iPhone 3GS Still a Reliable Classic for Light Users in the USA

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Bought it as a "joke" for retro gaming after seeing TikTok videos.

📌 Purchase Motivation

Thought it’d be funny to bring to parties—people lose it when they see the old App Store!

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Watched YouTube videos on downgrading iOS to jailbreak it.

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Pawn shop near campus—"Dude sold it to me for $40 with a cracked back."

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

No charger, just a grimy phone. Wiped it down and jailbroke it in 20 minutes.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Feels like a toy compared to my Galaxy. The plastic back cracks if you breathe on it.

⭐ First Week Usage

Loaded it with emulators—played Snake on the bus. Battery dies if I blink too hard.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Mostly use it to prank friends with the old Siri voice. Spotify barely runs.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Jailbreak tweaks let me customize the home screen. Also, the iPod app slaps.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Can’t use Snapchat or Venmo. Had to carry two phones like a drug dealer.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

My S22 Ultra feels like a spaceship next to this. But it’s a fun nostalgia trip.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Failed at taking lecture notes—keyboard’s too slow. Good for memes, though.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Instant icebreaker at parties. Girls think it’s ‘vintage’ and ask to take selfies.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Bought a cheap wireless charger mod—had to solder it myself.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

10/10 for trolling, 2/10 for practicality. Would buy again.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Needed a reliable secondary device for quick social media uploads and client communication while on shoots.

📌 Purchase Motivation

The iPhone 3GS was affordable on the refurbished market, and its compact size was perfect for one-handed use.

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Compared it to older Android models but preferred iOS for its stability and app ecosystem.

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Bought it refurbished from eBay—got a good deal with a 6-month warranty.

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

The box was a bit worn, but the phone itself looked pristine! Setting it up took a while since it runs iOS 6, but it felt nostalgic.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Loved the curved back—so comfortable to hold. The screen felt tiny compared to my modern phone, but the build quality surprised me.

⭐ First Week Usage

Battery life was rough—had to charge it twice a day. But apps like Instagram and Lightroom Mobile still worked (barely).

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Mostly use it for calls, texts, and quick photo edits. The keyboard is frustratingly small, and apps crash if I multitask.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

The camera is decent in good light, and Siri (though basic) is fun for reminders. Also, the headphone jack—no dongles!

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

iOS 6 is outdated—many apps no longer support it. Had to sideload older versions. Also, no 4G means slow browsing.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Way slower than my iPhone 12, but it’s a backup phone. Miss swipe typing and Night Mode, though.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Great for quick client updates but useless for RAW edits. My main phone handles the heavy lifting.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Friends tease me for using a ‘dinosaur,’ but it’s a conversation starter at coffee shops.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Bought a thick case—this thing’s back is slippery! Also, a portable charger is a must.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

For $50? Worth it as a backup. Wouldn’t recommend for heavy users, but it’s charmingly retro.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Needed a GPS after his car’s system failed.

📌 Purchase Motivation

My nephew said ‘even an old iPhone can run maps.’ He was half-right.

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

None—just grabbed the cheapest iPhone at the pawn shop.

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Joe’s Pawn & Gold—paid $35 cash. Joe threw in a car charger.

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Had a sticky screen protector from 2012. Peeling it off was satisfying.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Back is scratched to hell, but the glass front is mint.

⭐ First Week Usage

Apple Maps is outdated—took me to a demolished pizza place twice.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Use it for calls and a fuzzy FM radio app. Passengers think it’s a museum piece.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Clock app’s timer helps track fares. Also, Siri understands my accent.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

No LTE means maps take forever to load. Keep a paper atlas as backup.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

My Kyocera flip phone was simpler, but this has a bigger screen.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Regulars get a kick out of it. One guy tipped extra to ‘preserve history.’

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Daughter installed Find My iPhone so I won’t lose it (again).

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Dashboard mount and a spare charger from Dollar Tree.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

Gets the job done if you’re patient. Like driving a ’92 Corolla.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Wanted a simple phone for calls, texts, and grandkid photos after her flip phone died.

📌 Purchase Motivation

Her grandson recommended it—"It’s easy, Grandma, and you can play Solitaire!"

