The latest iPhone iteration may have sold one million handsets in its first three days on sale. And the usual suspects have been quick to sing its praises.
But with many of the key enhancements provided by the simultaneous release of the iPhone 3.0 software update, a free download that can be deployed on all older models, does the handset justify the hype?
In the words of Techradar, the question existing iPhone owners have to ask is simply: “is it worth the super-high upgrade charges”?
Certainly Knowyourmobile thinks “the launch of the iPhone 3GS has made things a lot, lot harder indeed for the Apple naysayers.”
Yet, as Register Hardware points out, “externally, the new iPhone looks exactly the same as its predecessor.” In this respect “the one major upgrade,” according to Techradar, “is the new smear free screen, which we're pleased to see works very well.”
The camera has also improved, from 2.0MP to 3.1MP but, as Register Hardware says, “given how much the 3GS costs, Apple really should have gone to 5MP.” Even so, states Knowyourmobile, “autofocus and auto white balance have been added,” and Wired notes you can now “choose an object to focus on by tapping on it.”
“The results are reasonable,” concede Pocket-lint, “but fall short of those phones sporting more technically advanced imaging systems.”
However, “on the plus side,” thinks Stuff, “the iPhone now takes VGA video, captured at between 15 and 30 frames per second depending on available light.”
Indeed, agrees Knowyourmobile, “this somewhat unsung upgrade may turn out to be one of the biggest selling points of the new handset because the combination of high frame rate, high quality (if not HD) video, a fast processor, gigabytes of storage capacity and a fast 3G connection makes the iPhone a fantastic device for taking, editing and uploading video footage.”
But, cautions Pocket-lint, “compare this with something like the Samsung i8910 HD, with 720p video capture, and the iPhone's offering is rather lacklustre.”
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As far as Register Hardware is concerned, besides the camera, “the key improvements boil down to improved performance” and “support for 7.2Mb/s HSDPA 3G mobile broadband that O2 is (very) gradually rolling outin the UK.”
“Boy, does it feel faster,” exclaims Stuff. Certainly “you don't need a stopwatch to notice the new phone is zippier than its predecessor,” agrees Wired.
“When we compared it to our six-month-old 3G, also running the latest iPhone OS 3.0,” concludes Cnet, “we found that the 3GS lives up to its promise that many tasks are twice as fast.”
Where gaming is concerned, suggest Techradar, “the improved processor, the increased speed and the upgraded feature set all make for a great experience.”
Similarly, concurs Pocket-lint, “browsing the internet is gloriously fast.”
“It also feels more snappy and responsive for many simple tasks, such as flicking from one page of apps to another on the main Homescreen,” adds Register Hardware.
Unfortunately, despairs Pocket-lint, battery life “still remains the iPhone's nemesis.” Techradar found it to be “pretty similar to the iPhone 3G,” Cnet thought it had “improved”, while for Register Hardware it’s “no longer a big issue.” Expectations clearly differ.
The remaining enhancements are mainly software related, and these include voice control and the long desired capability to cut, copy and paste. The latter, claims Cnet, is “beautifully implemented.” And Pocket-lint agrees it “works really well.”
For Register Hardware “the only real drawback is O2’s monopoly stranglehold on the iPhone in the UK,” which means it “can charge pretty much whatever it wants.” Even so, they concede, “it’s undeniably the phone that sets the pace at the moment.”
The user interface remains “an ode to finger-friendly usability,” drools Cnet. “This is a rare beast: a gadget that's truly a pleasure to use.”
The iPhone “still beats all of its rivals” enthuses Pocket-lint. Knowyourmobile proclaims it’s “a handset that can easily be hailed as the best smartphone on the planet.”
Indeed, says Techradar, “if you're in the market for a phone (and haven't been crippled by the credit crunch) check out the new iPhone 3GS.” But, they add, “if you've got an iPhone 3G already, don't bother with the upgrade – it's not a lot different from the 3G model with 3.0 software.”
And that, in many ways, is that. If you do not already own an iPhone, you want what is arguably the best smartphone on the market, and you do not mind making an arguably excessive contribution to O2’s profits, get the 3GS today.
Conversely, were you to have already acquired the iPhone 3G and think its speed sufficient, save your money, and simply download the new 3.0 software instead.