What you need to know

• Grid Studio might have created one of the greatest Apple holiday gifts ever.
• It has created a 'Grid 4S', a framed iPhone 4S turned into art by displaying all of its individual parts.

A company by the name of Grid Studio has created what might just be the coolest Apple Christmas gift ever.

The 'Grid 4S' is a piece of A3 artwork, made up of the individual parts of an old iPhone 4S put on display. Around forty pieces, the components are individually placed and glued on an Apple-esque white background, complete with measurements and labels so you know exactly what you're looking at.

At $140 + shipping, it certainly isn't the cheapest Apple gift you could buy, but it strikes us a really unique piece of artwork that would look great in any office or in the home.

Grid Studio specializes in handmade, industrial artwork, and the 'Grid 4S' piece has rave reviews on its site page. One user noting:

From Grid's website:

GRID 4S

Grid Studio also has a BlackBerry 9000 on its website with a 'stay tuned' message.

On October 3, 2011, at the "Let's Talk iPhone" event, Apple announced the successor to the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4S, which was eventually retroactively stylized with a lowercase "s," was revealed just hours before Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died at the age of 56. For me, the iPhone 4s will always be the one "4 Steve," and therefore Apple's product of the year for 2011.

In June 2010, my professional life was at a crossroads. After spending nearly a decade as an information technology manager, I began dabbling in blog writing for a technology site. Within a year, I would ditch my day job and decide to write from home full time. Nearly a decade after making that decision, which eventually led me to iMore, I continue to believe it was inspiration from Jobs that convinced me to make a positive career change.

It was during that month's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) when the late Apple co-founder revealed what would be the final iPhone of his tenure as Apple CEO. The still-electric iPhone 4 launched just months after the first-generation Apple iPad wowed the world. Collectively, the two products reaffirmed what millions of us already knew about Apple and continue to believe today:

Apple is much more than a computer company. It's also a way of life.

The iPhone 4s

In the long history of iPhones, the iPhone 4s is still remembered as one of the best. In August, our readers ranked the iPhone 4s the No. 3 iPhone of all time.

The iPhone 4s included one important first. While I and many others will forever think of the handset as the one "4 Steve," the "s" in the iPhone 4s name stands for Siri. The intelligent personal assistant, whose original internals were purchased by Apple a year earlier, was available exclusively on the iPhone 4s for a limited time. Today, Siri has firmly taken residence across nearly all Apple products, including iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, and Mac.

Eventually, the iPhone 4s collected other firsts. When iOS 9 launched in 2015, the iPhone 4s became the first iPhone to support five major versions of iOS. In July 2019, Apple released iOS 9.3.6, which made the iPhone 4s the longest-supported iPhone.

The iPhone 4s officially arrived in stores on October 11, 2011. At least one variation would remain on the market until September 2014. The iPhone 4s included a stainless steel, dual cellular antenna design, and shipped with a 3.5-inch multi-touch display. Inside, you would find a dual-core Apple A5 chip, 512MB DDR2 RAM, and 8, 16, 32, or 64GB of storage.

Available in both CDMA and GSM formats, the iPhone 4s included an iSight camera with 8-megapixels and was able to record 1080p videos at up to 30 frames per second. The built-in gyroscope added image stabilization; other photo-related features included macro for up-close pictures and faster capture.

Other 2011 debuts

Jobs' prolonged illness, which eventually led to his death, almost certainly caused a slowdown in product launches for Apple in 2011. Before resigning as Apple CEO in August, Jobs would announce the iPad 2 in March of that year. In June, Apple announced Mac OS X Lion and iOS 5 at WWDC. The fourth-generation Time Capsule and cloud services iCloud and iTunes Match also made debuts during the year.

Everything considered, however, it was the iPhone 4s that will forever be known as the Apple gadget of 2011!

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What you need to know

• Apple introduced the iPhone 4S eight years ago.
• Apple VP Phil Schiller took the stage to unveil the successor to the iPhone 4.
• It was the last iPhone unveiled while Steve Jobs was still alive.

On October 4, 2011, Apple VP Phil Schiller took the stage during Apple's fall event and unveiled the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 4S was the follow-up to the iconic iPhone 4 that ushered in a new era of premium smartphone design. With the eighth anniversary falling today, let's take a look back at the iPhone 4S.

When Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S, it was entering a new era. Steve Jobs had recently stepped down as CEO of the company to focus on his battle with pancreatic cancer. This forced Tim Cook into the spotlight to lead Apple into its next phase. That started with the iPhone 4S.

The iPhone 4S was the "s" version upgrade of the iPhone 4, which meant it didn't usher anything new design-wise aside from fixing the antennagate problem and adding a new white color option. Instead, most of the big features came inside with the powerful A5 chip, iCloud, vastly improved 8MP camera and Siri voice assistant.

Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 4S was an instant hit and cemented another hit for Apple.

Even now, the iPhone 4S' legacy is still palpable. Its refined focus on the camera jumpstarted the smartphone camera wars (that are still raging on today) while the introduction of Siri paved the way for Google Assistant, Alexa and Cortana that have since migrated beyond the smartphone.

Speaking of legacy, it was also the last iPhone Apple made with a 3.5-inch display. A year later, the iPhone 5 came with a 4-inch display and they have only gotten bigger in the years since.

Some other interesting anecdotes are that it only cost $199 (on a subsidized contract) and started with a paltry 16GB of storage. Times have changed.

It was the first iPhone I purchased and was my wow moment into the world of iPhones. I came from a BlackBerry Torch that offered an antiquated "smartphone" experience and using iOS 5 on the Retina display truly blew my mind. It made me feel anything was possible.

Let us know in the comments down below if you remember when the iPhone 4S was announced?

The history of the iPhone 4S

Checkm8 is a bootrom-level security exploit that can be used against every iPhone from the 4S to the X. It was announced late last week by axi0mX — axi0mX… axi0m10… dammit, Apple! — and ever since we've seen everything from fear, uncertainty, and doubt, to supremely good reporting on what it is, what it isn't, and most importantly, what it means for all of us.

So, let's try to sort it all out.

Now, before we dive in, I'm not an infosec expert nor do I play one on the internet. Checkm8 is absolutely serious but very specific and in some ways very limited. It's certainly helpful for jailbreakers and researchers that it exists, probably neutral good for bad actors, and bad for Apple and a black eye for iOS security that'll no doubt drive them even harder to lock things down even better, again.

But, for the average user, the threat level today probably isn't any different than it was a week ago. I'm going to sum up why as best and as accurately as I can, but I'm also going to link up some terrific work by Ars Technica and Malwarebytes in the description. Hit them up for much, much more. Cool? Cool.

So, what's a bootrom exploit?

Bootrom, or secureBoot, is the very first code that runs on an iOS device when it starts up. It lives on a ROM, or read-only memory chip, at the very lowest level of the device, and it typically can't be changed.

A bootrom exploit, then, is an exploit that targets a bug in the Bootrom. That's as opposed to the far, far more common exploits that target bugs at the higher operating system level.

While operating system exploits are far more common, they're also far more easily fixed. Pretty much every time Apple updates iOS, the new version patches security issues with the old version.

Not so with bootrom exploits. Because they're in ROM, they're nigh-impossible to patch. I mean, never say never, but so far, every device with a bootrom that's exploited stays exploited.

And checkmate exploits every device with an A5 to A11 chipset.

Um… which devices are those exactly?

So far, devices affected by checkm8 include:

• iPhone 4s to iPhone X.
• iPad 2 to 7.
• iPad mini 1 to iPad mini 4.
• iPad Pro 1 and 2.
• Apple TV 3 to 4K.
• iPod touch 5 to 7.

Earlier iPhones, iPads, iPods touch, and the like aren't affected by checkm8 (though there are earlier bootrom exploits.). The new entry-level 10.2-inch iPad and iPod touch 7 are on A10, so they're the only current devices currently affected.

Checkm8 doesn't work on A12 or A13, so that means the following devices are NOT affected:

• iPhone XR, XS, 11
• iPad Air 3
• iPad mini 5
• iPad Pro 3 (2019)

As to why, the developer told Arn Technica:

Wait, is checkm8 a jailbreak, and attack, something else?

Checkm8 is an exploit, and that's it, at least for now.

It's something that could and probably will turn into a jailbreak sooner rather than later, but also has some very limited, very targeted potential to be turned into an attack as well.

Given what it is and those limits, though, it's probably not something most of us have to worry about.

Why would an attack be limited?

There are a few things that limit Checkm8's potential as an attack.

First, it can't be executed remotely. Someone has to take physical possession of your iPhone, iPad, or other iOS device first, but it in DFU or device firmware update mode, and then plug it into a PC over USB before they can even use the exploit.

Second, Apple has a secure boot chain, so every step is checked by the previous step. And if the signatures aren't verified, the software won't run.

Checkm8 can't rewrite the bootrom, it can only exploit it. Here's what that means, according to what the developer told Ars:

But what that means is, checkm8 isn't persistent. It can be used to run unsigned code on your device, but that code only lasts until the device is rebooted. Then it goes right back to normal, and you'd have to go through the whole exploit process again to run the unsigned code again.

Third, Checkm8 doesn't compromise the Secure Enclave on the A7 or later, which means it can't beat the hardware encryption, get around Touch ID or Passcode — and doesn't work on devices with Face ID — or otherwise give anyone else access to your data or secrets.

To get at those, you would have too leave your device lying around somewhere vulnerable for an extended amount of time, an attacker would have to get ahold of it, run the exploit, get a hold of and load up malware that could try and capture your credentials, put your device back, and then try to capture them.

And, if they're a disgruntled family member with that kind of access to you and your devices, it'd be far easier to just put your finger on the Touch ID sensor or shoulder surf your passcode over time anyway.

For non-family members, again, the creator talking to Ars:

So, again, never say never.

At large scale, I'm not sure checkm8 changes the economics of iOS attacks. But, if you're concerned, and still running an A5 or A6 device, which Apple is no longer supporting or updating anyway, then add this to the voluminous list of reasons you should consider upgrading asap.

And, if you think, based on who you are or what you do, that you have a much higher potential threat level, then you've probably already, routinely upgraded to the latest silicon anyway.

But, jailbreak, exciting, right?

Jailbreakers are probably the most excited about Checkm8. Now, nowhere nearly as many people jailbreak as they used to because iOS has continued to add more and more of the functionality that people used to jailbreak for. But, the ones that do, the customizers, the tweakers, the unsigned appers — they're every bit as passionate as ever.

And this is like the second coming of the holy grail for them, basically because it's been so long since they've had a jailbreak built off of a bootrom level exploit.

What makes it so attractive to jailbreakers is that, unlike operating system exploits, which have led to jailbreaks as recently as iOS 12 this year, bootrom exploits don't get blown away the very next time Apple releases a software update.

So, the jailbreakers can relax and enjoy their open systems, and likely with any version of iOS past, present, and future, for as long as they're using one of the affected devices.

With a few caveats.

First, it'll only be those devices, iPhone 4s to iPhone X, primarily, and as time passes those devices will be less and less modern and interesting.

Second, even when the jailbreak comes, it will be a tethered jailbreak. At least for now.

That means, yes, putting the device in DFU or device firmware update mode, connecting the device to a PC with a USB cable, and running the jailbreak every time it reboots.

And that might be just enough of a hassle that it'll relegate long term use to the hardcore rather than just the curious.

And researchers?

Security researchers are likely the group that benefits the most from checkm8, at least in the short term.

Up until a month or so ago, when Apple announced their new bug bounty program and research-fused devices, researchers had to come up with their own exploit chains or get their hands on blackmarket dev-fused devices to even get into iOS and start poke around.

So, having a likely irrevocable bootrom level exploits, even if only for older devices, will make researchers lives just that much easier. Basically, it solidifies the first link in the exploit chain for them, and they can just get on with everything else.

And even before Apple starts shipping those research-fused devices.

What about nation states?

What does this mean for nation states and government agencies, and the companies that supply exploits and devices to them?

Much the same.

Politics bends everything, including the economics of iOS attacks. But, these entities typically have exploits of their own already. At most, checkm8 will supply them with an alternative to what they already have, and one that can't be blown away by an iOS software update in the future. Though, again, only on older devices.

They'll still need their own exploits for more recent devices, and because checkm8 doesn't get around the secure element or passcode or Touch ID, they'd still need their own exploits for the rest of the chain as well.

The developer, speaking with Ars:

So, again, if based on your work or just who you are, you think you're potentially at higher risk from Checkm8 specifically, you can protect yourself by making sure you're on an A12 or A13 device.

So, do I need to worry about checkm8?

Checkm8 is an incredible piece of work. You only have to look at how long it's been since the iOS bootrom was last exploited to understand just how much axi0mX has really accomplished.

But, for right now, this is also so very inside baseball, and not something the average fan in the field is even going to see.

So, stay informed, absolutely. Follow those links in the description if you want to learn more about int, please.

But don't lose any sleep over it, or let anyone steal any of your time with attention bait.

One part of an iOS exploit chain has been made stable for a series of older devices.

Apple has to address that, and address how they're handling iOS security in general in an age where so many eyes and minds are on them.

It's already fixed in newer devices, but Apple has to figure out new and better ways to keep it from happening with current and future devices. It's been a decade since it's happened before but the goal should, and I'm kinda guessing is, forever until it happens again.

But that's all on Apple. For us, again again, anyone at all concerned by checkm8, if you haven't already, upgrade to an iPhone XR, XS, or 11, or a current or eventually later-generation iPad Pro.

And then checkm8 will be checked out of luck.

You might recognize Lisa Bettany from her ridiculously great Instagram account, or her famous app, Camera+. Either way, she's done a lot to both show and help the state of the art of photography on iPhone. Her latest blog post, though, goes back in time to 2011 to show when iPhone 4s was state of the art — and what could be done with it.

From Mostly Lisa:

Lesson learned: Even if you have an older or hand-me-down iPhone you can still capture amazing photos and more — you can make art.

Check out all of Lisa's photos and then get out there and shoot some more of your own.

It's time to put away that mince pie and those bottles of mulled wine as we wait for 2016 to greet us all, but not everyone will be welcoming the new year with a working iPhone. That's according to a new complaint over how iOS 9 is reported to significantly impact the performance of the iPhone 4s. Unfortunately for those affected, they're unable to downgrade from iOS 9 due to Apple security.

More than 100 iPhone 4s owners have asserted that the update has led to a negative experience on their smartphone to the point where it's simply unusable for daily use. Delayed launch times for apps, slower response on the touchscreen, as well as sluggish performance overall plague said owners. Then you have the reported freezing and crashes. Not fun times for anyone.

It's claimed that Apple knows all too well about iOS 9 and how the update makes the iPhone 4s simply not fit for use by owners and forcing them to either endure aforementioned issues or fork out on an upgrade. Plaintiffs are now seeking more than $5 million in damages, with an option to treble. This isn't the first time Apple has been in trouble for planned obsolescence, with complaints in 2011 over poor performance, as well as 2013 for lack of storage after updating.

It should be noted that while Apple has been accused of intentionally slowing down older hardware with new updates, the company does insist that engineers on the performance team use old phones as their daily drivers. It has also been reported that the exact opposite is the case in some tests, where newer updates applied to older hardware actually improves performance.

Source: Apple Insider

If you've got an iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, or iPhone 5s, it just got a little more valuable. Apple has raised the trade-in values for these three devices through their Reuse and Recycle program. Run in partnership with Brightstar, the program allows customers to trade in their old devices in exchange for an Apple gift card.

Customers trading in an iPhone 4s can now receive a gift card for up to $50, up from $35, and iPhone 5 owners who send in their device can get $100, formerly $85. The iPhone 5s is now worth $200 from the program, up from $175. Of course, to qualify for trade-in, your device needs to be in working order.

Customers will receive their gift card once their device has been inspected.

Source: Apple, via: 9to5Mac

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Symptoms typically include audio cutting in and out when headphones are plugged in or no sound at all. The mute switch can also face issues where turning vibrate on or off results in no response or the switch itself being loose. These problems don't typically involve the actual mute switch, but the cable that lies underneath it.

Regardless whether you're having headphone jack or mute switch issues on your iPhone 4S, this guide can walk you through how to get both functions back in working order again.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, iMore cannot be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

If you are comfortable with repairing your own device, put your ninja pants on and keep reading!

What you'll need to DIY replace an iPhone 4S headphone jack or mute switch

iMore recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like iFixYouri. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs.

• iPhone 4S (any variant)
• Replacement headphone jack and mute switch cable
• 5-point security screwdriver
• Standard #000 Phillips screwdriver
• Spudger tool
• Razor blade
• iSesamo Opening tool (not necessary but awesome for prying up cables and getting under adhesive)
• SIM removal tool or paperclip

Power off your iPhone 4S

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.

Remove the back plate

1. Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.

2. Set them aside. They are both the exact same size and length so it does not matter if you mix them up. They are interchangeable.
3. Gently slide up the back plate by applying a bit of pressure along the bottom with your thumbs and sliding upwards.

4. Now lift off the back plate and set it aside.

Remove the battery and grounding clip

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.

2. These screws are different lengths so make sure you remember which one goes where. The one that is slightly larger is the bottom screw.
3. There is a tiny grounding clip underneath the battery clip where the first screw is located. Use your spudger tool or finger to remove it before prying the clip up. Many times it can go flying if you don't remove it first and then you'll have difficulty locating it so it's best to remove it first.

