Should i buy an iPhone 3GS ?

[mojolicious]

I'm using a 3GS, and while it doesn't do everything I'd like it to do, it certainly does everything I need it to do. My one gripe is with way the App Store works rather than the phone itself, ie iTunes keeps downloading non-iOS6 updates. Not sure how you would acquire iOS6-compatible applications if you were starting from scratch?

 

[eyoungren]

I'm not getting this!

Why does the OP have to have close to the newest to be introduced to iOS?!

The 3GS makes phone calls, it does text messaging and you can browse the web with it. Those are some basic needs that even a flip phone can handle. For Godssake, the 3GS will even do iCloud and iMessage!

Everything being discussed about iOS 7, et all is just features on top of the basics. Yes, it makes things nicer, but it's not the basics themselves. What someone needs is not always or necessarily, the latest of anything.

 

[rambo47]

Depending on finances. I'd at least try to get a 4S

To get a sense of the "iOS a experience" I would also recommend the 4s as a munimum.

 

[doasis23]

My 5 broke a few months ago so Ive been using a 3gs since to hold me over to the 6. The last few months have driven me crazy. It is slow, unresponsive, and my biggest gripe the gps is inaccurate. After using ios7 for 18 months and switching to ios6 is big downgrade.

 

[rui no onna]

Hmm 3GS 8GB is $50, 4 is $150 and 4S is $250 so do you think the extra cost for newer models are worth it? I will only use it for calling,texting and maybe some apps and little web browsing.

4S should be going for less than $200 now and 4 is probably closer to $100. I've already seen Verizon 5 and 5c for as low as $225 on Swappa. 3GS is pretty old and there are already apps requiring at least iOS 7. Soon, we will have iOS 8 only apps.

That said, have you considered Android? For the asking price, the Moto G is a darned good phone and Android now is a very viable alternative to iOS.

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Why would anyone want to use a 2009 phone in 2014 going in to 2015? Not too mention, it only supports iOS 6, and even that is limited, e.g. maps. If money is an issue, he should consider the 4S on contract, as its now FREE.

Seems like nobody remembered the fact that the 3GS has been discontinued since September 2012.

It's only free if you tie yourself to a $720 per year contract minimum.

 

[bpeeps]

I don't believe this post for a minute.

 

[boomhower]

For a decent iOS experience the 4S is the oldest I would go with.

 

[green9206]

Thanks everyone for their input.One last thing i want to know how does iOS 6 perform on 3GS ?
Edit: nevermind quick google search says iOS 6 runs well on 3GS.

 

[karmatourer]

Remember the 3GS is not an LTE or 4 phone.I use an unlocked 3GS for int'l travel w/o any issues. I use the Lumia 520 for a free GPS.

 

[Madmischief]

As you want to experience the IOS ecosystem - I strongly suggest at least a 4s with a view to a 5 if possible ... If you can, wait a few months and the 5 will be start getting pretty cheap in the Xmas rush.

 

[techiebug]

You can't experience Apple ecosystem with a 3GS as it's so old and most new apps require later software. Better buy a decent android phones

 

[mojolicious]

As you want to experience the IOS ecosystem - I strongly suggest at least a 4s

You can't experience Apple ecosystem with a 3GS

What am I missing out on with my iOS6 3GS? Do you guys hold crazy nude AirDrop parties and not invite me?

 

[rui no onna]

What am I missing out on with my iOS6 3GS? Do you guys hold crazy nude AirDrop parties and not invite me?

There are already some iOS 7 exclusive apps. Also some official video streaming apps. I seem to recall either CBS or another TV app telling me I need to upgrade to iOS 7. iOS 6 is still relatively well supported but that's gonna change sooner rather than later with the release of iOS 8.

 

[mojolicious]

There are already some iOS 7 exclusive apps ... iOS 6 is still relatively well supported but that's gonna change sooner rather than later with the release of iOS 8.

Sure, but from an 'eco-system' point of view is iOS6 imminently extinct? As long as it plays nicely with OSX 10.10's iTunes and isn't cast out of the iCloud then surely everything's gravy, and all that's missing is some interoperability with iOS7/8 devices (such as AirDrop)?

As I said in an earlier post, the OSX iTunes App Store is a dumb beast that downloads the latest/greatest version of every app with total disregard for the iOS version of the device you're using. My 3GS has evolved over the years so it already has the final iOS6 version of every app I use; my main concern about getting a 'new' 3GS would be how one goes about sourcing the iOS6 versions of apps, if the App Store doesn't have anything other than the latest release.

 

[rui no onna]

my main concern about getting a 'new' 3GS would be how one goes about sourcing the iOS6 versions of apps, if the App Store doesn't have anything other than the latest release.

This exactly. And again, some apps that rely on web services might stop working. Some banking apps might refuse to work on iOS 6, etc. For the most part, you can just download the latest version of apps on iTunes from a computer and then download last compatible version directly using iCloud on the device. It just's not guaranteed to work for all apps.