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

None—just trusted her grandson’s advice.

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Facebook Marketplace from a local seller. "Met at a Starbucks—he showed me how to turn it on!"

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

No box, just a charger and phone. Took me an hour to figure out the home button!

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Sleek but heavy! The screen’s colors popped compared to my old phone.

⭐ First Week Usage

Kept accidentally swiping apps closed. The big icons helped, though.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Mostly for calls and checking emails. The keyboard’s autocorrect is hilariously bad.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Photo gallery is easy to navigate. Also love the weather app—big font!

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Couldn’t update iOS—stuck on version 6.1.6. YouTube stopped working last month.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Miss my physical buttons, but the camera’s way better for grandkid pics.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Book club uses WhatsApp—had to borrow my daughter’s phone to install it.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Learned to text with emojis! My bridge group thinks I’m tech-savvy now.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Got a pop socket for grip and a bright pink case so I won’t lose it.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

It does the job, but I’d tell other seniors to get something newer.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Needed a durable work phone that wouldn’t break if dropped.

📌 Purchase Motivation

My Galaxy Note got crushed by a beam—wanted something cheap to replace it.

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Asked coworkers—half said "get a Nokia," the other half said "iPhone 3GS is indestructible."

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Local repair shop—"Guy threw in a free screen protector."

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Had dust all over it, but the home button clicked like new.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Feels solid, like a brick. The chrome edges are scratched but add character.

⭐ First Week Usage

Dropped it twice—no cracks. The weather app is weirdly accurate for job sites.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Calls are crystal clear. Bluetooth works with my truck’s stereo, which shocked me.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Voice memos for quick notes. Also, the alarm is LOUD—wakes me up at 5 AM.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Can’t load modern blueprints—PDFs crash the browser.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Miss my stylus, but this thing survives concrete falls.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Foremen respect that I’m not glued to a fancy phone.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Wife hates that she can’t iMessage me—uses SMS like the old days.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

OtterBox case and a lanyard so it dangles from my belt.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

Best $60 I’ve spent. Like a Timex—takes a licking and keeps ticking.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Wanted a dedicated device for recording song ideas.

📌 Purchase Motivation

Saw a producer on Instagram using a 3GS for ‘lo-fi beats’—had to try it.

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Read forum threads about its DAC (audio chip) being "warm" for recordings.

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Thrift store—"Found it in a bin of VHS tapes for $25."

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Smelled like old books! The headphone jack had lint, but it worked after cleaning.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

The curved back fits my palm perfectly. Home button’s mushy, though.

⭐ First Week Usage

Recorded voice memos of melodies—the mic picks up ambient noise in a cool way.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Use it as an MP3 player at work. Coworkers laugh till they hear the audio quality.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Voice memos and the iPod app. Also, no distractions—can’t even browse Reddit.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Cloud storage is a nightmare. Have to manually sync files via iTunes.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

My iPhone XR is for everything else, but the 3GS has ‘soul’ for music.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Played a recording at an open mic—crowd loved the ‘analog’ hiss.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Music friends call it ‘the cheat code’ for vintage sounds.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Bought a Lightning-to-30-pin adapter to transfer files.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

A secret weapon for artists. Terrible phone, amazing creative tool.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Wanted a minimalist phone to reduce screen time.

📌 Purchase Motivation

Saw a digital detox video—thought downgrading would help me focus.

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Read blogs about "dumbphone alternatives" and settled on the 3GS for its size.

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Refurbished tech store—"Wanted a warranty in case it died."

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Felt guilty unboxing a ‘new’ old phone. Deleted all social media apps immediately.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

So small and light! The white finish hasn’t yellowed—impressive for its age.

⭐ First Week Usage

Struggled without Google Maps. Had to write directions down like the 2000s.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Use it for calls, texts, and Spotify playlists (when it doesn’t crash).

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Podcasts app works flawlessly. Also love the simplicity of the notes app.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

No Uber or Lyft. Had to borrow a student’s phone when I got lost.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Miss my iPhone 13’s camera, but my anxiety’s way down.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Clients email instead of texting—ironically more organized now.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Friends say I’m ‘unreachable’ but admire the discipline.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Found a vintage Kate Spade case on Etsy—total vibe.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

Perfect for intentional living, but not for everyone.