4. Now use your spudger tool and at the bottom of the battery clip, gently pry upwards so the clip pops up.

5. Move to the edge of the iPhone where the volume buttons are located and use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the battery. It is stuck down with a good amount of adhesive so be careful when prying upwards that you don't bend the battery. This is why I do not use the plastic tab that is provided. It typically rips or bends the battery. If one part is resistant move your pry tool a little further down and gently start prying it up in different places taking care not to come too close to the volume button cables towards the top.

6. Once you've gotten the battery pulled out of the iPhone 4S we can move on.

Remove the top logic board shields

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws that hold the top silver shield in place and the one screw that holds the small black shield in place.

2. Now use your spudger or pry tool to gently lift the silver shield out of the iPhone.

3. Use your spudger or pry tool to lift the black shield out of the iPhone.

4. Set both shields aside and make sure your screws are organized for reassembly later.

Unclip the top logic board cables & remove the rear-facing camera

Using your spudger or pry tool carefully disconnect all the cables at the top of the logic board. There are seven cables total. One of the cables lies underneath the bottom most cable so you'll need to disconnect the cable over it before folding it back and revealing the shorter cable underneath.

Once you unclip the seven cables, you can lift the rear-facing camera directly out of the iPhone. It is only connected by one cable.

Disconnect the dock connector

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver remove the shield that is covering the dock connector cable towards the middle left of the iPhone. Remember which screw came from where as they are different sizes. Gently lift the shield out of the iPhone and set it aside.

2. Take your spudger tool and gently pry up the dock connector cable and peel it back as shown below. Perform this step with caution as there is adhesive on the underside of the cable. Take care not to rip the cable by pulling up to quickly.

3. Leave the cable in this position and move on to the next section.

Pry up the cellular antenna

1. Using your spudger toolcarefully pry up the round connection for the cellular antenna. It should come up easily so pry up gently.

2. You'll notice that it is wrapped around a metal clip. Gently unwrap it so it's sticking upwards and leave it in this position.

Remove the SIM card and tray

Using a SIM removal tool or a bent paper clip, eject the SIM tray and set it, and the SIM card aside.

Remove the logic board

1. Remove the three #00 Phillips screws at the top, middle, and bottom left of the logic board with your #00 Phillips screwdriver. The top screw has a piece of tape over it you'll need to peel back. After removing it you'll also notice a gold grounding clip underneath it. Make sure you don't lose it as you'll need it for reassembly.

2. There are two more screws holding the logic board in place and you'll need to remove them with your flat head screwdriver. They are located at the top right and bottom of the logic board.
3. Now you should be able to lift the logic board out of the iPhone. Use the area that the rear-facing camera was located and the bottom of the logic board to lift it straight out.

Remove the metal retainer & front facing camera

There is a metal retainer covering the front facing camera. To remove it use your pry tool to gently pull it off. Make sure you don't lose it as you'll need it for reassembly. Now that the metal retainer has been removed you can gently lift the front facing camera out of the iPhone 4S.

Remove the headphone jack and mute switch sensor cable assembly

1. Start by removing the screw holding on the upper antenna with your #00 Phillips screwdriver.

2. Using a metal spatula or pair of tweezers, peel the upper antenna away from the headphone jack. It is only held down with a bit of adhesive and should come loose rather easily. Take care to pay attention as to how it was laid so you know how to put it back during reassembly.

3. Use your tweezers or a pry tool to carefully loosen the noise canceling mic from the upper frame. Do not attempt to completely remove it since it is attached to the headphone jack cable. You'll only want to loosen it enough so the adhesive completely breaks.

4. Again, using tweezers or a pry tool carefully pull the headphone jack assembly out of your iPhone 4S. It is still attached so you'll only want to dislodge it from the midframe for now.

5. Now using the same #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the screw towards the top of the casing.

6. Now travel a little further down the inside of the midframe and remove the four screws with your #00 Phillips screwdriver that hold in the vibrate switch as well as the volume buttons.

7. Carefully dislodge the vibrate switch using your tweezers or pry tool taking care not to completely pull it out just yet.

8. We now have all the components dislodged that are attached to the headphone and mute switch flex cable. From here we can now carefully pull up the cable and remove it in its entirety from the device.

Replace the headphone jack and mute switch cable

To replace the headphone jack and mute switch cable, follow the removal instructions exactly in reverse. Please note that you may have to transfer the metal brackets to the new cable if the replacement cable you purchased did not come with the brackets pre-installed.

Replace the front facing camera & metal retainer

Now replace the front facing camera with the new replacement part. Once it is securely in place you can replace the metal retainer by snapping it back in place.

Reassemble your iPhone 4S

To reassemble your iPhone 4S, you can either follow all these directions in exact reverse order or view our reassembly video guide above which will walk you through how to reassemble it from screen to turning it back on and testing it. For a headphone jack and sensor cable replacement, you'll need to watch from around 5 minutes and 3 seconds to the end of the video.

And ...done!

Once you've gotten your iPhone 4S completely reassembled and you're positive you don't have any leftover screws, you can go ahead and turn the device back on. If all went well, you should see the Apple logo. Since we've replaced a cable that controls both the headphone jack and the silent switch, make sure you test both thoroughly to make sure that they're working correctly.

If they are, pat yourself on the back. You're officially a DIY ninja.

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The iPhone has been prone to power button issues ever since the iPhone 4 made its appearance. As it turns out, the iPhone 4S isn't immune from stuck power buttons either. Over time, the cable wears down and causes the actual power button to become harder and harder to press. In some cases, it becomes completely recessed resulting in presses not even registering.

If this issue sounds like something you're iPhone 4S is experiencing, a DIY repair can get it back to normal with some patience and the right tools. It'll also cost a heck of a lot less than a brand new iPhone.

If you're up for it, follow along. And if you're not, follow along anyway and we'll refer you to the professionals that can do the repair for you.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, iMore cannot be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

What you'll need to DIY replace an iPhone 4S power button cable

iMore recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like iFixYouri. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs.

• Replacement power button flex cable
• 5-point security screwdriver
• Standard #000 Phillips screwdriver
• Spudger tool
• Razor blade
• iSesamo Opening tool (not necessary but awesome for prying up cables and getting under adhesive)

Power off your iPhone 4S

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.

Remove the back plate

1. Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.

2. Set them aside. They are both the exact same size and length so it does not matter if you mix them up. They are interchangeable.
3. Gently slide up the back plate by applying a bit of pressure along the bottom with your thumbs and sliding upwards.

4. Now lift off the back plate and set it aside.

Remove the battery and grounding clip

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.

2. These screws are different lengths so make sure you remember which one goes where. The one that is slightly larger is the bottom screw.
3. There is a tiny grounding clip underneath the battery clip where the first screw is located. Use your spudger tool or finger to remove it before prying the clip up. Many times it can go flying if you don't remove it first and then you'll have difficulty locating it so it's best to remove it first.

4. Now use your spudger tool and at the bottom of the battery clip, gently pry upwards so the clip pops up.

5. Move to the edge of the iPhone where the volume buttons are located and use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the battery. It is stuck down with a good amount of adhesive so be careful when prying upwards that you don't bend the battery. This is why I do not use the plastic tab that is provided. It typically rips or bends the battery. If one part is resistant move your pry tool a little further down and gently start prying it up in different places taking care not to come too close to the volume button cables towards the top.

6. Once you've gotten the battery pulled out of the iPhone 4S we can move on to the next section.

Remove the top logic board shields

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws that hold the top silver shield in place and the one screw that holds the small black shield in place.

2. Now use your spudger or pry tool to gently lift the silver shield out of the iPhone.

3. Use your spudger or pry tool to lift the black shield out of the iPhone.

4. Set both shields aside and make sure your screws are organized for reassembly later.

Unclip the top logic board cables & remove the rear-facing camera

Using your spudger or pry tool carefully disconnect all the cables at the top of the logic board. There are seven cables total. One of the cables lies underneath the bottom most cable so you'll need to disconnect the cable over it before folding it back and revealing the shorter cable underneath.

Once you unclip the seven cables, you can lift the rear-facing camera directly out of the iPhone. It was only connected by one cable.

Disconnect the dock connector

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver remove the shield that is covering the dock connector cable towards the middle left of the iPhone. Remember which screw came from where as they are different sizes. Gently lift the shield out of the iPhone and set it aside.

2. Take your spudger tool and gently pry up the dock connector cable and peel it back as shown below. Perform this step with caution as there is adhesive on the underside of the cable. Take care not to rip the cable by pulling up to quickly.

3. Leave the cable in this position and move on to the next section.

Pry up the cellular antenna

1. Using your spudger toolcarefully pry up the round connection for the cellular antenna. It should come up easily so pry up gently.

2. You'll notice that it is wrapped around a metal clip. Gently unwrap it so it's sticking upwards and leave it in this position.

Remove the SIM card and tray

Using a SIM removal tool or a bent paper clip, eject the SIM tray and set it, and the SIM card aside.

Remove the logic board

1. Remove the three #00 Phillips screws at the top, middle, and bottom left of the logic board with your #00 Phillips screwdriver. The top screw has a piece of tape over it you'll need to peel back. After removing it you'll also notice a gold grounding clip underneath it. Make sure you don't lose it as you'll need it for reassembly.

2. There are two more screws holding the logic board in place and you'll need to remove them with your flat head screwdriver. They are located at the top right and bottom of the logic board.
3. Now you should be able to lift the logic board out of the iPhone. Use the area that the rear-facing camera was located and the bottom of the logic board to lift it straight out.

Remove the front facing FaceTime camera

1. Pry up the metal shield that is guarding the front facing camera using your metal spatula or black spudger tool.

2. Now gently lift the front facing camera out of your iPhone 4S taking care not to tear the cable.

3. Set the front facing camera aside until reassembly.

Replace the power button flex cable

The actual button in the iPhone 4S is not what causes issues, it's the actual power and sensor cable, which is what you should have ordered to replace. This is the tricky part so make sure you're very careful while performing the following steps as the cables are very delicate.

1. Remove the two screws on either side of the power button bracket using your #00 Phillips screwdriver.

2. Gently unfold the power button cable using tweezers or your fingers. Do not attempt to completely remove it yet as it's still attached.

3. You may choose to remove the actual power button if you'd like but it's not necessary. It may fall out on its own and that's ok. Just make sure you have taken note as to how it goes back in. The bracket portion is face down.
4. Now use your black spudger tool or pry tool in order to pry up the earpiece and the foam attaching it to the midframe. Again, don't completely attempt to pull up the cable as it is still attached to the midframe of your iPhone.

5. There is a black bracket located directly above where the earpiece sat. Gently pry it up using a razor blade or metal spatula. Be careful not to break it as it's thin. I also recommend placing a hand or a finger over it so it doesn't fly out and get lost.

6. Now make sure the other end of the power and sensor flex cable isn't adhered to the midframe still.

7. Now you can go ahead and remove the power button and sensor cable assembly from the iPhone. You'll notice the earpiece is still attached. Just remove it from the assembly carefully and transfer it to the new one.

8. Depending on whether the replacement assembly you purchased came with a bracket preinstalled, you may also have to transfer the bracket as well.

You'll replace the power button and sensor cable very similarly to how you took it out, just in reverse order. Remember to take your time and make sure that cables are folded and bent the correct way. It sometimes helps to look at how your old cable is bent and folded and make sure the new cable looks the same.

Pro tip: When screwing back in the power button bracket, test the power button and make sure it depresses correctly and you hear it "click". Don't screw the bracket screws in too tight or you'll have issues with the button not depressing.

Reassemble your iPhone 4S

To reassemble your iPhone 4S, you can either follow all these directions in exact reverse order or view our reassembly video guide above which will walk you through how to reassemble it. Note that the reassembly is everything from the screen back to completely reassembled. You'll only need to watch from the point of replacing the logic board after you've got the front facing camera secured again.

And ...done!

Once you've completely reassembled your iPhone 4S (extra screws are bad!), you can go ahead and turn your iPhone back on using the power button. If you see an Apple logo, mission accomplished! You now know your power button is working again.

Once your iPhone 4S boots back up, make sure you test everything to make sure all is working well again. Tap the power button several times to turn the screen on and off just to re-confirm everything is back in working order.

That's it, you're done!

If you've got an iPhone 4S that's starting to show its age or you've accidentally damaged it, there's still hope for it. Whether you're not eligible for an upgrade yet or just want to hold out for the next round of Apple's latest and greatest, we can help get every ounce of life you possibly can out of your iPhone 4S. Even after you decide to upgrade your iPhone, your old one always makes a great hand me down for a child or relative that doesn't always need the latest model.

iMore will help you get the longest life possible out of your iPhone 4S, and walk you step by step through all the major repairs, with detailed instructions, photographs, and links to high-quality parts from suppliers we trust.

Click on any of the guides below in order to be taken to a description of that guide explaining common symptoms, diagnostics pertaining to each repair, and a link to each full guide. Remember to bookmark this page as we'll be adding more as we add new guides.

• How to replace the battery in an iPhone 4s
• How to replace a cracked screen on an iPhone 4S
• How to fix an unresponsive Home button in an iPhone 4S
• How to DIY repair a broke or recessed power button in an iPhone 4S
• How to replace the dock connector in an iPhone 4S
• How to fix sound issues in an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S
• How to replace the cellular antenna in an iPhone 4S
• How to replace the vibrator assembly in an iPhone 4S
• How to replace the rear facing camera in an iPhone 4S
• How to replace the front facing FaceTime camera in an iPhone 4S
• How to fix a blown or distorted earpiece in an iPhone 4S
• How to replace the volume buttons in an iPhone 4S
• How to replace the loud speaker assembly in an iPhone 4S

How to replace the battery in an iPhone 4S

Now that the iPhone 4S is more than a year old, many users may want to change their battery if their charge cycles aren't what they used to be. A bad battery can also cause your iPhone 4S not to boot at all. So if your iPhone doesn't want to turn on at all, the battery is a good place to start.

• How to replace the battery in an iPhone 4S

How to replace a cracked screen on an iPhone 4S

This one doesn't need any introduction and is one of the most common DIY repairs for any clumsy iPhone user. If you've shattered your screen, you've come to the right place.

This guide will also work to replace the LCD since they're one piece. Whether your touch screen isn't working, you've cracked your glass, or you have a distorted or non-functional LCD, this is the guide you'll want.

• How to replace a cracked screen on an iPhone 4S

How to fix an unresponsive Home button in an iPhone 4S

The Home button is a common problem for all iPhone owners, and the iPhone 4S is no exception. If your iPhone is misreading double, triple, and single taps, the Home button flex cable is probably going bad. In some cases, your Home button can stop responding altogether.

If this sounds like a problem you're experiencing, we've got you covered from start to finish.

• How to fix an unresponsive Home button in an iPhone 4S

How to DIY replace a broke or recessed power button in an iPhone 4S

The power button has been a common issue since the iPhone 4 made its appearance. The iPhone 4S isn't immune to the same issues either. Symptoms can include a recessed power button. Sometimes the power button will still function but you'll have to push down extremely hard in order to get it to register. In severe cases, pressing it is futile and results in no response.

A DIY repair can remedy the issue but be aware this is a ninja level repair as the components and cable you have to replace are very small. If you're up for it, hit the link directly below to find out how to fix a recessed or unresponsive power button.

• How to DIY replace a broke or recessed power button in an iPhone 4S

How to replace the dock connector in an iPhone 4S

The dock connector assembly in the iPhone 4S controls quite a few key components in your phone. The most important one being the ability to charge your iPhone. If your iPhone 4S won't register a charge or doesn't show up when plugged into your computer, the dock connector could very likely be the culprit.

There is also a mic located on the dock connector that can affect sound issues. If any of these issues sound like something you're experiencing, make sure you check out our guide to see if it's the right one. If not, keep reading.

• How to replace the dock connector in an iPhone 4S

How to fix sound issues in an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S

While most sound in the iPhone 4S may be dictated by the loud speaker assembly or earpiece, they're not the only components that have to do with sound. Actually, the dock connector and a few other cables can cause you to have sound issues.

The iPhone 4S is known to have sound issues where system sounds seem to work when you preview them but they don't actually ring or system sounds altogether don't work but music will play. Sound weird? It is. But there's a fix for it.

• How to fix sound issues in an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S

How to replace the cellular antenna in an iPhone 4S

If you're experiencing issues with cellular reception on your iPhone 4S, the cellular antenna could be defective. Luckily, it's one of the easier DIY repairs when it comes to the iPhone 4S variant. If everything else on your iPhone is working perfectly, a replacement antenna will cost you a lot less than a brand new phone.

• How to replace the cellular antenna in an iPhone 4S

How to replace the vibrator assembly in an iPhone 4S

The vibrator assembly is a super essential function and necessary if you want to be notified you have a call or a message coming in when you can't have sound activated. If and when it goes out, it can be terribly inconvenient.

While it isn't the easiest DIY repair when it comes to the iPhone 4S, it's not impossible and it'll cost you tons less than a new iPhone.

• How to replace the vibrator assembly in an iPhone 4S

How to replace the rear facing camera in an iPhone 4S

While most people use their iPhone to communicate, one of the iPhone 4S' best features is arguably its camera. It makes everything from photographing first steps to family events to sending videos straight to YouTube super simple and crystal clear. So when it goes out, it's a huge problem.

While it isn't common, it can happen from time to time. But never fear, it's actually a very easy repair to perform on your own. Most will be able to do it and everyone will be able to afford it.

