iPhone 3GS announced: $199 16GB, $299 32GB, June 19th
By Nilay Patel 
posted June 8th 2009 1:49PM
posted June 8th 2009 1:49PM
As endlessly predicted, Apple's unveiled a new iPhone today at WWDC, the iPhone 3G S -- the "s" stands for speed. Although it looks almost exactly like the 3G, it's much, much faster -- some tasks are almost four times faster. Data speeds are upped to 7.2Mbps HSDPA, and the camera is now a 3 megapixel unit with tap-to-autofocus and auto white balance -- and just as expected, it now supports 30fps VGA video recording with editing features. You're also getting a built-in compass, Nike+ support, and a new battery that offers 5 hours of 3G talk time and 9 hours of WiFi internet use. There are some surprises, too -- holding down the home button now enables a new voice control interface that lets you do everything from make calls to control iTunes, and Apple's touting a new "fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating." New and end-of-contract pricing is set at $199 for 16GB and $299 for 32GB when it goes on sale June 19th Stateside and in 80 more countries in August -- and the current 8GB 3G will remain on sale for $99, effective immediately. You'll have to pay a bit more if you're mid-contract, though -- $299 for the 3G and $399/$499 for the 3G S.
Other iPhone news from WWDC:
Apple shows iPhone OS 3.0 at WWDC, hits devices June 17th
Apple's 8GB iPhone 3G falls to $99 on contract
Apple partners with TomTom to bring "real" navigation to iPhone
Apple announces "Find My iPhone" phone-locating service
Line 6 and Planet Waves brings guitar and amp control to iPhone
ScrollMotion's Iceberg in-app bookstore announced for iPhone, ready to take on the Kindle?
iPhone 3G vs. iPhone 3G S: the tale of the tape
Other Apple news from WWDC:
Apple's new MacBook family: non-removable batteries, lower prices
Apple shipping Snow Leopard in September, $29 upgrade
Apple digs into Microsoft at WWDC
Safari 4 released today, offering 'unparalled speed'
Read - Apple PR
Read - AT&T PR with pricing info
Other iPhone news from WWDC:
Apple shows iPhone OS 3.0 at WWDC, hits devices June 17th
Apple's 8GB iPhone 3G falls to $99 on contract
Apple partners with TomTom to bring "real" navigation to iPhone
Apple announces "Find My iPhone" phone-locating service
Line 6 and Planet Waves brings guitar and amp control to iPhone
ScrollMotion's Iceberg in-app bookstore announced for iPhone, ready to take on the Kindle?
iPhone 3G vs. iPhone 3G S: the tale of the tape
Other Apple news from WWDC:
Apple's new MacBook family: non-removable batteries, lower prices
Apple shipping Snow Leopard in September, $29 upgrade
Apple digs into Microsoft at WWDC
Safari 4 released today, offering 'unparalled speed'
Read - Apple PR
Read - AT&T PR with pricing info
will iphone 2G owners get price-shafted? Or will it be upgrade price? (got mine in December 2007)
All of you are a bunch of wining little girls!! reading these comments is better than any sitcom on tv. it's like watching 5 years olds in the playground..." my ball is better than yours..." LOL keep them coming.
I bet if Apple, Palm, or who ever will give it away for free with a free data and voice you will find something to complaint about..LOL
iPhoneME
This is pretty boring so far. Where's the netbook? I was expecting some better upgrades.What kind of screen is it? I guess I'll wait till next year for maybe 64GB and OLED maybe even expandable storage. I can really care less about a phone's camera. Sure, video recording is nice but WTF???...
Oh my God! The 3GS is actually BIGGER (12,3 vs 11,5)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MMGYNKKP
iPhone 3G GM copy :)
I just got a call from an at&t store (I called earlier but they said they didn't know anything yet, but they will call me when they get clarification) and they said that if you bought an iphone 3G after May 9th you could upgrade for free... I got mine May 19th.... wooohoooo!!!!
iPhone 3GS is Out . iPhone 3GS whats new
full detailed specs.
http://www.taranfx.com/blog/?p=1078
I agree, and how come no 64GB ipod touch announcement?
I love the announced changes to the iPhone, but I find the pricing for current customers to be outrageous. Why should I, just because I'm in the middle of my contract, have to pay $200 more for a new iPhone than I would otherwise? I was all set to buy the 3GS until I discovered the ridiculous price I'd have to pay.
