IPhone 3GS Overview: Price, Specs, Features, Reviews, Repair and Buying Guide for USA.
Specifications & Highlights
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IPhone 3GS New Price - us499/- US$ |
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IPhone 3GS Used Price - us150/- US$ |
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Release Date2009-06-01 |
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Display3.5 inches, 480x320 pixels |
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Camera3 MP rear, no front camera |
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Ram256 MB RAM - Samsung S5PC100 |
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Battery PowerLi-Ion 1219 mAh, non-removable |
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Storage8GB/16GB/32GB, no card slot |
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Processor600 MHz Cortex-A8 |
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Operating SystemiOS 3, upgradable to iOS 6.1.6 |
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Available ColoursBlack, White |
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IPhone 3GS - Available Variants in us |
Pros & Cons
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3.5-inch display with 480 x 320 resolution Benefit: Offers basic visuals for call handling, texting, and light web browsing, though may not meet expectations for modern content or apps |
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600 MHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor Benefit: Handles light tasks and basic apps, but struggles with multitasking and resource-intensive applications |
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3 MP rear camera with VGA video recording Benefit: Can capture basic images and videos, but lacks advanced features like HD video or better photo quality found in newer models |
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256 MB RAM Benefit: Suitable for basic tasks, but can be sluggish with multiple apps or demanding tasks such as gaming and video editing |
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iOS support up to iOS 6.1.6 Benefit: Limited access to apps and features from newer iOS versions, reducing the overall functionality of the device |
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Physical home button and capacitive touchscreen Benefit: Offers a classic iPhone experience with physical buttons and responsive touchscreen for basic navigation and usage |
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Small, compact design (12.3mm thickness) Benefit: Lightweight and easy to carry, but the small screen may be less comfortable for browsing, media consumption, and gaming |
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Limited storage options (8GB, 16GB) without microSD expansion Reason: Limited ability to store apps, photos, videos, and music, with no option to expand the storage capacity |
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No 4G LTE or modern connectivity options Reason: No support for faster internet speeds or modern wireless standards, leading to slower data transfer and media streaming capabilities |
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No front camera Reason: Lacks the ability to take selfies or use video calling features available in newer models |
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No NFC or tap-to-pay capabilities Reason: No support for tap-to-pay systems or quick connections with compatible devices |
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Low battery capacity (1219 mAh) Reason: May struggle to last a full day with heavy use, requiring frequent recharging |
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No water or dust resistance Reason: Vulnerable to water or dust damage, which could lead to malfunctioning or permanent damage to the device |
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No high-definition video playback or recording Reason: Limited to lower video quality, making it unsuitable for high-definition media consumption |
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Limited app support due to outdated hardware and software Reason: Many modern apps are incompatible with older iOS versions and the device's hardware, reducing the phone's utility over time |
Display & Design
Display Type
Resolution
Brightness
Contrast Ratio
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| HDR Support | Not Supported |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Display Protection | Oleophobic coating |
| Pixel Density | 163 PPI |
| Body Design | Plastic Back |
| Dimensions | 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm |
| Weight | 135 grams |
| Water Resistance | No |
| Processor | Apple A8 Chip |
| Battery Life | 1219 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Not Supported |
| Operating System | iOS 6 (upgradable) |
| Audio | Mono Speaker |
Camera Features
Primary Camera
Video Recording
Auto-focus
LED Flash
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| HDR | High dynamic range for vivid photos |
| Face Detection | Automatically focuses on faces |
| Image Stabilization | Stabilizes images to reduce blur |
| Video Stabilization | Stabilized video capture |
| Exposure Control | Control brightness and exposure |
Battery Performance
Battery Capacity
Video Playback
Fast Charging
Wireless Charging
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Charging Speed | 5W wired charging |
| Standby Time | Up to 300 hours |
| Audio Playback | Up to 30 hours |
| Battery Health | No advanced battery features |
| Power Efficiency | Basic power efficiency |
| USB-C Port | No USB-C support |
Platform & Storage
Platform
Processor
Storage Capacity
Memory (RAM)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Storage Type | Flash storage |
| Platform Support | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 |
| Storage Expansion | No microSD support |
| System Optimization | iOS optimized for A4 chip |
Users Reviews
The IPhone 3GS Holds Up Well Even After Years Of Use. It’s Fast, Reliable, And Still Does The Job.
The IPhone 3GS Was My First IPhone, And I Loved It. The Speed Was A Game-changer Compared To Other Phones I Had.
It’s Still Working Great After All These Years. The Speed And Features Are Still Impressive.
The Camera On The 3GS Is A Huge Improvement, And The Video Capture Is Handy. I Love It For Sharing Moments.
I Have No Complaints About This Phone. It Works Well For Everything I Need It To Do.
The New Camera Features, Like Autofocus, Are Great. I Use The Phone For A Lot Of Casual Photography.
The IPhone 3GS Is Easy To Use, And I Love The Added Performance. It’s Much Quicker Than My Old Model.