• How to replace the rear facing camera in an iPhone 4S

How to replace the front facing FaceTime camera in an iPhone 4S

While the rear facing camera is great for capturing the memories around you, the front facing camera is a great way to communicate with relatives via FaceTime and capture self portraits. If you frequently use your front facing camera and it has decided to stop working on you, we can get it up and running again.

Symptoms of a bad front facing camera typically amount to the shutter never opening no matter how many times you restore the phone or reboot it. In rare instances you can also see lots of distortion or lines through the screen only when the front facing camera is open.

• How to replace the front facing FaceTime camera in an iPhone 4S

How to fix a blown or distorted earpiece in an iPhone 4S

The earpiece is another common repair we get a lot of questions about. A bad earpiece can present itself in multiple ways. The most common being garbled, echoing, or unpleasant audio. In some instances you may not even hear any audio unless you've got the caller on speakerphone.

Luckily, an earpiece replacement is on the cheap side and isn't terribly hard to perform on your own. If you aren't ready to upgrade just yet, a DIY repair for an earpiece is a realistic option for many users.

• How to fix a blown or distorted earpiece in an iPhone 4S

How to replace the volume buttons in an iPhone 4S

If you've dropped your iPhone 4S, you may have noticed that the steel frame around edges can become quite sharp. If one of the volume buttons has become ridged or jagged, it could potentially be a safety issue.

Replacing them will require some patience but we're pretty sure your fingers will thank you.

• How to replace the volume buttons in an iPhone 4S

How to replace the loud speaker assembly in an iPhone 4S

A bad loud speaker can cause all kinds of issues with the iPhone 4S. Music, ringtones, and text tones will most likely not play unless you have headphones plugged in.

While it's unusual for the actual loud speaker assembly to go bad, it isn't unheard of. In our experience it's normally the dock connector or earpiece that are the culprit but that doesn't mean the loud speaker never decides to be unruly. If you have absolutely no sounds through the loud speaker portion of your iPhone 4S but everything works completely normal through headphones, then odds are your loud speaker assembly has in fact went out.

If a combination of sounds work through the loud speaker, we'd suggest looking at our other guides concerning sound instead of assuming it's the loud speaker.

• How to replace the loud speaker assembly in an iPhone 4S

More DIY guides!

While this guide covers the iPhone 4S specifically, we've got tons more DIY repair guides to cover everything from older iPhones to iPod touches and iPads. If these aren't the guides you're looking for, fret not! You can find more at the links below.

If you've got an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S that's having some issues with sound, you probably aren't alone. Issues could range from system sounds working but your iPhone not actually ringing or system sounds not working unless plugged into the headphone jack. While sound can be caused by several issues, symptoms like this are typically fixable with a pretty simple DIY repair.

If any of the above symptoms sound like what you're experiencing, follow along for a more detailed list of symptoms and how to correct the problem.

This week we're doing things a little differently and instead of giving you a new repair, we're going to take a look at some existing mods that should fix very common sound issues pertaining to both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, iMore can not be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It’s also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don’t feel comfortable opening your device, don’t. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

If you are comfortable with repairing your own device, put your ninja pants on and keep reading!

Symptoms

Sounds issues are a common problem we see with the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Some users have been experiencing quite a few simliar issues lately that can be solved quite easily using repair guides we already have readily available to you. If you're experiencing any of the following symptom combinations, we would suggest trying the repair solutions linked below.

Your iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S will ring when someone calls it or you can go into Settings and get sounds to play but system sounds don't work throughout iOS such as keyboard clicks, lock/unlock sounds, and certain system notifications.

If you can go into Settings and hear system sound previews but no sound actually produces when an alert such as a phone call, text message, or email come in.

If your sounds work sporadically or in any combination of the above symptoms.

How to fix sound issues

Before performing any kind of hardware repair, you should always try a restore first to rule out software issues. A DFU restore is the kind of restore we recommend for issues like this. If you aren't sure how to put your iPhone in DFU mode, you can follow our guide:

• How to put your iPhone or iPad in DFU mode

Wait, what? You may be asking yourself why replacing the dock connector would fix sound issues. Actually, the dock connector component contains some wiring and components that delegate sound throughout your iPhone. In our experience, if you're experiencing the sound issues like we've described above, 9 times out of 10 a dock connector replacement fixes the issue.

Depending on whether you have an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S, you can check out our guides and replace the dock connector on the device on your own. It'll cost you a lot less than a brand new iPhone and will only take about 30 minutes. The best part is, you should have sound again.

• How to replace the dock connector in an iPhone 4S
• How to replace the dock connector in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to replace the dock connector in a AT&T/GSM iPhone 4

If you're experiencing no sound at all or it is heavily distorted, your issue may be the actual loud speaker itself or another component related to how sound is handled. We have many tutorials and guides for replacing other components related to sound in our DIY section that you can access via the links below.

Get more DIY help

If you're running into issues with a DIY repair or need some more answers, our DIY and mod forums are a great place to start. Still have questions? Feel free to email us.

Additional resources:

• AT&T/GSM iPhone 4: Ultimate DIY repair guide
• Verizon and Sprint iPhone 4: Ultimate DIY repair guide
• iPhone 3G/3GS: Ultimate DIY repair guide
• Even more DIY repair guides

Like any other metal, steel can become sharp or jagged when damaged. If you've got an iPhone 4S and you've physically damaged the volume buttons, a DIY repair can get them back into like new condition in no time. If you didn't opt for AppleCare+ and your normal warranty won't cover the damage, taking matters into your own hands may not be a bad idea.

Follow along and we'll walk you through how to get those buttons back into perfect condition for a lot less than what the cost of a new iPhone is.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, iMore cannot be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

If you are comfortable with repairing your own device, put your ninja pants on and keep reading!

What you'll need to DIY replace your iPhone 4S volume buttons

iMore recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like iFixYouri. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs.

• iPhone 4S (any variant)
• Replacement volume buttons
• #00 Phillips screwdriver
• Security screwdriver
• Spudger tool
• SIM removal tool or paperclip
• Tweezers (optional but recommended)

Power off your iPhone 4S

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.

Remove the back plate

1. Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.

2. Set them aside. They are both the exact same size and length so it does not matter if you mix them up. They are interchangeable.
3. Gently slide up the back plate by applying a bit of pressure along the bottom with your thumbs and sliding upwards.

4. Now lift off the back plate and set it aside.

Remove the battery and grounding clip

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.

2. These screws are different lengths so make sure you remember which one goes where. The one that is slightly larger is the bottom screw.
3. There is a tiny grounding clip underneath the battery clip where the first screw is located. Use your spudger tool or finger to remove it before prying the clip up. Many times it can go flying if you don't remove it first and then you'll have difficulty locating it so it's best to remove it first.

4. Now use your spudger tool and at the bottom of the battery clip, gently pry upwards so the clip pops up.

5. Move to the edge of the iPhone where the volume buttons are located and use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the battery. It is stuck down with a good amount of adhesive so be careful when prying upwards that you don't bend the battery. This is why I do not use the plastic tab that is provided. It typically rips or bends the battery. If one part is resistant move your pry tool a little further down and gently start prying it up in different places taking care not to come too close to the volume button cables towards the top.

6. Once you've gotten the battery pulled out of the iPhone 4S we can move on.

Unscrew and move the volume button bracket

To get at the volume buttons themselves, we'll have to unscrew the volume button bracket. We won't be removing it altogether but we'll need to lift it out of the housing in order to access the buttons.

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the three screws outlined in the photo below remembering which screw came from where.

2. Use your pry tool or fingers to gently back the volume button bracket away from the outer casing.

3. Take care not to pull it out too far as it is still attached to the board. We only need to move it enough to get to the actual volume buttons.

Replace the volume buttons

1. Using tweezers or your fingers, gently lift the old volume buttons out of the casing.

2. Now line up the new buttons inside the casing making sure that you are inserting them the correct way (+ and - symbols in the correct orientation).
3. Make sure the buttons remain flush with the casing and move on to the next step in order to secure them in place.

Replace the volume button bracket

1. Line up the volume button bracket so it covers the volume buttons.
2. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, carefully replace the three screws you removed earlier.

3. Test the volume buttons to make sure they press down correctly. If they don't, the bracket probably is not lined up correctly. Remove the screws and try again.
4. If the buttons are clicking properly, go ahead and move onto the next step.

Replace the battery and grounding clip

1. Line up the grounding clip you removed previously over the screw hole before snapping down the battery.

2. Snap down the battery in place to the logic board and then position the battery and press down firmly to make sure the adhesive sticks.
3. Replace the two screws you removed in a prior step starting with the top one using your #00 Phillips screwdriver. Make sure the grounding clip stays positioned. Use your other hand to hold it straight while you replace the top screw if you need to.

4. Now replace the bottom screw.

Replace the back plate

1. To replace the back plate line up the hinges around the edges. It should fall right into place. There will be a gap at the bottom.

2. Using slight pressure slide the cover down into place with your thumbs. If there is resistance make sure the hinges are lined up correctly and don't force it down and you can easily snap the hinge if it's caught up on something.
3. Once the back cover is securely in place and flush with the antenna band, replace the two screws on either side of the dock connector using your security screwdriver.

And ...done!

Once you've finished putting your iPhone 4S completely back together you can go ahead and turn it back on. The first thing you'll want to do is test out the volume buttons and make sure that they are functioning properly. If they are, you're in great shape!

If you've got an iPhone 4S and you're experiencing issues with reception, the cellular antenna may be the culprit. If you no longer have AppleCare or insurance to cover it, a DIY repair isn't terribly hard to perform as long as you've got a little technical how know. Symptoms of a bad cellular antenna can vary from no service to service cutting in and out consistently.

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, continue on and we'll walk you through how to replace it yourself.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, iMore cannot be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

Before you proceed

If you're experiencing audio issues, the culprit is most likely not the antenna but rather the earpiece. This can include garbled audio, unpleasant tones, or not being able to hear at all. If that's the case, try replacing the earpiece speaker.

• How to replace the earpiece speaker in an iPhone 4S

What you'll need to DIY replace an iPhone 4S cellular antenna

iMore recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like iFixYouri. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs.

• Replacement cellular antenna
• #00 Phillips screwdriver
• Security screwdriver
• Spudger tool

Power off your iPhone 4S

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.

Remove the back plate

1. Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.

2. Set them aside. They are both the exact same size and length so it does not matter if you mix them up. They are interchangeable.
3. Gently slide up the back plate by applying a bit of pressure along the bottom with your thumbs and sliding upwards.

4. Now lift off the back plate and set it aside.

Remove the battery and grounding clip

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.

2. These screws are different lengths so make sure you remember which one goes where. The one that is slightly larger is the bottom screw.
3. There is a tiny grounding clip underneath the battery clip where the first screw is located. Use your spudger tool or finger to remove it before prying the clip up. Many times it can go flying if you don't remove it first and then you'll have difficulty locating it so it's best to remove it first.

4. Now use your spudger tool and at the bottom of the battery clip, gently pry upwards so the clip pops up.

5. Move to the edge of the iPhone where the volume buttons are located and use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the battery. It is stuck down with a good amount of adhesive so be careful when prying upwards that you don't bend the battery. This is why I do not use the plastic tab that is provided. It typically rips or bends the battery. If one part is resistant move your pry tool a little further down and gently start prying it up in different places taking care not to come too close to the volume button cables towards the top.

6. Once you've gotten the battery pulled out of the iPhone 4S we can move on to inserting the replacement battery.

Pry up the dock connector cable

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver remove the shield that is covering the dock connector cable towards the middle left of the iPhone. Remember which screw came from where as they are different sizes. Gently lift the shield out of the iPhone and set it aside.

2. Take your spudger tool and gently pry up the dock connector cable and peel it back as shown below. Perform this step with caution as there is adhesive on the underside of the cable. Take care not to rip the cable by pulling up to quickly.

3. Leave the cable in this position and move on to the next section.

Pry up the cellular antenna connector

1. Using your spudger toolcarefully pry up the round connection for the cellular antenna. It should come up easily so pry up gently.

2. You'll notice that it is wrapped around a metal clip. Gently unwrap it so it's sticking upwards and leave it in this position.

Remove the 2 screws on either side of the loud speaker

There are 2 screws holding the speaker assembly in place. We will need to remove these.

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver unscrew the 2 screws on either side of the speaker enclosure as shown. The 2 screws are the exact same size.

2. Where you removed the screw on the left side you'll notice a small black triangular spacer. Be sure not to lose this and set it aside for reassembly.
3. Carefully remove the speaker assembly from the iPhone 4S by lifting upwards.

Remove the old cellular antenna

The cellular antenna is attached to the loud speaker assemble which means we'll need to remove the old antenna and install the new one.

1. Remove the two screws that hold the cellular antenna to the speaker assembly using your #00 Phillips screwdriver.

2. The cellular antenna is now only held on with adhesive. Carefully use your spudger or pry tool in order to finish removing the cellular antenna from the speaker enclosure.

3. Now we will place the cellular antenna onto the new assembly.

Replace the cellular antenna

1. Carefully align the cellular antenna onto the new assembly the exact same way it was on the old one.
2. Follow the grooves in the edges to know where to position the edges.
3. Replace the 2 screws that you removed from the Wi-Fi antenna into the new assembly.

Replace the speaker assembly

1. Carefully place the speaker assembly back into the iPhone 4S. Pay close attention to the 4 teeth that run along the bottom front of the speaker assembly.

2. Make sure all 4 teeth are snug underneath the frame of where the speaker assembly sits. You can tell if they are pushed up or in position fairly easily. If they are pushed up, use your spudger tool to gently push them down underneath the frame.
3. Place the black triangular spacer into place where the left screw will be replaced before screwing back in any screws.
4. Replace the 2 screws on either side of the speaker assembly using your #00 Phillips screwdriver.

Replace the dock connector cable

1. Carefully push back down the dock connector cable with your finger and run over the cable's length to make sure the adhesive is pushed back down.

2. Now replace the shield that covers the cable and the 2 screws on either side.

Replace the battery and grounding clip

1. Pay attention to how the cable is bent on your old battery and if the new one is not crimped in the same fashion put the folds in it before inserting it into the iPhone 4S.

2. Line up the grounding clip you removed previously over the screw hole before snapping down the battery.

3. Snap down the battery in place to the logic board and then position the battery and press down firmly to make sure the adhesive sticks.
4. Replace the two screws you removed in a prior step starting with the top one using your #00 Phillips screwdriver. Make sure the grounding clip stays positioned. Use your other hand to hold it straight while you replace the top screw if you need to.

5. Now replace the bottom screw.

Replace the back plate

1. To replace the back plate line up the hinges around the edges. It should fall right into place. There will be a gap at the bottom.

2. Using slight pressure slide the cover down into place with your thumbs. If there is resistance make sure the hinges are lined up correctly and don't force it down and you can easily snap the hinge if it's caught up on something.
3. Once the back cover is securely in place and flush with the antenna band, replace the two screws on either side of the dock connector using your security screwdriver.

And... done!

Once you've got your iPhone 4S completely reassembled you can go ahead and power it on again. If all went well you should see your iPhone 4S register on the cellular network. Place a test call and make sure that service is restored to normal. Another good way to check is compare bars with another iPhone to make sure the bars look similar to each other. If they do, success!

A DIY repair isn't too terribly difficult and will cost you far less than a new iPhone. Follow along and we'll help you replace the vibrator assembly and keep your iPhone 4S going strong for even longer.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, iMore can not be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

What you'll need to DIY replace an iPhone 4S vibrator assembly

iMore recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like iFixYouri. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs.

• iPhone 4S (any variant)
• Replacement vibrator assembly
• #00 Phillips screwdriver
• Security screwdriver
• Spudger tool
• SIM removal tool or paperclip

Power off your iPhone 4S

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.

Remove the back plate

1. Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.

2. Set them aside. They are both the exact same size and length so it does not matter if you mix them up. They are interchangeable.
3. Gently slide up the back plate by applying a bit of pressure along the bottom with your thumbs and sliding upwards.

4. Now lift off the back plate and set it aside.

Remove the battery and grounding clip

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.

2. These screws are different lengths so make sure you remember which one goes where. The one that is slightly larger is the bottom screw.
3. There is a tiny grounding clip underneath the battery clip where the first screw is located. Use your spudger tool or finger to remove it before prying the clip up. Many times it can go flying if you don't remove it first and then you'll have difficulty locating it so it's best to remove it first.

4. Now use your spudger tool and at the bottom of the battery clip, gently pry upwards so the clip pops up.

5. Move to the edge of the iPhone where the volume buttons are located and use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the battery. It is stuck down with a good amount of adhesive so be careful when prying upwards that you don't bend the battery. This is why I do not use the plastic tab that is provided. It typically rips or bends the battery. If one part is resistant move your pry tool a little further down and gently start prying it up in different places taking care not to come too close to the volume button cables towards the top.

6. Once you've gotten the battery pulled out of the iPhone 4S we can move on to inserting the replacement battery.

Remove the top logic board shields

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws that hold the top silver shield in place and the one screw that holds the small black shield in place.

2. Now use your spudger or pry tool to gently lift the silver shield out of the iPhone.

3. Use your spudger or pry tool to lift the black shield out of the iPhone.

4. Set both shields aside and make sure your screws are organized for reassembly later.

Unclip the top logic board cables & remove the rear-facing camera

Using your spudger or pry tool carefully disconnect all the cables at the top of the logic board. There are seven cables total. One of the cables lies underneath the bottom most cable so you'll need to disconnect the cable over it before folding it back and revealing the shorter cable underneath.

