Apple iPhone 3GS 8, 16, 32 GB* Specs
iPhone 3GS - MB715LL/A* - iPhone2,1 - A1303 - 2315*
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Although it looks essentially identical to the iPhone 3G before it with the same black or white plastic case design and the same 3.5" display with 320x480 resolution at 163 ppi (albeit with a new "oleophobic" oil repellent coating) -- and still combines mobile phone, iPod, and Internet functionality -- the iPhone 3GS* has a variety of significant additions.
Perhaps most notably, the iPhone 3GS is faster -- "S" refers to its enhanced speed (600 MHz up from 412 MHz, with a dramatically improved graphics processor as well), twice the RAM (256 MB up from 128 MB) -- and adds support for faster 7.2 Mbps HSDPA (802.11g/n and Bluetooth are supported too), a 3.0 megapixel camera -- with VGA video recording at 30 FPS -- as well as autofocus, macro, and white balance support, a "tap to focus" feature, and the ability to trim the beginning and ending of videos, along with a digital compass and A-GPS.
It also includes new accessibility features (VoiceOver), voice control functionality, integrated Nike + iPod support, and an inline remote on the headphone cable (like the iPod shuffle 3G).
The iPhone 3GS released in 2009 includes 16 GB or 32 GB of storage and the version released in 2010 includes 8 GB of storage (for a lower price). Regardless of capacity, Apple reports that it provides "up to" 30 hours of audio playback, 12 hours of talk time on 2G, 5 hours of talk time on 3G, 5 hours of Internet use on 3G, 9 hours of Internet use on Wi-Fi, 10 hours of video playback and 300 hours of standby time.
*For those truly interested in minutia, this model was introduced on June 8, 2009 as the iPhone 3G S (with a space between "3G" and "S"), and on June 23, 2009, Apple changed it to iPhone 3GS (no space).
Also see:
- What are the differences between the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS?
- How does the iPhone 3GS compare to the Palm Pre?
Accessorize This iPhone -- and buy new and used iPods -- at site sponsor PowerMax!
Upgrade This iPhone with site sponsor Other World Computing. Batteries & more!
Fix This iPhone -- free diagnosis and affordable repair at site sponsor Mission Repair!
Click on the underlined category text for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.
| Introduction Date: |
June 8, 2009 |
Discontinued Date: |
N/A* |
| Details: |
The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" generally refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended.
*On June 7, 2010, upon introducing the iPhone 4, Apple discontinued the 16 GB and 32 GB configurations of the iPhone 3GS model and introduced a new 8 GB configuration for US$99 for new AT&T Wireless customers with a two-year contract in the US. On August 9, 2010, China Unicom began selling an 8 GB configuration of this model -- complete with Wi-Fi -- in mainland China.
Also see: All iPhone models introduced in 2009. |
| Processors: |
1 |
Geekbench: |
280* |
| Details: |
*This number is an average of Geekbench 2 results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Individual user-submitted benchmarks can vary widely, but an average nevertheless can be useful to get a general idea of the relative performance of different devices. You also might be interested in combing through all Geekbench user-submissions for devices with the iPhone2,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.
To dynamically compare Geekbench results from different iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad models side-by-side, please see EveryiPod.com's Ultimate iComparison.
|
| Processor Speed: |
600 MHz |
Processor Type: |
Samsung ARM Cortex A8* |
| Details: |
*Apple provides no information regarding the iPhone 3GS processor, simply that it is a "closed system", but it is believed to use an ARM Cortex A8 running at 600 MHz (downclocked from 800 MHz). For graphics, it uses a PowerVR SGX graphics processor.
For more details, check out an analysis from the always excellent AnandTech.
Also see: How much faster is the iPhone 3GS than the iPhone 3G? How much difference does this speed boost make in actual use? |
| Onboard RAM: |
256 MB* |
Storage Capacity: |
8, 16, 32 GB* |
| Details: |
*Apple provides no information regarding the RAM used in the iPhone 3GS, but it is believed to have 256 MB onboard.
*On June 7, 2010, upon introducing the iPhone 4, Apple discontinued the 16 GB and 32 GB configurations of the iPhone 3GS model and introduced a new 8 GB configuration. |
| Song Capacity: |
N/A* |
Photo Capacity: |
N/A* |
| Details: |
*Apple does not provide an official estimate for the number of songs, photos, and videos that the iPhone 3GS can hold, instead opting for just gigabytes. |
| USB Support: |
Sync & Charge |
Firewire Support: |
None |
| Connectivity: |
USB |
Ports: |
Dock, Headphone |
| Case Type: |
Handheld |
Form Factor: |
iPhone 3GS |
| Housing Color: |
Black & White* |
Controller: |
Multi-touch |
| Details: |
*Available with a black glass front and choice of black or white plastic back. The 8 GB configuration introduced June 7, 2010 only is available in black.
