iPhone 3GS review

Verdict:

Undoubtedly the best iPhone yet, but there's no compelling reason to upgrade from an older model.

Review Date: 14 Jul 2009

Price when reviewed: (16GB model) or £274 (32GB model) on an 18-month contract at £34.26 per month; other tariffs and contracts available; free on some tariffs

Reviewed By: Alan Stonebridge

Our Rating 5 stars out of 5

Battery life is boosted under some circumstances. Apple quotes longer times for playing music, watching video and browsing the web over wifi, and making calls over a 2G network. We often have to plug in our 3G during the day to top up its charge, but the 3GS lasted anywhere from 24 to 27 hours before the battery was completely drained. During this time, we notched up around five hours of usage from a mix of web browsing over the mobile network, playing music, using the camera and playing games.

This is a great time to get your first iPhone, as the 3GS improves an already excellent piece of kit. Modest needs can be fulfilled by the cheaper 3G model, but if you have the budget, stretch to the 3GS and you'll get photos you actually want to share, an alternative way to control key functions and a battery that will see you through the day.

What if you're coming from an older model? The new features aren't compelling enough to upgrade, largely because O2 isn't subsidising the hardware, which makes it a substantial investment even without a contract hanging over your head. Right now, there's no killer application that only runs on the 3GS, and the features that make the most difference are a free software upgrade to your current iPhone.

http://knowyourmobile.com/smartphones/smartphoneapps/iphoneapplications/

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