5 Reasons why you shouldn't buy the iPhone 4S in India

After expressing woes over the steeply priced iPhone 4S; seemingly though, it is not just its half a lakh pricing that could stop one from buying the smartphone. There is definitely more than what meets the eye. We all know that the iPhone 4S has some propitious attributes like a faster processor, better camera, support for 1080p HD along with a smooth touchscreen and sophisticated looks, which is, of course, almost synonymous with iPhones. But, the price is a hurdle. Consider the fact that the iPhone 4 was launched a couple of months back at Rs. 35,000. With the probable iPhone 5 in the pipeline a year down the line and a handful of Android and WP7 devices posing as alternatives, you get enough reasons to ponder over before taking that fateful plunge and shelling out those big notes.

price is a barrier

However, if you are still recklessly determined to buy the iPhone 4S, then here are a few pointers which suggest why you shouldn’t:

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Price

Mobile enthusiasts could look out for other alternatives to the iPhone 4S as the device carries an exorbitant price, or is rather over-priced by Rs.10,000. For iPhone 4 users in India, this upgrade may not be a good move, after all. The reason is simple, Rs. 44,500 for 16GB, Rs. 50,700 for 32GB and Rs. 57,500 for 64GB. Now, I’m sure we all can quickly put up a list of things that can be done with that exceedingly high amount. Even if you plan to buy the smartphone from the U.S., then you’ll have to kiss the warranty goodbye, as Apple does not support international warranty. Presuming the Galaxy Nexus would be priced better, this could add further fuel to the fire.

Design
There’s nothing wrong with the design of the iPhone 4S, then again there was nothing wrong with the iPhone 4’s either, of which the 4S is but a clone. I don’t see a reason why an iPhone 4 user would jump the gun and buy a device priced so much higher than what he paid for his current device, if all they get are a few ‘under-the-hood’ upgrades and nothing more. Design specs don’t change.
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Limited Hardware Upgrades
While investing in a smartphone, which is roughly priced somewhere between 20k to 30k, one would compare it to devices in a similar range. But, if a device is priced between 40k and 60k, one definitely expects it to be exceptional, in every sense of the word.  We’re not saying that the iPhone 4S is a run-of-the-mill handset, and it does feature a faster processor, 8 megapixel camera and 1080p video support. But how many times do you actually want to watch a 1080p video on your mobile handset ? Won’t a 720p recording fit in well with the iPhone’s Retina display, which is 640 x 960? A faster processor does support better gaming, but Apple already made sure that your gaming experience on the iPhone 4 was better than the rest, as it is.

iPhone 4 lookalike

We think, the massive boost in the pricing of the iPhone 4S does not justify the attributes it holds within. Siri is the highlight of the iPhone 4S, but the voice-enabled feature is still in the beta testing stage. It doesn’t even support location-based services in India, yet or local searches. What also goes missing is NFC (Near Field Communication) functionality, which at the moment, Nokia, RIM and some Android partners are already loaded up with.

Alternatives
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is speculated to reach the Indian market anytime soon. The Galaxy Nexus features Ice Cream Sandwich, the newest flavour in Android bakery, which is expected to offer iOS 5 some stiff competition. If this smartphone is priced right, which we’re assuming will be nowhere in the same price bracket as the iPhone 4S anyway, it would be a good alternative for those looking at a high-end device.If teh Nexus is a future threat, let us not forget the existing Samsung Galaxy S II which is also a good alternative and cheaper by Rs. 15,000. Also taking into account the fact that iPhone 4 was released just five months ago in India, and the iPhone 5 is supposedly expected early next year with a new tapering design (hinted by Caste-Mate cases) the timing of this ‘clone with minor upgrades’ isn’t quite right. If the iPhone 5 happens to come early next year, it could possess all the new features found in the iPhone 4S and probably an enhanced design and better screen size with more goodies as well.

alternatives for iPhone 4S

 4G
As of now, 4G services aren’t on the cards for India, at least till late next year. We’ve seen the sad history, which the 3G dealt with in legal limbo, which may have been a reason for its late entry. So, eventually, you’ll be using 3G, which is possible with other high-end smartphones at par with 4S. A handset with this price tag should most certainly be future-proof, perhaps not the distant future, but at the very least, one that will be usable maybe a year down the line with updated communication technology. Now that 4G is available in some parts of the globe already, leaving this feature out seems like a big faux pas on Apple’s part.

Ultimately, for most of us almost everything eventually boils down to the exorbitant pricing. As aforesaid, the iPhone 4 was launched recently in India and the 4S upgrade could prove futile, if iPhone 5 hits the market early next year. The other alternative would be to wait for a while as some upcoming smartphones are slated to release soon. However, Apple fans, hell bent on picking the latest ‘i’ device, can go ahead and simply buy it from the U.S. with a little compromise over the warranty. Do you plan to buy the iPhone 4S? Let us know why, in the comments section. If you’re of the opinion that the price and product, at this particular time, is not worthy of purchase, do let us know your reasons why.