IPhone 5 Release Date: iPhone 4S Rated Lower Than Android, Samsung Galaxy

Despite permeating headlines over the past month, the iPhone 4S was rated behind Samsung's Galaxy S II phones, the Motorola Droid Bionic and the LG Thrill in Consumer Reports recent issue.

The smartphone was rated lower than some of its competitors because of the small display and lack of 4G cellular capabilities.

Consumer Reports said the HSPA+ networks are faster than what is on the iPhone 4 but is still "the bottom rung of what is considered to be 4G network speed."

Last year, the magazine criticized the iPhone 4 for antenna problems that are inimical to the phone's signal strength. They acknowledged Apple fixed the problem on the 4S.

"The 4s did not display the same reception flaw, which involves a loss of signal strength when you touch a spot on the phone’s lower left side while you’re in an area with a weak signal," the report said.

The report also pointed out Apple has not been able to fix the battery problems with the iPhone 4S, however, Apple said the battery problems will be corrected in an upcoming software update.

The 4S was released Oct. 14 and is aesthetically identical to its predecessor, but is loaded with new features.

One of those new features is Siri, a voice-command system built into the smartphone that responds to natural-language requests. The iPhone 4S also has iCloud that allows users to transfer iTunes media to all their devices.

Another new feature on the iPhone is an 8 MP camera. This 4S is the first model of the phone to be released since the death of CEO and cofounder Steve Jobs.

Apple described the 4S as "the most amazing iPhone yet."