iPhone 3G - Is It Worth the Hype?
The long-awaited iPhone 3G has been making headlines around the world. It has finally reached our shores and we have got an exclusive preview in store for you.
This article is an exclusive coverage, brought to you by Sutlej Soin of HWM
What makes the iPhone 3G THE iPhone 3G?
The moment the original iPhone was unveiled a year ago, it probably left a mark in history. Consumers all around the world were consumed and awed and bowled over by the full touch screen platform and the simplistic design the iPhone sported. Soon after, numerous touch screen copycat phones started appearing in the market. Even though the concept of touch screen is not new, we believe the iPhone signaled a touch screen era in the mobile world.
A year after, Apple reveals the second revision of its iPhone line, the iPhone 3G. There certainly hasn't been a more talked about smartphone in the world. Even before its official launch, rumors of the iPhone's second coming were rampant. When Mr. Steve Jobs finally announced it during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) earlier this year, the media were quick to feed on the news, and constantly generated a buzz about the phone.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the iPhone 3G has landed in Singapore, courtesy of SingTel!
Along with the iPhone 3G announcement, Apple also introduced the MobileMe Internet Service and the availability of the Apple App Store, which we took a look at not too long ago. With these services along with faster download speeds over a 3G network, A-GPS technology, superb user interface, the iPhone 3G has changed the way we look at mobile phones. Of course, the iPhone 3G is not without flaws. Expect the battery life to decrease significantly when you are playing games, browsing the Web, using Google Maps and etc.
For more information on the iPhone 3G, check out the September issue of HWM where we provide an exclusive in-depth feature and analytical review of the iPhone 3G, making us the first magazine to feature the iPhone 3G in Singapore!
iPhone 3G Offerings
We now take a look at the basic functions that the iPhone 3G provides.
The Main Screen is where you will be most of the time to access the functions within your iPhone 3G.
SMSing can be a tedious affair as you have to enter a letter one after another.
Calendar entries are sorted out by Day, Week & Month for quick looks at your upcoming appointments.
Camera Roll is your photo album where all the images you have taken with the 2 megapixel camera is stored or transferred from your PC/Mac.
With 3G speeds, expect faster loading times for your favorite YouTube videos.
With integrated A-GPS functionality on the iPhone 3G, pin-pointing your current location has never been easier and faster to boot.
iPhone 3G users can enjoy downloading apps from the Apple App Store to use on the go.
With the onboard Safari browser, you can view websites in portrait or landscape mode simply by tilting the iPhone 3G.
An i's View of the iPhone 3G
Here are some shots we took of the iPhone 3G and some images we took using the iPhone 3G as well.
Product Shots
Notice any differences? We didn't!
That's how you tell them apart - their backings! The original iPhone sports an aluminum casing whilst the iPhone 3G sports a plastic back that comes in two colors - Black & White.
The power button and the flushed earphone jack which means you can insert your own earphones instead of relying on the standard Apple ones.
On the left side of the iPhone 3G lies the volume control button and ringer switch.
On the rear of the iPhone 3G is the 2-megapixel camera.
At 133 grams, we didn't think of it as heavy. Instead, it feels solid and sturdy in our hands.
The iPhone 3G alongside its musical companion sibling, the iPod.
Apparently, the pen is mightier than the iPhone 3G. What happened to the good old days when pen and paper were used?
Next to our business card, the iPhone 3G looks overbearing!
Camera Shots
With the 2-megapixel camera, up-close shots came off looking grainy.
Shots taken at a distance looked better but still slightly blurry.
The Co$t of Owning an iPhone 3G in Singapore
"Just one year after launching the iPhone, we're launching the new iPhone 3G that is twice as fast at half the price," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO.
According to SingTel, consumers will have to commit to a 2-year plan to enjoy reduced iPhone 3G prices. The following table has the details:
Price Plan | Monthly Subscription | Bundled Outgoing Minutes | Bundled SMS | Bundled Data | Handset Cost (8GB/16GB) |
iFlexi Value | S$56 | 200 | 500 | 1GB | S$348 / S$508 |
iFlexi Plus | S$95 | 500 | 500 | 2GB | S$49 / S$208 |
iFlexi Premium | S$205 | 1500 | 1500 | 3GB | S$0 / S$0 |
These 2-year contract price plans for the iPhone 3G are the first of their kind to incorporate bundled talk time, SMS and data. The plan also includes free incoming voice and video calls. A pertinent question would be: how much would you have paid after the two year period as a result of owning an iPhone 3G? We did the math for you, based on the different price plans. Mind you, they do not include additional charges of exceeding the bundled talk time minutes or SMSes.
iFlexi Value: S$1344 (S$56 x 24 months) + S$348(8GB) or S$508(16GB) = S$1692 (8GB) / S$1852 (16GB)
iFlexi Plus: S$2280 (S$95 x 24 months) + S$49(8GB) or S$208(16GB) = S$2329 (8GB) / S$2488 (16GB)
iFlexi Premium: S$4920 (S$205 x 24 months) + S$0(8GB/16GB) = S$4920 (8GB/16GB)
Apple had introduced the iPhone 3G as "twice as fast at half the price". By lowering the price, Steve Jobs hoped that the affordable iPhone 3G would win over even more users. The way we see it, that hope was confined to the United States of America, and not the rest of the civilized world. Given the numbers above, it's altogether too clear that signing up a 2-year plan at this stage isn't at all value-for-money, unless one already happens to be an intensive mobile user to begin with. What's more, SingTel doesn't provide the option to pick up a unit without an operator plan, as the iPhone 3G is only available from them via specific plans.
And that's the sum of this exclusive preview. If this has whetted your appetite for the iPhone 3G, be on the lookout for the September issue of HWM which provides you with the full review of the iPhone 3G in all its glory, coming to a newsstand near you in the following weeks.
Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.