iPhone review

The first solid info anyone heard about the iPhone was in December of 2004, when news started to trickle out that Apple had been working on a phone device with Motorola as its manufacturing partner. About ten months later, under the shadow of the best-selling iPod nano, that ballyhooed device debuted -- the ROKR E1 -- a bastard product that Apple never put any weight behind, and that Motorola was quick to forget. The relationship between Apple and Motorola soon dissolved, in turn feeding the tech rumor mill with visions of a "true iPhone" being built by Apple behind the scenes. After years of rumor and speculation, last January that device was finally announced at Macworld 2007 -- and here we are, just over six months later -- the iPhone, perhaps the most hyped consumer electronics device ever created, has finally landed. And this is the only review of it you're going to need.

We've gone into serious detail here, so here's the review split into multiple parts. Trust us, it's a quick read. Enjoy!

Part 1: Hardware, interface, keyboard

Part 2: Phone, Mail, Safari, iPod

Part 3: Apps and settings, camera, iTunes, wrap-up

[T H @ Jul 3rd 2007 2:33AM]

You're in the car.. you really should be doing all that simultaneouly while attempting to drive anyway buddy.. :/

While parked, well, that's a differnt story- but then you wouldnt need it paired up anyway, right?

[Horatiu Boeriu @ Jul 3rd 2007 2:39AM]

:) I expected this time of answer because I hear it all the time. So, first of all, it is kinda hard to drive and type on the iPhone without having a physical keyboard, so I was refering mostly to the situation where you're stationary or....you have someone in the passenger seat that needs to check on things on the iPhone. Being part of the BMW industry for a while, I know better not to drive and type, therefore I have always used a bluetooth headset or had my phone paired with my car.

Anyway, bottom line is that EDGE is not the way to go in this case(except having a better battery life)

[T H @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:11AM]

Anybody explain yet why iChat wasn't included on the iPhone? Seemed like a logical inclusion... one reason I didnt jump off the cliff and become an early adopter- I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[Blake @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:15AM]

I've never thought of that before, but it sounds like a good idea.

No wait. Edge.

[Nando @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:16AM]

I know right?! It shouldn't be too much of a hassle for them to have implemented iChat on the iPhone.

I was also thinking about how cool if the next version of iPhone would have a front-facing camera for video chatting for phone-to-phone or iPhone-to-iChat on a computer...seeing how we're very close to truly implementing 3G here in the States.

[SouthPaw @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:24AM]

Video chat enabled or not, if only using it as a chat solution.. seriously! I rarely use the video chat option on my macbook pro, but iChat gets a lot of usage. It just seems absurd to tout your phone as the "non-business next gen" superphone.. but doesnt have IM? "Ouch" is my only thought.

[Camperton @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:55AM]

They'll probably include it in a software update somewhere down the line.

[T H @ Jul 3rd 2007 1:25AM]

LOL... Jesus, I wasn't asking for video, I thought I made that clear.. "chat solution" means just that. Not "2-way video"... honestly thats not a feature I really find that interesting to me anyway- video chat is attractive in pretty limited circumstances to me.

Baby steps to perfection here.. baby steps..!

[Fatima @ Jul 3rd 2007 1:34AM]

Apple was concentrating its efforts on coverflow and all the new stuff. And then they will update iPhone with iChat before Leapord hits in Oct.

[Arthur @ Jul 3rd 2007 4:31AM]

AT&T probably want people to send text messages instead (via the iChat-like Messaging interface)

[Johnny C. @ Jul 3rd 2007 4:30AM]

Well, thats not quite right.

If I recall correctly, instant messages on my Cingular (AT&T) SLVR count as Text Messages (like, they take away one of my 200 texts).

[Atanas Boev @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:15AM]

Charging per message can't be done in ichat, or it will end up terribly proprietary...
I never though of that, but it seems quite logical - AT&T do not want IP-based messaging, as they (as every provider) make A LOT money from smses. Lets see if they allow a native IM app developed for iphone by third party :)

[Cynthia @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:23AM]

Agreed, that's one of the main reasons I didn't buy the iphone. I have a sidekick 3 now and I use AIM mostly. I love my ichat on my ibook. I don't know does AT&T often unlimited text plans? I'm not sure. Still seems odd to me.

[fontendet24 @ Jul 3rd 2007 8:07AM]

SO SUPER DEVICE!
I WANT IT! (but i'm not in us)

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Jul 3rd 2007 10:36AM]

iChat is coming in a software update you potato heads.

