A classic
The iPhone 4s is a diminutive phone, surprisingly heavy, but with a very premium feel. The weight and heft of this device makes it feel like a quality product. At the time of writing (June 2020), this phone is nine years old and it runs extremely slow. However, if updates to ios9 (the last version of iOS this phone could be updated too), it runs a surprising number of apps (though in many cases older versions). At the time of writing, the phone can run the Sky Go app, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple Music, WhatsApp, Zoom videocalling, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Super Mario Run, Sonic All Star Racing Transformed (which actually doesn't run on newer devices, at least not this version). It can run scanning and printing apps, it can run YouTube and YouTube Kids. Having said that, there apps do take time to load, run slow and using anything that requires you to sign in is risky since security updates for this phone are no longer available. As a precaution people should sign out of all services that require you to sign in, and perhaps it would be better to make a new Apple ID for this which has no important private data attached. To be extra safe, perhaps it would be best to turn off both wi fi and mobile internet when it is not needed.
Having said that, it is actually quite surprising that in 2020, this phone is still working well enough, although I suspect most of the apps I mentioned are probably going to stop working very soon. For making calls and sending texts, this phone is still good and the camera performance is pretty decent, though it does not offer slo mo or video recording over 1080p.
Still, it looks pretty cool, and is highly pocketable. If you buy a new sealed unit the battery life is not too great though it will probably get you through a day. The battery was never great in these units and a little bit of gaming will hammer this unit and make it heat up, but then for 2011 standards it is quite amazing that this product still works for teh most part. The end is nigh but it had a glorious run so those who want one should get the last truly small Apple iPhone. They don't make them like this anymore and they should. Not everyone wants to carry a massive slab.
A town considering buying this for a child, it is a poor choice. It is too slow and not very secure. Unless a child has never used a smartphone before they will find the sluggishness annoying and it is likely that they would like to use newer apps that this phone does not support. For kids, the best iOS device is the iPad Mini, with strict parental controls. Of course, it goes without saying that children should spend limited time using phones/tablets but with this, their limited time would be spent trying to load a game or having lots of frozen apps because this thing cannot really multitask. The 512mb of RAM is only good for running one app at a time, and even then sometimes the apps crash.
Of course it is a little heavy as chunky and the 2016 iPhone SE is a great alternative to this because it is lighter and is faster, with more features. If you do get the 4S, do not buy the smaller capacity ones - 64GB is your only option because the other ones have really limited storage (even 64GB is tiny, but it will allow you to add some media or use the space for photos, videos taken with the camera).
When buying on eBay, be sure to ask seller if phone charges properly, the home button works, and if there are any defects with the screen. Although the screen can be replaced, it is a huge effort and one seller sold me a unit that had an annoying white spot on the screen, though it was not mentioned in the description. At some point I will have to replace the screen, which is extremely hard because you have to take out everything front he home and meticulously put everything back in. Just because replacement screens are available and the job can done done doesn't mean it is easy. There are lots of little components that can get lost when replacing the screen. If you want a small iPhone the to can be fixed more easily, choose the 2016 SE since the screen and battery and both easy to change.
Do not forget to switch in the virtual Home button using assistive control. Even if the home button works, it is a part that is likely to deteriorate so extend the life of the device by switching the virtual home button on because it proves to be quite useful.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned