Using the iPhone 4S, 10 Years Later - Review & Retrospective 

--- I forgot the link to the framed 4S from GRID, it's in the description now, or you can find it here - gridstudio.cc/products/grid%C2%AE4s Whew, another hour long upload! Apologies for the delay in-between videos lately. I'm going to be taking a break from long-form content for a while- I really enjoy it but it's insanely time-consuming. We'll definitely have more in the future though... and lots of other great stuff! But for now, Merry Christmas, and I'll see you all next time!

As an android guy, the 4S will always be my favourite iPhone. Everything about it is just peak iPhone to me, the design, the square home button, the introduction of Siri, the skeuomorphic design of iOS 5/6, I could go on and on and whilst it's mostly nostalgia, i really miss the days when Apple actually felt innovative and unique.

The iPhone 4s was the first iPhone I ever got, and I absolutely loved it.

I had a resource room teacher in 2017 who still used the iPhone 4s, I’m sure he has a newer iPhone now, but thinking back at it it’s crazy how he used it on iOS 9 when iOS 11 wasn’t out yet, but iOS 10 was. iOS 9 kinda ruined my iPad 2.

The 2011-12 commercials for this phone are absolutely nostalgic. I vaguely remember some of them.

Still have mine, even after upgrading up to the 13. This phone was the coolest thing since toilet paper back when it first dropped, I‘ll never forget how much fun I had with the 4 & 4s. 👌

Both of my parents had an iPhone 4s. And I remembered playing with siri all the time because it was the coolest thing ever! I also remembered ios 5 and 6. Those give me the most nostalgia. And it's weird to belive that's it's been 10 years when it really doesn't feel like it

I upgraded from a 4 to the 4S. They both felt fantastic, but the 4S felt very very durable. I should have kept it. I have my 14PM now. I love the bigger screen, and at 8” I still wouldn’t mind another inch bigger screen and battery.

The 4S was my first iPhone, back when the 5s was the main. It was such an awesome phone, and I was so happy to have it. I used it for many years, making sure not to update it when I heard it started slowing it down. My next upgrade was the first SE that released, and my mind was blown with how much better that phone was. I still have that phone in a drawer and it works, but the battery decayed after so many years of use. I eventually got a used 8 Plus that I still use to this day (I've said this in your comments several times before, before anyone calls me out) and besided needing a battery replacement, its pretty much perfect still. I wouldn't trade it for anything currently.

First thing's first: this was my first iPhone, though not my first iOS device. I'm glad there's now a documentary out about it :) Thank you! And secondly, thank you for picking a really cool sponsor. I've been looking for a card like this for ages. My credit's fine, I just want the rewards of credit without having to worry about making payments for every little purchase I make

The 4s was my first iPhone, brings back many memories, coming from a blackberry at the time it was amazing how premium, fast and useful it was compared to the latter plastic brick, it hooked me onto iOS even to this day.

I remember when I was younger, I was at grand central station and my family and I went to the apple store within the station. I remember looking at a white iPhone 4s on display and absolutely falling for the device, so much so that I begged my parents for so long for that phone. I never got the phone, but after a few years, I bought a used 4s in white just to have as a display piece. To this day, it is one of the most gorgeous devices I had ever looked at.

iPhone 4s was my first iPhone. I used it from 2012 upto 2022 February. I still have it

Rest In Peace Steve Jobs, when the iPhone 4s came out, I was using my Black Berry phone I got in 2008, my first IPhone 📲 was the iPhone 5c.

Most premium feeling phone of it’s time. And for many years after.

I miss Steve!

The iPhone 4 and 4s were my two favorite iPhones ever. Never felt the same for any iPhone before or since. Also those same years that this phone came out represent some awesome years for me so cant help but feel a punch to the gut when i look back

It was my first iPhone (I still keep it). The design still holds up, when you grab in your hands it still feels good. Really high end device.

Love the design of the phone! This man is amazing!

