October 7, 2011: Two days after the dying of Steve Jobs, Apple opens preorders for its next-gen iPhone 4s.
The final iPhone that Jobs labored on immediately, the 4s boasts a speedier A5 chip, improved 8-megapixel digicam with 1080p HD video recording, and — most importantly — Apple’s new AI digital assistant, Siri.
iPhone 4s turns into an instantaneous hit
The iPhone 4s was destined to promote effectively. For the primary — and, I imagine, solely — time in Apple historical past, gross sales of the system’s predecessor had been nonetheless constructing when the up to date mannequin was launched. Which means each quarter, iPhone 4 gross sales grew, slightly than the standard burst of gross sales at launch adopted by a gradual decline for the remainder of the yr.
Actually, the iPhone 4s arrived at a time when the general public was really going iPhone loopy. Add to that the huge information protection about Jobs’ passing, and it was clear this system was a giant one for Apple.
Finally, the iPhone 4s bought 4 million items in its opening weekend. That’s a fraction of the quantity Apple sells on opening weekends in the present day (the final publicly launched figures, for the iPhone 6s, had been 13 million in its first days). Nevertheless, the iPhone 4s’ weekend gross sales represented two-thirds of the variety of iPhones that Apple bought within the authentic smartphone’s complete first yr.
Its value began at $649. Adjusted for inflation, that’s $900. Take that as a reminder that the iPhone 16 at $799 is a cut price.
iPhone 4s specs and Siri debut
When it comes to specs, the iPhone 4s set the template for future incremental “s” releases. It provided no main type issue redesign. Nevertheless, it introduced loads of inner enhancements, together with a giant characteristic that hinted at Apple’s future ambitions.
On this case, that characteristic was Siri. The chatty digital helper marked the end result of a long-term dream for Apple. Impressively, the corporate predicted the arrival of a Siri-like AI assistant way back to the Eighties. (Really, the corporate nailed the date to inside a month.)
So far as enhancements went, the iPhone 4s handled the earlier yr’s “Antennagate” controversy by altering the dual-antenna design encapsulated within the chrome steel band. This tweak eradicated dropped calls that iPhone 4 customers skilled in the event that they “held it wrong.”
On steadiness, the iPhone 4s didn’t completely blow my thoughts (as the unique iPhone and the iPhone 4 did). Nonetheless, I definitely look again fondly on the iPhone 4s.
Do you bear in mind the iPhone 4s? Go away your feedback, recollections and — for those who can — your alternative for favourite iPhone beneath.