ZoneOut: Apple iPhone 3GS - Better than Ever
The Apple iPhone 3GS is finally in Singapore! Just two weeks after its launch in the US, we didn't have to wait too long to get our hands on it and give it a full-fledged review! Check out our thoughts and impressions on the third coming of the iPhone!
By HardwareZone Team -
The S Factor
It's been almost a year since the Apple iPhone 3G hit our shores and if you are like us over at HardwareZone, you should already be a tad tired of your trusty phone sidekick. Little wonder then that we have been keeping our ears firmly to the ground in anticipation of every little bit of information about a new iPhone model that was said to be baking in the ovens of the Cupertino-based company. And despite countless rumors about a completely revamped iPhone design, little did we know that the folks at Apple didn't have any change up their sleeves! Because what was finally revealed at this year's Worldwide Developer's Conference was essentially the same rehashed design of the Apple iPhone 3G and labeled it 3GS - with the S being the acronym for speed.
While the hardware of the new 3GS was nothing to write home about, the phone's software came into spotlight. Announced by Phil Schiller in the event, the new iPhone sports top notch features such as a voice control function, a video recorder and hordes of other exciting lineups. These tantalizing software updates were more than enough to fire up our excitement once again, and the iPhone re-entered every tech-head's must have list for this summer. Already, all thanks to better features and a lower starting price, 1 million handsets flew off the shelves over a matter of days in the States. Want to know what the fuss is about? We give you our concise video overview and what to expect out of the iPhone 3GS:-
Thankfully, we here in Singapore didn't have to wait painstakingly for the phone to hit our shores. Users of the first generation iPhone might remember seeing the phone waltz fashionably late into the local market but this is definitely not the case with the 3GS as the phones have already lined retail shelves here, which is just two weeks after the launch date in the US.
But before you head downtown and whip out your credit card, check out our full review of the iPhone 3GS to see if it is indeed worth your time and money. And is it really true to its name in terms of processing power and speed? Well, we shall solve this mystery (plus much more) in the next few pages.
Looks Swagger
Some wise man once uttered that if a fence isn't broken, you shouldn't be wasting time trying to fix it. Apple obviously heeded to this comment when they brought about the new iPhone 3GS. Instead of reinventing the wheel and coming up with a new look, Apple stuck to the bold step of sticking with the same old design. And we are only too thankful for that. For one, many manufacturers have come and gone, in their attempts to copy and emulate the popular iPhone touchscreen design. In fact, it seems that whenever a manufacturer comes out with a 'new' touchscreen phone, it's more or less a carbon copy of the iPhone series. Case in point: the Samsung Omnia, LG Arena and BlackBerry Storm.
Which is the 3G model and which is the 3GS model? Can't tell the difference? We couldn't either!
Though many might disagree, we feel that having a refurbished design is unnecessary. Yes, it might be fun to lay your hands on a sleek slide-out QWERTY keyboard, or even a handset with a slimmer girth and larger screen, but we have to admit that the current 3.5-inch touch screen and single button layout is simply enough. Radically changing the design, on the other hand, might hamper the user experience
which is one area that the iPhone is miles ahead from its competitors.
The only difference in the design between the iPhone 3G and 3GS is that the latter's screen is slightly more reflective because of the new coating that is supposed to be grease resistant. Though this coating didn't succeed in fully eliminating fingerprints and smudges, it did manage to reduce the amount of face grease, and it allows the screen to be responsive even when it is marred with smudges and oil.
The volume control and the mute ringer button lay on the left profile with the ability to control them with one hand.
Black or White - MJ's memory lives on through the iPhone 3GS series.
Like its predecessors, the 3GS also comes with a glossy black or white casing that advocate the minimalist look. But too bad for neat-freaks, the casings are still a magnet for smudges and fingerprints. Good news is that with dimensions of 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3mm, the length of the phone makes it so easy to hold and navigate with one hand. Oddly, this phone is also the heaviest iPhone yet at 136 grams as it tips the scales slightly more than the iPhone 3G and the original iPhone.
