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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is an iphone 4s a rubbish phone for a teenager?

46 replies

AckWhatToDo · 22/01/2018 18:19

My son tells me it is. I thought it was a great phone, despite not being the latest sort. Who is right? Is it true that you can no longer update the 4s?

What do your teens have?

OP posts:
ChoudeBruxelles · 22/01/2018 18:21

Ds (11 nearly 12) has an iPhone 6. 4s is pretty old and you can’t get 4g on it. A 5 is better as you can get 4g

ThisLittleKitty · 22/01/2018 18:21

I have it and it's pretty rubbish. I can't downloads certain apps as it can't be updated to the latest version so doesn't allow me to download. Camera is poor aswell

ChoudeBruxelles · 22/01/2018 18:22

And you probably can’t get all updates for a 4s

Floofborkboopandsnoot · 22/01/2018 18:22

As far as I know you can no longer update any older than a 5s. I wouldn’t say it’s a rubbish phone but I would be a waste of money imo.

BluePony · 22/01/2018 18:22

Your son is right; is a 5 possible? Honestly, the young people I know wouldn't be seen with anything before a 6.

LittleLights · 22/01/2018 18:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Isadora2007 · 22/01/2018 18:23

Yeah sorry... it’s pretty naff for a teen.

LittleLights · 22/01/2018 18:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

passthepotatoes · 22/01/2018 18:24

It works as in makes calls and texts!

Smart phone wise so slow. You can get a good decent android phone for a good price these days.

19lottie82 · 22/01/2018 18:24

It is imafraid, it’s going to be really slow and a lot of apps won’t run on it.

Original poster
AckWhatToDo · 22/01/2018 18:25

OK, thanks everyone. Shows what I know Grin

OP posts:
sparklepops123 · 22/01/2018 18:26

My son has had my I phone 4 for last year the battery wore down very quickly, which I relied on in case need of contact etc- I’ve just upgraded so he has no. 5 , which I know Is lot more capable

Ilovetolurk · 22/01/2018 18:26

I too would go no lower than a 6 for a teen

statetrooperstacey · 22/01/2018 18:27

I had one it was pretty much obsolete. It won't Evrn work that well as a phone as a lot of the functions can't be updated. Its rubbish op sorry.

Boulshired · 22/01/2018 18:29

I’d go for a 6 as it probably won’t be long till you cannot update the 5.

BadaBingaling · 22/01/2018 18:30

My 10 year old has a 6. 4s is basically a brick (sorry)

MarigoldGloveHotel · 22/01/2018 18:30

It's what I use.

Yes, I can't get aps, but I don't need to. I can use the Internet, make calls and texts. Mines on its second battery and nth screen.

It's been paid for many moons ago so I'm on a monthly "contract" with Tesco for £20. I can phone and text and surf all I want for that. It's what I can afford and I'm grateful I can say "I can't do that" to what's app stuff.

So it might be a rubbish phone, but it's better than no phone, which is my alternative.

Interestingly my pre-teens take the Mickey out of their teenage cousins for being phone obsessed. I wonder if a backlash to always having the latest isn't brewing not too far off.

ThisLittleKitty · 22/01/2018 18:34

A brick lol actually a woman did ask me on the bus a little while back what iphone I had. I think she was making a point of saying it was rubbish. I literally only use the internet but I have been looking to replace it as I can't download lots of apps.

MagicWillHappen · 22/01/2018 18:44

Marigold I pay £16 a month for an iPhone 5 with Virgin. I would definitely shop around, £20 a month for a 4 is a lot now.

Storminateapot · 22/01/2018 18:45

It is a bit to be honest. My teenagers have 5s's, I'm not into them having the best and latest (I only have a 6 myself).

TheBrilliantMistake · 22/01/2018 18:45

It's not considered a great phone by modern standards, but neither is a model that's only 18 months old.

Perhaps most importantly though, there's nothing prohibitively bad about it either. It can make calls, it can take photos, it can snapchat / whatsapp / facebook / play music etc etc. It's functional and practical.

Ultimately I think you're facing a two-fold issue - namely the model is a few years old, and you're dealing with a teenager where 'trend' and 'latest' are a big part of their lives.

If you go and spend a fortune on the latest model, you'll still be facing this issue next year when the next model comes out. Perhaps cut a deal with them...

If they can look after this phone for a full year without breaking it THEN you'll consider a better model next year.

Friedgreen · 22/01/2018 18:46

You might as well get him a Nokia. Also, as it is no longer being supported by Apple if he does try to use it on the internet he is likely to get his details stolen.

GeorgeTheHamster · 22/01/2018 18:48

Yeah, it won't update, it won't run later apps and it will be horribly slow. It's basically obsolete as a phone but you could use it as an iPod just for music and podcasts, if you want one, it will be fine for that.

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 22/01/2018 18:49

It will be really old so unlikely to
Update to the latest iOS- I think they are from 2010/2011?

My teens have an iPhone SE and and iPhone 6. I now have the 7 and I am almost worthy of being seen by their friends 😑

IncyWincyGrownUp · 22/01/2018 18:50

I’m about to get rid of my 10 year old son’s 5c as it’s about to become defunct for the very narrow needs he has for it. A 4S is pretty much useless for modern apps.

As rare as it happens with me, I’m with the teen on this one! :o