Once you unclip the seven cables, you can lift the rear-facing camera directly out of the iPhone. It was only connected by one cable.

Disconnect the dock connector

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver remove the shield that is covering the dock connector cable towards the middle left of the iPhone. Remember which screw came from where as they are different sizes. Gently lift the shield out of the iPhone and set it aside.

2. Take your spudger tool and gently pry up the dock connector cable and peel it back as shown below. Perform this step with caution as there is adhesive on the underside of the cable. Take care not to rip the cable by pulling up to quickly.

3. Leave the cable in this position and move on to the next section.

Pry up the cellular antenna

1. Using your spudger toolcarefully pry up the round connection for the cellular antenna. It should come up easily so pry up gently.

2. You'll notice that it is wrapped around a metal clip. Gently unwrap it so it's sticking upwards and leave it in this position.

Remove the SIM card and tray

Using a SIM removal tool or a bent paper clip, eject the SIM tray and set it, and the SIM card aside.

Remove the logic board

1. Remove the three #00 Phillips screws at the top, middle, and bottom left of the logic board with your #00 Phillips screwdriver. The top screw has a piece of tape over it you'll need to peel back. After removing it you'll also notice a gold grounding clip underneath it. Make sure you don't lose it as you'll need it for reassembly.

2. There are two more screws holding the logic board in place and you'll need to remove them with your flat head screwdriver. They are located at the top right and bottom of the logic board.
3. Now you should be able to lift the logic board out of the iPhone. Use the area that the rear-facing camera was located and the bottom of the logic board to lift it straight out.

Replace the vibrator assembly

2. The vibrator assembly in the iPhone 4S is only held down with adhesive. Use your pry tool to gently pry it up from the mid-frame of the device. Just take care not to bend it.
3. Next, gently lift the old vibrator assembly out of the device.
4. Your replacement vibrator assembly should come equipped with adhesive on the bottom. Just peel off the backing and carefully replace the vibrator assembly. Be sure you line it up with the screw hold as well as straight along the bottom where the speaker housing will sit.
5. If your new vibrator assembly didn't come with adhesive, any type of thin two sided adhesive will work. You don't need much. Just enough to keep it in place.

Reassemble your iPhone 4S

To reassemble your iPhone 4S you can follow all these steps in reverse order or you can watch our reassembly video guide above. We recommend using both in conjunction with each other. The reassembly video is a complete teardown from the screen down so you won't need to watch the entire thing to complete reassembly of your iPhone 4S. You'll only need to watch from about 5:35 to the end.

And ...done!

Now that you've completely finished reassembling your iPhone 4S you can go ahead and press the power button to turn it back on. Once it completely boots up, test the vibrator function by flipping the vibrate switch. If all went well, you should now have vibrator functionality again. If for some reason it still isn't vibrating, check to make sure the vibrator assembly is lined up correctly.

We hope you don't, but if you do run into issues with this repair, you can check out our DIY and mod forums for answers to many questions.

If your iPhone 4S doesn't want to register a charger is plugged in, the dock connector may be defective or damaged. This can commonly occur from using third party charges that are poor quality or just from old age. If you're out of warranty and aren't yet eligible for an upgrade with your carrier, a new iPhone can be costly. A DIY repair to replace the dock connector will cost you far less and you'll most likely get a lot more life out of your iPhone 4S.

Follow along and we'll walk you through from buying the parts to performing the repair yourself.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, iMore cannot be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

If you are comfortable with repairing your own device, put your ninja pants on and keep reading!

What you'll need to DIY replace an iPhone 4S dock connector

iMore recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like iFixYouri. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs.

• Replacement dock connector
• 5-point security screwdriver
• Standard #000 Phillips screwdriver
• Spudger tool
• Razor blade
• iSesamo Opening tool (not necessary but awesome for prying up cables and getting under adhesive)

Power off your iPhone 4S

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.

Remove the back plate

1. Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.

2. Set them aside. They are both the exact same size and length so it does not matter if you mix them up. They are interchangeable.
3. Gently slide up the back plate by applying a bit of pressure along the bottom with your thumbs and sliding upwards.

4. Now lift off the back plate and set it aside.

Remove the battery and grounding clip

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.

2. These screws are different lengths so make sure you remember which one goes where. The one that is slightly larger is the bottom screw.
3. There is a tiny grounding clip underneath the battery clip where the first screw is located. Use your spudger tool or finger to remove it before prying the clip up. Many times it can go flying if you don't remove it first and then you'll have difficulty locating it so it's best to remove it first.

4. Now use your spudger tool and at the bottom of the battery clip, gently pry upwards so the clip pops up.

5. Move to the edge of the iPhone where the volume buttons are located and use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the battery. It is stuck down with a good amount of adhesive so be careful when prying upwards that you don't bend the battery. This is why I do not use the plastic tab that is provided. It typically rips or bends the battery. If one part is resistant move your pry tool a little further down and gently start prying it up in different places taking care not to come too close to the volume button cables towards the top.

6. Once you've gotten the battery pulled out of the iPhone 4S we can move on to inserting the replacement battery.

Remove the top logic board shields

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws that hold the top silver shield in place and the one screw that holds the small black shield in place.

2. Now use your spudger or pry tool to gently lift the silver shield out of the iPhone.

3. Use your spudger or pry tool to lift the black shield out of the iPhone.

4. Set both shields aside and make sure your screws are organized for reassembly later.

Unclip the top logic board cables & remove the rear-facing camera

Using your spudger or pry tool carefully disconnect all the cables at the top of the logic board. There are seven cables total. One of the cables lies underneath the bottom most cable so you'll need to disconnect the cable over it before folding it back and revealing the shorter cable underneath.

Once you unclip the seven cables, you can lift the rear-facing camera directly out of the iPhone. It was only connected by one cable.

Disconnect the dock connector

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver remove the shield that is covering the dock connector cable towards the middle left of the iPhone. Remember which screw came from where as they are different sizes. Gently lift the shield out of the iPhone and set it aside.

2. Take your spudger tool and gently pry up the dock connector cable and peel it back as shown below. Perform this step with caution as there is adhesive on the underside of the cable. Take care not to rip the cable by pulling up to quickly.

3. Leave the cable in this position and move on to the next section.

Pry up the cellular antenna

1. Using your spudger toolcarefully pry up the round connection for the cellular antenna. It should come up easily so pry up gently.

2. You'll notice that it is wrapped around a metal clip. Gently unwrap it so it's sticking upwards and leave it in this position.

Remove the SIM card and tray

Using a SIM removal tool or a bent paper clip, eject the SIM tray and set it, and the SIM card aside.

Remove the logic board

1. Remove the three #00 Phillips screws at the top, middle, and bottom left of the logic board with your #00 Phillips screwdriver. The top screw has a piece of tape over it you'll need to peel back. After removing it you'll also notice a gold grounding clip underneath it. Make sure you don't lose it as you'll need it for reassembly.

2. There are two more screws holding the logic board in place and you'll need to remove them with your flat head screwdriver. They are located at the top right and bottom of the logic board.
3. Now you should be able to lift the logic board out of the iPhone. Use the area that the rear-facing camera was located and the bottom of the logic board to lift it straight out.

Remove the loud speaker assembly

1. The loud speaker is held in with two screws that are located on both sides of the assembly. Use your #00 Phillips screwdriver to remove them.

2. The screw on the left hand side of the assembly has a black triangular spacer underneath it. Make sure you don't lose it and set it aside for reassembly.

3. After the two screws are removed you can gently lift the speaker assembly out of the iPhone.

Disconnect the home button

1. The home button fastens into your dock connector so in order to replace the dock connector assembly we'll need to unplug the home button.

2. Use your pry tool to gently unfasten the clip holding the home button cable in place. This cable is very tiny and fragile so handle it with care.

3. Next, gently use your pry tool and your finger to back the cable out of the clip.

This is as far as we'll need to go with the home button. Once it is unhooked, just disregard it while we move on to the dock connector.

Remove the dock connector assembly

There are two screws and some adhesive holding the dock connector into your iPhone 4S. We'll need to remove those in order to pull the assembly out of the phone.

2. Remove the two screws holding the dock connector in place with your #00 screwdriver. There is one to the left and one to the right of the actual docking port. The one to the left may be covered with yellow tape. Just peel it back.

3. The left and right sides of the cable are held down with adhesive. Use your pry tool to pull up the cable and the left part of the assembly. Take care not to pry on the home button cable. Use your pry tool to hold it out of the way when removing the dock connector assembly from your iPhone 4S.

4. Next move over to the actual dock connector cable which is also held in with just adhesive. Gently pry it up.

5. The rubber gasket to the left just plugs right into the frame, so to speak, so just pull it out gently to separate it from the frame.
6. You should now be able to remove the dock connector assembly from your iPhone.
7. Now pull the rubber gasket from two steps ago off the old dock connector assembly as you'll need to place it on the new one.

Install the new dock connector assembly

2. Place the rubber gasket you removed from the old assembly onto the new one and now we're ready to install the new one.
3. Peel the adhesive off the back of the new dock connector. Compare where the adhesive is on the old and new assemblies. Your iPhone 4S has grooves in the frame showing you where to line up the left and right.
4. First line up the actual dock port and sit it flush. Replace the 2 screws on either side to hold it in firmly.
5. Before going any further, go ahead and stick a dock connector cable into the port like you would to charge your iPhone. If it slides in nicely and feels like it should, continue reassembly. If it doesn't, remove the 2 screws and re-align it. It can be a bit tricky to line it up perfectly, but you'll get there.
6. Plug the rubber gasket back into the mid-frame.
7. Now line up the rest of the dock connector cable assembly. Make folds in the cable where necessary. It's helpful to compare how your old cable is folded and mimic those folds on the new one. Be careful not to dislodge or tear the home button cable while re-positioning the dock connector.

Re-connect your home button

1. Use your pry tool and finger to carefully slide your home button cable back in place.
2. Once the cable is positioned where it should be you can go ahead and use your pry tool to push down the clip that fastens it in place.

Reassemble your iPhone 4S

Now that you've got your new dock connector in place, it's time to finish reassembling your iPhone 4S. You can follow all these steps in reverse or use our video guide above as a reference. We recommend using both as they are really meant to compliment each other.

Since our video guide is a full breakdown, you'll only need to watch from about 4:30 on to complete reassembly.

And... done!

Once you've got your iPhone 4S completely put back together, go ahead and turn it on. First thing you'll want to do is make sure it's charging normally and that your bottom mic is functioning properly.

The front-facing FaceTime camera on the iPhone 4S is a pretty important part of how we communicate with the people we care about most. If a day ever comes where you find yourself out of warranty and the front-facing camera stops working or produces bad quality video or images, we can help you DIY repair it yourself. With the right tools and just a little less than an hour of your time, we can get you back up and running in no time.

Follow along and we'll show you how.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, iMore cannot be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

What you'll need to DIY replace an iPhone 4S front facing camera

iMore recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like iFixYouri. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs.

• iPhone 4S (any variant)
• Replacement front facing camera
• #00 Phillips screwdriver
• Security screwdriver
• Spudger tool
• SIM removal tool or paperclip

Power off your iPhone 4S

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.

Remove the back plate

1. Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.

2. Set them aside. They are both the exact same size and length so it does not matter if you mix them up. They are interchangeable.
3. Gently slide up the back plate by applying a bit of pressure along the bottom with your thumbs and sliding upwards.

4. Now lift off the back plate and set it aside.

Remove the battery and grounding clip

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.

2. These screws are different lengths so make sure you remember which one goes where. The one that is slightly larger is the bottom screw.
3. There is a tiny grounding clip underneath the battery clip where the first screw is located. Use your spudger tool or finger to remove it before prying the clip up. Many times it can go flying if you don't remove it first and then you'll have difficulty locating it so it's best to remove it first.

4. Now use your spudger tool and at the bottom of the battery clip, gently pry upwards so the clip pops up.

5. Move to the edge of the iPhone where the volume buttons are located and use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the battery. It is stuck down with a good amount of adhesive so be careful when prying upwards that you don't bend the battery. This is why I do not use the plastic tab that is provided. It typically rips or bends the battery. If one part is resistant move your pry tool a little further down and gently start prying it up in different places taking care not to come too close to the volume button cables towards the top.

6. Once you've gotten the battery pulled out of the iPhone 4S we can move on.

Remove the top logic board shields

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws that hold the top silver shield in place and the one screw that holds the small black shield in place.

2. Now use your spudger or pry tool to gently lift the silver shield out of the iPhone.

3. Use your spudger or pry tool to lift the black shield out of the iPhone.

4. Set both shields aside and make sure your screws are organized for reassembly later.

Unclip the top logic board cables & remove the rear-facing camera

Using your spudger or pry tool carefully disconnect all the cables at the top of the logic board. There are seven cables total. One of the cables lies underneath the bottom most cable so you'll need to disconnect the cable over it before folding it back and revealing the shorter cable underneath.

Once you unclip the seven cables, you can lift the rear-facing camera directly out of the iPhone. It was only connected by one cable.

Disconnect the dock connector

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver remove the shield that is covering the dock connector cable towards the middle left of the iPhone. Remember which screw came from where as they are different sizes. Gently lift the shield out of the iPhone and set it aside.

2. Take your spudger tool and gently pry up the dock connector cable and peel it back as shown below. Perform this step with caution as there is adhesive on the underside of the cable. Take care not to rip the cable by pulling up to quickly.

3. Leave the cable in this position and move on to the next section.

Pry up the cellular antenna

1. Using your spudger toolcarefully pry up the round connection for the cellular antenna. It should come up easily so pry up gently.

2. You'll notice that it is wrapped around a metal clip. Gently unwrap it so it's sticking upwards and leave it in this position.

Remove the SIM card and tray

Using a SIM removal tool or a bent paper clip, eject the SIM tray and set it, and the SIM card aside.

Remove the logic board

1. Remove the three #00 Phillips screws at the top, middle, and bottom left of the logic board with your #00 Phillips screwdriver. The top screw has a piece of tape over it you'll need to peel back. After removing it you'll also notice a gold grounding clip underneath it. Make sure you don't lose it as you'll need it for reassembly.

2. There are two more screws holding the logic board in place and you'll need to remove them with your flat head screwdriver. They are located at the top right and bottom of the logic board.
3. Now you should be able to lift the logic board out of the iPhone. Use the area that the rear-facing camera was located and the bottom of the logic board to lift it straight out.

Remove the metal retainer & front facing camera

There is a metal retainer covering the front facing camera. To remove it use your pry tool to gently pull it off. Make sure you don't lose it as you'll need it for reassembly. Now that the metal retainer has been removed you can gently lift the front facing camera out of the iPhone 4S.

Replace the front facing camera & metal retainer

Now replace the front facing camera with the new replacement part. Once it is securely in place you can replace the metal retainer by snapping it back in place.

Reassemble your iPhone 4S

To reassemble your iPhone 4S, you can either follow all these directions in exact reverse order or view our reassembly video guide above which will walk you through how to reassemble it from screen to turning it back on and testing it. For an front facing camera replacement you'll need to watch the video from about 5:30 to the end.

And ...done!

Once you've finished putting your iPhone 4S completely back together you can go ahead and turn it back on. If all went well, you should see the Apple logo and your phone should boot up like normal. Now pop into your camera app and flip the camera around to test the new part. Make sure to test it in daytime and in low light conditions. Even though the front facing camera isn't great at capturing low light, it should at least get the job done decently.

Congrats! Now get to FaceTiming again!

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If you've got an iPhone 4S and you're having issues hearing callers through the earpiece or there is no sound at all, you could have a blown earpiece. If you didn't opt for AppleCare+ and your 1-year warranty is up, a DIY repair isn't too tough and will cost you quite a bit less than a replacement iPhone.

Follow along after the break and we'll walk you through from start to finish.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, iMore can not be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

If you are comfortable with repairing your own device, put your ninja pants on and keep reading!

What you'll need to DIY replace a blown earpiece

iMore recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like iFixYouri. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs.

• Replacement earpiece
• 5-point security screwdriver
• Standard #000 Phillips screwdriver
• Spudger tool
• Razor blade
• iSesamo Opening tool (not necessary but awesome for prying up cables and getting under adhesive)

Video walkthrough

Power off your iPhone 4S

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.

Remove the back plate

1. Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.

2. Set them aside. They are both the exact same size and length so it does not matter if you mix them up. They are interchangeable.
3. Gently slide up the back plate by applying a bit of pressure along the bottom with your thumbs and sliding upwards.

4. Now lift off the back plate and set it aside.

Remove the battery and grounding clip

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.

2. These screws are different lengths so make sure you remember which one goes where. The one that is slightly larger is the bottom screw.
3. There is a tiny grounding clip underneath the battery clip where the first screw is located. Use your spudger tool or finger to remove it before prying the clip up. Many times it can go flying if you don't remove it first and then you'll have difficulty locating it so it's best to remove it first.

4. Now use your spudger tool and at the bottom of the battery clip, gently pry upwards so the clip pops up.

5. Move to the edge of the iPhone where the volume buttons are located and use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the battery. It is stuck down with a good amount of adhesive so be careful when prying upwards that you don't bend the battery. This is why I do not use the plastic tab that is provided. It typically rips or bends the battery. If one part is resistant move your pry tool a little further down and gently start prying it up in different places taking care not to come too close to the volume button cables towards the top.