I’m so impressed with these longer videos. My dude puts out quality documentaries for us nerds lol

4S is Still revolutionary and gorgeous🔥🔥🔥

For some reason these old phones still fascinate me lol

The iPhone 4S is just beautiful 😃 I was super happy with apple changing back to the straight edges with iPhone 12

Hey my first iPhone! Absolutely loved this thing. I used to read comics, whole novels and also watched movies on this thing!

Love your 10 year iPhone in depth reviews!!🔥🔥

My first iPhone! Purchased in December 2011. I always look back fondly at it

This video is a real tech documentary!! I really love it! Keep up your good work my friend!! As for iOS 7... looking back at my iPad mini 1st gen that sheared the same specs with the 4S, the updates after iOS 7 (especially the iOS 8) was disastrous!! It was really heave for those devices...

This was my first iPhone, i had Sprint and up until the iPhone 4s was released iPhone was exclusive to cingular (AT&T) the iPhone was so amazing coming from a Nextel. It will always have a special place in my heart and in my opinion has the best looking design and feel of any iPhone of its era, way better than the 6 with its rounded edges. When they finally brought back the flat sides on the iPhone 12 I was so happy. The iPhone 14 is perfect for me, like if the iPhone 4 and X combined.

This was my first phone in 2013 I was 12. I loved the thing! I dropped it several times and it refused to break!

I love these videos keep em coming

My friend asked for my help the other day to migrate his boss' iPhone 4s data to the 13. His boss is only upgrading their iPhone 4s in 2021!! I was amazed and shocked at the same time

The iPhone 5 is easily my favorite, mainly due to nostalgia because I didn’t get another iPhone until the XS Max, and I’m still using my 12 Pro today I really enjoy it.

I have both on iOS 4 and 5. One on 6 too.

I have an iPhone 4S. It had iOS 9.3.5 but I was able to downgrade it to iOS 6.1.3 and also jailbreak it so that I could install more apps on it. To me, it's my favorite iPhone design. Steve Jobs was a very intelligent man and thanks to him we have the technology of smartphones we have today.

My first iPhone that i got in 2012. I have it permanently plugged in on my nightstand and is used every night running a white noise app.

Merry Christmas all your videos are great

This was my first iPhone, and I remember being so amazed by it. Back then you could surf the net on your phone, yes, but it wasn't anything like doing it on the iPhone, because it's got a larger screen and faster performance. And that modern look!! I loved it very much.

Superb as always!

Still love how small these were. I started out on iPhone 4.

You give Siri too much credit my guy.

I still has a friend who uses it daily driver 😂

I have the iPad 2, which also came out in 2011. It was my daily device last year when I was 14, then in November last year I got an iPhone 5, then a month later, I got the iPhone 6, then in June 2021 I got the iPhone 7, then in September 2021 I got the iPhone 8. Recently I broke my iPhone 8 and my iPhone 7 doesn’t work, so I’m using my iPhone 6.

Great video Josh! I love these long retrospectives and can't wait to see your future content! Also, do you have other iDevices running their first iOS version such as an iPhone 4 running iOS 4?

excellent work! as usual

4s was my first iPhone :)

Great retrospective dude

Ah memories 🤔💭📱 I’m impressed with these longer quality videos. The iPhone 4S was game changing with edges like the iPhone 12. And I remember taking macro photos !! Most premium feeling phone of it’s time with specs close to the first iPad mini. I still have one.

That was my first iPhone. Noice

The 4s was my first iPhone ever as well

iPhone 4s was my first smart phone! Great memories

Imagine the specs of a modern phone in the size of the iPhone 4. The battery would be crap (and yes, the modern iphones look very similar to the 4), but man would it look beautiful.

Siri was severely under-implemented much to the detriment of a good friend of mine who tried to use it while succumbing to the horrible effects of ALS. They really should have handcuffed some of their designers and forced them to use the phones by voice alone until that experience is acceptable. A lot of nasty edge cases where the phone would be softlocked from a voice only perspective when finishing a call and a few other situations.

