What are the differences between the iPhone 3GS and the iPod touch 3rd Gen (Late 2009)?

With even a cursory review of a comparison between the iPod touch 3rd Gen (Late 2009) and the iPod touch 2nd Gen it is clear that the 3rd Gen models are quite similar to the replaced 2nd Gen models. In fact, the 8 GB configuration of the iPod touch 3rd Gen series effectively is identical to the 8 GB configuration of the iPod touch 2nd Gen series. Consequently, most of the iPhone 3GS to iPod touch 2nd Gen comparison is applicable when comparing the iPhone 3GS to the iPod touch 3rd Gen as well.

Although Apple made the decision to focus more on the gaming capabilities of the iPod touch 3rd Gen rather than use the "iPhone without the phone" pitch for previous iPod touch models, the 32 GB and 64 GB configurations of the iPod touch 3G, on basic terms, do provide much of the same iPod and handheld computing functionality of the iPhone 3GS but without the "phone", mobile phone networking (3G/EDGE), GPS-A support, integrated still/video camera, and digital compass functionality.

On first glance, the iPod touch 3rd Gen -- which essentially uses the same case as the iPod touch 2nd Gen it replaced -- looks about the same as the iPhone 3GS.

Left - iPod touch 3rd Gen, Right - iPhone 3GS - Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.

However, turn the iPod touch 3rd Gen and iPhone 3GS around and the external material differences become obvious. The iPod touch 3rd Gen has a chromed steel rear case with an oval shaped plastic "window" for the wi-fi antenna (officially 802.11b/g, but teardowns also have discovered that the Broadcom BCM4329 chip that provides 802.11b/g in the 32 GB and 64 GB iPod touch 3rd Gen configurations is capable of 802.11n as well, but this is not an advertised capability, nor is it supported in software).

The iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS models, on the other hand, use either black or white plastic for the rear case which allows data and voice signals to penetrate the housing. The wi-fi chip in the iPhone 3GS does not support 802.11n.

Left - iPod touch 3G, Center & Right - iPhone 3G - Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.

Although the size differences are rather inconsequential, the iPod touch 3rd Gen is slightly shorter (0.2 inches), thinner (0.15 inches), and lighter (0.75 ounces) than the iPhone 3GS.

Both the iPod touch 3rd Gen and iPhone 3GS have "multi-touch" sensitive 3.5" displays with 320x480 resolution, an accelerometer that allows the device to "know" whether it is being held in portrait or landscape mode and switch automatically, and an ambient light sensor to adjust screen brightness.

Internally, the 32 GB and 64 GB configurations of the iPod touch 3rd Gen and the iPhone 3GS have quite a bit in common. Both are believed to be powered by a Samsung ARM Cortex A8 processor running at 800 MHz (but the iPhone 3GS is "downclocked" to 600 MHz to conserve battery life) and both have PowerVR SGX graphics processors that support OpenGL ES 2.0 as well as 256 MB of RAM. The iPod touch 3rd Gen is offered with 8 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB of internal storage whereas the iPhone 3GS originally only was offered with 16 GB or 32 GB (as of June 7, 2010, Apple replaced the 16 GB and 32 GB configurations with a "low end" 8 GB configuration at a lower price point).

Apple formally estimates that both the iPod touch 3rd Gen and iPhone 3GS provide 30 hours of battery life for music playback, but only estimates six hours of video playback for the iPod touch 3rd Gen and ten hours for the iPhone 3GS.

Operating system support is similar for the iPhone 3GS and iPod touch 3rd Gen models -- all support iOS 4 -- but the 8 GB configuration of the iPod touch 3rd Gen is not fully compatible.

Upfront pricing for the iPod touch 3rd Gen is more than the iPhone 3GS, but comes with no strings attached as one is not obligated to tie themselves to an expensive mobile phone contract for two years either. The iPod touch 3rd Gen and iPhone 3GS additionally are both capable of running the same applications from Apple's "App Store".

For your convenience, the primary differences between the iPod touch 3rd Gen and the iPhone 3GS are summarized below:

	iPod touch 3rd Gen	iPhone 3GS
Primary Functionality:	Music Playback Video Playback Slideshows Wi-Fi*	Music Playback Video Playback Slideshows Wi-Fi & 3G/EDGE GPS Phone Still & Video Camera Compass
Processor Speed:	800 MHz	600 MHz
Data Networks:	Wi-Fi*	EDGE (2G), 3G & Wi-Fi
Bluetooth:	2.1+EDR	2.1+EDR
Storage Size:	8, 32, 64 GB	8, 16, 32 GB†
Talk Time (3G):	N/A	5 Hours
Talk Time (2G):	N/A	12 Hours
Battery Life (Music):	30 Hours	30 Hours
Battery Life (Video):	6 Hours	10 Hours
A-GPS:	No	Yes
Camera:	No	3.0 MP
Digital Compass:	No	Yes
External Speaker:	Yes	Yes
Microphone:	Yes**	Yes
Video Camera:	No	Yes
Voice Control:	No	Yes
Shake to Shuffle:	Yes	Yes
Genius Support:	Yes	Yes
Nike + iPod Support:	Yes	Yes
Back Exterior Finish:	Chrome	Black or White Plastic
iOS 4 Support:	Partial/Complete††	Complete
Dimensions (Inches):	4.3 x 2.4 x 0.33	4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48
Weight (Ounces):	4.05 oz. (115 g)	4.8 oz. (135 g)
Intro. Price:	US$199, US$299, US$399§	US$199, US$299†

* The iPod touch 3rd Gen models were advertised as having 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR support. However, third-party teardowns have discovered that the Broadcom BCM4329 chip that provides 802.11b/g is capable of 802.11n as well.

** The iPod touch 3rd Gen does not have an internal microphone, but it supports the external Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic and some third-party products. The Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic shipped standard with the 32 GB and 64 GB configurations.

§ The 8 GB iPod touch 3rd Gen is offered for US$199, the 32 GB is US$299, and the 64 GB is US$399.

† These prices were only offered for new AT&T Wireless customers. For non-qualified customers, the price with a new two-year agreement was US$599 or US$699. On June 7, 2010, Apple introduced a "low end" configuration of the iPhone 3GS alongside the iPhone 4 and this "low end" configuration is offered with 8 GB of storage for US$99 with a two-year agreement. It also is offered for "non-qualified" customers or "those who wish to buy iPhone as a gift" for US$499.

†† The 32 GB and 64 GB configurations of the iPod touch 3rd Gen are fully compatible with iOS 4, but the 8 GB configuration is not fully compatible.

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Also see:

• What are the differences between the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 3G?
• What are the differences between the iPhone 3GS and the Palm Pre?
• What are the differences between the iPod touch 3G (Late 2009) and the iPod touch 2G?