If it ain't broke, don't fix it -- right? We know countless reviews of the iPhone 3G S may begin with that cliché, but there's little chance you'd find a better way to describe the strategy that Apple has just put into play with its latest smartphone. In many ways, the 3G S is a mirror image of the iPhone 3G; externally there's no difference. It's inside where all the changes have happened, with Apple issuing a beefed-up CPU, new internal compass, larger capacities for storage, and improved optics for its camera.
Apple iPhone 3GS
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Reception and call quality
182 ratings | 42 comments
Display
182 ratings | 39 comments
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Battery life
181 ratings | 36 comments
Ease of use
182 ratings | 28 comments
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Design and form factor
181 ratings | 29 comments
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181 ratings | 40 comments
Durability
182 ratings | 40 comments
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I upgraded from the 1st-Gen iPhone (4 GB). My 3GS adds everything that I have been complaining about. Quadrupled the storage for me to 16 GB, upgraded the camera, smoother game graphics, quicker in doing various tasks around the phone, etc. It's missing the excitement from when i bought the... Read the full review →
5 people find this review helpful
My reasons for switching: In no particular order: * Capacity - For the first time, the iPhone has reached a capacity that can hold my entire itunes music collection plus several movies and tons and tons of apps. * New camera with video - As a photographer and even more so, video editor, the iPhones... Read the full review →
4 people find this review helpful
I was on Verizon... I had an LG Voyager and I was happy. I decided to take the plunge and get an iPhone, mostly because the 3GS had just been announced, and also because playing with them in the Apple store makes me want to take one home. I thought i'd never live without my hardware keyboard,... Read the full review →
3 people find this review helpful
If you like the 3G, you'll like the 3GS. Having owned both, I notice a significant improvement in loading times of all my apps. In my non-scientific side by side tests (against a newly upgraded to 3.0 firmware 3G) the 3GS blew it out of the water in load times. No comparison. Despite what... Read the full review →
3 people find this review helpful
I bought the iPhone the day it came out. I did the same with the iPhone 3G, but the crapiness of the AT&T network is not really making justice to the 3G. I upgraded to the 3GS the day it came out (yes, I am a fanboy) primarily because of the improved processor. As a heavy email user, with a large... Read the full review →
3 people find this review helpful
This was my first iPhone after having a 1st generation iPod touch for 2 years, and wow can you notice a massive speed increase. S is for speed, especially with graphically intense apps. Hero of Sparta in particular is amazing. The new 3.2 megapixel camera is quite clear, and once again makes taking... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
It's easier to tell what's missing than what the 3GS has. From a purely business perspective, it's the best phone I've ever used by a W I D E margin and only leaves me wishing for one feature, tethering. MMS still isn't there, but will be by the end of September, so I... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
I find that I can get real work done on the iPhone 3Gs browser without the fear that Safari will crash in the middle of getting work done. I bought the 3Gs the day it came out and to date I have never had Safari crash no matter what I am doing. That for me is worth the price. I also love the speed... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
the 50% speed boost, voice control, screen and video recording are the icings in the cake for me :D People complain that it looks exactly like the previous version but i see it as advantage, since most of accesories will be compatible. thanks to this. i wanted to get a flip cam, but the camera on... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
"When Apple says this phone is fast, the really mean this phone is fast. Throughout the three days I’ve had the phone, it has not once lagged doing anything; whether that be simple actions like typing, swiping, zooming, pinching or launching applications or even playing graphics heavy... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
The original iPhone passed me by but I was a 3G owner for an entire 12 months. In fact I was first in line (4 o'clock in the morning) at my local O2 store on the day of release. In that year I can honestly say the iPhone became not just a device for making calls or sending texts but an... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
I upgraded to the 3GS from my 1st gen original iPhone and it is remarkable how much faster it is. Obviously the network speed going from Edge to 3G is much, much better, but the actual operating speed of the unit far exceeded my expectations. Navigating around the UI is much more fluid. I've... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
When the iPhone was first announced, we were only 6 months into a 2 year contract with Verizon... the wait was on. Glad we did wait too. I know that I would be clammoring for the new 3GS even if I had a 3G. It's the camera and video features that are the most desirable. We have our first child... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
Now that the iPhone is capable of basic things like video recording, cut copy and paste, and voice commands, what is holding people back from buying the new iPhone 3GS? This phone is fantastic. It does everything because if its revolutionary App Store. If you want an e-Book reader, turn by turn... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
The hardware performance boost between the 3G and 3GS is great!! Almost zero lag and way quicker app loading times are the most surprising additions. The new 3.0MP autofocus camera, compass, and especially the video are all great! On the software side Apple is late to the table on most additions... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
No longer do I find myself sitting at my computer 10 hours a day. Once work is over, I can handle my social internet life from my iPhone. No longer is a computer necessary to talk over chat protocols, Facebook, or email. And then there's internet browsing. Never before had I believed mobile... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
initially i didnt want to buy this iPhone. I own the previous 2 versions and thought the 3G would be just fine. than i started to think about the benefits of having a faster CPU and better Graphics and man was it noticeable. launching apps is so much faster and the video recording looks much better... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
I find myself constantly using this thing. It really does provide so much more than phone service, pictures and an address book. The geekdom out there is in one of those loving to hate Apple modes right now. You know, like the love to hate Microsoft mode of a few years ago. Anyway, if you simply... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
I have slowly become an apple fanboy for a long time, so if you are looking for a review of an iPhone versus the Blackberry or Palm this one is not for you. However, if you are one of the many people trying to decided if it is time for an upgrade then read on. Prior to my recent purchase of the... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
It's great, almost two years after I bought it and I still get excited with apps and new iOS versions every day. Read the full review →
1 person found this review helpful
I have been using the iPhone 3G s since launch date. I've travelled to vegas (driving) and signal strength was spotty (AT&T's fault). Battery life is indeed better and processor speed did help launch apps faster. The 3MP camera and video is worth the price of admission. Needs improvement... Read the full review →
1 person found this review helpful
I bought all of the iPhones the day they were released in the US. The 3G was my most anticipated, but the 3GS is the one that I am most impressed with. The speed is fantastic. It switches apps so fast it almost negates the need for background apps. The compass is a nice touch. The app is not very... Read the full review →
1 person found this review helpful
When the iPhone 3GS was announced as being 2X faster then the previous iPhone model, it didn't seem like a big enough selling point. But I was amazed when I first booted the device that it took about 20 seconds to start up and go into the home screen (Compare that to about 45 seconds for the 3G... Read the full review →
1 person found this review helpful
Well, if you're a mac user there is no reason at all not to get this phone. To be able to sync all your photos, emails, songs, pics, bookmarks, contacts etc effortlessly, alone makes this phone worthwhile. The 3GS runs so much more smoothly than the previous versions that upgrading is well... Read the full review →
1 person found this review helpful
Naming this the iPhone 3GS was exactly what it should have been. Faster app launch time, faster phone boot time, more memory and the standard increase in storage. Not to mention better camera, adding video and the compass feature. The last of which is a much bigger deal than many might think. A... Read the full review →
1 person found this review helpful