I was used to this phone whole 2020. In the end of 2020 I finally bought a new phone. So that was the last phone that I used second hand. Seriously I had used to second hand phones between 2017 to 2020. Actually I really liked to use this phone. Because I really like the aesthetic of late 2000's and early 10's. I've had one problem and that is the WiFi problem which is not rare problem. In the time that I used this phone I didn't used with WiFi. It's just connected WiFi one at time and it lasted in 5 minutes. In this time I bought myself a Better Call Saul melody (It's still there :D). The weird thing is when my grandma used this phone before me, she can connect the WiFi. Good video Josh!

I remember Yr 9 and ppl would be arguing over the IPhone 5 or Galaxy S3 (or 4 I can't remember) I remember me and my friend didn't care what phone we got, as long as we had a touchscreen phone, I was dying to get one, so when my mam gave me her old Galaxy S1 as a warmup phone I was so happy

Never owned one but glad they had returned to this design language with 12-13 models.

The iPhone 4s was so ahead of it’s time

4s was my first iPhone. Loved it. Will always love it.

My first iPhone because it was the first year you didn't need ATT for service.

I remember finally retiring my iPhone 4s in 2017

a few years ago my friend gave me an iphone 4s, now it's displayed on my wall quite similarly to the grid art 91 Tech promoted

Worked for Nokia from 1997 thru 2006. I got to work on Nokia's 2G GPRS mobile wireless network portfolio. Used Nokia's cellphones back then...then moved on to Android after that. I purchased my first iPhone at the beginning of June 2022. Purchased the iPhone SE 2022 (3rd gen) and I absolutely adore it! Looking forward to the iPhone 14 'group' of phones to be released in late summer of 2022 sometime.

even though i never had one, the 4s has my favorite design of any phone

Still use a 4S as my back up with service soon to end unfortunately.

I had and still have an 8GB iPhone 4s. It still works too. It was pretty frustrating to use both because of the hilariously little space it had but we always forget how bad 3G was at the tail end.

I’m binge watching Josh. I’m holding my pristine 4S sir. Thanks for your dedication.❤ it’s black.

Still my favorite iPhone I’ve ever owned. It was fantastic.

My first ever Apple iPhone. I got it with the Otterbox Defender Desert Digital Camp case. I rocked that thing throughout my middle school days up until the iPhone 6.

I still have my 4S. It was my first iPhone, and right now it needs a new battery and screen replacement.

I currently use it as my iPod when driving as my Kia has an adapter for 30pin devices to link it to the radio for steering wheel control

I always thought the iPhone 4/4s were beautiful, iPhones really peaked in 2010 design wise. The 12 and 13 minis remind me of those iPhones and are pretty tempting

I still have a 64gb 4s on iOS 6! I use it as an iPod and I absolutely love it

The previous iPhone 4 is my very first Smartphone. Loved it a lot

Yo tuve un iPhone 4 durante 5 años, y jamás me dio problema alguno de cobertura, después tuve el 4 S, y también me fue muy bien, llevo muchos años usando iPhone y sinceramente me parece un dispositivo estupendo.

30:31 hearing a beatbox in such a robotic voice just cracks me up

The iOS experience that brought me the most amount of joy and excitement at the time was definitely easily the iPhone 4 on iOS 5. I was so hyped after watching the iOS 5 announcement that I woke up super earlier before school and kept hitting the "Check For Updates" button in iTunes on my laptop with my iPhone plugged in via 30-pin. Unfortunately I had to go to school before the update was actually available, but the second I got back, I ran to my room and hit the button again, and there it was! I was so flipping hyped, the new notifications looked cool as heck, I loved the look of the notification banners (I still think those looked better then than they do now) and the notification center was a really cool aesthetic. The thought of updating to future versions of iOS OTA was also totally insane to me, and iMessage was going to be a total game changers for my friends who had an iPod Touch but not a phone. The awe of that release honestly never even really went away, I was still thrilled by it by the following year when iOS 6 came out. Good memories.