Benchmark Scores

The iPhone 3GS was a powerhouse in its time, scoring around 150-200 in Geekbench back in 2009. Today, it feels sluggish compared to modern phones, but for basic tasks like calls and texts, it still holds up. If you're nostalgic or need a backup phone, it works, but don't expect multitasking.

Build Quality & Materials

The 3GS has that classic iPhone feel—plastic back, chrome bezel, and a compact 3.5-inch frame. It’s lightweight (135g) and fits perfectly in one hand. The plastic back does scratch easily, though, so a case is a must if you want to keep it pristine.

Display Quality

The 3.5-inch LCD with 480x320 resolution looks tiny by today’s standards, but colors are decent for its era. It’s not Retina, so text isn’t razor-sharp, but for basic browsing or watching old YouTube videos, it’s serviceable.

Camera System & Performance

A single 3MP rear camera—no flash, no front camera. Photos are grainy and struggle in low light, but it’s fun for retro-style shots. Video recording maxes out at 480p, so don’t expect HD memories.

Software & User Experience

Runs iOS 6 (officially), but most apps no longer support it. The interface is simple and snappy for calls/texts, but app compatibility is a huge limitation. Jailbreaking can extend functionality, but it’s a niche choice now.

Battery Life & Charging

The 1219mAh battery lasts about a day with light use, but aging batteries may struggle. No fast charging—just the old 30-pin connector. Replacement batteries are cheap if you’re up for a DIY fix.

Gaming & Graphics Performance

Games like Angry Birds run fine, but anything 3D or modern will chug. The PowerVR SGX 535 GPU was decent in 2009 but can’t handle today’s titles. Stick to classics if gaming.

Connectivity & Ports

3G-only (no LTE), Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, and that iconic 30-pin dock connector. No NFC or modern conveniences, but it works for calls and basic web browsing.

Durability & Protection

The plastic back is prone to cracks, and the screen scratches easily. A case is highly recommended. Water resistance? Zero. Handle with care.

Price & Value Proposition

You can find used 3GS models for $20-$50. It’s a fun collector’s item or emergency backup phone, but not practical as a daily driver in 2024.

Benchmark Scores

In its prime, the iPhone 3GS scored modestly in benchmarks, but today it’s laughably slow. Geekbench scores hover around 150-200—fine for calls, painful for apps. A relic of simpler times.

Build Quality & Materials

The curved plastic back and chrome accents scream 2009. It’s lightweight and pocket-friendly, but the plastic feels cheap compared to today’s glass/metal designs. Still, it’s durable enough for light use.

Display Quality

The 3.5-inch LCD is tiny and low-res (480x320), but it’s responsive. Colors are washed out by modern standards, but for reading or old games, it’s passable. No Retina here.

Camera System & Performance

A 3MP camera with no flash or front cam—photos are soft and noisy. Daylight shots are okay, but low light is a blurry mess. Video? 480p is all you get.

Software & User Experience

iOS 6 is smooth but outdated. Most apps won’t install, and web browsing is sluggish. Great for calls/texts, but that’s about it. Jailbreaking helps, but it’s a hassle.

Battery Life & Charging

The small 1219mAh battery barely lasts a day now. Replacement batteries are easy to find, but charging via 30-pin is slow. Keep a charger handy.

Gaming & Graphics Performance

The PowerVR SGX 535 GPU struggles with anything beyond 2D games. Temple Run? Maybe. Fortnite? Forget it. Stick to Snake or solitaire.

Connectivity & Ports

3G and Wi-Fi b/g are painfully slow today. The 30-pin port is a relic—no Bluetooth 4.0 or GPS precision. A time capsule of 2009 tech.

Durability & Protection

The plastic back cracks, and the screen scratches if you breathe on it. No water resistance. Treat it like an antique—handle with care.

Price & Value Proposition

At $20-$50 used, it’s a cheap nostalgia trip or backup phone. Not practical for daily use, but fun for collectors or retro enthusiasts.