iPhone 3GS (China)

Created exclusively for the mainland China market and released in partnership with China Unicom, the iPhone 3GS (China/No Wi-Fi), model A1325, is identical to the global iPhone 3GS except for its lack of Wi-Fi capability.

Like its worldwide counterpart, the China-only version features the same black or white plastic case, a 3.5-inch display with 320x480 resolution at 163 ppi, and the "oleophobic" oil-resistant coating. It continues to combine mobile phone, iPod, and Internet functionalities.

The China-specific iPhone 3GS also includes a 600 MHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, 256 MB of RAM, 7.2 Mbps HSDPA support, and a 3.0-megapixel camera with VGA video recording at 30 FPS. This camera supports autofocus, macro, white balance, a "tap to focus" feature, and video trimming. It also has a digital compass and A-GPS.

This model incorporates the same accessibility features like VoiceOver, voice control, integrated Nike + iPod support, and an inline remote on the headphone cable, similar to the iPod shuffle 3G.

The China-only iPhone 3GS comes with 16 GB or 32 GB of storage. Apple reports its battery life as up to 30 hours of audio playback, 12 hours of 2G talk time, 5 hours of 3G talk time, 5 hours of 3G internet use, 10 hours of video playback, and 300 hours of standby time.

The iPhone 3GS China edition embodied Apple's continued strategic adaptations for the Chinese market, offering the performance advantages of the 3GS while adhering to local regulatory requirements. Despite lacking Wi-Fi functionality due to China's WAPI security standards, the device retained all other flagship features including the powerful Cortex A8 processor, enhanced camera capabilities, and voice control. Market analysts observed that this compromise allowed Apple to officially enter China's vast smartphone market through China Unicom, even as millions of unlocked international iPhones already circulated in the country. The model demonstrated Apple's willingness to modify its products for specific markets while maintaining core performance standards. Though the absence of Wi-Fi limited certain use cases, the device successfully introduced Apple's official presence in China and laid the groundwork for future market expansion in the region.