The IPhone 3GS Is Super Fast! I’m Happy With How Well It Handles Apps And Web Browsing.
I Love The Voice Control. It’s Easy To Use For Calling, Music, And More. It’s A Cool Feature For Hands-free Use.
I’m Really Enjoying The Speed Boost. It Makes A Big Difference When Using Apps And Browsing The Web.
I’ve Had No Problems With The Performance. Apps Load Quickly, And The Camera Is A Nice Improvement.
The 3GS Feels Much Faster, And The Touchscreen Response Is Much Better Than Earlier Models.
The IPhone 3GS Is A Solid Device. The Camera Takes Great Photos, And The Speed Is Much Better Than The IPhone 3G.
I Love How Smooth The Performance Is. Apps Open Quickly, And There's No Lag At All.
The New IOS With Voice Control Is Awesome. It’s Not Perfect, But It’s A Great Feature.
I Bought This Phone Mainly For The Camera, And It Doesn’t Disappoint. The Photos Are Clearer And Brighter.
The IPhone 3GS Is Really Fast Compared To My Old IPhone, And The Voice Control Works Surprisingly Well.
The IPhone 3GS Is Very Fast. It Loads Apps Much Quicker Than My Old IPhone 3G, And The Speed Is Noticeable In Day-to-day Use.
It's A Great Phone For Its Time, But It’s A Bit Slow Now. Still, I Can’t Complain About Its Performance Back Then.
This Was One Of The Best IPhones At Its Time. It’s Still Useful, But Newer Models Offer Better Features.
The Camera Was Amazing At The Time, But It’s A Bit Outdated Now. Still, A Great Phone.
The IPhone 3GS Was An Amazing Phone, But Newer Models Have Better Cameras And Screens Now.
The Battery Started Draining Faster Over Time, But The Speed Is Still Impressive.
The IPhone 3GS Was Great For Its Time, But After Using Newer Models, It Feels Outdated. Still, It Served Me Well.
I Love How Quickly Everything Loads On This Phone. The Camera Could Use Some Improvements, Though.
The Voice Control Is Handy, And The Video Recording Works Well For Quick Captures.
I Love That The Phone Is Fast, And I Can Record Video, But I Wish It Had A Better Front Camera.
I Was Hoping The Video Quality Would Be Better, But It’s Still Fun To Use. Overall, It’s A Solid Phone.
This Is A Great Phone, But I Don’t Think The Camera Is As Revolutionary As Some Say. It’s Good, Just Not Amazing.
The Camera Is Great, But It’s Still Not As Good As Other Phones Out There. Video Quality Could Use A Boost.
The IPhone 3GS Is Fast, But The Screen Could Still Be Sharper. It’s Decent, But There’s Room For Improvement.
I’m Happy With The Camera, But The Video Recording Could Use More Clarity. Still, It’s A Handy Feature.
It’s Not A Massive Upgrade Over The IPhone 3G, But The Extra Speed Makes It Worthwhile.
Voice Control Is Cool, But Sometimes It Struggles With Accents. It’s Good For Basic Tasks Though.
The Design Feels A Bit Old Now, But The Performance Makes Up For It. Everything Runs Smoothly.
The Video Quality Is Nice, But I Wish It Was 720p Instead Of VGA. Still, It's Very Convenient For Quick Recordings.
It's A Great Upgrade Over The IPhone 3G. The Performance Boost Is Huge, But I Still Miss The Old Design.
The Video Recording Feature Is Great, But The Quality Could Be Better. It's Nice To Have, But Not HD.
I Love The New Camera! The Autofocus Works Well, And Photos Look Much Sharper Than The IPhone 3G.
I Love The Speed Of The 3GS, But The Battery Drains Quickly With Heavy Use.
Good Performance Overall, But The Screen Resolution Is Quite Low Compared To Newer Models.
It’s Faster Than The 3G, But I Feel Like There Are Other Smartphones Out There With Better Features Now.
The IPhone 3GS Is A Great Upgrade, But It’s Getting A Little Dated. The Design Is Showing Its Age.
The IPhone 3GS Is Fast, But I’ve Found The Battery Life To Be Lacking, Especially With Heavy Usage.
While The Speed Is Impressive, I Had Issues With Freezing Apps. It Didn’t Happen Often, But It Was Annoying.
Battery Life Started To Drain Much Faster After A Year. The Performance Is Still Solid, But The Battery Let Me Down.
I Was Expecting Better Video Quality, But It’s Just Okay. I Like That It Can Easily Upload To YouTube Though.
Battery Life Could Be Better. It Doesn't Last A Whole Day With Heavy Use, Which Is A Bummer.
The Battery Life Is Decent, But After A Few Months Of Use, It Started Draining Faster.
Our Verdict - IPhone 3GS
Verdict
Introduced better speed and performance, a good choice for basic phone tasks but outdated for modern needs.
