At first glance, one would be unlikely to notice any difference between the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS. Both are identical from the front and apart from silver "details" text on the back of the iPhone 3GS, have identical black or white plastic backs as well. The iPhone 3GS weighs slightly more -- 4.8 ounces rather than 4.7 ounces -- but this difference is not noticeable.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Left - iPhone 3G, Right - iPhone 3GS)
- The iPhone 3GS has a new "oleophobic" oil repellent coating over the 3.5" 320x480 display, but otherwise the displays are essentially the same as well except for a slightly "warmer" tint on the iPhone 3GS.
Internally, however, the iPhone 3GS is remarkably different. It has a significantly faster processor (600 MHz up from 412 MHz, with a dramatically improved graphics processor as well), twice the RAM (256 MB up from 128 MB) and support for faster 7.2 Mbps HSDPA. It has an improved 3.0 megapixel camera with VGA video recording at 30 FPS as well as autofocus, macro, and white balance support, a "tap to focus" feature, and new basic "video editing" capabilities (you can cut the beginning and end of a clip "in camera"). It also has a digital compass which is helpfully integrated with Google Maps to make it easy to tell which direction one is facing. The iPhone 3GS models also are packed with 16 GB and 32 GB of storage (up from 8 GB and 16 GB for the iPhone 3G).
Despite the increase in hardware performance, battery life has been modestly improved. Apple reports that talk time on a 2G network has been increased to 12 hours from 10, Internet use on wi-fi has been increased to 9 hours from 6, music playback has been increased to 30 hours from 24, and video playback has been increased to 10 hours from 7. Talk time on a 3G network, however, is 5 hours for both models.
In addition to the "twice as fast" performance, better camera, improved battery life, and digital compass, The iPhone 3GS also adds VoiceOver for accessibility, voice control functionality, integrated Nike + iPod support, and an inline remote on the headphone cable (like the iPod shuffle 3G). After the release of the iPhone 3GS, both it and iPhone 3G ship with iPhone OS 3.0 with support for cut, copy, and paste, voice memos, search functionality, a landscape keyboard option, and other features.
Pricing in the United States for the iPhone 3GS is the same as it was for the iPhone 3G when it was released -- US$199 for the entry-level model and US$299 for the high-end model, now offered with 16 GB and 32 GB of storage, respectively. These prices are only for new AT&T Wireless customers. For non-qualified customers, formally including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, the standard price with a new two-year agreement is US$599 or US$699.
For your further convenience, the main differences between the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G also have been summarized below: -
| |
iPhone 3G |
iPhone 3GS |
| Processor Speed: |
412 MHz |
600 MHz |
| Standard RAM: |
128 MB |
256 MB |
| Standard Storage: |
8 GB, 16 GB |
16 GB, 32 GB |
| Oleophobic Display: |
No |
Yes |
| 7.2 Mbps HSDPA: |
No |
Yes |
| Digital Compass: |
No |
Yes |
| Camera: |
2.0 Megapixels |
3.0 Megapixels |
| Video Capability: |
No* |
Yes |
| VoiceOver: |
No |
Yes |
| Voice Control: |
No |
Yes |
| Intr. Nike+iPod: |
No |
Yes |
| Inline Remote: |
No |
Yes |
| Bluetooth: |
2.0+EDR |
2.1+EDR |
| Storage Size: |
8, 16 GB |
16, 32 GB |
| Talk Time (3G): |
5 Hours |
5 Hours |
| Talk Time (2G): |
10 Hours |
12 Hours |
| Battery Life (Web - 3G): |
5 Hours |
5 Hours |
| Battery Life (Web - Wi-Fi): |
6 Hours |
9 Hours |
| Battery Life (Music): |
24 Hours |
30 Hours |
| Battery Life (Video): |
7 Hours |
10 Hours |
| Standby Time: |
300 Hours |
300 Hours |
| Back Exterior Finish: |
Black or White Plastic |
Black or White Plastic |
| Dimensions (Inches): |
4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 |
4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 |
| Weight: |
4.7 oz. (133 g) |
4.8 oz. (135 g) |
| Price (As Introduced): |
US$199, US$299 |
US$199, US$299 |
|
