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iPhone 3G: The essentials

Overview

The first-generation iPhone was a revolutionary device using a totally new operating system and touchscreen interface. The 3G builds on its success with new features and faster connection.

Pros

  • Good overall general phone performance (sound and reception)
  • Excellent battery
  • Stunning appearance and touchscreen interface
  • Easy to use
  • Impressive music player with a long lasting battery
  • Excellent integration of applications
  • Easy Wi-Fi installation
  • Impressive operating and email systems
  • Great web browser
  • Addition of assisted GPS uses Google Maps
  • Faster wireless connection using 3G

Cons

  • No radio
  • Virtual keyboard isn’t suitable for large amounts of data entry and is not always precise
  • 2Mp camera only average
  • Battery can’t be removed so the whole device needs repairing if it fails
  • Quite heavy
  • Very susceptible to water damage
  • O2 bundling makes overall package expensive

Display

An iPhone in hand

The iPhone's stunning touch screen display.

Display quality is key on any mobile phone, but on the iPhone 3G it’s paramount because you use the touch-screen to control the device. Fortunately the large (3.5 inch), high resolution display is very clear — even in bright sunlight.

Touchscreen

Like some other smartphones, the iPhone is a pure touchscreen operated device.

  • The phone’s top layer is made of glass, which is impressively resistant to scratches. It does draw smudges although these aren’t distracting on most functions and can easily be wiped clean with the provided chamois-like cloth.
  • While other smartphone touch screens work best with a stylus, the iPhone’s responds well to fingertip control and can't use a stylus to control on-screen elements.
  • You can slide content across the screen by dragging it with your finger, or enlarge it with a double tap.
  • You can also zoom in on images by moving your fingers apart, or shrink images by pinching your fingers closer together. When you turn the iPhone 3G's orientation from portrait to landscape, images and Web pages automatically rotate to stay the right side up.

To prevent the accidental launch of programs during a call, a proximity sensor automatically deactivates the display when you hold the iPhone 3G to your face.

All the major applications, such as phone, mail, iPod and camera are accessible from the front screen, and you can customise the front screen by adding web links and downloaded applications. The touchscreen makes browsing through your data both quick and easy.

There’s also a virtual keypad, with large and well spaced ‘buttons’, although this takes some getting used to and won’t be suitable for large amounts of data entry. You’ll also have to keep your eyes on the screen because you can’t feel the buttons.

Phone calls

Sound quality when listening to calls is good, on a par with most comparable high end phones.

Texting

Sending an sms from the iPhone

The iPhone's virtual keyboard.

There isn’t a regular keypad on the iPhone, so to write text messages you have to type on a virtual one that pops up on demand. This system works brilliantly.

However it’s very different from the keypads found on most phones, so if you’re a heavy texter you may find adapting to the iPhone takes a little while.

Battery life

Apple claims that the iPhone 3G provides 10 hours of talk time when connected to a 2G network, and five hours of talk time when connected to a 3G network. However, the previous model didn't manage to live up to its battery-life claims our tests, instead lasting 4.7 to 5.3 hours, depending on the frequency band being used.

The same is true for the new version, although our tests certainly found an improvement. The new iPhone 3G gives around eight hours of talk time on a non-3G network rather than around five. And while using the old model for texting and other non call purposes drained the power fairly quickly, the new one lasts around twice as long (14 hours). These results are very impressive.

One thing to note, as with the iPod, and unlike most mobile phones, you can’t replace the battery yourself should you experience any problems. Instead the entire phone has to be sent back to the manufacturer to be professionally serviced.