6. Once you've gotten the battery pulled out of the iPhone 4S we can move on to inserting the replacement battery.

Remove the top logic board shields

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws that hold the top silver shield in place and the one screw that holds the small black shield in place.

2. Now use your spudger or pry tool to gently lift the silver shield out of the iPhone.

3. Use your spudger or pry tool to lift the black shield out of the iPhone.

4. Set both shields aside and make sure your screws are organized for reassembly later.

Unclip the top logic board cables & remove the rear-facing camera

Using your spudger or pry tool carefully disconnect all the cables at the top of the logic board. There are seven cables total. One of the cables lies underneath the bottom most cable so you'll need to disconnect the cable over it before folding it back and revealing the shorter cable underneath.

Once you unclip the seven cables, you can lift the rear-facing camera directly out of the iPhone. It was only connected by one cable.

Disconnect the dock connector

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver remove the shield that is covering the dock connector cable towards the middle left of the iPhone. Remember which screw came from where as they are different sizes. Gently lift the shield out of the iPhone and set it aside.

2. Take your spudger tool and gently pry up the dock connector cable and peel it back as shown below. Perform this step with caution as there is adhesive on the underside of the cable. Take care not to rip the cable by pulling up to quickly.

3. Leave the cable in this position and move on to the next section.

Pry up the cellular antenna

1. Using your spudger toolcarefully pry up the round connection for the cellular antenna. It should come up easily so pry up gently.

2. You'll notice that it is wrapped around a metal clip. Gently unwrap it so it's sticking upwards and leave it in this position.

Remove the SIM card and tray

Using a SIM removal tool or a bent paper clip, eject the SIM tray and set it, and the SIM card aside.

Remove the logic board

1. Remove the three #00 Phillips screws at the top, middle, and bottom left of the logic board with your #00 Phillips screwdriver. The top screw has a piece of tape over it you'll need to peel back. After removing it you'll also notice a gold grounding clip underneath it. Make sure you don't lose it as you'll need it for reassembly.

2. There are two more screws holding the logic board in place and you'll need to remove them with your flat head screwdriver. They are located at the top right and bottom of the logic board.
3. Now you should be able to lift the logic board out of the iPhone. Use the area that the rear-facing camera was located and the bottom of the logic board to lift it straight out.

Remove the bad earpiece assembly

1. Carefully use your pry tool to pull up the earpiece assembly from the midframe. It is held in with a foam type of adhesive.

2. Once you've removed the earpiece assembly we can work on installing the replacement.

Install the new earpiece assembly

1. The new earpiece assembly should come with adhesive and foam already installed. Just peel the backing off of the adhesive.
2. Place the earpiece assembly carefully into the iPhone making sure you're placing it the correct way so the prongs are pointing in the right direction.
3. Gently push down on the earpiece to make sure that the adhesive has attached on the underside.

Reassemble your iPhone 4S

To reassemble your iPhone 4S, you can either follow all these directions in exact reverse order or view our reassembly video guide above which will walk you through how to reassemble it from screen to turning it back on and testing it. For an earpiece replacement you'll need to watch the video from about 5:30 to the end.

And ...done!

Once you've finished reassembling your iPhone 4S you can go ahead and push the power button to turn it on. If all went well your iPhone should boot up and show the Apple logo. Unlock your iPhone and place a test call to make sure the earpiece is now functioning correctly.

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For some, simply knowing that the new iPhone 5 is twice as fast as the last iPhone is enough. But some of us want numbers. We want to know how much faster. Sure, Apple typically brings experience to a spec fight, but it's the specs that drive the experience. It's the engine in the meticulously appointed car. It's the stats behind the championship team. It's the science behind the art.

So with that in mind we ran the iPhone 5 through a whole battery of benchmarks, and to give it some context we put it up head to head, device to device against the iPhone 4S, iPad 3, and added in scores for the Samsung Galaxy S3 and a sampling of other, competing phones like the HTC One X, the Nokia Lumia 900, and the BlackBerry 10 Developer Alpha.

Benchmarking environment

Pulling a device out of the box and running benchmarks is fine, but it doesn't necessarily give real world results. Odds are the first thing you'll do is load up your iPhone 5 with the usual suspects - apps, games, contacts, calendars, reminders, music, video, etc..

So for this test I restored an iCloud backup to my iPhone 5 that's already on my iPad 3 and iPhone 4S so they're both loaded with tons of the same data. It seems a little more practical than comparing it straight out of the box. All devices were also running the iOS 6 public release candidate.

As a preface, the only thing I did before performing any of these benchmarks was close out all apps from the multitasking tray. At the time either the benchmarking app was the only thing running or Safari in order to obtain the benchmarks.

The Android, Windows Phone, and Blackberry 10 results were not performed by us. They are averages from each respective benchmarking site or verified data from on of our cross-platform sites - Android Central, wpcentral, or Crackberry.

Geekbench

The iPhone 4S uses an Apple A5 system-on-a-chip (SoC), which combines a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor clocked at 800MHz with a dual-core PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics chip and 512MB of RAM. The iPad 3 ups the game with an A5X SoC with the same CPU clocked at 1GHz, a quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 graphics chip, and 1GB of RAM.

For the iPhone 5, instead of licensing the next-generation ARM design, the A15, Apple custom-built their own Apple A6 SoC based on the ARM instruction set. It's a dual-core ARMv7 processor reportedly clocked around 1.25GHz along with a triple-core SGX 543MP3 and 1GHz of RAM.

To put all this into perspective, we performed a hard reboot on each device, killed all running apps, and then ran tests using Geekbench 2 for iOS. Now Geekbench isn't a great comparison tool -- writing something that tests CocoaTouch apps on iOS, JVM apps on Google, and other platforms in a consistent way is nearly impossible. How fast Infinity Blade 2 launches, or the App Store loads up its interface, or the camera takes to shoot a picture is a better indicator of day-to-day performance. However, it's the tool we have and the number everyone always asks for, so we're running it.

• $0.99 - Download now

Geekbench looks at all kinds of information across the entire system, including integer, floating point, memory, and stream performance.Higher numbers are better.

The iPhone 5 scored between 1500 and 1650 each time we ran the rest. The average of 5 consecutive tests was 1615.

After 5 consecutive tests, the average was around 635. That puts the iPhone 4S far lower on the Geekbench scale than the iPhone 5.

Our average result on Geekbench for the iPad 3 was around 750 after 5 consecutive tests.

The A5X processor obviously performs significantly better than the iPhone 4S' standard A5 but when it comes to the A6, the iPhone 5 wins each and every time.

If you're wondering how the iPhone 5 stacks up against other devices that have been benchmarked using Geekbench, here are some reference numbers for popular Android devices.

• Samsung Galaxy S III LTE - 1582
• Samsung Galaxy S III (North America) - 1429
• HTC One X - 1530

And just for fun:

• MacBook Air (11-inch Mid 2012) - 6866
• Power Mac G5 (June 2004) - 1580

Sunspider

Sunspider measures Javascript performance in the web browser. It includes real-world situations like encryption and text manipulation and measures response time in milliseconds for each test. After running each test 5 times, Sunspider gives an average number of time (in milliseconds). Like Geekbench, Sunspider can be a mixed bag. Some browsers include hacks designed just to do better on Sunspider. How fast iMore or the New York Times or Facebook loads on your phone is much better indicator. But again, it's a number people want to hear, so hear it it.

Lower numbers are better.

I ran Sunspider on my iPhone 5 three times and each time I ended up around the 915 to 920 ms mark. While running the test I had no other app open on the device other than the native Safari browser.

Just like the iPhone 5, we ran the rest three times on the iPhone 4S will nothing open but Safari and after another hard reboot. All three tests resulted in a time of around 1800 ms.

When it comes to rendering Javascript, it's quite obvious the iPhone 5 can process it almost twice as fast as the iPhone 4S can.

The iPad 3 faired better than the iPhone 4S with an average score of around 1450 ms. It isn't a huge difference when it comes to rendering Javascript and probably not one that many users would even notice.

When compared to the iPhone 5, however, the A5X chipset can't hold its own against the A6. It's obvious the iPhone 5 is an all around faster device when it comes to system and rendering benchmarks.

Here's some average benchmarks for other popular devices on the market and how they score with Sunspider on average. Remember, the lower the number the better.

• Samsung Galaxy S III LTE - 1442
• HTC One X - 1650
• Nokia Lumia 900 - 6800

HTML5Test.com

HTML5Test.com measures how well a browser supports and renders HTML5 content. While it isn't as in-depth as tests like Sunspider and Geekbench, it's still worth taking a look at if only to see how much companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft and RIM prioritize HTML5 compliance.

Considering the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, and iPad 3 all run the same version of iOS and support the same native Safari browser within it, all three devices scored a total of 360 points plus 9 bonus points. HTML5Test.com uses a 500 point scale.

Here's how a couple other devices stacked up when it came to HTML5 compatibility and support.

• Blackberry 10 - 447 plus 10 bonus points
• Android 4.x - 371 plus 11 bonus points
• iOS 5.1 - 324 plus 9 bonus points
• Windows Phone 8 - 300 plus 6 bonus points

The bottom line

Numbers are just numbers. Specs are just specs. They're part of the conversation, but they're not the only parts. Many Android phones seem to dwarf the iPhone when it comes to raw numbers and specs, but when real software runs on real hardware in the real world, almost all phone on all platform are doing amazingly well these days.

Android has a huge advantage in that new handsets hit the market far more often, and there's always a bigger, better Android flagship device on the horizon. Apple updates the iPhone about once a year. The month that a new iPhone is released, it will be a top contender for most powerful smartphone in the world. As the months go by, however, Samsung or HTC or someone else might easily put out an even more powerful monster.

Apple's advantage is in having that one phone a year, and in integrating the software and hardware together in such a way as its performance isn't merely about specs.

Right now Apple gets to enjoy a moment on top of the spec mountain, but it will likely be fleeting. What Apple does with those specs won't be, not with iOS 6, iOS 6.1, and other software versions to come.

One of the anticipated features of the iPhone 5 was its new camera. Now, even though Apple didn't boast too much about how much better the camera is, they did say it has a new sensor with better HDR and low-light capabilities. They also managed to cram all of that glass into a body that's 18% thinner than the previous iPhone. Lenses like depth, so getting even the same quality out of a camera 18% thinner is an impressive feat of engineering. Despite all this, many people, myself included, were still expecting noticeable improvements to the iPhone 5's camera and in my review of the iPhone 5's camera, I repeatedly mentioned that the colors and vibrancy of the photos were a huge improvement over the iPhone 4S -- but was I right?

If you follow my iPhone photography column, you know I take a lot of photos with my iPhone. A lot. When I was performing my tests by taking identical photos with the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S, I was consistently wowed by the improvements of the iPhone 5 over the iPhone 4S. Occasionally, I'd take photos that didn't have much of a difference, but for the most part, the iPhone 5 blew the iPhone 4S out of the water. Then I started preparing this article.

Photo after photo proved me wrong. Sure, there are differences between the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S photos, but very minor differences. Do the iPhone 5 photos have better color? Yes. Are the iPhone 5 photos more vibrant? Yes. Will the average untrained eye be able to tell the difference if shown the photos immediately after each other but not side-by-side? No. In fact, many people may not even be able to tell the difference between photos that are side-by-side.

This really bothered me. I was so convinced that the iPhone 5's camera was far superior to the iPhone 4S. Then I remembered this bit from Apple's website regarding the iPhone 5's display:

So it's not that the iPhone 5 takes much better photos, it's that the iPhone 5 has a much better display. Here's a photo that shows the iPhone 4S display on the left and the iPhone 5 display on the right.

Incredible! (The photo displayed on the screens was taken with an iPhone 4S.)

Now, let's finally take a look at some side-by-side comparisons of photos taken with the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 cameras. For each comparison, the photo on the left was taken with an iPhone 4S and the photo on the right was taken with an iPhone 5.

HDR was one of the areas that I was expecting some improvement since Apple claimed better HDR capability, but in the photos I took during my tests, like the one above, the differences were hardly noticeable.

Something that really stands out to me with these low-light photos is that the iPhone 4S photos are much warmer. I tend to prefer warmer tones, but not in this case. The iPhone 5 photos look more realistic to me, particularly with the candle. In the photo of the candle taken with the iPhone 4S, you can barely even tell that it's green, but the iPhone 5 shows that off very well. So it seems that the iPhone 5's camera does a better job at preserving colors in low-light scenarios.

These next photos were taken with the front-facing cameras of the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5.

It may be hard to tell in the smaller versions displayed above, but the quality of the iPhone 5's front-facing camera is actually much better than the iPhone 4S. You can also see the difference in the colors produced by the two cameras in the ocean and sky.

Now let's take a look at a couple panorama photos. This first one was taken with the iPhone 4S.

And here's the iPhone 5's version of the same pano.

Lastly, here's one more panorama comparison. The first one was taken with an iPhone 4S and the second one was taken with an iPhone 5.

In the photos above, you can see that the iPhone 4S camera did catch some lens flare, but I can't say for certain that the angle of the camera to the sun was exactly the same for each pano. So it's very possible that the flare is due to user error.

The bottom line

As you can see, there isn't that big of a difference between the cameras on the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5. There is improvements to the iPhone 5's camera, but if you were wondering if you should upgrade because of the camera, the answer is definitely no. However, if you want a thinner phone that still takes great photos, if you want a better screen that gives a more accurate representation of your photos, if you want the ability to take photos while shooting video, then taken together, the answer could very well change to yes. In fact, if taking and enjoying photos with your iPhone is one of your primary passions -- if you consider yourself an "iPhoneographer" -- the display alone is worth the upgrade to the iPhone 5.

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The iPhone 4S has a great camera that can capture amazing photos, so if that camera stops working, it's a pretty big deal. If the damage isn't covered by AppleCare or insurance, it can also be a costly problem. Luckily, a DIY repair is possible, and isn't too difficult. It'll only take you around 20-30 minutes and cost you less than $60, which makes it a great option for anyone out-of-warranty and not considering a new phone.

Follow along and we'll get your iPhone 4S camera back in working order in no time.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, iMore cannot be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

What you'll need to DIY replace an iPhone 4S rear camera

iMore recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like iFixYouri. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs.

• Replacement camera assembly
• 5-point security screwdriver
• Standard #000 Phillips screwdriver
• Spudger tool
• Razor blade
• iSesamo Opening tool (not necessary but awesome for prying up cables and getting under adhesive)

Power off your iPhone 4S

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.

Remove the back plate

1. Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.

2. Set them aside. They are both the exact same size and length so it does not matter if you mix them up. They are interchangeable.
3. Gently slide up the back plate by applying a bit of pressure along the bottom with your thumbs and sliding upwards.

4. Now lift off the back plate and set it aside.

Remove the battery and grounding clip

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.

2. These screws are different lengths so make sure you remember which one goes where. The one that is slightly larger is the bottom screw.
3. There is a tiny grounding clip underneath the battery clip where the first screw is located. Use your spudger tool or finger to remove it before prying the clip up. Many times it can go flying if you don't remove it first and then you'll have difficulty locating it so it's best to remove it first.

4. Now use your spudger tool and at the bottom of the battery clip, gently pry upwards so the clip pops up.

5. Move to the edge of the iPhone where the volume buttons are located and use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the battery. It is stuck down with a good amount of adhesive so be careful when prying upwards that you don't bend the battery. This is why I do not use the plastic tab that is provided. It typically rips or bends the battery. If one part is resistant move your pry tool a little further down and gently start prying it up in different places taking care not to come too close to the volume button cables towards the top.

6. Once you've gotten the battery pulled out of the iPhone 4S we can move on to inserting the replacement battery.

Remove the top logic board shield

The camera cable is protected by the top silver logic board shield. To replace it, we'll need to remove that shield for a few minutes.

1. Remove the 4 screws labeled in the picture below using your #00 Phillips screwdriver making sure you remember which screw came from where as they are all different sizes.

2. Use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the shield. There is a tiny clasp at the bottom of the shield. You'll need to make sure you push the top of the shield down a bit so it slides out. Once it does you can pull the shield out of the iPhone.

3. Set the shield aside for a few minutes.

Replace the rear camera assembly

1. The camera is connected in the upper left hand corner by only one flex cable. Use your spudger tool to gently pry the camera off the logic board.

2. Remove the defective camera assembly from your iPhone 4S.

3. Now position the new camera assembly into the iPhone and snap it down to the logic board.

Replace the top logic board shield

Now that the new camera assembly is secured into place on the logic board, we can go ahead and replace the shield.

1. You will notice that there are little teeth on the left hand bottom side of the shield. These slip into the shield on the left side of the logic board. Line them up and carefully place back down the shield.
2. Make sure the clasp to the right lower side of the logic board is also positioned underneath the cables and into the groove. All the screw holes should also be lined up at this point.

3. Use your #00 Phillips screwdriver to replace the 4 screws you removed previously.

Replace the battery and grounding clip

1. Pay attention to how the cable is bent on your old battery and if the new one is not crimped in the same fashion put the folds in it before inserting it into the iPhone 4S.

2. Line up the grounding clip you removed previously over the screw hole before snapping down the battery.

3. Snap down the battery in place to the logic board and then position the battery and press down firmly to make sure the adhesive sticks.
4. Replace the two screws you removed in a prior step starting with the top one using your #00 Phillips screwdriver. Make sure the grounding clip stays positioned. Use your other hand to hold it straight while you replace the top screw if you need to.

