Macworld says:

quote

The iPhone 3GS is, without a doubt, the finest iPhone Apple has made. It addresses most of the fundamental weaknesses of the previous models, adding raw speed, voice-activated phone and music navigation, an improved autofocus camera, and video-recording features. quote


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Critic reviews

8.0
18 reviews
  • Reception and call quality
    6.6
  • Display
    8.6
  • Battery life
    7.8
  • Camera
    7.5
  • Ease of use
    8.2
  • Design and form factor
    8.2
  • Portability (size / weight)
    8.0
  • Media support
    8.7
  • Durability
    6.0
  • Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
    8.8

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User reviews

8.6
257 reviews
7.0
Engadget Jun 20, 2009

Ultimately we're not saying it's time to jump ship, but we've come to expect a bit more pedal to the floor from Apple -- you've raised the bar guys, now it's time to jump over it.

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9.0
Macworld Jun 22, 2009

The iPhone 3GS is, without a doubt, the finest iPhone Apple has made. It addresses most of the fundamental weaknesses of the previous models, adding raw speed, voice-activated phone and music navigation, an improved autofocus camera, and video-recording features.

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9.0
PC Mag Jun 22, 2009

If you like apps or the Internet, go buy the iPhone 3GS right now. The new model's improved processor and graphics chipset significantly boost the speed of everything from Web browsing to games, cementing the iPhone's role as the nation's most flexible handheld computer.

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8.0
Gizmodo Jul 17, 2009

As a whole, the iPhone 3GS is the best all-around smartphone available. If you're looking for a refined, augmented version of what you already know, a phone that, not for nothing, runs all the tens of thousands of apps on the App Store, choose the iPhone 3GS.

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8.0
CNET Jun 16, 2009

The iPhone 3GS doesn't make the same grand leap that the iPhone 3G made from the first-generation model, but the latest Apple handset is still a compelling upgrade for some users. The iPhone 3GS is faster and we appreciate the new features and extended battery life, but call quality and 3G reception...

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8.0
Wired Jun 17, 2009

The new phone introduces a long list of improvements, big and small. Taken together, they're enough to re-establish Apple's once-shrinking lead in a brutal technology competition that is making the chariot race in Ben Hur look like a stroll in the park.

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8.0
New York Times Jun 17, 2009

All of these changes make it much harder to resist the iPhone on intellectual, feature-counting grounds. The new iPhone doesn't just catch up to its rivals — it vaults a year ahead of them. At this point, the usual 10 rational objections to the iPhone have been whittled down to about three: no...

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8.0
Computerworld Jun 26, 2009

All of it works together to produce a more refined iPhone that first-time buyers will love and upgraders will appreciate. The design is classic iPhone, and the price for what you get still makes it a deal.

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7.0
Ars Technica Jun 22, 2009

The iPhone 3GS has launched and Apple claims that it's faster than ever. Ars Technica put the device through its paces and found that, while the camera could still use some work, its other new features are useful and the phone's speed definitely lives up to its name.

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7.0
AllThingsD Jun 17, 2009

Both the new iPhone and iPhone OS are packed with features that make a great product even better. But, for many users, the software may be enough of a boost to keep them from buying the new model.

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7.0
AnandTech Jul 7, 2009

A deep dive into the technicals behind what makes the iPhone 3GS one of the fastest, if not the fastest, smartphone on the market.

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9.0
WirelessInfo Jun 19, 2009

The latest iteration of the iPhone adds a much better camera, faster processor, more memory and a number of new software features that make it easier to use and more flexible. That's a considerable set of improvements that make the iPhone 3G S a very attractive package, but existing iPhone users...

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9.0
Pocket-Lint Jun 22, 2009

It may offer one of the best experiences that mobile telephony has to offer, but there is still room for improvement, meaning we can all look forward to future updates with that same palpable sense of excitement.

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9.0
Phone Scoop Jul 2, 2009

For the Mac faithful, there's simply no other phone to have. For anyone who wants a device that does nearly everything -- and does it all well -- then it's hard not to recommend the iPhone.

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8.0
iLounge Jun 22, 2009

If you’re an original iPhone owner looking for a major speed bump, capacity jump, better camera, superior mapping device, or more easily controlled iPhone, you’ll find all these things and many more pleasant benefits in the iPhone 3GS... First-time iPhone buyers will find the iPhone 3GS to be a...

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8.0
GSM Arena Jun 30, 2009

It's true that the iPhone 3GS brings over only incrementing changes, there's nothing ground breaking about it. But before everything else, the newly introduced changes on both software AND hardware level will make the new iPhone 3GS a more balanced smartphone most of all.

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9.0
USA Today Jun 16, 2009

The 3.0 software and 3G S phone may not check off everything on your iPhone wish list. But they give iPhone loyalists plenty of new reasons to celebrate.

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9.0
About Aug 15, 2009

There’s no arguing: the iPhone 3GS is the best iPhone ever. And it ought to be. Each successive iPhone has been better than the last. And the iPhone 3GS is a great phone. If you’re not an iPhone user, it’s the most compelling reason yet to switch. But not all of the phone’s promise is...

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9.0
kojak2091

Very good phone. Never had a problem with reception as far as the phone is concerned. Never had any problems or minor inconveniences with this phone.

9.0
AldoP

I've had a BB for many years and liked it a lot but I decided I needed a new toy to play with so I got an iPhone3gs a little over a month ago. I'm a Unix guy so I didn't like the idea of dealing with Apple and paying for everything but the times they are a changing and the...

8.0
nunu10000

If you want a cheap, $50 smartphone with crappy AT&T, get the 3GS. Remember though, you won't be getting excellent coverage from AT&T, and you should look into getting an extended battery case.

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