Hard versus Soft Reset?

[katesbb]

For purposes of my question:

Soft Reset = Hold down the Power key, slide the Power slider to off

Hard Reset = Hold down Power and Home buttons simultaneously until the phone reboots

Is there any difference other than a Hard Reset working even if the phone is otherwise frozen?

I've seen people say that a Hard Reset is more like pulling a computer's power cable out, possibly creating problems since it's not a normal shutdown process where states are saved. True?

Others say there's no difference.

Is there anything official from Apple about the differences, if any?

 

[kch50428]

Hard Reset = Hold down Power and Home buttons simultaneously until the phone reboots

Do this only when it the only thing you can do...

 

[Just_Me_D]

Check out post #14

http://forums.imore.com/iphone-4s/250101-soft-reset-vs-hard-reset.html#post1988237

 

[katesbb]

Do this only when it the only thing you can do...

Right, but why? How does a Hard Reset affect my phone differently?

EDIT: Thanks, Just_Me_D, didn't see that until after I'd posted http://forums.imore.com/members/just_me_d-229509/

 

[anon(9343851)]

The "hard" reset is like pressing the Reset button on old computers. Sometimes you'll notice that your applications' state has been rolled back once the device comes back up. That's also why your device goes back to the Apple logo much faster this way. A "soft" (I had these terms soft/hard) reset is more like telling the OS to Shutdown/Restart. That spinning wheel you see is the OS saving application states and shutting down cleanly.

Generally speaking, you should avoid "hard" resets unless your phone is completely inoperable (for instance, holding down the power button does nothing).