So, instead of getting $299 from me, Apple and AT & T will now get $0. I hope they're happy.
AT&T probably is happy. You're in the middle of a two year contract that they got you to sign by subsidizing the cost of your iPhone 3G. So they've got you for another year bought and paid for. There's a chance you'll remember this when your contract is up, and you'll switch to another carrier out of revenge.
But there's a better chance that Apple's iPhone 4G, with its speech-to-text interface, OLED screen, 3D Google Earth maps, HDR camera, 128GB storage, and all the other cool features, will have you so transfixed that you'll be glad you waited, and you'll feel sorry for those stuck with their 3GS iPhones.
I'm in the same boat.
You don't get how a subsidy works. It's like a car loan, and you have to pay it back over 2 years. If you change to a new one halfway through, you'll have to pay up - because even though you switched, you have not yet paid off the old phone, and you still need to do it.
so what's the plan like? and how much will it be for this if im mid-plan with an iphone 3G
If at this very moment, you take a wooden mop and repeatedly shove it up your ass, it will still feel better then the pricing to get a new Iphone while on contract and then pay the most absurd monthly bill.
Engadget fix the fucking comment system or I'll switch to Giz for good. OK? 'cause their comment system works. Keep me logged in and remember my name. Maybe even add some AJAX like Giz, but I am not even asking for that. Just make it fucking work like it does on every other goddamn website out there on the interwebs.
@Dom the subsidy system is a scam, it's ridiculous. People think they only pay $199 for a $600 phone, then much comedy ensues as they slowly figure out they are paying through the nose every month to pay back the other $400 (and more) and getting ripped off in the process. But the way carriers like AT&T have set it up is that there is no other option. I think there should be strict laws against bundling like that, or at least laws that would require carriers to 1) make it clear which part of the monthly bill is access and which part is paying back the subsidy and 2) force them to offer the same plans without subsidy overhead to people who bring their own phone or who opt to pay for the phone in full.
It would be like, which would you rather have, Sir: Pay $600 now, or pay only $199 and pay the rest back over 2 years with 20% interest.
This column has made my day!
It's really funny with all the posts (including self). LOL!!
Love it! Better than anything I've read in a long time.
People bitching about the slight features upgrade and relatively high price vs the Apple fanboys!
Thank you for the laughs!
Seriously now... was planning on switching from T-Mobile (good telephone customer service and phone rate plans but terrible in-store customer service) to get the iPhone when contract ends at year's end (and must put up with ATT for 2 lousy years)!
Now, taking a trip to Asia so let's see what the new phones offer outside of North America (as most good phones are either sold in Europe or Asia, anyway but NOT imported into North America).
May just stick with T-Mobile with a regular UNLOCKED phone!
Get an unlocked iPhone from Hong Kong, that's my recommendation. It's better than any other phone out there at least where I live in Asia.
I'd never get a locked iPhone from ATT - they don't even offer an option to unlock like most Euro carriers. Fuck them.
Review iPhone pricing.
Payment of the balance on your AT&T account will qualify you for an iPhone at the full retail price. Use *PAY to check your balance and pay your bill from your AT&T phone. On 07/20/2010, you may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade.
$499.00* — 8GB iPhone 3G (black)
$599.00* — 16GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)
$699.00* — 32GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)
WTF why would i pay $200 for the same phone? why can't i just buy a update for the OS ? gg apple
You can't buy an upgrade to the new OS for your iPhone because it will come free.
A few features of the hardware won't be supported, but otherwise iPhone OS 3.0 is yours, baby!
I see a lot of fussing about MP does not matter, and why do you need this and why do you need that.
What I do not understand is, why not. why not have a higher MP phone, why not have and front facing camera, why not have a new scheme for a new phone. Apple should always be striving to add new features. They could not even add an FM tuner?
Apple is proud of the features they don't add, because they know that more features do not make a better user experience. This is why you will never, ever see an FM tuner in an Apple phone.
I prefer 3MP on a phone unless they did something extra-special to overcome the problem that these tiny lenses simply can't take images at a higher quality. You can put 24MP in this, but all you'd get would be bigger images, not more detail.
