The purported release of the next-gen Apple offering - the iPhone 5 - is barely few weeks away and speculations of various new features and design of the iPhone 5 have already clouded the tech market. Will the smartphone giant address the reported problems of the iPhone 4S and present a flawless iPhone 5 to iFans?

Apple's iPhone 4S has garnered a lot of accolades since its Oct. 2011 launch. However, all was not rosy with the device packing a bagful of not-so-perfect features.

Battery
Users of the iPhone 4s reported weak battery performance. A published review of iLounge states: "The iPhone 4S is generally more power hungry than the iPhone 4, and Apple has only made the slightest capacity improvement to the iPhone 4S's battery." Current rumors suggest that the battery used in the iPhone 5 will be se a slight improvement. The question that makes one wonder is if the slight boost in battery is enough to support the expected enhanced features on the iPhone 5.

Camera Shutter Problem
The iPhone 4S sports an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, a mammoth 3-megapixel increase from the previous iterations. iFans enjoyed an enhanced picture quality, but the shutter speed remained a problem area, as it was with the previous models. Many users experienced that the camera shutter often freezes and remains closed. Currently, the Sony Ericsson Idou is available with a 12.1-megapixel camera. iPhone users will be hoping that Apple hits back with a vengeance and comes up with a 12.1-megapixel, or better camera that has improved shutter speed.

Siri Security Issue
Siri, the virtual assistant, is the most novel application of the iPhone 4S. Siri, by default, is available from the lock screen. Users identified a flaw that allowed the use of Siri without unlocking the homescreen with the requisite security passcode. However, changing the default settings will prevent Siri from opening without the security passcode. From a user security perspective, the dilemma remains with Apple i.e., if it should change this default setting.

Screen Appearance
Several users of the iPhone 4S reported of a yellow tint or spots on the display screen. Apple has never explained this, but technicians presume it to be the adhesive used to bind the glass to the screen. Recent rumors hint that the iPhone 5 will be presented in a unibody design. With the improvement in design, consumers will expect Apple to address this issue.

Wi-Fi Connectivity
Many iFans faced issues while connecting the 4S to the Wi-Fi network and encountered difficulty in maintaining the Wi-Fi connection. Whether Apple tweaks features of the iPhone 5 to maintain a smoother Wi-Fi connection remains a mystery.

iPhone 5's predecessors have cherished the welcome accorded by Apple devotees. It remains to be seen if Apple launches the perfect iPhone 5 that hosts several new and enhanced features, or if the smartphone continues to be replete with the previous nightmares.