The iPhone is good, but...

Category: Review on Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB Mobile Phone

Posted by: 5-May

Strengths: High-speed 3G Networks, great music and video, improved call quality

Weaknesses: Short battery life, unimpressive camera, difficulty in typing

Though the first Apple iPhone set a new benchmark for an integrated cell phone and MP3 player, it suffered a few misses – a slow data network, variable call quality, and lack of 3G compatibility. The Apple iPhone 3G has all the features of the original and some more. It is definitely an improvement over the original model, though it still lacks some basic features.

One feature that I personally like is the iPhone’s compatibility with both PCs and Macs. 3G technology uses HSDPA for speedy data downloads over UMTS networks. Hence, web pages load faster than in the previous version. For quick and easy connectivity, it has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities. Using Apple Safari, you can now browse, check mails, access Google maps and more. Though the e-mail syncing can’t be compared to a Blackberry, it is a definite step towards evolving the iPhone into a business device.

Another cool feature of this mobile phone is the App Store for downloading and installing various applications and games. Downloading via Wi-Fi is pretty quick and easy. Once the application is installed, its icon appears on the home screen, making navigation a breeze.

On the downside, certain features leave a lot to be desired. Most importantly, the battery life is not very impressive. Moreover, the battery is not user-replaceable. Typing messages using the on-screen keyboard is something that takes a lot of getting used to. You cannot send an MMS using the iPhone 3G, which is quite frustrating. Do not expect great quality images with the 2.0 megapixel camera. Finally, you cannot upgrade the memory. Even though it has an 8 GB memory, it does place a certain limit on the amount of music and videos you can store. Options for an additional memory stick would have been helpful.

Overall, the iPhone 3G has some cool design features, but I hope Apple does something about improving the battery life.