I just went to the Apple buy an iPhone page, and they are offering me an early upgrade price since I am an AT$T "valued customer." $399 for 16 GB, $499 for 32 GB. I think 256 MB of RAM, a 620+ Mhz processor, and a 3.0 mp camera are worth the cost. And the voice control is nice, too, though it should have definitely been available for the 3G. This is purely a software feature. I can see why they didn't include video on the 3G, as the slower processor and lower quality camera would have limited the video quality. But no voice control? Really? And has anyone heard WHY AT$T won't offer MMS until late summer? Other than saving bandwidth...
it will be crippled. might as well get raped in the ass by att before using verizons shitty ass software.
I can understand current 3g owners being a little annoyed because there arent tons of really good reasons for them to upgrade...but I still have the good old faithful iPhone v1, and am due for an upgrade in the next month...mmmmm..wonder what I'll get!!!
White 32GB if you don't mind...
The ball is in your court, Palm. Please, just release a GSM Pre and I'll switch.
Not sure I missed it, but I didn't notice anything about A2DP!
unlocked phone(N97 or whatever else) on at&t:
$600+($15/month for unlimited internet*24 months) = $960
32GB iphone on at&t:
$399+($30/month for unlimited internet*24 months)=$1120
keep thinking that you're saving money by only paying $200 or $300 up front when you are paying TWICE AS MUCH per month for the SAME internet that people with unlocked phones are paying. wake up people
Good point, but some people (business accounts) aren't paying that much.
32GB version is 299 NOT 399.
difference is about $60 over 2 years
oh my bad, I looked at the wrong price. My point is that there are plenty of good deals out there (not just the N97 or whatever) and carriers need to start lowering their unjustified prices
Exactly. Because the charges are all hidden and muddled together with the access charges, nobody actually knows how much they really pay for the iPhone.
Call me cynical but I am thinking that AT&T is doing this intentionally to hide ridiculously high interest rates, like 20%+ over a full price upfront phone. If they had to break out the different costs it would be a much different story.
One thing you should keep in mind though is that iPhone users are the first to actually _use_ their internet connection for more than email. iPhones account for over 99% of data volume on the network...
Okay, first thing guys, this is definately good for Apple.
I thought apple was not going to even release a new model this year being the fact that the iPhone 3G was already pretty stable and good.
Things i am going to go over...
Video Recording/Camera- This is a great feature. On my other phone, i video record and it's perfect adn it's 1.2 MP camera. Big whoop if it's going 3.0 MP. How much do you need ina phone? Before a phone was only to call someone. Now it does all the other amazing features.
Front facing camera- okay, so what? Your not going to be using this 24/7. I mean, most phones dont even have this feature so even if iphone got it...who are you going to use it with? 65% of the population do not even have smart phones so shut up about this sht cause you only want it cause everyone else saids they want it.
Palm Pre-Yes, we know this is an amzing device but obviously they took ideas from iphone to create this magnificent device. Stop tryin to go down on apple only because they are overhyped which yes, i know they are but still.
iPhone 3GS vs iphoen 3g- Okay, it isnt much, but if your on a regular iphone, this upgrade is great if you wanted the iphone 3g and even more features avaible. Now if your only on the iphone 3g, no i would not upgrade. You sitll almsot get all same feature but recoding and voice control, and better battery life.
The price is amazing on it with 16gb at 200 dollars for the same phone with more features and more flash drive. GREAT, AMAZING.
The OS on iphoen is powerful and is easy to develop on for great graphics that compares even higher then the Nin. DS.
You haev over 35000 apps to choose from the app store while Pre? How much do you have?
Overall iphone is a great product and has alot of potential. Apple is smart in not releasing the "video recording", 8 MP Camera, etc. The device does enough for the price it is.
No, im nto an appel fanboy, but im definately one of the smarter people here who sees that all people are trying to do is bring down apple, which obviously your not, because iPhone is the most renowned mobile device in the world.
Sorry for typos(tpyed fast :D)
Well said... I think there are too many Apple bashers - fanboys or not - the iPhone changed the whole game up, which is why everything that comes out has to be measured up to it.
WHAT THE HECK!
I wanted a new ipod touch, but there wasn't even a change! Well, at least I can get Snow Leopard in september.
Agreed. I waited for WWDC, unfortunately Apple made the decision way too easy for me. What a disappointment the 3GS is.
