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Apple iPhone 3G review

8.1/10 AVG.
RATING
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Apple iPhone 3G
Apple iPhone 3G
Apple iPhone 3G
Apple iPhone 3G
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8.1/10
Informr score
The Apple iPhone 3G currently has an Informr score of 8.1 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 82 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The highly anticipated 2.0 iPhone brings a mixed bag of improvements and omissions.

First the good stuff. The new iPhone 3G comes with a $300.00 price drop, 3G speeds, real GPS, all wrapped up in a form factor Apple fans have come to love. The new iPhone now supports Microsoft Outlook Exchange, making it a potentially formidable contender for what has long been RIM’s home turf. Additional features that will show up at launch or soon after include iWork document support, the ability to view Powerpoint attachments, bulk move and delete and other less important features.

Strangely though, you still cannot send an MMS with the new 3G iPhone. My brother owns an iPhone and has confessed his frustration when I send him a text/picture that requires him to do a variety of acrobatics in order to view the picture. Also, the new model does not have removable memory, and while the price reduction is welcomed, it does come at a sacrifice: the former shiny aluminum back on the prior model has been replaced with a plastic one and the dock is now sold separately for $49.99.

Apple promises a 3G talk and internet time of five hours and plans to open an application store where iPhone customers can purchase a wide array of third party applications, which will go a long way to building additional value into the phone.

If you held off on buying an iPhone because of its speed limitations, now may be a good time to take a second look. It’s faster, less expensive and overall more feature rich.


No
OS
OS
No
412 MHz
Processor
Processor
412 MHz
3.5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
3.5"
2+ MP
Camera
Camera
2+ MP
1150 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


GSMArena
GSMArena

We've had our fair share of the first-gen iPhone but, honestly, we weren't caught in the excitement last year until we saw it live. It was only after it arrived in our office that we really appreciated its sleek design and groundbreaking user interface.Now a year later, the excitement grew on us wee...

- GSMArena team, GSMArena
Softpedia
Softpedia

Apple managed to successfully update their first-generation smartphone and increase their income in the handset market. I was pleasantly surprised by the iPhone 3G and would definitely use one as a secondary phone. It looks and feels like the perfect phone, even though it misses some features that e...

- Cosmin Vasile, Softpedia
Wired
Wired

There's much to love about Apple's new burner: GPS, 3G, Exchange support and an upgraded OS with hundreds of downloadable apps. Yet the camera still stinks, there's no cut and paste, and - because Apple didn't make voice-dialing a priority - it's completely unsafe to use an iPhone while driving. The...

- Mathew Honan, Wired
MobileBurn
MobileBurn

Though the iPhone 3G still has flaws and lacks some crucial features, it offers significant improvements that make it worth the upgrade. The faster 3G browsing experience and the GPS support are nice. The application store, which is available on the original iPhone as well, is the cherry on top. Hop...

- Aaron Baker, MobileBurn
TechCrunch
TechCrunch

So, should you buy it? If you’re looking to upgrade your phone and are out of contract, wait until next month. By the ides of August the hype should have died down, the back orders should have shipped (there’s apparently a 21-day wait time now) and most of the bugs should be addressed. It’s a great...

- John Biggs, TechCrunch


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Apple iPhone 3G user manual here.


Apple backs up the iPhone 3G with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your iPhone 3G has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Apple support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Apple's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
3.5"

The Apple iPhone 3G's screen size is 3.5 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
412 MHz

There is a 412 MHz processor (CPU).

OS
No

The phone runs on the 2.0 operating system (OS).

Camera
2+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 2+ MP camera.

There's no secondary front camera.

Storage
8/16 GB

Internal memory is 8/16 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
1150mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1150 mAh battery. Apple's performance ratings are 12.5 days standby time, 600 minutes, 360 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

iPhone 3G Specs

Overview
Release Date June 9, 2008
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System 2.0
Processor 412 MHz
Internal Storage 8/16 GB
RAM 128 MB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 1.39 W/kg
Body: 0.52 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included Data Cable, Headset, Manual, Software CD, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
EDGE, HSDPA 3.6
Mobile / Cellular Data
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Yes
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth Yes
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Mobile Hotspot No
Memory Expansion Slot No
Expansion Slot Info
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Rear Camera Info
Geotagging
Video Recording Formats
H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 262k
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density 163 pixels
Size 3.5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1150 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 420 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 360 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 600 minutes
Standby Time Up to 12.5 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 11.6 x 6.2 x 1.2 cm (4.6 x 2.4 x 0.5 in)
Weight 133 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers No
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, EMS
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Mute Key: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
Audio Formats: MP3, Protected AAC, AAC, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV
Video Playback Formats: H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Viewable document types: DOC, DOCX, HTML, PDF, PPT, PPTX, TXT, XLS
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable
Included Software / Apps: Google Maps
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Currency Converter, Weather, Stocks, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): iPhone 3G

The 8GB iPhone 3G is available only in black. The 16GB model is available in both black and white.
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Apple iPhone 3G Reviews
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