The new iPhone 3GS also comes in two variations - 16GB and 32GB, whereas last year's models only featured smaller 8GB and 16GB capacities. This means more room for more pictures, more songs, more videos and definitely more apps.
It's the Inside that Counts!
So what more features does the 3GS model have over its predecessor? Well, we have broken them down into the various categories to give you a look into what's been dished out on the latest model.
Multimedia
The real makeover is not in terms of its aesthetics, but rather, what's under the phone's hood. Users who kept complaining that the iPhone doesn't have enough multimedia functions can now sigh some form of relief. For instance, the on-board camera, which was previously a fixed-focus 2-Megapixel camera with no zoom and no flash, has been upgraded to a 3-megapixel camera with auto focus and a touch-based manual focus mode. It still lacks zoom and flash functions to better assist the camera mode.
While it doesn't rival other camera phones in the market (such as the 12-megapixel Samsung phone), we have to agree that the iPhone 3GS churns out better looking images than the previous model as you can judge later in our performance assessment. For one, it has a convenient tap-to-focus function that lets you touch an area of the image that you want to focus on, and the camera will ensure that the subject is sharp and clear. This is great if you want to focus on a single face in a crowd.
Tap to focus on the subject and just snap!
Users who like to film short home videos would also dig its new video recording feature, that promises to record footage at 30 frames per second. It doesn't have a zoom function, nor a built-in flash unit, but it does give you the capability to upload the videos directly to your MobileMe account or YouTube account. This works over Wi-Fi and 3G connections, which means that you can practically upload videos as and when you fancy.
Shoot your video, trim it to the desired effect and upload it to YouTube, or MMS/Email the video to your friend - it's becoming that simple!
Navigation
Another great feature that lost sheep would appreciate is the Compass function that is integrated with Google navigation maps so that you can find your way around the city easily. The compass app is a godsend that points you in the general direction of North. What's even more impressive is that it also doesn't matter which way you're holding the phone - be it facing upwards or pointing vertically to the ground - the compass will still give you a good idea of which direction you are facing.
This compass app will come in highly useful for feng shui addicts!
With the help of the Compass app, you always know where you are heading to!
Voice control
Voice Control is a spiffy new addition to the iPhone 3GS' feature set, which we believe most users would probably be psyched up about how intuitive it is. Simply by pressing and holding down the Home key, you will activate the Voice Control menu, and you can start speaking into the microphone to launch commands. The phone also offers numerous suggestions for what commands you can use (take for example, "Call Philip," "Play next track," and more). This feature is not only convenient, it is also a great tool for the visually impaired who cannot see the menu of the phone screen.
Speak and the iPhone does all the work for you...
iPhone 3.0 Operating System (OS)
But what really gives you a reason to break the piggy bank to snag the iPhone 3GS is the fact that it comes packed with the 3.0 revision of the operating system, which contains a myriad of features that have long been on the wishlist of iPhone fans. Like the Copy and Paste feature that allows you to Select, Copy or Cut text and Paste it just about anywhere on the iPhone. What makes this somewhat common feature different from that of its competitors is its Undo the Paste selection, simply shake your iPhone and shake it again to retrieve your text back. Talk about revamping an otherwise boring feature!
Cut, copy and paste your text, shake to undo. Why didn't any one think of this before?
Folks have also been crying out for MMS features for the longest time and finally, their cries have been answered by Jobs Almighty. Simply snap a picture (or choose one from your stored files), type in a short message, and you can zip it over to your pals.
MMS on the iPhone? Can it really be true?
Another exciting new feature is the "Find My Phone" function, which lets you hunt down your missing iPhone by enabling the settings on it with the help of MobileMe, Apple's Web-based service. Just log on to the MobileMe account and your iPhone's location will be displayed. If you are afraid that your phone has been stolen (and that your incriminating photos of you in your birthday suits will be discovered), you can remotely wipe off all your data with the touch of a button.
This just a smattering of highlight, but to learn more about these features and more, you can check out our Top 20 List of iPhone 3.0 Operating System Features that HWM has compiled for your reading pleasure in the upcoming August issue; so watch out for it at your local newstands! We move on to performance aspects of the iPhone 3GS on the next page.