What a WEAK output by Apple. I've owned both current version, actually 5 of them and was so excited for the new one to arrive. Now that I've read about it I'm pretty upset I'll have to wait another year to hope apple comes out with something innovative. A 3mp camera and upgraded internal parts? That's a very minor upgrade. Nothing about this will make it stand out strong against the ever increasing competition. Actually I'd suggest Apple admit it screwed up with this release now and NOT release it. Take another 3 months and work on something ground breaking or WORTHY of an upgrade from the current 3G.
Hahaha utahnkid, go cry to mommy that your keynote sucked utter balls. Apple completely dropped the ball.
I've been with Sprint for over 9 years now, and this is finally the breaking point. After using a pre then seeing this I'm switching to ATT on June 17th. Sigh. I know Sprint's network is superior, but the difference in phones is too much to ignore. I'm stoked though, finally getting an iPhone!!
Palm, release the GSM and you have won over another convert!
I don't know where people are getting the $700 figure for mid contract iPhone 3G owners to upgrade. When I go to the Apple site and check out the upgrade availability it says $500, and that's mid-contract.
Sorry Apple, bu too little, too late
Camera and Battery life were the two things that barely bother me in a device (unless it only lasts like, a few minutes). They're not even in my top ten of major iPhone gripes.
I'll Stick with my HTC Dream for now, thanks.
not true about the upgrade pricing. i'm 1.5 years into a 2 year contract with an iphone 2g and apple's site is telling me i'm eligible for the regular 199/299 deal.
I don't believe this phone is meant to persuade current 3G users to move on to the 3GS but rather the idea is to pull in more people who don't own iphones at all. If I were to own a 3G I would be perfectly happy with keeping it and with going to the OS 3.0. Seeing as how I don't though and that I have been wanting an iphone for a while, this seems like a good purchase for me. I won't be waiting in line on opening day but I think after some hands-on reviews and such that this will be my next phone.
However, this is a pretty moderate statement and I haven't cussed or kept the caps lock on so I don't expect people to pay this much attention. Rant on fanboys and haters. Rant on.
the prices have to be wrong I just checked my AT&T contract and it states to get out of it there is a 175.00 fee minus 5.00 for each full month
I know that it is common for carriers to charge higher upgrade prices for mid-contract users but the iPhone customer is a slightly different beast. After two models of fiercely loyal early adopters lined up twice to be the first to get the iPhone one would think AT&T/Apple would want to pander to this demographic (read: upgrade discount incentives) as well as trying to get new business with the cheaper models/introductory prices.
I can see thousands of current iPhone owners/early adopters there for the launch of the 3G S only to find out that they are going to be penalized $200 to get the newest iPhone. I imagine that many will still pay for the upgrade, but I'll bet that a lot of them won't be happy about it.
I for one will wait the extra month to see what kind of deal I can get on 7/12. If it's not the $299 price for the 32 GB, I'll wait for the 2010 model. The leap from the 3G to the 3G S is not that huge to warrant an extra $200!
I have to pay more and sign a new contract to go on top of my current contract?! HAHAHA good luck getting current iPhone 3G users to get the 3G S. AT&T you disappoint.
Wow. I have an iPhone as a placeholder until the Touch Pro 2 is out on Tmobile, but man, this is very underwealming. They barely changed it at all. Ok, faster data is nice.....so is a 3mp camera.....but most feature phones have had those for some time now. Years, to be exact. Apple really isn't about the community like they were. They have changed into a greedy company, worse than Microsoft. You fanboys/girls out there will flame me for this, but when you really look at it, you will shit bricks. Literally. There will be a brick in your toilet.
To Apple: Well, it looks like you have matured. Not so sure I like you any more than I did a few years ago. Where is the enginutiy? Its just a bunch of the same old refreshing. Anybody can do that. Hell, I can refresh this page to add the newest comments. Does that make it worth it?
I bit my thumb at you, Apple. I bet Steve is too...
...So i can either buy a 16gb iPhone 3GS for $399+ $18= $418 and a new 2 year contract, or wait until december, pay $180 for the 6 months I'm using my 3G, then buy a $199 phone + $18 + $398... Might as well just buy the iPhone 3GS now. $20 difference.
That doesn't make any sense at all. Let me fix it for you.
Buying 3GS in December: $180 for 6 months of 3G + 199 + 18 = $398
Buying 3GS now: $180 for 6 months of 3GS + 399 + 18 = $597
Just because you buy the 3GS today doesn't mean you'll be getting free data plan until December.