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Our Apple iPhone 4 Review

The first thing you’ll notice about the new iPhone 4 is that it looks different to previous models. Not such stunning information until you remember that the all-new iPhone 3GS looked almost exactly like its predecessor, the 3G.

But this isn’t just different, it’s stunningly different. Apple has named the new screen technology Retina Display, as it’s supposed to offer more colour information than the retina can handle. This may be true, it may be not. What is real is the clarity of the 960 x 640 screen that crams 326 pixels per inch into the 3.5 inch screen.

Zooming in on a web page will give you the idea of its amazing capabilities. Or gaze in awe at the smoothness of video on the TFT LED screen.

The iPhone 4 also boasts Apple’s latest operating system, iOS4, with many eagerly-awaited updates and improvements running under the 1Ghz processor.

Among the best improvements is the 5 megapixel camera. Tap the screen for autofocus is now a lot smoother than before, and also sets contrast and white balance. There’s a worthwhile LED flash and picture quality is stunning, even when zoomed all the way in.

Accessing the Apple Store’s 200,000 apps is simple on the iPhone 4 and it even doubles as an e-reader with iBooks. Also included is iMovie to satisfy your inner film director. Another handy inclusion is the compass that links to a better version of Google Maps than before.

Battery life is also vastly improved. Apple claim that it is up to 40% longer than previous iPhones.

Of course, you also get Apple’s renowned iTunes app. This, too has been updated, with Genius suggesting songs that are similar to the one you are listening to and the shake to shuffle feature. This can be so sensitive that you might end up listening to the first two seconds of every song in your collection unless you turn it off.

Now available on Three, this loveable device is available from around £30 per month. Good value when you consider that, once you’ve picked it up, you may never want to put it down again.

What We Liked

The display is such an improvement that it cannot be praised highly enough. And there’s the ever-present delight of Apple’s intuitive functionality.

What We Disliked

While network coverage is much improved there is a curious quirk with this phone. To facilitate making it smaller, Apple have placed the antenna, GPS and Bluetooth in a corner of the outside steel band. This is fine until you use your left hand, when your palm blocks reception. Apple’s response is simply to tell people not to hold it in their left hand.

Our Final Verdict

Now that iPhones are available on more than just one network, there are more flexible deals around to suit everyone. Once again, Apple have shown that where they lead, others try to follow,

Compare Handsets

	Read Review
	Apple iPhone 4
General
Form Factor	Candybar
Dimensions	115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 (mm)
Talk Time	840 mins
Standby Time	300 hours
Weight	137 g
Quad Band	Yes
Accelerometer	Yes
Photo and Video
Integrated Camera	Yes
Camera	5.00 megapixels
Camera Flash	Yes
Video Player	Yes
Phone
Polyphonic Ringtones	Yes
Smart Phone	Yes
Internal Memory	16GB or 32GB
Messaging
Instant Messaging (IM)	Yes
MMS	Yes
Photo Messaging	Yes
Screen
Colour Screen	Yes
Touch Screen	Yes
Screen Resolution	960 x 640 pixels
Connectivity
3G	Yes
EDGE	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes
Email	Yes
HSDPA	Yes
WAP	Yes
Web Browser	Yes
Wi-Fi	Yes
GPS	Yes
Music and Radio
MP3 Player	Yes
MP3 Ringtones	Yes
Additional Content
Downloadable Content	Yes
Downloadable Games	Yes
Downloadable Ringtones	Yes

Apple iPhone 4 Full Specification

General

Photo and Video

Phone

Messaging

Screen

Connectivity

Music and Radio

Additional Content