Starting September 2013, the countdown ticks off for the hotly-anticipated iPhone 5S release date, which reports said could happen between the 10th and 28th of the same month.

The debut, however, will present consumers with the reality of having to choose from a bevy of existing iPhone models - all with their functional merits that should make it harder for gadget shoppers to pick the right choice.

While for some, the decision is automatic - opting for the freshly-minted iPhone 5S, many buyers are in the hunt for the best deal available. They do not want to spend too much but are looking to enjoy the new iPhone experience as promised in the major platform revamp that resulted to the simpler but more powerful iOS 7.

Only two phones come into mind for such purpose - the nearly one-year old iPhone 5 and the 2011 headliner, the iPhone 4S. It is the latter that should satisfy the requirements of budget-conscious iPhone buyers during the 2013 holiday quarter and this article offers the following reasons.

Decent specs for all kind of users

After nearly two years in circulation, the 4S still deliver the goods. The body-build is gorgeous and with the vaunted Apple pedigree, users should not think twice in flaunting ownership of the 3.5-inch gadget.

It may be nearing two generations of mobile technology but the iPhone 4S can proudly compete against the mid-range rivals that Android device makers have issued in the past two quarters, specifically those coming from Samsung, LG and Nokia, which, of course, dishes out Windows 8-powered handsets.

Users wanting to call, send SMS, access the Internet, play games, listen to music and snap pictures will not go wrong with the iPhone 4S, which in the next few months should morph into an irresistible deal for consumers.

The iPhone 4S price tag is going down

It has been the Apple norm - when new iPhone or iPad models come to town the old units are slapped with price cuts to keep them attractive to buyers. Immediately after the iPhone 5S launch, it is expected that the iPhone 5 price mark will further shrink and so is the 4S.

It is not surprising that telcos will dangle the 4S for free with contract while the unlocked version will surely lure with very low sticker price, likely as low as $100 in key markets around the world.

Such packaging should be the bargain deal that shoppers are praying for and their wishes will not only be granted - there will be a hefty bonus to roll out with the supposed iPhone 4S crazy sale in the last few months of 2013.

It'll be iOS 7 and beyond on iPhone 4S

Apple has already indicated that its reengineered mobile platform, the iOS 7, will be dispatched to the millions of iPhone 4S in active use and the support would not stop there. It is highly likely that the next iOS iteration will continue supporting the legacy handset.

That would mean 4S users will get a taste of most of the new killer features deployed with the iPhone 5S and perhaps after two more iPhone builds, limited only by what's inside of the 4S. Nonetheless, current users and would-be buyers of the iPhone 4S are rest assured that the gizmo on their hands will not be too far away from the rest of the iOS pack.