The iPhone 3GS. Introduced in 2009, it was one of the best phones on the market, and was twice as fast as its predecessor, the iPhone 3G. More than 3 years later, it is still being sold by Apple, and is presumably targeted at the lower-end market due to its low price(and even lower on contract). Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying it is better than the 4 or the 4S, but it is still a decent device that is able to fulfill the needs of many people that don't necessary demand a super-fast and pricey smartphone with state-of-the-art features. It is capable of supporting iOS 5.1.1, the most recent update and still performs remarkably despite its ageing hardware(besides some complains of lag and bugs). As a matter of fact, back in 2011, people weren't even sure it was going to receive iOS 5; even if it were, people were either expecting a stripped-down version with only minor features or the horrendous experience like the 3G on iOS 4.
Apple changed that. It optimized the update in a way such that the terrible experience wasn't repeated, and many were satisfied with the majority of the new features. What's more, the 3GS got almost all of the features and the only ones it was lacking was location-based reminders and some others(i can't remember).
Now, in 2012, to our enormous surprise, Apple announced iOS 6, and again, people were almost certain that this 3 year phone was not gonna receive the update. Again, Apple choose to defy the odds and announced that it will be supporting the 3GS with the new update. Sure, it is going to lack some newer features like offline reading list,siri, facetime over cellular, 3D maps and turn by turn navigation. However, most of these features are hardware-limited with the exception of the offline reading list. Despite all of this, it was still incredible that Apple managed to update this ageing phone. iPhone 3GS owners will be able to enjoy Phone enhancements, Facebook integration, faster Safari performance, Shared Photo Streams, VIP mailbox and much more. The beta roughly shows the expected performance, and it was still able to perform decently in spite of its age.
I would still highly recommend this particular phone to someone who requires a smartphone for basic apps usage, light web browsing and such. Not everyone in the world can afford an iPhone 4S, which may be quite expensive option to some. The 3GS is a cheap option to have access to the App Store, which contains a plethora of apps, and internet access on the go, and can still easier out-perform budget android phones to date.
One of the downsides of the 3GS would be the 3 megapixel camera. Nowadays when compared to newer phones that are coming out with 8-12 mp camera with improved sensors, the 3GS's camera seems to be a letdown in terms of photography. However, in bright daylight, it is still able to capture relatively decent photos with its auto-focusing and auto-white balance sensor. In addition to this, the fast camera access from the lockscreen that was introduced in iOS 5.1 ensures that it will be quick option to capture a special moment even when you do not have your DSLR with you.
Till this date, many people in my society are still sporting this phone and it is not surprising as it is still able to meet the needs and demands of many. If you still have your iPhone 3GS or once had it, let me know what you guys think about you experience using this phone.
Apple changed that. It optimized the update in a way such that the terrible experience wasn't repeated, and many were satisfied with the majority of the new features. What's more, the 3GS got almost all of the features and the only ones it was lacking was location-based reminders and some others(i can't remember).
Now, in 2012, to our enormous surprise, Apple announced iOS 6, and again, people were almost certain that this 3 year phone was not gonna receive the update. Again, Apple choose to defy the odds and announced that it will be supporting the 3GS with the new update. Sure, it is going to lack some newer features like offline reading list,siri, facetime over cellular, 3D maps and turn by turn navigation. However, most of these features are hardware-limited with the exception of the offline reading list. Despite all of this, it was still incredible that Apple managed to update this ageing phone. iPhone 3GS owners will be able to enjoy Phone enhancements, Facebook integration, faster Safari performance, Shared Photo Streams, VIP mailbox and much more. The beta roughly shows the expected performance, and it was still able to perform decently in spite of its age.
I would still highly recommend this particular phone to someone who requires a smartphone for basic apps usage, light web browsing and such. Not everyone in the world can afford an iPhone 4S, which may be quite expensive option to some. The 3GS is a cheap option to have access to the App Store, which contains a plethora of apps, and internet access on the go, and can still easier out-perform budget android phones to date.
One of the downsides of the 3GS would be the 3 megapixel camera. Nowadays when compared to newer phones that are coming out with 8-12 mp camera with improved sensors, the 3GS's camera seems to be a letdown in terms of photography. However, in bright daylight, it is still able to capture relatively decent photos with its auto-focusing and auto-white balance sensor. In addition to this, the fast camera access from the lockscreen that was introduced in iOS 5.1 ensures that it will be quick option to capture a special moment even when you do not have your DSLR with you.
Till this date, many people in my society are still sporting this phone and it is not surprising as it is still able to meet the needs and demands of many. If you still have your iPhone 3GS or once had it, let me know what you guys think about you experience using this phone.