The patented "multi-touch" interface allows one to control the functions of the system by dragging one or more fingers across the display.
Also see: How does the iPhone "multi-touch" interface work? Who developed the "multi-touch" interface originally? |
| Built-in Display: |
3.5" Color |
Display Resolution: |
320x480 (163 ppi) |
| Details: |
*The iPhone 3GS has a 3.5" 320 by 480 display (163 ppi) with an "oleophobic" (oil repellent) coating.
Also see: How does the iPhone touchscreen feel? Is the touchscreen really better than a keypad with tactile feedback?
Site sponsor Mission Repair offers free diagnosis of iPhone hardware problems and a 24-hour repair service for this iPhone. Display repacement, battery replacement, and more are provided. |
| Standard Wireless: |
802.11b/g* |
Standard Bluetooth: |
2.1+EDR |
| Details: |
*The iPhone 3GS also supports 3G (UMTS/HSDPA - 7.2 Mbps) and GSM/EDGE networks. |
| Cell Network: |
2G/3G* |
Camera: |
3.0 Megapixels** |
| Details: |
*The iPhone 3GS supports both 3G (UMTS/HSDPA -- 850, 1900, 2100 MHz - 7.2 Mbps) and GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) networks.
**The iPhone 3GS camera supports geotagging, like its predecessor, but also shoots VGA video at 30 FPS with audio, supports autofocus, macro, and white balance support, a "tap to focus" feature, and the ability to trim the beginning and ending of videos.
Also see: How does the camera in the iPhone 3GS compare to the camera in earlier iPhone models? |
| Battery Type: |
Lithium Ion |
Battery Life (Music): |
30 Hours |
| Battery Life (Voice): |
5-12 Hours* |
Standby Time: |
300 Hours |
| Details: |
*Apple reports that the iPhone 3GS provides "up to" 30 hours of audio playback, 12 hours of talk time on 2G, 5 hours of talk time on 3G, 5 hours of Internet use on 3G, 9 hours of Internet use on Wi-Fi, 10 hours of video playback and 300 hours of standby time.
Also see: How does the battery life of the iPhone 3GS compare to the iPhone 3G in "real-world" tests? Is the battery replaceable? |
| Apple Order No: |
MB715LL/A* |
Apple Subfamily: |
iPhone 3GS |
| Details: |
*MB715LL/A refers to the 16 GB configuration in black. 16 GB in white is MB716LL/A, 32 GB in black is MB717LL/A, 32 GB in white is MB718LL/A. |
| Apple Model No: |
A1303 (EMC 2315*) |
Model ID: |
iPhone2,1 |
| Details: |
*Please note that these identifiers often refer to more than one model. In this case, please also note that the EMC number is not externally listed on the device so it cannot be used readily for identification.
Also see: All iPhones with the A1303 Model Number, the 2315* EMC Number, and the iPhone2,1 Model Identifier. |
| Pre-Installed OS: |
iPhone OS 3.0* |
Maximum OS: |
Current |
| Details: |
When this model was released, Apple referred to the operating system as "iPhone OS." On June 7, 2010, the company changed the name to simply "iOS". This model is fully supported by iOS 4, including multitasking support. |
| Dimensions: |
4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 |
Avg. Weight: |
4.8 oz. (135 g) |
| Details: |
In inches - height by width by depth (115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm). |
| Mac Support: |
MacOS X 10.4.11 |
Windows Support: |
Windows XP SP2/Vista |
| Details: |
Apple reports that the iPhone 3GS is compatible with a "Mac computer with a USB 2.0 port, MacOS X v10.4.11 or later, and iTunes 8.2 or later."
It is compatible with a "PC with a USB 2.0 port, Windows Vista; or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later, and iTunes 8.2 or later." |
| Audio Support: |
Apple reports that the iPhone 3GS supports "AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 1, 2, and 3), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV." |
| Photo Support: |
Apple does not formally specify photo formats for the iPhone 3GS. The Safari web browser, however, supports JPG, GIF, and TIFF images, and the iPod function of the iPhone 3GS supports images sychronized from iTunes. |
| Video Support: |
Apple reports that the iPhone 3GS supports "H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats" |
| Incl. Accessories: |
Ships with "Apple Earphones with Remote and mic, dock connector to USB cable, USB power adapter, documentation, and a SIM eject tool". |
| Original Price: |
US$199, US$299* |
Est. Current Retail: |
US$99** |
| Details: |
*For new AT&T Wireless customers only, the original 16 GB configuration was US$199 and the 32 GB configuration was US$299. For "non-qualified" customers, the price of these devices with a new two-year agreement was US$599 or US$699.
**On June 7, 2010, Apple discontinued the 16 GB and 32 GB configurations of the iPhone 3GS and introduced an 8 GB configuration -- alongside the new iPhone 4 -- for US$99 for new/qualified AT&T Wireless customers with a new two-year agreement. The non-qualified price is US$499.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. |
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