Looking for the post where we rip into Apple and the oh-so-magical iPhone 4S? Youve found it. All the voice functions and competitive pricing aside, the iPhone 4S hardware is Lame. (Yes, with a capital L). Just how lame you ask? Compared to what Android is offeringand has been offering since the beginning of the yearit barely manages to keep up.
Lets recap the main focal points of the iFail 4S announced today. Unspecified dual-core processor, 8 megapixel camera with 1080p video capture, 14.4 HSPA+, up to 64 GB storage and a Retina display. As you can see, pretty boring for a phone announced at the end of 2011. So just what does Android already have to combat the iPhone 4S? And what about phones that will be out in the near future?
First up for dissection: processors. Apple has put a dual-core processor inside the iPhone 4S. Big deal. Android phones have been rocking dual-core processors for a long time now. The Samsung Galaxy S II utilizes a 1.2 GHz dual-core Exynos in most of its configurations. The T-Mobile version of the GSII comes with a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3. And thats normal for Android phones. In fact, if your Android device doesnt have a dual-core processor, then youre behind the times. Google is set to announce the next Nexus in about a week, and you can bet that device will have a dual-core at the least. Oh, and dont forget the quad-core NVIDIA processors coming to market soon.
Apple placed a lot of emphasis on the camera of the 4S. Its an advanced 8 megapixel sensor that features 1080p video capture. Apparently, Apple has been studying HTCs latest devices. HTC has been working hard to improve the camera phone lately. The myTouch 4G Slide really turned it up a notch, and the Amaze 4G will take it to the next level. SmartShot, BurstShot, SweepShot panorama, ClearShot HDR, PerfectPics, 1080p video capture, a dedicated camera key and a dedicated camcorder key? The Amaze should give even the upcoming Nexus a run for its money. Its rumored to launch with an incredible camera that will blow you away. And if you want megapixels, Samsung is working to release a 16 megapixel smartphone camera. It should be on display come MWC.
Want to hear a joke? HSPA+ 14.4 Mbps. Want to hear an even funnier joke? CDMA/EVDO Rev A. Not everyone has access to 4, or even faux, G Internet. And thats not such a big deal. But any and every major Android device released in the last year has at least had the necessary radios on board to go as fast as the network in your area will let you. If you want to stick with HSPA+, T-Mobile is about to release a couple 42 Mbps HSPA+ devices. Sprint has WiMax devices galore. Verizon and AT&T? They use LTE, a seriously fast 4G technology. So fast, it makes Sprints 3G look like dial-up. In fact, thats roughly how fast Sprints iPhone will go. Seriously.
Lets say you want a ton of storage, but you dont want to pay an arm and a leg for it. Android devices offer expandable storage. You can choose how much internal storage you want and pop in a microSD card for more. You can also take that card with you and keep using it time and time again. With the iPhone, what you buy is what you get. And if you want 64 GB of storage, then its going to cost you $400 on contract.
The display on the iPhone 4S is a true testament to just how far Android devices have come. When the Retina display was first announced, everyone was amazed at how crisp and clear images were. But that was a year ago. Now, display technology has far surpassed the Retina display. SLCD qHD displays are fantastic, and Super AMOLED Plus is absolutely incredible. When put next to an iPhone 4S, you can tell Samsung really knows how to make a display. If you think Super AMOLED Plus looks good, just wait until you see an HD Super AMOLED display. Samsungs latest crop of displays have been called jaw-droppingly gorgeous. And guess what? The next Nexus will indeed be utilizing a 1280 x 720 HD Super AMOLED display. With a pixel density of 320ppi, what more could you ask for in a display?
Did we miss anything? Is there anything else Android devices can boast that the iPhones cant? How about NFC, removable batteries, hard keyboards, different display sizes, Flash, an open Market and the greatest community around. Yeah, all that and a little more.
