Apple - iPhone 3G Review

The Apple iPhone 3G has officially arrived. Is it worth the upgrade? My answer is "probably". Although my review of the original Apple iPhone was extremely positive, I anxiously awaited its upgrade for two reasons: faster data speeds and GPS capabilities.

If you are lucky enough to use the Apple iPhone 3G in a metropolitan area like Chicago, all web pages will load noticeably faster on the the third generation "3G" mobile network. If you are lucky enough to reside on planet Earth, the Apple iPhone 3G will always know its location down to a few feet. Put these two features together, and a powerful all-in-one mobile device is born.

Those are the two big reasons to upgrade, but here are some of the other new features in the Apple iPhone 3G:

• The form factor is relatively the same, but it does have a smoother, curved surface (black or white depending upon the model) on the back.
• The headphone jack is no longer recessed.
• The physical buttons on the side and top are silver instead of black.
• Audio quality is much clearer (especially with the speakerphone).
• The screen has a warmer tint, with more contrast and richer blacks.
• It feels lighter, but that just may be me.
• The price ($199/$299) is much more reasonable.

So what are you waiting for? Go and purchase that brand new Apple iPhone 3G now! Compared to the alternatives, it is worth it.

NOTE: After using it for several days now, I have to comment on the battery life. It could be better. It may just be all of the chatter from MobileMe, some new push email accounts, or simply some software glitches. Or it could be the GPS and 3G network simply drain the battery faster. Battery life is probably around 50% less compared to the original iPhone. It  has to be charged every night without exception, and gets about 3-4 hours of actual data use between charges. While the iPhone (all models) is an incredible mobile device, the iPhone 3G still isn't absolutely perfect.