5. Now replace the bottom screw.

Replace the back plate

1. To replace the back plate line up the hinges around the edges. It should fall right into place. There will be a gap at the bottom.

2. Using slight pressure slide the cover down into place with your thumbs. If there is resistance make sure the hinges are lined up correctly and don't force it down and you can easily snap the hinge if it's caught up on something.
3. Once the back cover is securely in place and flush with the antenna band, replace the two screws on either side of the dock connector using your security screwdriver.

And ...done!

That's it. Now that you've finished reassembling your iPhone 4S you can go ahead and power it on. Pop into the camera app and test the new camera to make sure it's functioning correctly. That's all there is to it. Now get back to taking all those amazing pictures.

DIY repairs can help you get lots more life out of your device and prevent having to buy a new iPhone before you absolutely have to. If you're soon to be out of warranty or otherwise not covered for exchange or replacement, or if you're just a DIY type who wants to learn more about the inner workings of your iPhone, we've got you covered.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, iMore cannot be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

What you'll need to DIY replace an iPhone 4S battery

iMore recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like iFixYouri. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs.

• Replacement battery
• 5-point security screwdriver
• Standard #000 Phillips screwdriver
• Spudger tool
• iSesamo Opening tool (not necessary but awesome for prying up cables and getting under adhesive)

Power off your iPhone 4S

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.

Remove the back plate

1. Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.

2. Set them aside. They are both the exact same size and length so it does not matter if you mix them up. They are interchangeable.
3. Gently slide up the back plate by applying a bit of pressure along the bottom with your thumbs and sliding upwards.

4. Now lift off the back plate and set it aside.

Remove the battery and grounding clip

1. Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.

2. These screws are different lengths so make sure you remember which one goes where. The one that is slightly larger is the bottom screw.
3. There is a tiny grounding clip underneath the battery clip where the first screw is located. Use your spudger tool or finger to remove it before prying the clip up. Many times it can go flying if you don't remove it first and then you'll have difficulty locating it so it's best to remove it first.

4. Now use your spudger tool and at the bottom of the battery clip, gently pry upwards so the clip pops up.

5. Move to the edge of the iPhone where the volume buttons are located and use your spudger tool to carefully pry up the battery. It is stuck down with a good amount of adhesive so be careful when prying upwards that you don't bend the battery. This is why I do not use the plastic tab that is provided. It typically rips or bends the battery. If one part is resistant move your pry tool a little further down and gently start prying it up in different places taking care not to come too close to the volume button cables towards the top.

6. Once you've gotten the battery pulled out of the iPhone 4S we can move on to inserting the replacement battery.

Replace the battery and grounding clip

1. Pay attention to how the cable is bent on your old battery and if the new one is not crimped in the same fashion put the folds in it before inserting it into the iPhone 4S.

2. Line up the grounding clip you removed previously over the screw hole before snapping down the battery.

3. Snap down the battery in place to the logic board and then position the battery and press down firmly to make sure the adhesive sticks.
4. Replace the two screws you removed in a prior step starting with the top one using your #00 Phillips screwdriver. Make sure the grounding clip stays positioned. Use your other hand to hold it straight while you replace the top screw if you need to.

5. Now replace the bottom screw.

Replace the back plate

1. To replace the back plate line up the hinges around the edges. It should fall right into place. There will be a gap at the bottom.

2. Using slight pressure slide the cover down into place with your thumbs. If there is resistance make sure the hinges are lined up correctly and don't force it down and you can easily snap the hinge if it's caught up on something.
3. Once the back cover is securely in place and flush with the antenna band, replace the two screws on either side of the dock connector using your security screwdriver.

And ...done!

Now that your iPhone 4S is completely put back together you can turn it back on. If the phone doesn't come on, try plugging it into a wall charger and see if the charging icon comes up. It's quite possible that the battery may need to be charged before use.

If you're still having problems, or you have a question about this repair, let us know in the comments!

More iPhone DIY guides

○ Fix a broken iPhone 7 or 7 Plus ○ Fix a broken iPhone 6s or 6s Plus ○ Fix a broken iPhone SE ○ Fix a broken iPhone 6 or 6 Plus ○ Fix a broken iPhone 5c ○ Fix a broken iPhone 5s ○ Fix a broken iPhone 5 ○ Fix a broken iPhone 4s ○ Fix a broken iPhone 4 (GSM) ○ Fix a broken iPhone 4 (CDMA) ○

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If you've been waiting for a iOS 5.1.1 jailbreak you're in luck. Greepois0n Absinthe 2.0 was just released and you can now enjoy an untethered jailbreak on your iPhone 4S, new iPad, and several other iOS devices. If you've never used Greenpois0n before, that's okay. Hit the jump for a walkthrough!

Back up your data

Before running any jailbreak tool you should always back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch just in case something goes wrong. So make sure you have either a recent iCloud backup or iTunes backup before proceeding to the actual jailbreak process. If you aren't sure how to perform a backup, you can check out our guides:

• How to perform an iCloud backup on iOS 5 or higher
• How to perform a backup via iTunes

Update to iOS 5.1.1

You can either update your software via an OTA software update or via iTunes if you haven't already updated to iOS 5.1.1.

• How to update your iOS software over the air (requires iOS 5 or higher)
• How to update your iOS software via iTunes

Jailbreak your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

1. First download Greenpois0n Absinthe 2.0 2.0.1 to your computer from our downloads section. It is available for Mac, PC, and Linux.
2. Next, install the program and open Absinthe with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch plugged into your computer.

3. Click the Jailbreak button to begin the process.

4. This process may take a while to complete so you'll have to be a little patient. Mine took about 6 minutes total. Your device may say Restore in Progress, that's okay.
5. When you see the message Done, enjoy! on your computer you can go ahead and unplug your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
6. You're done! Cydia will be on your Home screen and you're good to go!

If you've never jailbroken before, this is a super easy tool to start with. If you have jailbroken before, you'll appreciate how easy this one is compared to previous tools. If you do happen to run into problems or need help, check out our jailbreak help and discussion forums via the link below.

Additional Resources

• Best jailbreak apps for new iPhone users
• IntelliscreenX vs LockInfo: which should you get?
• Messages+ vs BiteSMS:which should you use?
• iMore jailbreak help & discussion forums

Absinthe 2.0 has launched and it provides support for a fully unthethered jailbreak under iOS 5.1.1 (and only iOS 5.1.1) for the following devices:

• iPad, iPad 2, new iPad (except the 2012 iPad 2, which will come later)
• iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S
• iPod touch 3, iPod touch 4

Developed by a collaborative "Dream Team" between Chronic-Dev Team and iPhone Dev Team, Absinthe 2.0 and promises to be so easy, your "grandma could do it." Here are the steps:

1. Make a backup of your device in iTunes by right clicking on your device name under the ‘Devices’ menu and click ‘Back Up’.
2. Once your backup is complete return to your device and go to Settings – General – Reset – Erase all Content and Settings. This will make the jailbreak process much faster.
3. Open Absinthe and be sure you are still connected via USB cable to your computer.
4. Click ‘Jailbreak’ and wait…. just be patient and do not disconnect your device.
5. Once jailbroken return to iTunes and restore your backup from earlier. Right click on your device name under the ‘Devices’ menu in the left panel of iTunes and click ‘Restore from Back Up…’ then select the latest backup you created before. (restoring this backup will return all the content previously on your device ie, apps, photos, etc.)

You can grab the download via the source link below, and if you need any help, jump right into our Jailbreak Forum.

Source: greenpois0n.com

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This convenient desktop cradle keeps your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 charged and ready to go. Sync and charge your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 without the hassle of removing your SURFACE, ACTIVE, or ACTIVE X with the included cable or dock your phone vertically and conveniently use it as an alarm clock with your own wall outlet charger.

Features:

• Convenient desktop charging cradle
• Syncs and charges your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 vertically for easy viewing
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• Discreet power LED on the back of the cradle
• Removable plates enable compatibility with a bare device, SURFACE, ACTIVE, or ACTIVE X
• Charge using the included micro-USB cable

If you want to add some color to your iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S but don't feel comfortable doing a full-on DIY color modding and voiding your Apple warranty, Slickwraps might be just what you're looking for. You get a similar style to color mods without the risks of actually modding. Apply them just like you would any screen protector or shield, and when you're done, you've got what appears to be a completely color modded iPhone.

Slickwraps come in a wide array of colors and textures. You can choose from solid colors, carbon fiber, glow, brushed metal, fur, and several others. You can even get a blank canvas pack that allows you to draw on them before applying them to the back of your iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S (great choice if you're an artist or know an artist you can sweet talk into making you a custom job!)

Each Slickwrap comes with the following items -

• Front wrap
• Back wrap
• Bezel wrap
• Screen protector
• Cleaning Cloth

Some kits are back only while others cover the entire iPhone. Just make sure you're aware of which kits are which. The full kits will come with everything listed above. Other kits may not have a front piece, such as the canvas version.

How to apply Slickwraps to your iPhone

I tried out two different Slickwraps - solid colored pink and blue carbon fiber. The solid colored versions are a bit harder to apply due to the material. It's a bit stretchy and it's not as easy to line it up perfectly. The whole process took me about 30 minutes on the pink version. The carbon fiber only took me about 10 minutes and lined up perfectly from start to finish.

Before starting, making sure you use a cleaning cloth (there is one provided) to wipe down your screen and back plate to ensure that no dust or debris gets trapped under the Slickwrap. You may see bubbles from dirt or dust if your iPhone isn't cleaned off properly prior to application.

I suggest beginning with the front and back pieces first. When you're done applying those, then move on to the bezel.

The bezel portion is on a sheet that will supply you with all the trim pieces you need. The middle piece is universal and will be used for both iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S users. The volume button portion is different so you'll need to pay attention to what version you need to apply. The upper sticker is for AT&T iPhone 4 users only. The bottom sticker is for Verizon iPhone 4 and all iPhone 4S owners. When you're done, you should have one sticker left over.

Using Slickwraps with other accessories

While Slickwraps may prevent against minor scratches, I wouldn't expect much more than that. They're mainly made to stand out more than they are to protect.

I did try to use bumpers on both versions. The solid colored Slickwraps are thin enough to fit a bumper on normally and comfortably. The bumper fit with the carbon fiber version but it was a bit tight.

Yes, a bumper will cover up the trim pieces so you'll have to decide if you'd rather have the trim or a bit of protection. I don't normally have a case on my iPhone as I prefer the stock look more than anything. And the trim pieces are just too cool to cover up in my opinion.

Case compatibility will widely vary depending on what kind of case you're using and how tight it is around the iPhone to begin with.

The stock Apple dock shouldn't give you any issues. I tested it with both the original solid color variant and the carbon fiber version, which is a bit thicker, and had no issues easily sliding my iPhone in the dock and back out.

How to add a colored back to your iPhone for even more fun

The back of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S is super simple to DIY replace. Ordering a colored back adds a third color to the mix and may be something a lot of users may want to play around with.

While trying out the blue carbon fiber Slickwrap I also threw on a solid green back. It added a bit more color and really made the back pop out even more. If you're aiming to make your iPhone stand out, adding a colored back is a great way to compliment the Slickwrap.

The good

• Fairly easy to apply, no need to use water or any kind of liquid.
• Much cheaper than a complete color mod.
• No voided warranty.
• Unique and highly customizable.

The bad

• Solid colored versions are a bit thinner and somewhat stretchy causing application to be a little harder than textured variants.
• The bottom trim piece covers the screw holes. Not a big issue for most but if you want to change out your back, most users may find that a little annoying.

Conclusion

A lot of iPhone owners will appreciate being able to add color and variation without the price tag of a color modification which easily runs well over $100 from most reputable iPhone repair shops and online sources.

Slickwraps are a great way to make your iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S stand out and require no tools or DIY knowledge. These are by far the best no-tools required color kit option I've come across so far.

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Aluminum alloy accents enhance the look for the iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 without adding bulk or unwanted weight.

Features:

• Form-fit design
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• Easy installation
• Protects from bumps and scratches
• Screen left exposed
• Aluminum alloy accents
• Lightweight

A recent survey of 482 iPhone 4S owners found that 87% used Siri monthly, while a third used it daily to make calls, send SMS messages, and make web searches. 26% dictate e-mails to their iPhone 4S daily, but another 30% have never used Siri to send an e-mail. The most popular uses overall was making phone calls and sending SMS messages, but a whole 32% said they had never used Siri to schedule meetings, and 35% had never used it to schedule a meeting; even those who did did so with the lowest daily frequency out of any group. Satisfaction rate with Siri sat at 55%, while 9% were dissatisfied, and everyone else was somewhere in between. While the study indicates that most users aren't bothering with Siri's other notable features, like geofenced reminders, audio e-mail playback, and setting alarms, 37% said they would like to see some voice-activated TV remote control action (though that was counter-acted by another 20% against it).

Siri is still technically in beta, so it's reasonable to expect the satisfaction rate to climb over time. Although that also means we might see additional features coming down the pipe, will anyone actually use them? Let's face it, Siri is definitely cool, but for a lot of people, talking to your phone as if it were a real person is still a fairly foreign idea, and it's hard not to feel like a bit of a crazy when using it in public. How often do you guys use Siri? Are there any feature additions in particular that you'd like to see?

Source: WSJ

For today only the iMore iPhone case store has the Case-Mate Tank Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 on sale of only $33.95 -- that's 43% off! Go get them before they're gone!

• Shop Case-Mate Tank Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 now!

It takes a beating. The Tank iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 case brings an extreme approach to defending the device with a rugged case that completely protects the iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 from screen to back.

Modeled after motorcycle helmet engineering, Tank is designed with a hard, impact resistant exterior and a shock absorbing interior. A shatter resistant, polycarbonate hard shell combines with the thick, silicone cushioned interior.

The retractable screen shields from impacts, cracking and condensation, fully protecting the iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 screen. The Tank exterior is made of a premium, soft grip texture that slides easily in and out of your pockets. The Tank tests number one in impact resistance against the leading brand, and meets or exceeds US military standards.

For today only the iMore iPhone accessory store has the Case-Mate Barely There Brushed Aluminum Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone](http://store.imore.com/case-mate-barely-there-brushed-aluminum-case/4A123A9202.htm?utm_campaign=community&utm_source=d_im&utm_medium=content) on sale for only $17.95! That's an incredible 55% off! Get yours before they're gone!

Shop Case-Mate Barely There Brushed Aluminum Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone now!

The meticulously designed and crafted Brushed Aluminum iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 case sets a new standard. Reflecting a high attention-to-detail, the genuine brushed aluminum case makes a solid statement.

Featuring aircraft grade aluminum with a brushed finish, the brushed aluminum inlay adds an elegant sportiness. A gunmetal hard shell surrounds the perimeter of the case, showing off more of your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4. Together, the materials create an unmatched level of design. The result is a case with sleek lines that redefines the concept of sophisticated minimalism.

Features:

• Genuine brushed aluminum inlay that shows off more of your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4
• Form fit feature covers back and corners
• Access to all ports and functions

For today only, the iMore Store has the Qmadix Metalix Snap-On Cover for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 on sale for only $14.95! That's a whopping 50% off! Get them before they're gone!

Get the Qmadix Metalix Snap-On Cover for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 now!

The Qmadix Metalix Snap-On Cover adds style, sophistication and protection to your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4. The durable but lightweight, textured polycarbonate border helps to keep a firm grip on your device.

Aluminum alloy accents enhance the look for the iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 without adding bulk or unwanted weight.

Features:

• Form-fit design
• Access to all buttons and controls
• Easy installation
• Protects from bumps and scratches
• Screen left exposed
• Aluminum alloy accents
• Lightweight

T-Mobile had a rough final quarter of 2011, and openly pointed the finger at iPhone 4S launches on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon as the cause. Total revenues at T-Mobile were $5.2 billion, down from $5.4 billion in Q4 2010, and customer losses amounted 526,000 for the quarter, compared to a 23,000 customer loss at the same time last year. Here's some of the more detailed financial information.

• Adjusted OIBDA increased by 4.3% year-on-year to $1.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, adjusted OIBDA margin improved 2 percentage points year-on-year to 31% in the fourth quarter of 2011
• Branded contract losses improved through the third quarter of 2011, however the launch of the iPhone 4S reversed this trend to a branded contract customer loss of 706,000 in the fourth quarter of 2011
• Strong branded prepaid additions of 220,000 in the fourth quarter of 2011, primarily due to continued success of unlimited Monthly 4G prepaid plans
• Service revenues down 2.7% year-on-year to $4.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, due to branded contract customer losses and revenue effects from the shift to unlimited Value plans
• Branded contract ARPU increased $2 year-on-year to $58 in the fourth quarter of 2011, mainly driven by an increase in data ARPU
• Branded Data ARPU increased $2.70 year-on-year to $16.50 in the fourth quarter of 2011
• T-Mobile USA is reinvigorating its challenger strategy, which includes a major network modernization plan to launch LTE in 2013
• On December 20, 2011 T-Mobile USA’s proposed sale to AT&T, Inc. was terminated; due to the termination of the sale near year-end, T-Mobile USA’s annual impairment assessment of indefinite-lived assets is still ongoing

It's a little crazy that a single phone can put this much of a dent into a carrier, but T-Mobile has been bottom of the U.S. carrier food chain for some time now, and with the AT&T deal completely fallen apart, there's going to be no easy way out of the slump. I'd love to see an AWS-capable iPhone, namely so I could use one up here in Canada on Wind Mobile, Videotron, or Mobilicity 3G networks, but if T-Mobile can't offer Apple enough customers to make it worth their while, then I don't see it happening any time soon.