[BandB @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:32PM]

Isn't the camera on the other side.

would you only see the backside if your using the camera. Mabey I'm missing something.
I agree it would be pretty cool but I have the scary image of people walking around or driving with the phone in front of their face.

I think it was left off, at least until the next version (not software update)

[ytypo123 @ Jul 3rd 2007 2:16PM]

This sucks NO IPHONE'S IN MONTANA
why because there is no cingular or at&t out here so no stores will sell them

[nikster @ Jul 3rd 2007 9:56PM]

Maybe because iChat sucks? ;)

Played with iPhone today - not only did Apple totally ace the finger-based user interaction part but this is actually the first phone where the great unwashed masses will want to use mobile internet.

I am sure all those carriers in Europe which paid bazillions for their 3G networks only to then try and fail to sell the general public on retarded video calling are just dying to get and iPhone. All of a sudden, they'll be able to sell their data plans to people other than hard-core geeks with laptops.

Using Google maps is a hundred times better than the maps app on my Nokia N73. Using Safari is a thousand times better than the clumsy and now idiotic interface on the web broser of the N73. And - the N73 cost me $500 new when I first got it. As soon as there's an unlocked iPhone out I am going to get one for myself, my wife, and my brother... I don't think when you are in the U.S. that AT&T is such a huge limitation but outside it certainly is, even for resident travelers like myself.

[joshpsp1.5 @ Jul 8th 2007 4:10AM]

Because the iPhone cant connect to EDGE (which it would need for iChat) and make/receive calls at the same time.

[AirStrike X2 @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:14AM]

Finally!! I was about to complain to you (Engadget) guys for having all sorts of posts related to news of the iPhone but no actual "review" until now. Now I'm glad to see this post. I just have to say Thanks now

[bb-king @ Jul 3rd 2007 1:47AM]

Yah Ryan, thanks for posting a review, I was looking forward to it for a couple days now. All in all very comprehensive and informative.

One question (sorry if I missed the answer in your review) - I noticed you said the touch screen works on capacitance. Does it work if you are wearing gloves? If not, this could be an issue come winter...

[Ryan Block @ Jul 3rd 2007 1:56AM]

It can work through some thinner materials, but it really depends on what the glove is made out of! For example, I could interact with the device through one one layer of my microfiber polishing cloth, but two layers and it was spotty. Three layers was totally out.

[Ryan Block @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:19AM]

Google Zune review.

[Nando @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:24AM]

I went to an Apple store earlier today to play around with the iPhone. After having my grubby mitts on the iPhone for the first 10 minutes, I was very wowed. Everything was so animated and beautiful. But after those 10 minutes passed, I managed to crash Google Maps twice (!) and my "wow"ness turned into a "pretty-neat-but-I-wouldn't-spend-half-a-grand-on-that."

[BobTurbo @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:28AM]

Wow, there sound like a lot of flaws that make the iPhone not-quite-there-yet when it comes to an excellent phone experience. Something for Nokia to get to work on :)

[T H @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:35AM]

See.. I know what you mean Bob, but I really LOVE OS X and am excited for a device based on it. They just didn't *quite* get it right yet. iPhone 2.0 should (FIRST OFF!) have 3G, a chat solution (althought hey said they could fix/add a lot of things via spftware updates), the ability to bring up a contact via the first few initial or numbers like every other phone on the market- it's not too much to do, but annoying, really.. and a few other things I can think of. Overall not a bad first effort, but it's not totally what I expected!

Plus.. AT&T... ugh. My service is bad enough on my Sidekick 3 with T-Mobile.. can't see spending $600+ to get a downgrade in reception..

[sr @ Jul 3rd 2007 1:37AM]

Get an N95, I'm already having that experience.

[Jep @ Jul 3rd 2007 8:31AM]

N95 isnt for everyone first its Europe Asia phone no 3g for usa already by that I would by iphone if I would live in states.

Writed by using Nokia e90 =)

[Josh @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:32AM]

oh thank god!! someone else notices that the music app quits while using safari. I thought mine was on the fritz when this happened. Is it too much to ask to listen to music and surf the web at the same time? I can't wait for firmware v.1.1

Best review i've read by the way... way to go

[alex @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:44AM]

Only holds 8 gigs, no GPS, doesn't run linux. LAME.

;)

[paloooz @ Jul 3rd 2007 1:34AM]

Oh, I'm sorry. You seem to have posted your horribly un-funny cliche on the wrong site.