OMG MY FRIEND JUST GOT ONE BUT IT HAS ACTIVATION LOCK 🔐 CAN YOU PLZ MAKE A VIDEO ON THAT OR HELP ME

awesome retrospective

I didn't own a smartphone up until 2015, when a friend gave his old damaged 4s to me. I repaired it and used it for about one year. My favorite iPhone ever. I still use it as a kind of iPod.

iPhone 4 was my first iPhone. Have had an iPhone since then. My original iPhone still works and hold a charge. Collectors item at this point but it was awe inspiring at the time.

This is what me got into iPhones my friend from high school gave me his iPhone 4S currently typing from a iPhone 13 Pro MAX

Great video,as always!!! Btw your so underrated. Why?

I got an iPhone 4S back in 2011 and used it all the way until 2014 when it broke and then downgraded to an iPhone 4 until I bought the iPhone 6 Plus three years to the day I got the iPhone 4S. What an amazing phone it was.

Man I miss the 4s. Being able to remove the back glass easily to swap out for other colors was really cool.

The iPod got me into Apple Products. The 4S solidified my love for Apple products. Now with my 13PM and my M1P MBP, I can’t see myself ever being swayed away.

Still got mine I use it to find my current iPhone!

Reading the comments here are awesome, iPhone 4s was my first iPhone! I looked at all the android and blackberry options at the time and I’m very happy I went to iPhone! Since then I’ve had an iPhone 5s, 6s Plus, 11, & I’m typing this comment on a 13 Pro.

I’ve just got my old iPhone 4s out the cupboard and found a charger with it. Left it plugged in and it’s come on and is now on 95% after few hours 🤣. Lucky as I had all my old photos on it so now they backed up to the cloud and on my new phone 😎

I still miss those round volume buttons

Questions. When did Apple use bluetooth for music. Because I was watching a youtube video where a guy was using the very first iPhone for a week. Where he got he's airpods to connect but would only work with phone calls. So when was music introduced to bluetooth.

I only stopped using the 4S because the home button failed. They beefed up the home button with metal parts in subsequent models. My 6S home button is still working fine.

God I miss small iphones like iphones this small. It was absolutely perfect.

iPhone 4 was my first iPhone and it was brillant. It was so much ahead of my previous HTC Desire. I never used anything but iPhones since (despite for work, where I regularly get a new mid tier Android).

good to see a proper review on the 4s! quality over quantity

This gets me so hyped for the iPhone 14, especially if the leaks are true about how it’s basically a modern IPhone 4 in design.

It would be amazing if Apple came out with an iPhone with a 4s and 5 shell with updated specs. Plus an iOS 6 design mode. They should bring back things from the past that bring a rush of nostalgia

My first iPhone i have only good words about this phone

I remember my mom getting the iphone 4s from the Verizon store and back then I was only 14 so I was amazed by the device and for how much different it looked from my ipad 2. The iphone 4s glass sandwich did make it easier to brack and unfortunately it came to its demise when it was in the driver side pocket of my mom's van and it fell stright to the pavement and shattered the whole front glass.

i had a 4s till today cause i got a iphone 8 which is preety good to my expectations BUT I RELATED SO MUCH WHEN HE SAID TO THROW IT OFF A BRIDGE

So nostalgic, i miss those days, those were good days.

My first phone was an iPhone 4S on iOS 9.2.1, heavily restricted by my parents. Yeah, that's right, My first phone was a hand-me-down from 2011, on software from 2016. It was painfully slow, and I'm glad I upgraded to the OnePlus 5 after that (I got it a month or two after it released, which should put when I had the 4S into perspective, I got the phone in 2014, and it bricked itself in 2017)