Putting the S to the Test
Processing Power
There is a reason why the S in the name stands for Speed - this phone certainly ups the ante when it comes to its processing power and loading speeds. It is like how you change an old dusty computer to a spanking new laptop. Every application looks the same, but things just load THAT much faster. Armed with a 600MHz processor with 256MB RAM (up from 400MHz and 128MB in the 3G model), applications like Safari and games loaded notably faster than on the iPhone 3G that is running with 3.0 OS version. Even booting the phone takes about half the time as you can see from the video below. What's a better testament to its improved speed is that games that are known for slow loading times (think: Sims 3 and MyFC) were up and running within a matter of seconds. Check it out for yourselves as we tested loading times for iPhone boot-up, game loading and webpage loading and rendering in our video:-
Battery Life
The battery performance was also something to shout about. When the 3G model underwent harsh battery life tests in which we left the phone switched on with full screen brightness, and fired up the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular connectivity, video player function, 3G, location services options, and blasted it at full volume, the phone managed to run for about four hours and twenty minutes straight. As for the 3GS model under the same harsh conditions, it ran for 5 hours and 50 minutes! That's approximately 1.5 hours of extra juice that should come in handy for those long journeys. With the new host of features at your fingertips such as video recording, these features will drain battery at a rapid rate, so the extra battery uptime is certainly useful to ensure you get a good overall battery life.
Under our harshest battery tests, the findings were not surprising though we wished the 3GS lasted slightly longer.
Camera Quality
With the 3GS, we found the shutter speed was fast, which is great for those who want to snap images of fast-moving objects. Our top camera usability function has to be the tap-on-focus, which is useful for capturing photos with specific focus on certain subjects. The 3GS camera also produced richer color tones, and was less likely to create images that look washed out or faded. As the camera still lacks flash, expect your photo captures in low-light situations to come out less than ideal with dark grainy shots. Check out some photos that we snapped using the phone, and see the results for yourself:-
Image looks better than the 3G's camera but it can't be compared to the 3-megapixel cameras from Sony Ericsson and Samsung.
Taken with the iPhone 3G: Compared to the 3GS, the image here looks blurry and washed out.
Taken with the iPhone 3GS: Image considerably looks better than the 3G with less blurriness detected and stronger definition of subjects and color thanks to the auto focus.
Video Camera
The 3GS also offers acceptable video quality for a smartphone. Compare this to the lackluster Nokia and Sony Ericsson's recording feature that is often marred by noise and jaggedness, and you'll be blown away by the iPhone's smooth recording and lag-free footage. Apple claims that the phone records up to 30 frames per second, and when we tried filming a clip of cars zooming on the highway, the video turned out quite smooth.
Check out one of our sample test videos to find out for yourself how the 3GS fares.
Multimedia Player
Many users also use the iPhone as a replacement gadget for a music player, and we don't see why they shouldn't. With a huge 3.5-inch screen that beams out beautiful cover art and video clips, this device is ideal for meeting your multimedia and entertainment needs. With the CoverFlow function, users can also browse through album artwork at a flick of their finger in search of a single song track. Somewhat disappointingly, the on-board speakers remain the same as the 3G model so no changes there. They are still terribly soft and muffled, even when the volume is increased. The speakers also lacked bass quality, though soft acoustic tunes sounded passable at best. Earphones work best with the iPhone than relying on its speaker.
User Experience
Like its older sibling, the 3GS boasts the same user-friendliness and intuitive user experience. Applications were laid out in a neat and organized grid fashion, which makes it a breeze for you to zip through the applications at a flick of the finger. The most commonly used applications are also lined on the first menu page making it great for those who do not fancy searching through sub-menus and pages in search for a single application.
