon't fully support AVRCP (BT remote)(1) industry standard(2) can't skip tracks.
          iDon't support any Bluetooth services when pairing with a MacBook.
          iDon't have any BT file sharing my BT is almost useless!

          User Interface:
          iDon't have themes support.
          iDon't have a scalable OS, apps on the iPad are simply stretched to fit.
          iDon't have a desktop, entire UI is organized as a single "start" menu.
          iDon't have parallax (finger/screen offset) adjusting - low precision especially on small objects.

          iPhoneOS/SDK limitations:
          iDon't have native multitasking(1), apps have to be specially coded for multitasking (1993)(2)
          iDon't allow cross compiling.
          iDon't allow open development.
          iDon't have proper platform security.
          iDon't have proper application security(1), any non iStore app can damage your phone(2)
          iDon't have any power optimization - the device overheats as admitted by Apple.

          Camera:
          iDon't have fine detail in pictures, high noise reduction smears the finer details.
          iDon't have video stabilization.
          iDon't have exposure control (ISO).

          Misc:
          iDon't have built-in basic functionality like:
          sending contact cards via BT, TO-DO application, save web pages, calendar week view, etc.
          iDon't have freeware, iTunes treats free applications like purchases + FairPlay DRM wrap.
          iDon't have user privacy for: online shopping(1), visited sites(2), your location(3)


          Hardware flaws (exclusively in iPhone 4):
          External uninsulated antennae that cause dropped calls and slow internet connections.
          Screen and back made out of cheap glassy material that both scratches and cracks.
          Dead pixels and light leakage on the "Retina" display.
          Inverted volume controls on some units.
          SIM cards don't work in some units.
          Camera doesn't work in some units.
          Proximity sensor doesn't work in some units.
          Microphone doesn't work in some units.

          Let's at least hope that melting and blowing up is a thing left back in 3GS :D

            • F
            • Fiorano430
            • mAw
            • 02 Jul 2010

            Anonymous, 02 Jul 2010go for the Samsung wave.Exactly, you forgot to mention the Wave. Same hardware, but none of the Apple restrictions. Once that Samsung Apps store picks up there will be only one choice.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • n4K
              • 02 Jul 2010

              failed, nothing special ...

                • j
                • jan
                • UGr
                • 02 Jul 2010

                iphone4 is best phone no any other phone match this phone i m love it to use

                  • N
                  • Niraj
                  • YTL
                  • 02 Jul 2010

                  Anonymous, 02 Jul 2010i am a nokia fan for 10 years now but i have to admit, ipho... moreAdmit, really hope symbian^4 will give a new fresh ui.

                    • p
                    • phones fan
                    • fwM
                    • 02 Jul 2010

                    Saurav, 02 Jul 2010Oh after this review I think I am going for iPhone 4 instea... morethe engadget review is biased because they did not compare both phones from the normal distance instead they've zoomed too much and only concentrated on the pixels,so if you want fair comparison check this "lucky guy" video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVJhiWlOUAo

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • Sjw
                      • 02 Jul 2010

                      i am a nokia fan for 10 years now but i have to admit, iphone is simple and beautiful both in design and UI. All nokia fans know it despite what you hear. But damn its hardware and features are just unimpressive and compared to 5 year old smartphones, easily breakable body, reception issues... Those are the things i don't find on a nokia. Is a matter of quality.

                        • d
                        • dee
                        • MA8
                        • 02 Jul 2010

                        having trouble with no signal


                        theres an app for that...

                          • F
                          • Fonebox.com
                          • MZJ
                          • 02 Jul 2010

                          Excellent review. My gripes with iPhone 4 are: 1) Lack of mechanical camera shutter release, which could also have doubled as a voice record button if (say) double tapped, ideal for making a note of ideas when in the car. 2) The 3.5" screen is way too small for reading and should have been bumped up to 4". 3) Poor speakers, as noted in the review. So, am considering the excellent HTC Desire.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • mSR
                            • 02 Jul 2010

                            i don't really get apple, they make some great UI and polish it really well, but when u put HD movies support u should insert some huge memory (at least 48GB!) or allow hot-swappable memory cards, and video player should support most video codecs available,, and why the hell don't they allow accessing the phone's memory through pc?

                              • R
                              • Ryan
                              • 3xC
                              • 02 Jul 2010

                              Saurav, 02 Jul 2010Oh after this review I think I am going for iPhone 4 instea... moreThe colour on the Galaxy S super amoled screen is unmatched. However, the the Iphone 4 retina display has more pixels per square inch (translating into sharper display)
                              Have a look at this..... http://blog.gsmarena.com/super-amoled-vs-retina-%E2%80%93-galaxy-s-and-iphone-4-displays-side-by-side-and-head-to-head/ It will clear your doubts.

                                • S
                                • Saurav
                                • 2SU
                                • 02 Jul 2010

                                Oh after this review I think I am going for iPhone 4 instead of Galaxy S. But still confused which one has the better display? Super Amoled or Retina? If any lucky and rich person have both the phones then please tell me.
                                Regards,
                                Saurav.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 0kG
                                  • 02 Jul 2010

                                  Apple iPhone 4 review: Love it or hate it

                                  I HATE IT

                                  nothng new but the display, everything else is junk 2 bad...

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • FJT
                                    • 02 Jul 2010

                                    Anonymous, 02 Jul 2010im glad that THE phone for you is one with terrible faults,... moreHow did the iphone4 have terrible faults? Oh your referring to those lies from haters caused by their desperation? Lol. Please name me a perfect phone and I will give up my iphone :) Yeah, just one perfect phone with no single complaint from a user :) You can't. So what's wrong with me standing up for the phone of my choice? And what's wrong with me loving my phone? And least I am not hating like you :)

                                      • S
                                      • Stephane (Switzerlan
                                      • m0W
                                      • 02 Jul 2010

                                      What a GREAT TEST GSM ARENA. Thanks. iPhone 4 is like Apple. Some big loves, some big hates. Yes. But better then indifference !
                                      I've never a Apple because I don't like this company. But I've tested iPhone's friends(3GS) and compare with others devices, it's so smooth, easy to use, intuitive...
                                      And, you stay with the same OS, change every year once your device. Not one time Symbian, after Androïd, after Bada.. Depends which device (features) you like....
                                      iTunes is just disgusting and iPhone depends so much but App's are just crazy (compare with Symbian, OVI or even Androïd)
                                      Now the LED Flash is coming and time for me is to come in the iPhone world !
                                      What I can buy if not ? Like GSM Arena says :"Smartphones are never the best never perfect". Example Nokia N8 seemed perfect BUT 1st test says "Symbian^3 is still slow, not news and app's very poor !".

                                      I dislike HTC; Samsung, LG... I like very much SONY ERICSSON but I want an HIGH-END device. And SE announced very low-end news(X8, Yendo), and "actual high-end" are completely late (Satio, Vivaz aren't update anymore; X10 has old features and late update..) COME ON SE or give up !

                                      After all, Nokia is the biggest company of mobiles. After Philips stopped production for Europe in 2006, I've bought N93, N95 and N96 but often with Nokia the "great device" before launch became a deception (except N95).
                                      I'm really disappointed for choice my next device (replace my Satio). Would like a GREAT SonyEricsson but must choose iPhone4(White) or N8.
                                      But Nokia :-( Hope for a SonyEricsson WinMo7 really POWER !!

                                        • p
                                        • phones fan
                                        • fwM
                                        • 02 Jul 2010

                                        Anonymous, 02 Jul 2010Why iphone 4 is not the best?i think you need to read the review and the comments to know why.