The site you are looking for is www.slashdot.org

[Jarques @ Jul 3rd 2007 2:06AM]

Uhm, it does run linux. Or at least a Unix based system. :|

[NuShrike @ Jul 3rd 2007 11:25AM]

It runs what came before Linux, and with a richer and more stable engineering history. It's called BSD.

[cjh @ Jul 4th 2007 8:02PM]

yeah, right. Can you explain why i am able to write this comment on my iphone then? I dont think that is too lame.

[lysdexia @ Jul 7th 2007 9:03PM]

The Nokia N95 holds only 160 MB. Bring that up to 8 GB and the cost will be over $1200.

Oh, Linux is for fat programmers.

[Kish @ Jul 13th 2007 6:50AM]

It does not cost $1200 to conver N95 to 8 GB phone. It only cost 4 times cost of 2 GB micro SD card which is aroung £80 in UK

[Mr President @ Aug 31st 2007 5:52PM]

Well, I have the iPhone theme on my mind-blowing motorola v551 and thats about all I need.Its supposed to be a phone, and what it came out to be was a jack of all trades, master of none.

It scratches, cracks and can completely break from a 4ft drop - it is impractical. My motorola is basic, but I have free games/appz and it is a camera and video phone.
On top of that it is basiaclly indestructable and after 3 years of heavy use the faceplate looks just shy of new.

[Eric @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:47AM]

I think it would be very interesting to see an iPhone without a cell phone radio at all. Use 802.11 and H.232. Add on a 30 gig hard drive and a better camera (and automatically connecting to my PC when nearby). I'd pay $600 for that in a minute.

[Jon @ Jul 3rd 2007 9:36AM]

So get on that and see how many buyers you have.

[Warhorse @ Jul 3rd 2007 9:37AM]

I like the idea. Mp3 players are a dime a dozen but features like that on a phone would really be worth it.

[Tomahawk @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:24PM]

Do that and you won't see a anywhere near the current battery life of the iPhone.....Apple seemed to pull out all the features that suck up the most battery power. Perhaps these will be available as add-ons that plug into the dock port, so that features are there, but you can unplug them when not in use, thus saving the battery life.

[Eric @ Jul 4th 2007 9:57AM]

Of course there's the rub. When you have major constraints on the size (thickness) of the device, your battery life goes out the window.

Still, one can dream...

[DrewG @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:48AM]

Great job Engadget! Nice balanced review.
Do you have any news on its release date/details in Australia for your large following down under? I see Vodafone has been rumoured for EU, but what about over here?

Cheers!

[DrewG @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:40PM]

Anyone?

[Zac Grose @ Jul 4th 2007 3:18AM]

I've heard a highly unsubstanciated rumour - an employee at Crazy John's (a Telstra reseller) claims to know as fact that the iPhone will be available in Australia this month, and while he thinks it'll be on the Vodafone network, he says it will be possible to purchase an unlocked iPhone for ~$1000.

Of course, this sounds like absolute garbage. For one, both Telstra and Vodafone have denied any knowledge. As seen with AT&T, the callcentre employees will have to know details on the phone they're due to support at least a month in advance.

That being said, when I reapproached the employee, he was still absolutely certain. Well, I guess time will tell on this one, but I'm not holding onto anything before January next year. Besides, if it's a 3G phone over here, sales in the US would dry up very quickly waiting for their own 3G iPhone.

[klikx @ Jul 8th 2007 9:06PM]

I went to a mac store here in NZ today and apparently for us the iphone is coming out NEXT year. . . because Vodafone NZ cant quite handle it. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[Marty @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:49AM]

man i want one so bad. if only there was an iPhone nano that i could afford. overall good review.

[Edgar @ Jul 8th 2007 10:27AM]

Try this http://www.YourFreeiPhone.com/index.php?ref=3916597

It's totally legit. If you don't believe me, watch these videos.

CBS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyG-Gg0PQ3E

G4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w0u03mVhS8

[gavin @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:51AM]

Who at Google do I need to buy an iPhone for in order to get GMail to not be useless on mine?

[paloooz @ Jul 3rd 2007 1:35AM]

Gmail works fine. I had a problem using the Gmail preset where when I'd send an email, it would show up in my inbox. The solution for me was to setup the account manually. stmp.gmail.com:587 or whatever.

Other than that, I don't see what you could possibly mean. Gmail.com works perfectly in Safari on my iPhone...