The new Apple iPhone 4S looks much like the previous iPhone 4, although it’s a different model to the iPhone 4 that was sold in Australia. The 4S design is based off the CDMA Verizon iPhone 4, which means if you’re upgrading from an iPhone 4, your case may have trouble fitting, due to the offset for the mute switch being different.

That aside, this looks like an iPhone 4. However internally there is a lot that is different. It includes the AS processor first shown in the iPad 2 and the effect is remarkable — this is a speedy smartphone that powers through most basic tasks.

The A5 is a dual-core chip, giving it significant processing and graphical power updates, although few apps so far will really push the graphics side of it just yet.

The camera in the iPhone 4S has also been improved and now has an 8MP sensor tied into a f/2.4 lens, giving it excellent low-light shooting capabilities with 1080p video recording. Both worked very well in our tests and it’s possible to take some quite stunning shots.

A major new inclusion is Siri, Apple’s much-touted voice-guided “intelligent assistant”. Siri relies on a net connection to quickly upload spoken voice samples and intelligently meet user requests.

Australian English is one of the standard voice types and it’s well worth picking for the change in accuracy it brings, with one major caveat. There’s no location-aware assistance outside the US just yet, which means if you ask Siri where the nearest anything is, it’ll respond that location features only work in the US.

The official Apple line is that it hopes to bring location-aware Siri outside the States sometime in 2012, but there’s no solid timeline announcement for Australia yet. That said, Siri’s a step above the voice guidance found in most other phones.

For existing iPhone 4 users, the iPhone 4S is a speed bump with Siri and that is about it. Anyone coming off a iPhone 3GS contract or switching from another phone should definitely consider it.

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iPhone 4S Pricing

The 16GB iPhone 4S costs $799 outright; the 32GB model is $899, and the 64GB is $999. The 8GB iPhone 4 remains on sale from Apple for $679, as does an 8GB 3GS for $449.

Cheapest plan prices are all from Vodafone on a $29 Cap Contract over 2 years: iPhone 4S 16Gb – $44 per month,
iPhone 4S 32Gb – $49 per month, iPhone 4S 64Gb – $54 oer month.

Apple’s iPhone 4 features an all new design with a high resolution screen, improved 5 megapixel camera with flash and is capable of shooting 720p resolution HD video. There is also a front facing camera that allows users to make video calls, called Face Time – from within a wi-fi zone.

The iPhone 4 costs $859 to buy outright, but the major Australian mobile phone operators have all released very competitive pricing plans in order to capture as many new customers as possible.

TELSTRA

OPTUS

On a $49 with a 2 year contract you get 1Gb of data, $450 of included services and $0 upfront for an iPhone 3GS.
$8 a month extra gets you the 16Gb iPhone 4 and $16 a month extra gets you the 32Gb version.
The $59 cap includes 2Gb data and $550 of included services, the $79 cap includes 3Gb data and $880 of included services and the $89 cap includes unlimited talk and text plus 3Gb of data.

Optus also offers unmetered access to social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn and Ebay.

3 MOBILE

For $39 a month you get $200 of calls to Vodaphone and 3 customers, $150 of calls to anyone and 150Mb of data plus a bonus 1Gb for any iPhone.
The iPhone 4 16Gb is an extra $10 a month on a 2 year contract and the 32Gb version is am extra $24 per month.
The $79 for 24 months plan gets any iPhone for $0 upfront, $450 of calls to Vodaphone and 3, $650 calls to any network and 2Gb of data.

VODAPHONE

The cheapest $29 a month plan includes unlimited calls to Vodaphone and 3 customers, $180 of calls to anyone and 500Mb of data. The iPhone costs between $12 and $24 extra a month.
Other plans are $49, $69, $79 and $99 and offer 500Mb, 750Mb, 1Gb and 2Gb of data respectively. All have unlimited calls to Vodaphone and 3 mobiles. The $79 and $99 plans are $0 upfront for any iPhone and the $99 plan has unlimited calls to anyone.

The new iPhone 4 was released in the US on June 24 and in Australia on July 30th. Apple’s latest iPhone 4 is basically two glass sheets held together by a thin metal band. The metal band acts as the phone’s antenna for phone calls, Wi-Fi and bluetooth.

Recent reports out of the US have highlighted issues when covering the left bottom corner of the metal band resulting in loss of signal strength. The loss of signal has not resulted in dropped calls and using a phone case makes the issue disappear. The issue has not affected iPhone sales with stock shortages reported across the US and UK. Apple is currently offering Australian iphone purchasers a free case.

iPhone 4 facts:

• The iPhone 4 is 9.3mm thick, 24% thinner than the iPhone 3GS.
• Has a 960 x 680 pixel high resolution screen, which is actually 4 times better than the 3GS, to make apps, web pages, emails and images look even better.
• 5 megapixel camera with built in LED flash that shoots high definition video at 720p and 30 frames per second.
• Uses the same A4 processor as found in the iPad so applications open faster and functions are performed quicker.
• Has video calling capability with a front facing camera.
• Features a 6 axis gyroscope for movement of objects on the screen.
• Includes a bigger battery that gives up to 40% more usage between charges.

The iPhone 4 has aluminosilicate glass on both the front and the back. The glass is a thermal and shock resistant material that is thirty times harder than plastic and is extremely scratch resistant.

iPhone 4 Cost and Plans

Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and 3 Mobile have all launched a range of new iPhone 4 pricing plans. All four companies are offering the $859 phone for free on two year contracts which include significant internet allowances.

• Optus is offering the 16Gb iPhone 4 for free on a $59 cap over 24 months. The largest 32Gb model is being offered on a $79 cap, including $800 in calls and 2Gb of downloads.
• Telstra gives its customers a free 16Gb iPhone4 on its $79 cap or a free 32Gb iPhone4 on its $99 plan over 2 years.
• Vodafone and 3 Mobile offer a free 16Gb iPhone on a $69 plan and a 32Gb iPhone on a $79 plan.