Apple iPhone 3GS

iPhone 3GS vs. Palm Pre

Most reviews compare the Apple iPhone 3GS with the Palm Pre (*Est. $100 with new contract), since both of the long-anticipated devices were released within a few days of each other. While most experts prefer the iPhone, the Pre beats it in one key category -- multitasking -- because it can run more than one app at a time. Although the new push notification feature on the iPhone 3GS allows you to get real-time background updates from your apps, you cannot have more than one app open at a time. Engadget.com's Joshua Topolsky gripes that the notifications are obtrusive, appearing "either one of the iPhone's annoying pop-ups, or as a background audio notification coupled with a growing message counter for a particular app (AIM for instance)." Topolsky hopes that Apple will take a note from Palm, which illustrated that "background tasks can be handled elegantly without a mind-blowing hit to battery life." 

Other than speed and software, much remains the same

Battery tests for the iPhone 3GS yield nearly the same results as the iPhone 3G -- about five hours of talk time. Engadget.com's tests show a two-hour improvement when using the 2G network, while InfoSyncWorld.com notes improvement with video playback and web surfing over Wi-Fi. Kent German at CNET and PCMag's Sascha Segan report no change in voice quality or reception.

The iPhone 3GS looks exactly like the previous model and is the same size. It is available in white or black, and its 3.5-inch touch screen is supposed to be more fingerprint-resistant than previous iPhones. Topolsky confirms this, noting that it "resists new smudges and wipes almost entirely clean with a single swipe on a pant leg." Gizmodo.com's Jason Chen says the screen is a bit more reflective than the 3G's, but agrees that the screen's protective coating "actually works."

Also unchanged is the iPhone's interface, and that bothers a number of reviewers, including CNET's German who says, "As intuitive and simple as the interface is, it becomes unwieldy after you get above four menu pages." As you download more apps, he says, it becomes impossible to manage them. "We hate that there's no way to categorize related apps into folders," he writes.

The iPhone's camera was never its strong point, but reviewers are impressed with the 3GS's 3-megapixel camera, which has a nifty feature that enables you to tap on the part of the image you would like to be the main focus of the frame. German finds the camera to be improved in most cases, noting that outdoor shots, even on cloudy days, look good, but indoor shots are still a challenge. He's also thrilled about the addition of video recording, especially the built-in video-editing option.

Mixed reviews for new iPhone's Voice Control

Reviewers are mostly pleased with the iPhone 3GS's new features. The only one that most experts aren't exactly floored by Voice Control, which works with music playback and phone calls. Engadget.com's Topolsky reports that the device has trouble understanding band names: "[W]e asked it to 'play M83' and it thought we wanted to listen to a playlist called 'Pre' (oh the irony)." A somewhat odd add-on is the built-in compass. Although no reviewer finds it compelling by itself, those who try it are impressed with its Google Maps integration. You can use it to orient the map to the direction you are facing, which is great for exploring an unfamiliar city or neighborhood.

Long overdue features -- such as cut, copy and paste -- prove to be worth the wait. Reviewers are also happy to see that the landscape keyboard, previously available only when using the Safari web browser, is now available when using email, text messaging and notes. Although CNET's German has trouble adapting to the landscape keyboard, InfoSyncWorld.com's Philip Berne finds it increases his typing speed. Engadget.com's Topolsky notes improvement in his typing accuracy.

We found reviews of the Apple iPhone 3GS at a number of tech websites and blogs, including CNET, PCMag, Engadget.com and Gizmodo.com. The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal also offer coverage. User reviews are scarce at this point, but CNET already has more than 100.