However, one gripe that we have is that texting using the on-screen keyboard is still a heavy texter's nightmare. Even though we have to admit that spelling errors are minimized due to a better spaced-out landscape keyboard. The auto-correction functionality also helped to reduce typos when some of our writers with fat fingers pressed onto the wrong keys. But despite all these measures to improve the texting quality, it is still disappointing to note that it is doesn't fare well when we try our best to not press the wrong keys as compared to other touchscreen smartphones. While this is our comparative note, if you have been comfortable enough with existing iPhone models, you will certainly ease into the 3GS model without issues.
As before, texting will take some getting used to since there is no T9 input.
Let's Talk Dollars and Sense
Now that you have read our breakdown of the latest Apple iPhone 3GS, it's probably time to talk about the damage it will have on your wallet in the local Singapore scene. StarHub and M1 customers are out of luck yet again as the phone is only going to be available for SingTel users. The prices of the iPhone 3GS with a 2-year subscription plan are much cheaper than when the iPhone 3G first came to our shores. Remember this page? That said, the price of the current iPhone 3G 8GB has also now fallen considerably which is good news for those who want to hop on to the iPhone bandwagon, but not necessarily forking out too much money for it.
Existing iPhone 3G users who have fulfilled at least six months of their two-year contact are also able to apply for an early upgrade offer. Alternatively, users can also trade in their iPhone 3G 8GB and 16GB handhelds at S$300 and S$400, respectively. If you want to feast your eyes on the detailed price plans, check out the SingTel website.
SingTel's Price Plans - Love 'Em or Hate 'Em, they are here to stay!
What's interesting to note is that the debut pricing of the 3GS model is much lower than that when the 3G model first came out, thanks to Apple's new strategy of catering to the needs of the middle-income consumers. Add to that, the low price points are ensuring that the iPhone remains competitively priced alongside other touchscreen alternatives like the Nokia N97. In other words, you are paying a reasonable and competitive market price for a premium mobile phone. Though we feel that the pricing for the phones are definitely within the means of most customers, our forums are ablaze with complaints from existing iPhone 3G users who feel that the trade-in prices and early upgrade fees aren't too attractive. To hear what the man-on-the-street is saying, follow this HardwareZone forum link.
Coming Together
As you can see, the Apple iPhone 3GS is more of an evolutionary product rather than a revolutionary one and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. We know that a lot of folks were actually waiting for a new design which didn't come about. This is actually a good thing in our opinion. For one, there are already so many third party accessories to choose from to spruce up your phone. If Apple came up with an entirely new design, manufacturers would have to create a whole new suite of third-party accessories from scratch, and existing iPhone consumers would have to ditch their existing accessories to purchase new ones. Most importantly though, why fix a perfectly good formula so soon? Refine it and that's exactly what Apple did with the new 3GS version.
The iPhone 3GS is a step upgrade from the previous model in the sense that it has video recording capabilities, a better camera unit and a compass amongst many other functions. In the software department, the 3.0 operating system upgrade will go a long way as it features the cut, copy and paste functionality that the previous model critically needed. It's also much faster as we presented in our video test results and the battery life too is considerably better than the 3G model.
On the flip side, the iPhone is not without its flaws. On the top of our list is that texting using the on-screen keyboard is still a heavy texter's nightmare. Also, it is a downer that the phone only offers a measly 3-megapixel camera while other rivals are already dishing out 8 to 12-megapixel camera phones.
There also have been reports that the iPhone 3GS faces overheating problems and discoloration issues , but frankly, we are in no position to comment on this as we haven't used the phone long enough to suffer the same problems.
With all said and done, now comes the million-dollar question - should you buy the iPhone 3GS? It all boils down to individual preferences as usual. As a new adopter or one who is upgrading from the first generation iPhone, the 3GS model is highly recommended. If you have an existing iPhone 3G and have no need for a video camera and can live with the existing hardware, then there is no pressing need to upgrade - unless of course you do want a more responsive phone. Besides, with the dipping prices of the current iPhone 3G model, for users who have always wanted an iPhone, now is as good a time as any to get one.
In a nutshell, the iPhone 3GS is like the Six Million Dollar Man. It is better, faster and stronger, and the best part is: it won't cost you six million dollars.
Looks the same, feels the same but the new iPhone 3GS just upped the game.
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