Apple iPhone 3G S 8GB deals & review

The smallest of Apple’s 2009 range of updated iPhones, the 3GS 8GB belongs to a lineage which has shaped the smartphone market in a way unlike any other brand. Now, at nearly two years old, it offers an affordable alternative to its state-of-the-art descendants, adding value for money to an extensive list of features. As seen in all of Apple’s flagship range, the highly navigable interface, accessible menus and unmatched expandability make the 3GS a great all-rounder, with features to satisfy every demographic.

Visually, the 3GS is almost identical to its predecessor in that it retains Apple’s trademark minimalist style. The front of the device is dominated by a 3.5in capacitive touchscreen which supports seamless transition between landscape and portrait views in most features. In an improvement upon the original iPhone 3G, Apple have added an oleophobic coating to the glass screen which repels moisture and oil, helping to ease the removal of fingerprints and grime. Despite its size, the screen is also reasonably resistant to scratches, although the plastic back is less so, and users must expect it to lose its pristine appearance with use.

With a crisp LCD screen and over 16 million colours, the large display portrays vivid menus and is particularly well-suited to browsing the web. In a further upgrade to its predecessor, the 3GS also offers video recording through its 3 megapixel camera and includes an easy-to-use autofocus utility. Integrated software is diverse and includes Youtube and Google Maps, but far greater versatility is reachable via the App Store. GPS capabilities are enhanced by a built-in electronic compass and text editing capabilities also exhibit a marked improvement, with a new copy and paste function and responsive text input system which aims to convert even the most ardent keypad loyalists to the touch interface. Naturally, the 3GS sports highly developed media playback capabilities via the renowned iPod framework.

The 600MHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor and 256MB of RAM enable rapid loading times and speedy browsing. This particular model is billed as the smallest of the range, and although the 8GB flash memory still offers plenty of storage space for music, users wishing to save large amounts of video may wish to opt for a larger model. The inclusion of a PowerVR SGX GPU, rated seven times faster than the MBX Lite graphics processor found in previous models, also supports excellent gaming and can arguably hold its own against those of dedicated platforms such as Sony’s PSP. Crucially, it is worth noting that this model does not support multitasking, although the included web browser can support multiple tabs without a noticeable drop in performance. The device’s standby time is quoted at 300 hours, although as is the case with many high-performance handsets, heavy users will most likely be forced to charge their devices every day.

Apple’s distinctive icon layout allows rapid navigation, with the large screen favouring the display of many apps at once instead of extensive sub-menus. This, coupled with the highly accommodating touchscreen, contributes to extremely slick functioning. The screen size and excellent built-in web browser mean that online activities are not beset by common limitations of mobile browsing which can leave users disappointed; instead browsing is comfortable and fluid via 3G or Wi-fi connections. In addition, Apple’s iTunes software serves as a comprehensive platform for synching media and preferences from desktop computers, and its years of development mean that it boasts features which outstrip those of other nascent smartphone interfaces such as Nokia’s PC Suite.

With its broad range of functions and immersive interface, the iPhone 3GS 8GB should be able to offer something to satisfy most users. Nonetheless, those who are looking for a media device offering more capable video functionality may wish to consider the Samsung i8910 HD, released a few months earlier. With a 3.7in AMOLED screen and 8MP camera, the Samsung offers rich colours and surpasses the iPhone in terms of image quality. Alternatively, those who cannot bring themselves to dispense entirely with a physical QWERTY keyboard may also wish to consider the HTC Touch Pro2, which offers similar versatility with the addition of a slide-out keypad. Finally, if money is not a factor, the iPhone 4S updates Apple’s familiar framework to contemporary specifications with a dual-core processor, instant synching thanks to iCloud technology and the novel addition of an intelligent personal assistant, Siri.