What are the "pros and cons" of the iPhone 4? Is the iPhone 4 "worth it" for me?

As of October 4, 2011, Apple offers a "low end" configuration of the iPhone 4 equipped with 8 GB of storage.

Like any other purchase, only you can make the decision whether or not an iPhone 4 model -- the iPhone 4 (GSM) or iPhone 4 (CDMA) -- is the right smartphone for you, but you can evaluate the pros and cons to see if your needs are met. This "run down" may be helpful in making a decision:

Pros:

• Thin, sleek, solid design, much more substantial "feeling" than the iPhone 3G/3GS design it replaced.
• Beautiful ultra high-resolution "retina" display (960x640, 326 ppi).
• Quality camera for a smart phone, competitive with some basic "point and shoot" still cameras and video cameras.
• FaceTime videoconferencing is well implemented and can be quite valuable to many users.
• Faster than previous iPhone models.
• Battery life is better than earlier iPhone models and increasingly suitable for all day use for many users.
• Built-in support for GPS, 3G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.
• Dual noise canceling microphones.
• High-quality pre-installed applications, including a "desktop class" web browser, HTML capable e-mail client, and integrated Google Maps, as well as the potential for thousands of third-party applications via the AppStore.
• Support to read, but not edit, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as Adobe PDF files.
• Inexpensive (but tied to a contract in many countries).

Cons:

• Glass front and glass back, although designed to withstand considerable impact, may still be prone to damage.
• Some users have reported reception issues for the iPhone 4 (GSM) that may be design related as well as carrier related (Reviewers and users have reported that reception on the iPhone 4 (CDMA) running on the Verizon network is considerably better although antenna issues still exist).
• Camera lacks optical zoom.
• Tied to expensive multi-year contracts in many countries.
• Micro SIM card may be a hassle when traveling with a GSM-equipped model and limited international support for the CDMA-equipped model (without a SIM card) likewise may be an inconvenience for some global travelers.
• No support to edit Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files (online editing forthcoming).
• No support for Flash.
• Lack of tactile feedback may bother some users.
• Battery life still may be insufficient for heavy users and the battery is not swappable.
• Some competitive mobile phones offer superior cameras, superior wireless connectivity, additional features, and are available on a wider range of carriers.
• Substantially larger capacity iPod models are available for less money per GB.

Ultimately, if you need a smartphone, and you are not bothered by the often expensive contract and possible carrier issues in some countries, an iPhone 4 model may be "worth it" to you. Some users may prefer additional features available on other platforms and others may decide that they don't need to spend the money on a smartphone at all.