Source: T-Mobile

For today only, the iMore iPhone case store is offering the Incipio [performance] Sport Armband for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 for only $16.95 -- that's a steep 43% off! Get it before it's gone!

Shop Incipio [performance] Sport Armband for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 now!

The Incipio [performance] Sport Armband is the perfect lightweight carrying solution for iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 whether you are running, walking, dancing, lifting or stretching.

A clear, play-through shield holds and protects your device while allowing full access to your touch screen. All ports are accessible through openings in the neoprene band. Plug in your headphones without removing or adjusting your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 and turn up the volume for a great workout!

Use the velcro patches to adjust the tightness and location on your arm. The moisture-wicking neoprene material pushes out sweat while retaining a solid grip on your arm.

Features:

• Lightweight
• Great for outdoor activities
• Play-through shield protects screen
• All ports accessible
• Arm strap completely adjustable

If you're running Windows, you can now jailbreak your iPhone 4S or iPad 2 on iOS 5.0 or iOS 5.0.1. The Dev Team has issued an update to redsn0w that adds support. This process isn't as easy as a simple one click tool like Greenpois0n Absinthe but if you absolutely can't wait any longer to jailbreak, we've got you covered.

• How to jailbreak iPhone 4S and iPad 2 on Windows (CLI method)
• Jailbreak help & discussion
• iMore software downloads page

For today only, the iMore Store has the Seidio Innocase II Surface for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 on sale for only $19.95!. Get them before they're gone!

Get the Seidio Innocase II Surface for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 now!

The Incipio SILICRYLIC case with integrated kickstand stands (literally!) somewhere between a feather case and a full-on armor case, providing twin layers of protection without being overly bulky about it. The two layers consist of a silky, silicone core that slips onto your iPhone 4S or iPhone 4 almost like a wetsuit. The acrylic shell clamps over, on top, to provide greater impact protection to the back and sides. It does take a little bit of wiggling to line everything up perfectly, however.

A "Vanity Kit" comes standard with the Incipio SILICRYLIC, and I'm not even going to lie, it's just the sort of extra I love to see. The kit includes a cleaning cloth, screen protector, and applicator card, so you can protect the one thing the case itself doesn't cover, that big, beautiful, scratch-able glass display.

And here's the part where I unbury the lede -- it also has a kickstand. I've often said I wanted a kickstand on the iPhone -- and been made fun of because of it! -- but where Apple continues to ignore me, Incipio has listened. Just pop the kickstand open on the back of the SILICRYLIC and you can prop up your iPhone and get down to some serious video watching. The only downside, and it's a big one, is that the kickstand only works in landscape mode. If you try to stand it up in portrait mode, unless you have Crique de Soleil level balancing skills, it's going to fall over almost immediately. Hopefully Incipio will engineer a more flexible kickstand in the future, especially if the feature is important enough to be included in the product's name.

pod2g has updated his blog with a video by Chronic Dev Team member, DHowett, running an untethered iPhone 4S jailbreak on iOS 5.0.1. The video runs down everything you'd expect from rebooting the device to show an untethered state and launching Cydia and showing that the device ID is indeed an iPhone 4S. Considering the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 both run the Apple A5 chipset that wasn't vulnerable to previous

pod2g says this means we should only have a few more to wait now. Not sure if "a few more" implies days, months, light years, or some other measure of time. For now, we'll just have to sit back and be patient for what should be just a little while longer. Non-A5 iPhone and iPad owners can untethered jailbreak iOS 5.0.1 right now.

Source: pod2g

Pod2g has decided to share a little more information on the hopefully soon to be released iPhone 4S and iPad 2 jailbreak. In a blog post, pod2g has answered a couple of questions that may have been on your mind as you await its release. One of the questions is how he has managed to get an untethered 4S and dev teams still haven’t released tools to achieve this at home?

It looks like the jailbreak may not be as imminent as we expected. Until this last hurdle is out of the way, it can’t be released publicly. We will let you know as soon as we hear anymore.

Source: Pod2g Blog

For today only, the iMore Store has the Qmadix Snap-On Cover w/ Holster for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 on sale for only $13.95!. Get them before they're gone!

Get the Qmadix Snap-On Cover w/ Holster for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 now!

For today only, the iMore Store has the Incipio EDGE PRO Hard Shell Slider Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 on sale for only $18.95!. Get them before they're gone!

Get the Incipio EDGE PRO Hard Shell Slider Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 now!

For today only, the iMore Store has the Mobi Products Hard Shell Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 on sale for only $6.95!. That's an external lithium-ion battery with 1700mAh delivers hours of additional talk and playtime on your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or any USB device. Get them before they're gone!

Mobi Products Hard Shell Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 now!

The iPhone 4S is now available for pre-order in 22 additional countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Shipping times are listed at 1-2 weeks.

Apple had over 1 million pre-orders within the first 24 hours in the original 7 launch countries on October 7, and and over 4 million in total sales during the launch weekend starting October 14.

Are you pre-ordering an international iPhone 4S? If you're having trouble deciding which generation, color, or capacity to get, we have a complete iPhone 4S buyers guide ready and waiting. Check it out and then come back and tell us which one you ordered!

Source: MacStories

iPhone 4S is minor spec bump over last year's iPhone 4. Except it's not. It's a full on assault of the senses, with eyes, ears, and feel far beyond any previous mobile device. Yes, the hardware bumps specs to be certain -- faster chipset, better camera -- but it's what Apple's iOS 5 software and iCloud services do with that hardware that makes iPhone 4S so compelling, including one feature in particular that makes it the biggest leap forward in mainstream computer interfaces since multitouch on the original iPhone -- Siri.

Previously on iMore

iPhone 4S is the 5th generation iPhone, and one of three models on the market for 2011. While an incredible amount has changed, there are still a lot of features that have carried over from years past. Here, then, are those reviews.

• White iPhone 4 review (May 2011)
• Verizon iPhone Review (February 2011)
• AT&T iPhone Review (June 2010)
• iPhone 3GS review (June 2010)

iPhone 4S hardware

From the outside, the iPhone 4S looks almost identical to the iPhone 4. It's the same iconic shape, the same Braun- and Leica-inspired slab of glass and stainless steel. It may no longer be as fresh as it was when it debuted some 16 months ago, but it's still among the best designed and certainly the best built hardware on the market. It's also just as fragile, with chemically treated glass on both front and back, and an exposed antenna array all along the sides.

There are some small, subtle differences between iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. They're both 0.37 inches (9.3 mm) thin at 4.5 inches (115.2 mm) high and 2.31 inches (58.6 mm) wide but iPhone 4S is just a tad heavier at 4.9 ounces (140 grams). That's 0.1 ounces (3 grams) heavier than the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS.

Like the original AT&T/GSM iPhone 4, all iPhone 4S models have a microSIM tray. Like the later Verizon iPhone 4, the iPhone 4S has symmetrically aligned gaps in the external antenna array -- two on both sides.

All the buttons and ports are where you'd expect them. 3.5mm headset, noise-canceling mic, sleep/wake button, microSIM card slot (even on CDMA models, see below), speaker, 30-pin dock connector, phone mic, volume up and down buttons, and the ring/silent switch. On the front, below the screen there's still a home button. Above the screen is the ear speaker and the VGA camera. On the back is the LED flash and the new 8 megapixel still, 1080p video camera.

Sensors also remain the same, with aGPS, a digital compass, ambient light, proximity, accelerometer, and gyroscope.

While iPhone 4S is the 5th generation iPhone, it's only the 3rd major casing design in the product's history. Here it is compared to the original iPhone (2007) and the iPhone 3GS (2009).

Apple chose not to improve the front-facing iPhone camera. Even though Macs have gone to FaceTime HD in 1280x720 (720p), iPhone 4S remains disappointingly 640x480 (VGA).

The rear-facing camera is another story entirely. It's been increased to 8 megapixels and is capable of recording 1920x1080 (1080p) video. Apple has also improved the backlight sensor, added an f/2.4, wide angle lens to capture as much light and picture as possible, and added an extra piece of glass into the assembly to increase sharpness. There's also an infrared filter to improve colors, face detection for better exposure and focus on portraits, and image stabilization to keep your videos from shaking.

We asked our app editor and resident photographer, Leanna Lofte to put it to the test.

• Complete iPhone 4S 8 megapixel camera review
• Complete iPhone 4S 1080p video review
• iPhone 4S photography examples

Overall, the iPhone 4S did a phenomenal job with landscapes, especially considering the broad range of lights and darks. With HDR (high dynamic range) enabled, the results were excellent. The f/2.4 lens lacks manual controls but handles motion far better than last year's iPhone 4.

Face detection works impressively well, even when the subject is moving around and the face partially obscured. The improved backlight sensor does far better in low-light situations, capturing shots that were impossible with iPhone 4.

Macro photography, however, proved to be more of a challenge. They look great if focus locks on, but often the iPhone 4S fails to lock focus. This might be an iOS 5 issue, and if so, hopefully Apple will fix it in a future update.

The 5x digital zoom and flash are serviceable if you really need them, but are really only useful when you have no other options.

For video, the iPhone 4S 1080p camera did a terrific job adjusting between shade and light, though under bright backlighting the video remained slightly underexposed. Image stabilization worked well for walking and panning but couldn't compensate for more extreme motion like running.

Low-light was better than iPhone 4 but wasn't great. There was visible grain, and image stabilization didn't work as well in low light conditions, but iPhone 4S' ability to compensate for color distortion was impressive and a huge improvement over iPhone 4. Again, macro video was incredibly sharp but iPhone 4S had trouble locking focus on very thin objects.

Apple has also focused on reducing the time it takes to get your photo or video. You can now double click the home button and tap a new Camera button right on the lock screen to go directly to the Camera app (bypassing Passcode Locks, so beware of pranks if you leave it unattended). You can now also take photos with the Volume Up button. The time it takes the shutter screen to "open" -- previously a area of frustration -- is also dramatically faster. And, according to Apple, a dedicated Image Signal Processing chip speeds up picture taking, with the first photo taking only 1.1 seconds and subsequent photos taking only 0.5 seconds.

Overall, for impromptu, casual photo and video taking, low end point-and-shoots have just been made redundant. Even for special occasions, vacations and other events, non-photographers and non-videographers can realistically rely on an iPhone 4S and be well served. Apple has done a terrific job here, giving iPhone 4S an incredible new eye.

If iPhone 4 had an achilles heel it was the external antenna band. At 5 bars, touching the right antenna junction could drop it down to 3. At 1 or 2 bars, it could literally became a network pause-play button. Yes, the mainstream media blew it completely out of proportion, and a case made it go away completely, but it was a flaw.

And Apple has addressed it by adding a second antenna and giving the iPhone 4S the ability to intelligently switch between the two to make sure reception is more reliable, more often. It also doubles the previous HSPA 7.2 speed to 14.4 Mbps.

• iPhone 4S intelligently switching antenna hands on

The new Qualcomm RTR8605 chipset is technically HSPA+, but doesn't include the much faster HSPA+ 21 or 42 Mbps data speeds. So data is faster if not dramatically so. In most areas those top speeds remain theoretical anyway, but it's a shame people who can get them, can't get them with iPhone 4S.

For CMDA users on Verizon and Sprint, none of this matters anyway, because iPhone 4S is still stuck on the 3 Mbps EV-DO rev A network, with all the limitations that come with it. These will likely only be overcome in 2012 or beyond, when LTE 4G (Long Term Evolution) chipsets are thin and energy efficient enough to meet Apple's requirements.

However, the new Qualcomm chipset does support dual-mode CDMA/GSM. That makes it a world-phone, and means if you travel outside the US you can roam on international GSM carriers. Verizon and Sprint may even unlock the GSM radio for you, if you're a good enough customer and ask nicely enough. Then you can use a local microSIM when you travel and avoid paying data roaming altogether.

Even so, you can't switch between Sprint and Verizon, or put in an AT&T SIM and have it just work. The carriers are still locking that down. (Time will tell if the Jailbreak community can set it free.)

Here are the supported bands:

• UMTS/HSPA at 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz
• GSM/EDGE at 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
• CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A at 800, 1900 MHz

The AWS 1700 MHz band used by T-Mobile the USA, and Wind, Videotron, and others carriers in Canada, is still missing. That means T-Mobile is now the last major carrier in the US without an iPhone to offer, and it means that if you do run an unlocked iPhone 4S on T-Mobile US, it can still only run on the old, slow EDGE 2G network.

Wi-Fi has stayed the same as last year, with 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. The 802.11n also remains 2.4GHz only. The Bluetooth radio on the other hand has gotten a boost and now supports Bluetooth 4.0, which offers lower power consumption and lower latency.

Every year we hope the inventor of the iPod will put a decent mic and speaker system into the iPhone, and every year we get made fun of by BlackBerry, and more recently, Android Beats users.

While there haven't been any audio announcements by Apple, or stage demos by Apple executives similar to the kind afforded the optics, iPhone 4S does show real signs of improvement. The speaker is louder and clearer, making it easier to do hands-free calls.

The noise canceling mic does an excellent job in keeping both phone conversations and Siri voice commands functioning even in busy, noisy rooms.

And the vibration motor, which has reportedly been redone in a linear rather than rotational arrangement, is less annoying when it goes off, yet every bit as noticeable.

Audiophiles might still be waiting for Phil Schiller to give them the attention photographers got this year, but for average users the sound is an improvement.

The iPhone 4S gets the dual core Apple A5 system-on-a-chip (SoC) that was first introduced last spring alongside the iPad 2. Reportedly based on ARM's Cortex A9 central processing unit with Imagination's PowerVR SGX 543MP2 graphics processing unit, Apple will only say it provides 2x the computing power and 7x the graphics power of iPhone 4. This lets it power everything from AirPlay Mirroring to the Siri virtual assistant.

Doing bigger things isn't the only point, however. Doing more smaller things faster makes a difference as well. Launching apps, rendering and scrolling through web pages, playing games -- all these things are palpably faster. Near-instant, in fact. You'll feel it right away, and if you ever go back to an older iPhone or smartphone, you'll miss it immediately.

Interestingly, Apple's stuck with the same 512MB of RAM for the A5. While competing phones are sporting 1GB these days, Apple seems to believe they don't need more RAM for better performance, or perhaps don't need the potential tradeoff in power consumption. Given the immediateness of its feel and its ability to keep a large amount of everything from web pages to apps in ready and available, it's hard to argue. Still, developers will keep pushing the silicon and it would have been interesting to see what 1GB would have let iOS 5 games achieve.

With the monstrous new Apple A5 SoC, and demanding new features like location-based Reminders and voice-crunching Siri, battery life should be a legitimate concern. Apple impressively claims very little change from the iPhone 4, though standby time seems to have taken a very large hit (down 33%).

• 3G talk time: 8 hours
• 2G talk time: 14 hours
• Web browsing: 6 hours
• Video watching: 10 hours
• Audio listening: 40 hours

In our tests it's hard to get a handle on. Reminders, Siri, and the other new features are so useful you end up using them more often, which leads to faster battery drain. If you stop using them (or turn them off in the Settings app), the battery seems just below iPhone 4 standards, but you lose out on all that great functionality.

If you charge frequently you can enjoy the best of both worlds, a phone doing what you need with power enough to do it when you need it. If you can't get to power, you'll have to moderate your usage.

We'll keep an eye on battery life going forward and update.

While iPhone 4S is almost identical to iPhone 4, it's that almost that can get you. Depending on how well a manufacturer followed Apple's tolerance guidelines, most iPhone 4 cases should fit iPhone 4S, with Verizon iPhone 4 compatible cases likely providing the best fit. If in doubt, check into the specific case you want and ask about iPhone 4S compatibility. Here are some examples.

• TiPb iPhone 4S Accessory Store
• Amazon iPhone 4S Accessories

Sticker skins, cables, chargers, and headsets should all be compatible, and with better Bluetooth support, track information and other features should be better than ever before.

Likewise, the iPhone 4S gets not only the iPad 2's AirPlay Mirroring feature to get content to Apple TV and onto the big screen, but is compatible with the HDMI out Digital AV Adapter as well.

iPhone 4S Software

iPhone 4S ships with iOS 5, Apple's fifth generation mobile operating system and arguably the biggest update in the history of the platform. It includes features like unobtrusive Notifications, iMessage, Twitter integration, and a location aware Reminders app. Check out our massive write up on all the new features:

• Complete iOS 5 feature walkthrough

iCloud isn't unique to iPhone 4S but it's launching at the same time and for the first time it makes online services and integral part of iOS. From eWorld to .Mac to MobileMe, Apple's previous Internet history has been one of high price and relatively low adoption. iCloud aims to change all that by not only being free, but far more functional than ever before.

