iPhone 3GS

While it appears nearly identical to its predecessor, the iPhone 3G, with the same black or white plastic casing and 3.5-inch 320x480 display at 163 ppi (though now with a new "oleophobic" oil-resistant coating), the iPhone 3GS* packs a range of significant upgrades. It continues to merge mobile phone, iPod, and Internet capabilities.

The most notable enhancement in the iPhone 3GS is its speed—the "S" signifies this—featuring a faster processor (600 MHz from 412 MHz) with a vastly improved graphics unit, and double the RAM (256 MB from 128 MB). It also introduces support for faster 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, alongside existing 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The camera is upgraded to 3.0 megapixels with VGA video recording at 30 FPS, autofocus, macro, white balance, a "tap to focus" feature, and video trimming capabilities. Additionally, it includes a digital compass and A-GPS.

New software features include accessibility enhancements like VoiceOver, voice control, integrated Nike + iPod support, and an inline remote on the headphone cable, similar to the iPod shuffle 3G.

The 2009 release of the iPhone 3GS offered 16 GB or 32 GB of storage, while a more affordable 8 GB version was introduced in 2010. Apple's battery estimates for all capacities are up to 30 hours of audio, 12 hours of 2G talk time, 5 hours of 3G talk time, 5 hours of 3G internet use, 9 hours of Wi-Fi internet use, 10 hours of video, and 300 hours of standby.

*For those interested in the details, this model was first announced on June 8, 2009, as the iPhone 3G S (with a space). On June 23, 2009, Apple officially changed the name to iPhone 3GS (no space).

The iPhone 3GS earned widespread acclaim from technology critics who praised its dramatically improved performance and refined feature set. Reviewers consistently highlighted the device's speed improvements, with AnandTech noting the new Cortex A8 processor delivered nearly 300% faster performance in some tasks compared to the original iPhone. The upgraded 3-megapixel camera with video recording capabilities was universally praised, with publications like The Wall Street Journal and Macworld commending its quality and ease of use. Technology journalists appreciated the voice control functionality and digital compass as meaningful additions that enhanced daily usability. While some critics noted the unchanged exterior design, the consensus remained that the 3GS represented a mature, polished smartphone that maintained Apple's edge despite increasing competition from Android and Palm devices. Industry analysts recognized it as the best consumer smartphone available at its launch, combining elegant hardware with a thriving app ecosystem.