To iPhone or not to iPhone, that is the question.

The iPhone is a premium priced handset and purchasing one is normally a big decision. But is the iPhone 4S for you?

In my opinion, yes. Having previously owned an iPhone 3GS, the improvements that have been made in the iPhone 4S are fantastic. The 'Retina Display' is fantastic to behold and the smoothness and speed that the new A5 chip offers makes browsing through your phone a pleasurable experience.

Siri!

Apple's new Assistant feature basically turns the iPhone 4S into your very own (computerised) personal assistant. I can ask him/her any question and he/she is very quick to give me the answer. You can also use Siri to send hands-free texts or call someone without having to hunt through your phone. If you purchase this phone, be sure to ask Siri "How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuch wood?" and enjoy the answer.

The Display:

As mentioned above, the iPhone 4S sports a 3.5" Retina Display. Although it has become common ground for smartphones to have atleast 4.0" displays, it is definitely not needed on the 4S. Pictures and applications are colourful and the Retina Display makes the images very crisp. Furthermore, the phone sits very comfortably in the hand and one hand is enough to operate it as your thumb can reach all over the screen.

Camera and Video and Sound:

The iPhone has an 8 MP camera and 1080p HD recording. These specifications, along with the many features that allow the phone to shoot high quality pictures and videos (Tap to focus, LED flash and video stabilization) make it a mini digital camera as well as a phone. It also sports a VGA-quality front facing camera which allows you to Facetime and Skype as well take pictures of yourself and friends without having to fully extend your arm and twist it into uncomfortable positions!
The format for the music player on the iPhone remains the same as previous versions. However, this is not a bad thing. Why change something that is easy to use? As for the sound quality, the speakers are still very loud and clear and the equalizer allow you to play each song exactly how you want it.

Other Important Bits:

The new dual-core A5 chip in the iPhone 4S allow it to respond to your every need in a precise way and even though my phone is filled to the brink with apps, I still haven't noticed any change in speed. Also, my Sat-Nav is now collecting dust in the cupboard as the iPhone's GPS system allow it to guide you through the streets just like, if not better than many cheap to medium priced Sat Navs.
One final issue that people always have with iPhone's are their battery life. Some complain that by midday the iPhone is screaming to be recharged. Although this may be a problem for some consumers, it has definitely not been a problem for me. As tedious as it sounds, to get the best performance out of your phone it is always worth reading the booklet that accompanies it. When I first purchased the phone, I used it till the battery ran down to zero, then charged it overnight. It is important to remember that these batteries are lithium-ion and like the old nickel-based batteries, they do not have memories. So it doesn't matter if you only charge to 80%, it will not affect your battery life. For me, I never let it drop to below 25% and this allows me to use the phone moderately for at least a day.

Overall:

Having used Android, Blackberry and iPhone's, I believe that the iPhone is the entire package. It provides you with style and precisions while sacrificing nothing. Yes it is expensive, but you are paying for quality and if you are planning to make full use of the App Store, iCloud and the many other features that the phone brings with it, you will NOT be disappointed.