We included iCloud in our iOS walkthrough, linked above, but here are the highlights:

• PC Free. iPhone 4S is the first iOS device you can take straight from the box and activate and setup with out ever plugging it in to a Mac or Windows PC. Backups and restores can likewise be done on-device and without a PC, and iCloud will also handle software updates over the air as they become available.
• Documents in the Cloud. For any app that supports it, like Apple's own iWork productivity suite of Numbers, Pages, and Keynote, any file created on one device -- iOS or Mac OS X -- will be effortlessly stored up on iCloud and pushed down to every other device.
• iTunes in the Cloud. Previously applicable only to App Store apps and games, in regions where Apple has secured the licensing, you can now also re-download previously purchased music, and in some areas, even TV shows to your iPhone 4S.
• Find my iPhone, Find my Friends. While Apple has been letting you track your iOS devices for a while, now you can also share location with your friends, either persistently or temporarily. Privacy controls are friend by friend, time restrictions down to the hour, and a kill switch is always on hand.
• Photo Stream keeps the last 30 days or 1,000 images available on all your iOS devices, and all your iCloud-enabled images backed up in iPhoto or Aperture on the Mac (but not both at the same time). Other than deleting the stream or logging out, however, there's no way to delete potentially awkward or embarrassing images -- or stop them from appearing as your Apple TV screen saver, for example. So shooter beware.
• Mail, contacts, calendars. Previously the largest part of MobileMe, Apple @me.com accounts can now be created on, or converted to, iCloud accounts. (Sadly, there's still no way to combine multiple accounts, for example MobileMe, iTunes, FaceTime, etc.)
• iTunes Match. Apple's music locker service, while announced, is not yet publicly available. When launched, it will scan your iTunes desktop library and, for $25 a year, make it available to you via iCloud -- in 256 bit ACC if it's part of iTunes massive collection.

All in all, iCloud seems to be a solid foundation for Apple. It's limited and has some flaws, like most first generation offerings. Hopefully it will grow to provide easier multi-device sync for things like game scores, and hopefully webOS-style Synergy services where multiple data types can be independently pulled, stored in separate silos, but presented in both single and combined views for users.

AirPlay mirroring lets the iPhone 4S share it’s screen -- any screen on any app -- with the Apple TV over Wi-Fi. Since the Apple TV is designed to be plugged into an HDTV, this means you get your iPhone 4S content on the big screen.

While on the surface AirPlay mirroring might not seem like a major feature, it takes the personal, intimate experience of everything from gaming to FaceTime and makes it social. A keynote presentation projected in the boardroom or a group of friends playing a board game around the TV are just some of the obvious uses. Companies like Firemint are continuing to push the envelope as well, with concepts like multiple-device-to-Apple-TV Party Play. That's where iPhone 4S becomes a controller, and iOS starts to become a serious threat to traditional consoles in the casual space.

Siri is a natural language interface for iOS that combines powerful voice recognition (rumored to be powered by industry leader Nuance) and synthesized speech with an artificially intelligent query and response engine designed to become your “virtual assistant”. It replaces the previous Voice Control feature introduced with iOS 3 on the iPhone 3GS.

Siri is also the single biggest feature of the iPhone 4S. The speed is impressive, the camera a remarkable eye, but the voice and ear of Siri is what could define the next generation of computer interfaces. While that may sound hyperbolic, it's no more so than when Apple mainstreamed command line interfaces with the Apple II, mice and windows with the Mac, or multitouch with the original iPhone. All were derided as "toys" by those who lacked vision or merely disliked the idea of democratizing technology.

If Siri were simply a voice control and dictation system, like Android has had for a while, or like apps such as Vlingo or Nuance itself have previously made available on a variety of platforms, including iOS, that would be one thing. But Apple has imbued it with an almost Pixar-like humanity, a personality that while unmistakably artificial is also undeniably charming and engaging. That's probably why Apple, atypically, didn't rename Siri after purchasing the company behind it. Asking Siri a question creates a connection that would be far more difficult to achieve with a nameless "assistant" app.

Siri understands context. It understands relationships. It understands a smiley face. It can joke, even if canned. It makes you feel, for the first time, like you can have a conversation with your computer. You can ask Siri to tell your mother you're running late and it will address an iMessage. You can ask Siri to wake you up in 15 minutes and it will set an alarm. You can ask Siri to find you breakfast and it will search for local restaurants. You can ask Siri for the cast of the movie you're watching and it will query Wolfram Alpha. You can ask Siri her favorite color, and she'll tell you. She'll even present widgets, unique to her interface, if you prefer to tap than to reply.

Siri is activated by pressing and holding down the Home button, or by bringing the iPhone 4S up and to your ear, like you would to make a phone call. You can activate the dictations feature alone by tapping the new microphone button on the system-wide keyboard.

Siri is, of course, by no means perfect. It's still in beta with limited language and even more limited location support. Siri's voice is female in the US and male in the UK and you can't alter that (unless you alter the region and your accent). Siri relies on servers that sometimes seem to be struggling to keep up with demand. There could be a customer insight play behind it. And, like humans or Pixar characters, it's fallible and frustrating at times. It makes mistakes, and it tries to "learn" going forward.

Also, Settings can't be toggle by Siri yet; there's no turn on/off Wi-Fi or Airplane mode. It can't launch apps to update your Facebook status or get you back into a game. It can't plug into the camera for Google Goggle's type searches, or into Apple's Faces technology to find a photo of your child. Siri is at her beginning, but it's a beginning that we've only ever seen in Star Trek. And that's exciting.

iPhone 4S is compatible with all the hundreds of thousands of iPhone apps contained in Apple's iTunes App Store. It's still not ideal -- there remain no upgrades, no demos, and Apple as single curator sets itself up as both bottleneck and -- though increasingly infrequently -- rejector of all apps on the platform.

With the power of the Apple A5 GPU, however, games have never looked better, and with the functionality of iCloud, apps have never been more useful. So while the app and game count remains the same, the potential has never been better.

• Complete TiPb app and game coverage
• Top 5 app and game lists

iOS also remains the most web app-friendly platform in mobile, with an incredibly powerful HTML 5 rendering engine and fast Nitro JavaScript engine now available within Safari, embedded Web Views, and web apps saved to the Home Page.

Apple finished the iPhone 4 FaceTime video by showing a deaf person signing to a loved one. Apple finished the iPhone 4S Siri video by showing a blind person replying to a message through voice alone. They've also added custom vibration alerts, AssistiveTouch gestures, and other features. I'd be hard pressed to think of another company in consumer electronics doing as much to increase accessibility as Apple. They once again deserves a ton of praise for continuing to make this a priority.

Pricing and Availability

iPhone 4S is getting the widest, fastest distribution in Apple's mobile history. Starting October 14 in the US, Canada, Japan, France, Australia, and Germany, it will spread to over 70 regions by the end of 2011.

As always, Apple kept the pricing the same as previous years, offering more phone for the same money. This year, however, they've added a 64GB model for $399 on contract. And, while last year's iPhone 4 drops down to 8GB and $99 on contract, they've taken the unprecedented step of keeping the 2009 iPhone 3GS on the market, also at 8GB, but at $0 on contract. That's an iPhone at every price point from nothing to four hundred. No umbrella indeed.

Apple has also added Sprint as a carrier in the US, making it the 2nd CDMA carrier after Verizon.

• Sprint iPhone 4S review

They're also shipping the white model day and date.

Should you upgrade or cross-grade?

Overall, if you're thinking about upgrading from a feature phone or an iPhone 3GS or earlier model iPhone, do it. You'll be getting a spectacularly improved experience and feature set. If you're thinking about upgrading from an iPhone 4, then you need to make sure the major new features -- speed, camera, antenna, and/or Siri -- are compelling enough to warrant the cost. For most mainstream consumers, they won't be. For gadget lovers or geeks, you've likely already found a reason to justify it.

If you're thinking of crossing over from webOS, you should also do it. Now that Sprint is available and HP is floundering, iPhone 4S is a great choice. For BlackBerry lovers and Android aficionados, if you're not tired and ready for a change, wait and see what RIM's new QNX/BBX superphones and Google's Ice Cream Sandwich powered Galaxy Nexus-lead generation brings to the table.

Either way, here's some help in deciding which, if any, iPhone is for you:

• Should you get an iPhone 4S?
• Spec Wars: iPhone 4S vs. Samsung Galaxy S II vs. BlackBerry Bold 9900 vs. HTC Titan vs. Pre3
• iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, or iPhone 3GS: Which should you get?
• AT&T vs. Verizon vs. Sprint: Which iPhone 4S should you choose?
• Verizon and Sprint iPhone 4S and the limitations of CDMA
• 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB: Which iPhone 4S capacity should you get?
• Black or white: Which iPhone 4S color should you choose?

If you do decide to go with an iPhone 4S, here's some help getting started.

• iPhone 4S glossary
• How to setup your new iPhone 4S
• How to transfer your data over from your old iPhone to your new iPhone 4S
• How to transfer your data over from your old Android, BlackBerry, webOS or Windows Phone to your new iPhone
• iOS 5 for iPhone and iPad walkthrough
• Top 10 best tips and tricks for new iPhone owners
• Top 10 best apps for new iPhone owners
• iPhone Live! podcasts (with video!)

Conclusion

iPhone 4S may be evolutionary hardware, faster than iPhone 4, with a better camera and more resilient antenna, but iPhone 4 was a great phone and iPhone 4S is even greater. While the design remains one of the best in the industry, it also remains unchanged. If you like Apple's aesthetic, then you'll be very happy. If not -- if you would have preferred a larger screen or physical keyboard or a greater amount of standard ports -- than Apple has done nothing here to win you over, and likely won't ever on most of those counts.

In terms of software, almost everything about iOS 5 feels broader and better, and not only more functional, but more personal and more tactile as well. Apple has added more granular levels of control to things like Location Services and Data Storage, so you can keep private what you want to keep private and delete what you want to delete. They’ve also added more direct touch manipulation to the UI in Calendar and Mail, so the interactions are viscerally intuitive. At the same time they’ve increased the social, sharing aspects of iOS with services like AirPlay and apps like Find My Friends. It’s a clever balance. So is the interface, which Apple has kept as easy for novice users as it was in iOS 1 in 2007, and yet added ever greater layers of complexity for power users, including Fast App Switcher in 2010 and Notifications in 2011. For my sister, an iPhone makes calls, plays music, and takes photos. For me it can increasingly do almost anything.

Again, I can't help but come back to Steve Jobs, the man whose vision and singular will drove Apple to create the future of consumer electronics, device by device, app by app, culminating in the iPhone 4S announced just a day before his passing.

Like Jobs did, it stands at the juncture of technology and liberal arts, powerful and yet accessible, capable and yet beautiful, incremental new hardware brought to life by ambitious new software.

It's certainly not the device for everybody, but increasingly the iPhone is the device for most people.

Just get an iPhone 4S and curious how to get it set up so you can get going with it? No problem. With iCloud, you can get set up right on your iPhone, no cable, no iTunes desktop required! If you like to go old school, however, iTunes is still there for you. We recommend iCloud, but we'll walk you through both option, below!

And if you need some extra assistance to get you started check out:

• iOS 5 walkthrough: Everything you need to know!
• iPhone 4S Forums: All the help you need!

On-device setup with iCloud

When you turn on your new device, you'll now be presented with a screen that says iPhone, iPad touch, or iPad (depending on which device you're setting up). Just swipe to unlock and you're welcomed and invited to choose your preferred language. The most common language options will be immediately available but you can tap the down arrow to see others. Hit the Next button to pick. Apple will also provide you a default Country or Region based on where you bought your device, but you can tap Show More to expand the choices.

Interestingly, neither here nor in any later step are default choices pre-checked for you. You can't simply keep hitting Next to speed through. You have to look at the choices and tap one to check it before the Next button will even activate. Apple is forcing you to pay more attention than is often required on the web or in apps.

Next you're given a choice to globally enable or disable Location Services. Location Services use GPS, cell-tower triangulation, and Wi-Fi router mapping to determine the approximate location of your device. This feature is used for turn-by-turn navigation (like TomTom), check-in games (like FourSquare), social networks (like Facebook), geo-tagging (like in the Camera app), and utilities (like Siri and Find my iPhone), etc. Unless you have a particular need to globally disable it, you probably want to turn on the Location Services feature at this point. You can change your mind or selectively disable or enable these services later on in the Settings app (e.g., turn off your Camera app’s geo-tagging, but leave on TomTom’s turn-by-turn navigation).

You'll need to connect to a Wi-Fi network to continue iCloud setup (if none is available, you'll have to switch to iTunes setup instead.) Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch will then connect to Apple's servers to activate (the cord was cut from iTunes, not from Apple).

You have the choice to

• Setup as a new iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad
• Restore from an iCloud Backup
• Restore from an iTunes Backup

To set up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch as a new device, sign in with your Apple ID (or tap through to create one). If you have multiple Apple IDs, for example a MobileMe ID, an iTunes ID, an ID associated with FaceTime or something else, you'll have to choose which one you want to use. If you change your mind, you can login with a different ID later (and you can also login to different apps, like iTunes and iMessage, with separate IDs later). Agree to Apple's Terms and Conditions and Apple will setup your ID and ask if you want to use iCloud or not. If you do -- and most people should because it's 1) free for the base level service, and 2) highly functional -- you'll be asked to enable iCloud Backup -- and again, most people should. (It will create daily backups when you're connected to Wi-Fi.)

Decide whether or not you want to enable Find my iPhone to help trace lost or stolen devices, and then choose if you want to share diagnostic information with Apple to help them improve the iOS experience.

And you're done.

You can also choose to restore based on a previous iCloud Backup. You'll be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. Make sure it's the same Apple/iCloud ID that you used to make your previous backups. Agree to the Terms and Conditions and you'll be given a list of recent backups to choose from, including those of all iOS devices backed up to iCloud.

Pick your backup and iCloud will begin the restore. Then your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad will restart, all your settings nicely back where you left them, and iTunes will begin to re-download all the apps you had installed when the backup was made. If you live in countries where iTunes in the Cloud is available, iTunes will also re-download all the iTunes music, TV shows, and iBooks that were previously on your device. (You need to stay on Wi-Fi for large files to re-download.)

For security reasons, iOS may also prompt you to set a Passcode Lock, and not wait for you to go find it in Settings on your own.

Gone are the days when, after Apple released a software update, you had to rush back to your iTunes-equipped Windows or Mac PC, download a 500MB+ firmware file, backup your data, install the new OS version, and restore you data back to your device. You can now do all that, better and faster, right on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

When a Software Update is available, you'll get a notification popup. The Settings app will also get badged, just like Mail. To get your update, go to Settings, tap on General, tap on Software Updates, and if it isn't there waiting for you, tap on Check for Updates. When you see the update, tap Install.

The firmware will download and then your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad will restart and update.

Apple is now doing bit-differential, or delta file updates. That means only the bits that have changed need to be downloaded, not the entire firmware anymore. The update also happens in place, so you don't need to backup and restore your data. Much more efficient and hence much faster.

Traditional setup with iTunes

You can still setup your new iPhone 4 the same way you've set up your previous iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad devices.

Plug into your Mac or Windows PC with the white USB Dock cable that came with your iPhone 4S. iTunes your device will be detected and displayed in the sidebar, and you’ll be asked to register it with Apple. If you have a MobileMe, iTunes Store, or other form of Apple ID you can log in with it and your information should pop up for you to check over. Either type it out or accept it and you’re good to go!

If you’re upgrading from a previous generation iPhone or iPod touch, iTunes will detect any backups you might have made and offer to restore your data for you. For example, if you’re moving from an iPhone 3GS to an iPhone 4S, iTunes can setup your new phone to pretty much match your old. If you don’t want to do this, or if you don’t have any backups, iTunes will set up your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad as new.

• How to manually transfer data from your old iPhone to your new iPhone 4S
• How to transfer data from Android, webOS or Blackberry to an iPhone 4S

If you want to keep syncing with your home iTunes library but don't want to have to tether to your Windows or Mac PC over USB, you now have the option to sync over Wi-Fi as well. Wi-Fi sync needs to be enabled in the Settings app, and you need to sync with iTunes over USB at least once to set it up, and you need to be plugged into power throughout, but if none of that dissuades you, Zune-like Wi-Fi sync is finally yours.

If you do choose to keep syncing with iTunes over USB, or you sync occasionally over USB to move over large files, like movies, you can now continue to use your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad while syncing. (Previously unlocking your device would cancel the sync.)

Depending on when exactly your new iPhone 4S was manufactured and shipped, it's possible that it may have an older version of the software, iOS. Here's how to check for updates, and get updated, using iTunes. (Though we strongly recommend you switch to iCloud updates, see below!)

• How to update your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad

Early reviews of the iPhone 4S have begun to hit the web and as always there's as diverse a set of opinions as any good cadre of tech writers can manage. Who're we kidding, it's the new iPhone. They've had at it.

Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal thinks the new hardware, software, services, and Siri make for an attractive but not dramatic update.

David Pogue of The New York Times says, bottom line, Apple has an excellent job.

Ed Baig of USA Today says that Siri lends its specific pretty darn coolness to the iPhone 4S in general.

Shane Richmond of The Telegraph thinks Siri is as significant an advance as multitouch was with the original iPhone.

Brian X. Chen of Wired thinks the iPhone continues to push the pace.

Jason Snell of Macworld think the S in iPhone 4S stands for "sure thing".

Jim Dalrymple of The Loop says iPhone 4S is well ahead of its competition.

Vincent Nguyen of SlashGear thinks that while iPhone 4S looks the same as iPhone 4, it portents the same kind of industry shift as the original iPhone.

MG Siegler of TechCrunch thinks it's the new pinnacle of smartphones.

Josh Topolsky of The Verge thinks it's great for older iPhone users and new-to iPhone users but not as compelling for iPhone 4 users.