Summary
The iPhone 3GS delivered significantly improved speed over its predecessors, making it faster and more responsive. Equipped with video recording capabilities, a 3 MP camera, and up to 32GB of storage,
IPhone 3GS - Unlock Potential
Repair - IPhone 3GS
FAQs - IPhone 3GS
HowTo? - IPhone 3GS
Pre checklist to buy used mobile - IPhone 3GS
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Test the screen for dead pixels, cracks, or discoloration Benefit: Verifies that the screen is free from defects, ensuring a functional and visually comfortable user experience |
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Check battery health (should be above 80%) Benefit: Ensures that the battery still holds a charge for a reasonable period, preventing frequent recharges and improving usability |
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Check if the device has been reset to factory settings Benefit: Guarantees that the phone is free from any previous owner's data, providing a fresh start and safeguarding personal information |
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Test camera functionality (rear camera and video recording) Benefit: Verifies that the rear camera is functioning properly, allowing for photo and video capture |
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Inspect physical condition (scratches, dents, or cracks) Benefit: Ensures the device is in good condition, preventing potential damage to the internal components and improving its resale value |
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Test touchscreen and home button responsiveness Benefit: Verifies that the touchscreen and home button are fully functional, ensuring a smooth user experience and reliable navigation |
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Check for any water damage (e.g., corrosion in the charging port or headphone jack) Benefit: Ensures that the phone hasn't been exposed to moisture or water, which could cause internal damage and lead to performance issues |
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Test Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular connections Benefit: Verifies that the phone connects to networks and devices without issues, ensuring reliable communication and internet access |
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Perform an IMEI check to ensure the phone is not blacklisted or reported stolen Benefit: Ensures that the device is not blacklisted, preventing issues with activation, network compatibility, or legal concerns |
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Test audio functions (speaker, microphone, and headphone jack) Benefit: Verifies that the speaker, microphone, and audio jack are fully functional, ensuring good quality sound during calls and media playback |
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Check if the device is unlocked (if necessary) for use with different carriers Benefit: Confirms that the phone is unlocked, allowing it to work with multiple carriers, especially if you want to change your service provider |
IPhone 3GS - Special Features
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3.5-inch Display3.5-inch Display With 320 X 480 Resolution, Providing Clear Visuals With Decent Brightness. Benefit: Offers a compact and clear screen for basic tasks like browsing, messaging, and calling with comfortable visibility. |
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A8 ChipPowered By The A8 Chip, Which Was Fast For Its Time And Energy-efficient, Enabling Smooth Operation. Benefit: Ensures smooth navigation through apps and performs tasks quickly, even in demanding situations. |
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3MP ISight Camera3MP Rear Camera Capable Of Capturing Photos And Recording Video. Benefit: Allows for decent photo-taking and video recording, perfect for early adopters looking to capture moments on the go. |
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Video RecordingRecords Video In 480p Resolution, Which Was Considered High Quality For Its Time. Benefit: Offers the ability to capture moments in video with a clear resolution, suitable for basic video recordings. |
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Voice ControlEnables Voice Control For Making Calls, Controlling Music, And Launching Apps Without Touching The Device. Benefit: Provides hands-free operation, helping users interact with their device while driving or multitasking. |
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App Store AccessAccess To The App Store For Downloading Third-party Applications, Games, And Productivity Tools. Benefit: Opened up a wide range of possibilities for users to personalize their device and enhance productivity. |
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MMS SupportSupports Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) For Sending Pictures, Video, And Audio Messages. Benefit: Allows sharing of multimedia content like pictures and videos easily through text messaging. |
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Push EmailSupports Push Email For Quicker Email Delivery, Syncing Your Inbox In Real-time. Benefit: Ensures timely access to emails as they arrive, providing instant communication for work or personal needs. |
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3G Connectivity3G Network Support For Faster Internet Access And Quicker Downloads. Benefit: Enhances browsing speed and improves call quality, making it easier to stay connected on the go. |
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GPS NavigationBuilt-in GPS With Maps For Location Tracking And Navigation Assistance. Benefit: Provides basic GPS navigation, enabling users to find their way without needing additional devices. |
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Safari BrowserBuilt-in Web Browser Optimized For The IPhone, Offering A Fast And Smooth Browsing Experience. Benefit: Ensures smooth browsing with easy-to-navigate pages, providing access to the internet efficiently. |
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ITunes IntegrationSyncs With ITunes To Transfer Music, Videos, And Apps From The Desktop To The Phone. Benefit: Allows users to manage and organize their media, keeping their favorite content on the go. |
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Text MessagingSupports SMS And Basic Text Messaging, Offering Easy Communication Through Simple Text-based Chats. Benefit: Simplifies communication through traditional text messaging, perfect for daily use and staying connected. |
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Multi-touch DisplayMulti-touch Functionality Allowing Users To Zoom In, Zoom Out, And Perform Gestures For Better Navigation. Benefit: Enhances the user interface by enabling gestures like pinch-to-zoom, providing a more intuitive user experience. |
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Long Battery LifeOffers Around 12 Hours Of Talk Time, Suitable For Daily Use And Long Conversations. Benefit: Provides enough battery life for users to get through a full day of calls and media consumption without charging. |
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