iPhone 4S alternatives – Should I get an iPhone 4S?

Want to get a smartphone but not sure you fancy forking out for Apple’s iPhone 4S? We round-up the best alternatives available.

Want a better phone for playing music than the iPhone 4S?

Apple may have the heritage when it comes to making iPods and launching iTunes, but our tests found that the supplied headphones that come with the 4S are disappointing and actually worse than the ones that came with the iPhone 4.

HTC on the other hand has come together with Beats Audio and Dr Dre to release a set of devices that use their not only their headphones, but also software that will tailor how your phone plays music according to which set of headphones is plugged in.

We haven’t yet had the chance to put the Sensation XE – the first device to come with Beats Audio – through our lab tests so we can’t say how the sound quality compares, but if Dre’s involved they must be good, right? You can trust him, he’s a doctor.

Want a better camera than the iPhone 4S?

While the iPhone has been held up as the an example as the best way of doing a lot of things, it’s camera hasn’t always the best. The latest version is certainly a huge improvement and performs exceptionally well but there are still a few features that it doesn’t lead the field on.

The Nokia N8 has an outstanding camera, featuring a resolution of 12Mp and a xenon flash. The inclusion of Carl Zeiss optics means great picture quality and a dedicated camera button makes taking snaps easy.

Yes the Symbian operating system is clunky and has a much lower selection of apps, but if all you’re interested in is getting some good snaps (especially in dark scenes like on a night out) the Nokia N8 isn’t a bad choice.

Want an Android phone that’s better than the iPhone 4S?

OK, without putting the new iPhone to the test in our labs we can’t say for certain that any phone is better than Apple’s latest handset, but Android phones have risen meteorically in the last few years.

The Android Market is fast catching up with Apple’s App Store when it comes to number of apps and without draconian restrictions, it also features the kind of apps that might not get past Apple’s censors.

The Samsung Galaxy S2 has got the highest score of all the Android devices we’ve tested, and was only pipped to the top by the iPhone 4. With a 4.3-inch screen the S2 has more room for web browsing and using apps, plus the 1.2GHz dual-core processor makes swift work of running multiple apps at a time.

An impressive camera and easy-to-use interface complete the package, and while the materials might feel a little plasticky compared with the iPhone, the S2 is super slim and pocket friendly at just 8.49mm thick.

Want a Windows Phone 7 smartphone that’s better than the iPhone 4S?

Maybe iOS and Android aren’t for you and you want a piece of the grown-up Windows Phone operating system. Some great devices have been launched and the new Mango update will add a whole new set of features and bring it up to speed with its older rivals.

A slick, well-designed interface replaces the same old racks of icons, plus you get Windows Office apps and compatibility with xBox Live – giving gamers the chance to gain achievements when they are on the move and play exclusive games.

One the nicest looking devices to sport the new Mango version of the operating system is the Nokia Lumia 800. This not only is made from a spiffy polycarbonate case but also comes with some exclusive software and services. Fancy.

 

Want a cheaper smartphone than the iPhone 4S?

You want a smartphone with access to all kinds of apps right? One with loads of functions and twiddly bits yeah? But you don’t want to have to donate a kidney in a backstreet doctors to pay for it?

If there’s one single thing Apple’s devices are best known for its not ease of use or design aesthetics – it’s for being very expensive.

The iPhone is no exception, with prices topping £500 for a PAYG handset and it only coming free on contracts north of £35 – and some of those with less minutes and texts than you might find on comparable tariffs with other handsets.

But you don’t need to take out a mortgage to own a smartphone with more and more good devices becoming available for as little as £100.

The Samsung Galaxy Ace certainly has shades of the iPhone 4 in design terms and has the full functionality of an Android smartphone, yet is less than half the price of the iPhone on PAYG and can be picked up free of charge on contracts of just over £10 a month.

Still hankering after Apple’s latest toy? Check out the UK release date, price and deals of the iPhone 4S and see how it the iPhone 4S compares with the iPhone 4.