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iPhone 4 Cases Won’t Fit iPhone 4S?

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More than a few of you out there with an iPhone 4 have probably already placed a pre-order for Apple’s new iPhone 4S. How do I know this? The phone topped 1 million pre-orders on the first day of availability so I’d say the odds are pretty good. I’m also willing to bet that those of you with the iPhone 4 probably have a case that protects it from harm.

And again, odds are, you’ve been hoping that you could save that iPhone 4 case for your new iPhone 4S. After all, the devices look identical.

Well, as it turns out, it looks like iPhone 4 cases won’t fit the iPhone 4S. You see, the mute switch and the volume up and down buttons have moved just a tiny bit on the iPhone 4S. Sad but evidently true.

iPhone 4S vs iPhone 4

It’s unclear if the Verizon iPhone 4 will be affected by this issue, its design is similar to the iPhone 4S, but we’ll probably find out for sure once the pre-orders start arriving on doorsteps across the United States.

So, if you were an iPhone 4 owner who pre-ordered an iPhone 4S, be prepared to throw down some extra money for a new case, especially if you bought the AT&T variant.

(And if you’re still one of those people that are on the fence, be sure to read our guide on why upgrading from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S might be a good idea.)

Via: UberGizmo

46 Comments

46 Comments

  1. Morgan Williams

    10/10/2011 at 11:18 am

    I thought so too, but I just heard some bad news: Apparently, some buttons on the iPhone 4S have been moved. So the rest of the chassis might be the same, but the buttons on the side might not work with iPhone 4 cases. (https://android-sale.com/blog/donot-buy-iphone4-case-for-iphone4s/)

    • 58dogs

      10/10/2011 at 2:58 pm

      How can you post anything with out having the facts get a life!

      • Wiredit

        10/10/2011 at 10:48 pm

        Be fair and look at Apple’s site. The side buttons have been dropped from the 4s.

      • Dave Johnson

        10/14/2011 at 5:56 am

        Go easy there, little doggie.

        • Fatberger

          01/06/2012 at 9:34 pm

          When I upgraded my 4 to the 4S I asked them point blank and they said “no case for one will fit any other model of iphone”  They make them with different sizes each time, which I kinda like.  Some want a bigger screen, or whatever and they deliver.  I dont think its a big deal, but some apparently do

      • SolidSnake83

        10/17/2011 at 6:02 am

        I just tried mine… its true the case wouldn’t fit properly

      • Goiano45

        12/25/2011 at 12:09 pm

        Yes little dog, go easy, it wont feet at all

  2. Anonymous

    10/10/2011 at 11:43 am

    The iPhone 4S is the exact same shape as the CDMA iPhone 4. Any case out there that fit the  iPhone 4 on Verizon will fit the iPhone 4S. Also there is only one model of iPhone 4S that fits all carriers.

    • Clive Sinclair

      10/17/2011 at 4:06 am

      Same shape, but the mute button has moved. Just been in an Apple store with my 4S and I picked up a iPhone 4 case I liked – thinking it would fit. Got to the sales advisor, who asked if it was for a 4 or 4S. I said 4S and he pointed out the difference.

      • Anonymous

        10/17/2011 at 10:02 am

        The sales advisor must have been showing you the AT&T GSM version of the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4S is identical in every way to the iPhone 4 on Verizon, not just the dimensions but also the placement of the buttons. I have both devices and so I know this is 100% a fact. Also you should know that Apple does not carry any iPhone 4 cases that are not also universally compatible with both models of iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. This is posted on their apple store website as well.

        • Mpollot1

          10/17/2011 at 1:06 pm

          Not true. I have an apple supplied iPhone 4 case and it has the same button placement problem with the 4s.

          • Anonymous

            10/17/2011 at 1:15 pm

            You must have purchased it before the Verizon model was released. Because after it was released Apple removed all cases that were not universally compatible with both models.
            Regardless, the plain fact is that the Verizon iPhone 4 is identical to the iPhone 4S.

  3. Jake Patterson

    10/10/2011 at 2:38 pm

    um, you people really have too much time on your hands to “dilema-ize” people into buying the 4s or keeping it with having to buy a new case. first off they are THE EXACT SAME SIZE!!!!!! there are absolutely no deifferences in size or shape. just grams.
    i suggest people who dont believe so to check: https://www.apple.com/iphone/compare-iphones/
    go there. and also the white and black iphone ARE THE EXACT SAME SIZE!! i have a white one, my friend kevin, alana, steven and much more have it in black. they are the same size. and if you look at the specs on the apple webpage YOU WILL SEE they are the same size. please prove me wrong by responding. i betchya cant.

    • John Smith

      10/10/2011 at 3:47 pm

      Shut the hell up moron, you obviously have no friends and just made up those names…and if you live in the U.S.(you sound like a 12 year old white kid so I bet you do) the iPhone 4s hasn’t come out yet, it comes out on the 14th. The only thing you are accurate about in your rant is that the 4s is 3 grams heavier. Seems like you’re mad that you have to buy a new case so you’re ranting about how they are the same size….it’s not the size it’s the button placement anyways…as stated in the article? Did you even read the article to see that? Or did you just scroll down the the comments to rant about how they are the same size and a new case is needed. You have been proven wrong.

      • js

        07/23/2012 at 11:57 am

        actually, 18, with a full time job, and i pay for it on my own plan. stupid ass. but like most people, you probably just assume these things cause your in one mindset, i knew what the article said, and i knew and still know what i’m saying. grow up. and ps, i was and still am in now way getting a new case, idiot, theres nothing wrong with a mophie, considering i get twice the battery life, better than any pos case you could buy.

    • Mpollot1

      10/17/2011 at 1:09 pm

      It is not a matter of size, but control button placement. My iPhone 4 case will not work with the 4s because of the placement of the screen lock/mute switch and the volume buttons.

      • js

        07/23/2012 at 11:53 am

        actually, its the same size as a vzw iphone 4.

  4. Fallstand

    10/10/2011 at 2:41 pm

    @jake – dude…we know.. its just the location of the buttons that wont line up with the iphone 4 cases… read a little before you write your smart ass comments.

    • js

      07/23/2012 at 11:54 am

      get a veerizon one, smart ass. its the same thing as a 4s. stupid ass.

    • js

      07/23/2012 at 11:54 am

      get a verizon one, smart ass. its the same thing as a 4s. stupid ass.

  5. Guest

    10/10/2011 at 3:45 pm

      @fallstand- read a little where?? And how would you know if the phone hasn’t even been released yet!

  6. Guest J

    10/10/2011 at 10:38 pm

    The 4 cases fit the 4S, it tells you so when you you preorder the new phone and it’s also on apple.com’s website.

  7. Rcapt

    10/11/2011 at 12:01 am

    1-800-GROWUP

  8. Anonymous

    10/11/2011 at 12:25 am

    Both iPhone are exactly the same size, but that doesn’t mean all the buttons are placed in the same spots. If the iPhone 4s buttons are moved then there are some case that won’t fit. Let me give you an example, Case-mate Jett bumper case requires the iPhone 4 buttons to be placed in the correct spots in order to fit and using this case for the iPhone 4s won’t work. If you don’t believe me YouTube it. As for the other cases that have a larger cut out to occupy all the buttons, it should be all universal. We will have to wait when the phone is released to find out.

  9. Lamb

    10/11/2011 at 12:30 am

    well the bumpers on apple’s site say that they fit the 4 and the 4s so the buttons have to be in the same exact place

  10. Ninjakid

    10/14/2011 at 7:42 am

    The AT&T 4 case dont fit the Verizon 4 so all cases are not the same, it seems any Verizon 4 case will fit the 4S phone but the AT&T case will not. Plain and simple.

  11. Kentdeusinger

    10/14/2011 at 10:56 pm

    Why in the hell did i read half of the comments on this post? 3.4 minutes of my time was waisted just then and now another 1.1 minutes typing my stupid remark. Who gives a crap, if you want the phone buy it, if not then leave it alone. 8 out of 10 people that buy a case at the time of purchase end up buying a different case after they see 45 more different styles, designs, and brands of cases on the shelves of Walmart. Give it up already with the who’s right and who’s wrong about what desn’t matter to anyone that want’s a new phone. Hell, I’ve bought 3 different cases for my EVO 3D since it’s release in July, and i use only 2 of them. I returned the other cause I didn’t like it.

    • Sam

      10/20/2011 at 9:07 pm

      cases are only for the gays any way.  FACT!! The ONLY reason to have a case is because your hands are so consistently caked with astroglide that holding onto the phone is nearly impossible…  Its on the apple website! “a case is not necessary for heterosexuals.”  There you go.  Now we can all move on to something more important like what kind of toothpaste is best.

  12. Tasha

    10/15/2011 at 12:36 am

    It actually has to do with the sensor. My friend works for a company that makes iPhone cases & says that the face sensor has been moved on the 4s… so it might not work if you use the old 4 case. Your cheeks will be pressing mute, speaker phone, etc while you’re talking. Annoying. I like Jakes passion though;)

    • Iphone4stown

      10/15/2011 at 2:40 am

      Actually…I’m typing this on my iPhone 4s right now with an AT&T iPhone 4 case…it is NOT the sensor that affects this case problem. The silent switch is in a different place (my case covers half of the switch now) most cases don’t go anywhere near the face sensor so your friend is wrong lol.

      • Jeredswitcher

        10/15/2011 at 2:42 am

        The face sensor is near the front camera…maybe 2% of cases cover that area and probably won’t affect the phone. The reason AT&T iPhone 4 cases won’t fit is because the silent switch has been moved down. Your friend lied.

        • Tasha

          10/15/2011 at 10:04 am

          My friend didn’t lie some cases do cover the new sensor placement. I’m pretty sure this site is to help people figure out what case to buy, not just for being smug and rude. I was just trying to help people out as was my friend when he told me to be careful when buying a new case for my phone. No one wants to waste $30 on something that doesn’t work.

  13. Valley dude

    10/16/2011 at 7:55 am

    I’m using an Otterbox Defender iPhone 4 “Universal” case on an AT&T 4s, and everything works fine, except for flash pix. I get a stray flash light in my images which ruins them. Anyone know what’s going on?

    • SpaGuy

      10/16/2011 at 8:47 am

      Your case may be blocking the flash just slightly.

    • KP1877

      10/16/2011 at 12:11 pm

      Otterbox has a NEW case for the iPhone 4S. Has a wider opening for the flash exposure. Check there site out

  14. craig thomas

    10/16/2011 at 9:00 am

    sorry peeps but i have the iphone 4 and have just received my new iphone 4s and guess what…………… the case (apple bumper) does not fit correctly. it is the right size but where the volume buttons are on the side of the phone the case buttons do not sit over them correctly as they have moved down but a few millimetre on the actual phone. looks like i will need a new case another £25 quid apple are clever.

  15. guest

    10/18/2011 at 6:44 am

    I have both phones. they are different. iPhone 4 case DOES NOT fit the 4s!!! 

  16. Daniel Williams

    10/20/2011 at 3:34 pm

    Im sorry but are you guys really saying they are the same?? This forum is a good example of people spreading information that they have no idea about. I just got a 4s and the standard iphone 4 case does not fit 100% The mute button is off AS SHOWN IN THE PICTURE AT THE TOP, jesus how much proof do you guys need?? Heres some more. You can see that a quarter of the mute button is under the rubber.

    • Lee

      12/17/2011 at 11:33 am

      thats a cheap case thats why not made properly

  17. K;

    10/23/2011 at 10:34 am

    won’t fit

  18. Claire-lou15

    12/05/2011 at 2:37 pm

    I have iPhone 4s and the case fits perfectly like it would on a iPhone 4, but my mates 4s the case does not fit hers, mine and her mute button are in different places hers is lower than mine

    • Lee

      12/17/2011 at 11:31 am

      these idiots are dumb there is no difference except the white iphone which i have that are a tad thicker litterally a tad but it still fits

  19. assembling esclave

    12/18/2011 at 4:29 pm

    These cases are of high price and not outstanding in design with te competitive price,just find here: https://www.dealmelody.com/_c1789 you will find out the best one for your ipad 2.

  20. Nono

    01/05/2012 at 6:23 pm

    This is worst. Your picture shows that APPLE HAS A DESIGN FLAW ON IPHONE 4.  Yes, they redesigned the antenna on the 4S so it doesn’t make contact when you are “holding the phone wrong”….hahaha… Apple will never accept they did a design flaw, but it is obvious.

  21. suzan

    01/17/2012 at 4:02 am

    i am planing to buy iphone so thanks before only you suggest wat to buy for iphone

  22. lilly pulitzer iphone 4 case

    07/20/2012 at 10:10 pm

    It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you few interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read even more things about it!

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