Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB

Apple iPhone 3GS - An iPhone Upgrade

Now I’ve heard people saying “what is the point of Apple releasing an new iPhone when it looks exactly like the old one!” and to be honest they may have a point... If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it - right? Well no actually, while there may be very few external changes, inside it’s a different story. The 3GS has a larger CPU, more storage space, new internal compass and Apple have improved the optics for the new iPhone’s camera. These modifications coincide neatly with a leap forward in the iPhone’s system software, the release of the iPhone OS 3.0 – which will allow features including copy and paste, tethering, landscape keyboard options for more applications and a version of Spotlight, designed specifically for the iPhone.

Appearance

As I have already mentioned, in terms of the general elements of the appearance of the new 3GS it is almost a mirror image of the original 3G, the home and power buttons, mute switch and plastic case are indistinguishable from the original. If you were to lay them down side by side you would have a hard time telling them apart, the only real difference being that the new 3GS seems to be a little more reflective, thanks to its new fingerprint resistant oleophobic coating. As you would expect though, the 3GS is not an indication that Apple are getting lazy, all the significant changes can be found internally.

Hardware

The new iPhone is called the ‘S’ for a reason... Speed. The CPU has been supercharged, which in turn has beefed up the processor from 412MHz to around 600MHz. When you add to this the new graphics chip, called the PowerVR SGX, and double the amount of RAM, Apple claims that application speeds have been doubled and there really is a noticeable difference. I compared the 3G and 3GS side by side and there was a noticeable difference in speed, especially when it came to opening applications. the 3GS doesn’t tick all the boxes though, I can’t help but worry that the feel of the 3GS will be able to last or begin to be bogged down after weeks or months of use, the increased CPU should help to keep load times low, but is it not just as easy to do a full restore of a standard 3G to experience the same lessened loading times..? While this may help the standard 3G to experience 3GS load times, you would be missing one of the most remarkable hardware improvements. The 3GS flexes its CPU muscles when they are used to run graphically demanding applications, if you are a gaming fanatic and want a phone with the power to cope with it... the 3GS is the one.

The other major innovation with the 3GS is the camera which has been tweaked, good news for all you iPhone fans, who are fed up with the frankly unacceptable 2 megapixel cameras on previous models with no flash and no autofocus. The 3GS has addressed 2 of the 3. While the 3 megapixel camera is not class leading, it is acceptable, but the real gem comes with a software tweak with the auto focus, taking full advantage of the iPhone’s large display, you are able to focus on what you want by tapping it on the screen!

Battery Life

Apple claim that the battery life of the 3GS is better than that of any previous model, stating that you will see around 4 more hours of life if you use your iPhone for WiFi, or to play audio or video files... I’m sure they conducted lots of very boring, very scientific tests to prove this, but honestly, I couldn’t tell see any difference with the new 3GS. But please don’t take this a insult, it isn’t, the fact that the 3GS has all this extra computing and processing power and maintains the same battery life is astonishing.

The Verdict

If you are anything like me, you are in love with the idea of the iPhone 3GS, but does it make any sense to buy one?

There are two types of people interested in the 3GS. Firstly, those, like myself, who already have an iPhone, whether it be the original or the standard 3G. Secondly, those who have never owned an iPhone, who are now faced with a decision... is the 3GS worth the extra money?

For Current iPhone Owners

The 3GS offers CPU and processing capabilities that are a considerable spec increase to your current model, however, when it comes down to it, if you reduce the 3GS to its core, YOU ALREADY OWN THIS PHONE! What you are paying for is a speed bump, compass and an extra megapixel in your camera. My advice to you would be to stick with your current model until you are due an upgrade (unless you can afford to buy two very similar handsets less than a year apart... if so why not!?), when you are within your contract renewal time, pay the excess and grab yourself a fantastic smartphone.

For New iPhone Owners

My advice for you is that if you want an iPhone, the standard 3G is no longer acceptable, I couldn’t recommend you buying anything but the 3GS. The extra money will buy you a handset with various great additions, a fair price to pay if you want to keep it long term.

Would I Buy One?

I already have a standard 3G iPhone and will be upgrading as soon as possible but I still can’t help but feel a little disappointed by the 3GS, it’s not that it’s not a great phone, it is.. It’s just I’ve come to expect so much from Apple that software and CPU upgrades with a camera with an extra megapixel doesn’t seem to be enough. I’m not suggesting for a second that Apple should abandon the idea of the iPhone, it’s just that the market for smartphones is wide open at the moment, it was Apple who raised the bar with the original iPhone, it’s now up to them to jump clear over it...