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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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Buy It:

$219.00

90-Day Price History

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high
$269
low
$200

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

8.5
267 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
chrisutf chrisutf

The iPhone itself is a great device. The App Store, location awareness, etc. all work extremely well. I thought that I would miss having a physical keyboard as all of my previous devices have had, but the keyboard works pretty well even though I have large fingers. AT&T's 3G coverage, on...

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8.0
ltkwok ltkwok

I was able to convince my wife to take my iPhone 3G so I can get the 3GS. Otherwise, I don't think it would have been worth the upgrade. I do not find myself using the improvements (compass, voice control, faster, video camera) very much but the larget memory (32G) was helpful. Given the...

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10
bleongcw bleongcw

The biggest grip I have is the battery life, which is basically the bane of all Apple products I have. Other than that, I have to be forced to follow a data plan in Singapore which makes owning this device really expensive. One thing that makes iPhone 3GS better than most other smart phones is...

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9.0
orbital21 orbital21

I usually wait until a 3rd generation Apple product before I jump in the water. I've found that you usually get the best version of that product at the third iteration. There will of course be improvements down the line, but after 2 years in my contract then it will be time for the next...

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10
Ulysse Ulysse

That’s it folks. Today is the day the 3GS will show its real nature to the world. Every Apple geek, every geek and every good men will test their new precious. Today is the day Apple will stop controlling what we say about it. Today is the day our freedom will approach the iPhone 3GS. Today is...

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10
Lindsay25 Lindsay25

I got the iPhone 3GS less than a month ago. I've been a fan since the original phone launched in 2007. This is my first iPhone. I really love the 3GS. Here are some of the reasons that I would recommend the phone. -It is really fast on the 3g network. It is still pretty fast on Edge. -The...

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6.0
Bob0mb Bob0mb

IT'S THE MAIN REASON WHILE ILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER APPLE PRODUCT ASIDE FROM MY 80GB IPOD CLASSIC UNLESS SOMEONE ELSE MAKE AN 80GB+ MP3 PLAYER THAT ISNT GIGANTIC.

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