iPhone 4

iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 is a smartphone designed and marketed by Apple Inc. as the fourth generation of the iPhone product line. It was unveiled on June 7, 2010, at WWDC 2010 by then-CEO Steve Jobs at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The device represented a significant redesign from its predecessor, the iPhone 3GS, introducing a new industrial design, a higher-resolution screen, and a front-facing camera for video calling.

Design and hardware

The iPhone 4 featured a radical new design language, moving away from the curved plastic back of the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS to a flat, stainless steel frame that also served as the device's antenna system. This band design was sandwiched between two panels of chemically strengthened aluminosilicate glass, marketed as a "glass and stainless steel design." The front of the device housed the new 3.5-inch Retina Display, which boasted a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch, a specification that Steve Jobs claimed exceeded the resolving power of the human retina. The rear panel included a 5.0-megapixel back-illuminated sensor camera with an LED flash and a new front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime video calls. Internally, it was powered by the custom Apple A4 system-on-a-chip, which integrated an ARM Cortex-A8 CPU and a PowerVR SGX535 GPU.

Software and features

The iPhone 4 launched with iOS 4, which introduced major new features like multitasking for third-party apps and the ability to organize apps into folders. Its signature new feature was FaceTime, a proprietary video-calling service that initially worked only over Wi-Fi between iPhone 4 devices. The operating system also brought a unified inbox for Microsoft Exchange and other email accounts, and support for iBooks and Game Center. The device's gyroscope was leveraged by developers for enhanced motion control in games and augmented reality applications. Over its lifespan, it received updates up to iOS 7.1.2, gaining features from subsequent releases like iCloud, Siri (with limitations on the iPhone 4), and the redesigned interface of iOS 7.

Reception and impact

Upon its release, the iPhone 4 received widespread critical acclaim for its premium design, exceptional display quality, and performance. Reviewers from publications like The Wall Street Journal, Engadget, and CNET praised the Retina Display and the overall build quality. However, the device became embroiled in the "Antennagate" controversy, where users reported dropped calls and signal attenuation when the stainless steel band in the lower-left corner was bridged by a hand. Apple Inc. held a press conference to address the issue, offering free bumper cases to affected customers. Despite this, the iPhone 4 was a massive commercial success, selling over 1.7 million units in its first three days. Its design language influenced subsequent models like the iPhone 4S and iPad 2, and it is often cited as a landmark device in smartphone history.

Technical specifications

The iPhone 4 was equipped with the Apple A4 chip, which featured a single-core 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor and 512 MB of LPDDR RAM. Its 3.5-inch Retina Display had a resolution of 960 by 640 pixels. Storage options were 8, 16, or 32 GB of internal NAND flash memory, with no option for expansion. Cellular connectivity included Quad-band GSM/EDGE and Tri-band UMTS/HSDPA on the initial model, with a separate CMDA model for Verizon Wireless released in early 2011. It supported Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and 802.11n Wi-Fi. The rear camera could record 720p HD video at 30 frames per second, and the device included a three-axis gyroscope, accelerometer, and digital compass.

Release and availability

The iPhone 4 was first released on June 24, 2010, in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan. Its launch was marked by long queues at Apple Stores and partner retailers like AT&T. Due to high demand, pre-orders through AT&T overwhelmed the carrier's systems. A white model, delayed due to manufacturing challenges, was released in April 2011. In January 2011, a CDMA2000 version was announced for Verizon Wireless, ending AT&T's exclusivity in the U.S. market. The device was officially discontinued on September 10, 2013, following the announcement of the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S, though it remained available in some emerging markets as an entry-level option for a period.

Category:IPhone Category:Mobile phones introduced in 2010 Category:Products and services discontinued in 2013