For the last two years, I've woken up bright and early to stand in line at the AT&T store to buy each season's brand new iPhone. This year, because of an online ordering meltdown, I wasn't even given the chance to participate in the "fun," but I still managed order one for delivery. Much to my surprise, it showed up a day early on my doorstep.
It being my third iPhone in three years, not much is surprising me about this new device. Still, I've put it through its paces enough to offer this somewhat comprehensive review:
The good:
The display: The screen is, by far, the sharpest digital image I've ever seen. Looking at the "retina display" from a normal viewing distance, I just cannot see individual pixels. It's like looking at a super-glossy, really bright, printed page. If I stare up close, I can see just the hint of pixels, but I have to try. The iPhone 4's display is nothing short of phenomenal, a true game changer. No other cell phone can touch this. Apple has again moved the ball down the field.
FaceTime: I only have two friends with iPhone 4s so far, but we've both played with the video chatting feature. It's smooth, seamless and fast, and much different than Skyping or iChatting on a desktop or laptop. Even though it only works over Wi-Fi so far, this is going to change the way people use their phones. It's probably also gonna give new meaning to phone sex.
The form factor: The new iPhone is thinner, heavier and flatter. It feels like a higher quality build, but doesn't quite seem like the work of art Steve Jobs compared it to. It's nice -- really nice -- but not revolutionary.
The camera: Yeah, it's only five megapixels, but photographers know that megapixels aren't everything. Five megapixels are just fine for printing up to 8x10 (and higher); the predecessor at the megapixels wasn't cutting it anymore. The real story is the image quality, which is quite good, and finally the iPhone has an LED flash. Flashes always blow out photos, but in low-light situations, the iPhone 4 can finally compete with other smart phones. And don't forget that it now shoots 720p HD video. That's significant.
iOS4: A lot of the magic of this phone is in the operating system -- which you can install on any late-model iPhone. Granted, this phone is faster and more powerful, but you get almost everything on last year's model. My only major pet peeve is the Mail app, which still doesn't poll IMAP sub folders (nerd talk, yes, but it makes it almost useless to me).
The bad:
The network: If a phone is only as good as its network, then the iPhone 4 stinks. No revolutionary smart phone on AT&T will be able to tweet from Miller Park or make a call atop the Hoan Bridge, or in my house. But I've harped on that enough already.
The durability: I'm reading early reports of cracked screens, and indeed the phone is made of a lot of glass. Oddly, the iPhone slipped off my couch twice this morning and tumbled to the ground -- my old iPhone with its rounded edges never did. Fortunately, I've yet to see a scratch, but I'm more than a little nervous.
Apps playing catch up: Some apps look amazingly awesome on the new phone. Others, like Echofon, start fuzzy then get sharp. And still others never get sharp at all.
Storage: Apple didn't offer a storage bump from the 3GS, which will be a problem with larger photo and video files. You'll kick yourself if you settle for the $200 16 GB model. Spend the extra $100 for 32 gigs.
The antenna: I don't notice any improvement in cell signal, though the iPhone 4's antenna is supposed to better than its predecessor. Some are reporting that it's worse.
The ugly:
The microcell problem: My AT&T microcell doesn't work with this phone, which means I can't place a call. As of this morning, I've spoken to AT&T, and they don't have a solution for me yet, though they say they're looking into it. Others on Twitter are reporting similar problems. I'm confident this can be fixed, but if not, I'm not keeping this phone on contract for two years. Update: when I got home from work on Thursday, the microcell magically worked. Word from the very helpful AT&T people I talked to was that something was tweaked on their end. For whatever reason it's fixed, I'm very grateful.
Verdict:
If you're an Apple nerd, you should probably buy this phone if you can handle AT&T's atrocious coverage. If you are a Droid fan, then skip it. It's a substantial improvement over the iPhone 3GS, and it's huge improvement over the iPhone 3G. The better camera, FaceTime app and HD video seal the deal for me, but the display is a sight to behold. And if the phone starts working in my house, all the better.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
